Red Bordeaux
| RED | 2022 | 1 case | Château Léoville Barton | 75cl | £440 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Barton 2022 / 1 case / 75cl £440 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Léoville Barton is a total model of classicism, even in this warm, dry year. All of the Léoville Barton signatures are present, even if the wine is still coming together. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, gravel and dried herbs open nicely in the glass, but it is the wine's energy and overall tension that I find most surprising. This is classic as classic gets. Not interested in making the richest or showiest wines, nor interested in jacking up prices as high as they can be. Readers will find a straightforward (in the best sense of the term) Saint-Julien that captures the best of what Bordeaux can be. Just enough of everything, but not too much of any one thing. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Very polished and poised with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium body with tight and focused tannin tension. Lively finish. Harmonious for the vintage. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Château Léoville Barton is another pretty, elegant wine from this talented team. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5 % Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, its ruby/purple hue is followed by a beautiful perfume of ripe red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, graphite, and violets. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has fine tannins, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's surprisingly approachable yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up over the course of its élevage. 94-96+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"One of the stars of the Médoc and a wine likely to equal or surpass its 2019 and 2016 counterparts, the 2022 Léoville Barton unwinds in the glass with deep aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, spices and tobacco leaf, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate that's vibrant, pure and seamless, with beautifully classy tannins and a long, penetrating finish. The 2022 is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot and 5.5% Cabernet Franc; and it's the first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot harvesting and vinification, along with a number of other technical improvements which translate into enhanced purity and precision. 96-97+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com-----"The 2022 Léoville Barton was picked between 8 and 23 September at 30hL/ha and matured in 60% new oak. This represents the first vintage that has been vinified using gravity and cuvons (basically vats on wheels!) in their newly-built winery. The nose makes an instant impact with intense black cherry, bilberry and violet aromas. A nuanced estuarine/oyster shell scent emerges with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins, fabulous precision, a killer line of acidity and more mineralité on the finish, that it knows what to do with. This is a precision-tooled Léoville Barton with the sharpness of a samurai sword. The 2022 marks the start of a new and glorious chapter for the Saint-Julien estate, which passes in the slipstream of the 22019 and 2022. It constitutes the finest Léoville Barton that I have tasted out of barrel. Tasted three times. points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 2 cases | Château Léoville Las Cases | 75cl | £1,550 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Las Cases 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £1,550 per case of 6 |
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| RED | 2022 | 1 case | Château Léoville Poyferré | 75cl | £507 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Poyferré 2022 / 1 case / 75cl £507 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Léoville-Poyferré is unctuous, deep and super-expressive, but not at all over-done. There's tremendous energy driving through a core of red/purplish fruit. Deceptively medium in body, the 2022 is a potent, statuesque Léoville-Poyferré that will offer many years of exceptional drinking. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Léoville Poyferré has turned out very nicely, offering up aromas of crème de cassis, cherries, violets and creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's ripe but lively, with supple tannins and a long, vanillin-inflected finish. This year, the team began picking their Merlot comparatively early and didn't perform a saignée (tank bleed), given the natural concentration of the vintage, though it remains the most flamboyant and demonstrative of the three Léoville estates, seeing some 80% new oak with malolactic fermentation in barrique for the new barrels. It will be a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Dense and succulent fruit and tannins, beautifully powerful, with fresh acidities, beautifully spicy with notes of black cherries, fresh figs, eucalyptus, rosemary, rose petals and cassis. Muscular tannins shot through with salted caramel sweetness, lifted by saffran and slate. Accomplished, impressive. Harvest September 8 to 28. 80% new oak from 16 different coopers. 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Léoville Poyferré was picked 8 to 28 September at 33.4hL/ha and matured in 80% new oak. It has a high IPT of 93 and 14.4% alcohol (half a degree less than the 2018). It is quintessentially LP on the nose, with those extravagant and sensual black and blueberry fruit, intermingling with crushed violet and iris. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very harmonious and focused, perhaps more linear than expected with a velvety-smooth finish. This is a very classy, sophisticated Saint-Julien that may well rest at the top of my banded score once in bottle. 2030-2070. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A very solid LP with black berry, blackcurrant, crushed stone and lavender character. Full and really well structured with a linear length to it. Focused and so polished. Thoughtful. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"I was blown away by the 2022 Château Léoville Poyferré, which is a classic blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Harvest spanned from the 8th to the 28th of September, the vinification is in tronconique tanks (parcel by parcel), and the élevage will span 18-20 months in 80% new barrels. This inky hued beauty offers that rare mix of power and elegance and offers ample cassis and assorted blue fruits, full-bodied richness, an opulent, concentrated, yet flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and plenty of classic Saint-Julien violets, espresso roast, and crushed stone-like minerality. Despite its incredible concentration and depth, it stays beautifully balanced. In a region that seems to only talk about finesse and elegance, it's a relief to still have producers such as this producing powerful, intense, singular wines. Hats off to the Cuvelier family and their team. 97-100 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 1 case | Château Les Cruzelles | 75cl | £238 per case of 12 | Château Les Cruzelles 2022 / 1 case / 75cl £238 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"More clay in the soils here and there is a lovely balance, fleshy in texture and high impact, but with a ton of interest, dark deep chocolate, gunsmoke, aniseed, fennel, black cherry, lovely fresh acidities. Harvest September 1 to 12, 28hl/h, 50% new oak, Noemie Durantou winemaker. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Les Cruzelles is a wine of notable breadth and texture. Older vines and clay-rich soils yield a Lalande de Pomerol that offers notable resonance. Dark-toned fruit, leather, tobacco, incense, licorice and lavender infuse the 2022 with considerable nuance to match its virile, rather somber feel. Drinking Window: 2025-2037. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Another gorgeous Lalande de Pomerol, the 2022 Château Les Cruzelles is deep ruby/purple and boasts a great nose of ripe darker cherries, cassis, graphite, and flowers. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, it's medium-bodied, stays lively and elegant, and has silky tannins as well as a great finish. It's going to be a hidden gem in the vintage that readers will love to have in the cellar. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Les Cruzelles was picked between 1 and 12 September and matured in 50% new oak. This has plenty of fruité on the nose: small red cherries, redcurrant and wild strawberry fruit, a touch of cedar in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with wonderfu definition and mineralité, dark fruit, hints of black tea and spices, really harmonious and sappy on the finish. Possibly the best Les Cruzelles that I have tasted at this stage and sure to be an unbeatable value-for-money. Drinking Window: 2028 - 2050. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A solid red with blackberry, chocolate, walnut and hazelnut. Medium to full body. Smily face here, thanks to the ripe seeds. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 1 case | Château Les Gravières | 75cl | £170 per case of 12 | Château Les Gravières 2022 / 1 case / 75cl £170 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Les Gravières, the last vintage under the late Denis Barraud, just comes across a little overripe on the nose. The palate is much better with fine grid layers of black plum and allspice. Gentle grip with touches of dark chocolate on the finish. Hopefully, the aromatics will meliorate during barrel maturation. 88-90 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Revealing aromas of rich cherries, mint and toasty new oak, the 2022 Les Gravières is medium to full-bodied, broad and dramatic, representing a success in a more flamboyant, modern style. 89-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"2022 Les Gravières is a huge, brooding wine. Black fruit, gravel, spice, dried herbs, incense, licorice and scorched earth race out of the glass. This powerhouse Saint-Émilion packs a tremendous punch. Terrific. Tasted two times. 90-93 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Tasted on two separate occasions with consistent notes, the 2022 Château Les Gravières is 100% Merlot harvested between September 14th and 17th from healthy yields of 55 hectoliters per hectare. It's a medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet seamless and balanced Saint-Emilion with lots of meaty, smoky red and black fruits, some tobacco, roasted coffee, and spring flower nuances, fine tannins, and a great finish. It's a beautifully made 2022 with lots to love. Due to the unfortunate passing of owner Denis Barraud in 2023, this estate is now being managed by Denis' nephew, Franck Canal-Descude, with consulting advice from Thomas Duclos's Oenoteam. 91-93 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Juicy and delicious with hazelnut and berry character. Medium body. Creamy tannins. 92-93 points." James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 2 cases | Château Margaux | 75cl | £3,096 per case of 6 | Château Margaux 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £3,096 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Very dark purple color with a ruby edge. So much crushed blackberry and blackcurrant with violets. Exuberant. Full-bodied and very tannic with incredible muscle. This is a thought-provoking wine. The biggest Margaux I have tasted in my career. Seems a little overdone for Margaux. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 6% merlot and 2% petit verdot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, 2022 Château Margaux is one of the most powerful wines ever produced at this estate, wafting from the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, dark berries, violets, burning embers, smoked tea and exotic spices. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it's rich, velvety and seamless, with a bright core of fruit and a long, heady finish. With the highest analytical measure of tannins since 2010, and an alcohol level a touch above 14%, this is certainly a larger-scaled Château Margaux, yet at this early stage, everything appears to be kept in check. 96-97+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Château Margaux represents 40% of the crop this year, slightly higher than recent years, picked between 8 and 27 September. As usual, the Grand Vin demands more time to unfold on the nose compared to the Pavillon. It unveils enticing scents of macerated black cherries, blueberry, violet and hints of orange blossom all delivered with impressive delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with sculpted tannins. A fine-boned and tensile Château Margaux that is quite a remarkable feat given the growing season. Silky smooth and almost creamy at first, toward the finish it reveals a slightly powdery texture, almost swaggering in style. Not a subtle or nuanced Château Margaux, rather, Philippe Bascaules has conjured a First Growth that is dressed to kill. 14.6% alcohol. 2027-2060. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The Grand Vin 2022 Château Margaux checks in as 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc that's pulled from just 40% of the total production. It's a classic Château Margaux with its overriding sense of elegance and purity, yet it's certainly in the style of the vintage with its depth, richness, and concentration. Cassis, blueberries, acacia flowers, and spice all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless, layered mouthfeel, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. The alcohol hit 14.5, and I suspect the pH is relatively high (which is common in the vintage), yet this remains pure, balanced, and is absolutely show-stopping stuff. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Château Margaux is a total stunner. Ripe, opulent and explosive, the 2022 possesses tremendous depth and textural intensity from start to finish. There's a purity to the fruit that is just striking. The 2022 is a dark, unusually opulent Margaux, with a dense core of fruit, but a good deal of vibrancy to balance things out. Black cherry, lavender, spice and a kiss of new French oak build in the glass, but it is the wine's delineation and intensity that are most captivating. Vibrant saline notes linger on the seamless, supremely elegant finish. Unforgettable. 97-99 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Stunning in its density and construction, with a gorgeous balance that starts with red rose aromatics and slides into creamy and intense raspberry, damson, loganberry and cassis fruits. The intense structure of the vintage is on display, here with velvety tannins giving shape and contrast by a push and pull of slate, graphite, cloves, turmeric, cardamom and white pepper. Bitter dark chocolate ending, a character of the year but here delivered with a blast of cooling mint leaf. Philippe Bascaules director, harvest September 8 to 27, 25hl/h yield. 100% new oak, to be monitored carefully over ageing because this is the first time they have seen this level of alcohol in the Cabernet Sauvignon. 40% of the crop is into this 1st wine, one of the highest in years. Harvest September 8 to 27. They are slowly changing the row orientation in the vineyard at Margaux, begun last year but a 50 year project, and introducing more Cabernet Franc through field grafting (wanting to get up to maybe 15% of plantings, currently 5%). 98-100 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 2 cases | Château Margaux - Pavillon Rouge du Margaux | 75cl | £900 per case of 6 | Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge du Margaux 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £900 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Pavillon Rouge, which represents 32% of the production this year, has a highly perfumed nose with wilted violets chaperoning the copious black fruit. Wonderful definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine boned tannins. Silky smooth and sensual, with a mineral-driven finish, this sashays along in style. One of the few 2022's whose barrel sample is so seductive I could have eloped with it there and then. 14.8% alcohol. 2026-2048. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com ------"The 2022 Pavillon Rouge is deep and perfumed, wafting from the glass with notions of cherries, raspberry preserve, lilac, violets and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated palate that's deep, rich and vibrant, with a tannic grain that resembles the grand vin this year. It represents just under a third of the estate's production. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Glass-staining inky purple, fleshy damson and cassis fruits with spice and concentration. Captures the spirit of the vintage with plush damson fruits, edges of sweet spices and gunsmoke, but keeps the understated pleasure that Margaux specialises in, with soft peony aromatics. High Petit Verdot in this blend because using the 2% that normally goes into the first wine but is kept out in 2022. No pumping over, with director Philippe Bascaules making the choice to let extraction happen gently, with minimal intervention. 32% of the crop in Pavillon, 25hl/h yield. 60% new oak (although this sample is 100%), and clear need to be cautious with oak during ageing. 94 points" janeanson.com------"Rich and dense with lots of fruit and juiciness. Redcurrants, black berries, strawberries and orange peel on the nose. Full and layered with fine, velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Big presence. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 3 cases | Château Mauvesin-Barton | 75cl | £150 per case of 12 | Château Mauvesin-Barton 2022 / 3 cases / 75cl £150 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Château Mauvesin Barton is terrific, with a ripe, medium-bodied, elegant profile as well as impressive cassis and currant-like fruit, some tobacco and graphite aromatics, fine tannins, and a great finish. It’s a brilliant Moulis in the making. 90-92 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Mauvesin Barton is a joy to taste today. Plump, juicy and forward, the 2022 is marvelously seductive right out of the gate. Expressive floral and spice notes lend complexity to the sweet red cherry/plum fruit. Soft, caressing contours add a gorgeous sense of immediacy. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Mauvesin Barton was picked 13 September to 15 October and aged in one-third new oak. It is initially quite backward of the nose and demands encouragement, revealing blackberry, chimney soot and tobacco scents with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, the cedar-infused black fruit tinged with white pepper and pencil shaving. Composed, nothing over-ambitious, yet long and tender on the finish. It is one of the best vintages that I have tasted from this estate that is owned by the Barton-Sartorius family. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A polished and pretty wine with blackberries and cherries. Hints of hazelnut. Medium body. Fine tannins. Long finish. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 2 cases | Château Mouton Rothschild | 75cl | £3,108 per case of 6 | Château Mouton Rothschild 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £3,108 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Mouton Rothschild was picked 1 to 26 September with one of the highest Cabernet Sauvignon contents in years, matured in 100% new oak as usual. Very deep, almost opaque in color. It is stubborn on the nose, at first, backward, then opens after 10 minutes with black plum, cassis and violet aromas. It is more voluptuous than the 2022 Lafite-Rothschild which is what you expect. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy and quite strict tannins (the IPT is 76), that frame layers of black fruit laced with tobacco and graphite. Powerful, almost burly, it is perhaps how the 1986 tasted in its youth. A Mouton-Rothschild determined to make a statement and it certainly does that. Feels a bit like tasting Thor's hammer at the moment, but it will just require considerable cellaring. 14.05% alcohol. 2032-2075. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Inky damson colour, with vibrant violet reflections, velvet texture, aromatics less exuberant than the Petit Mouton, but the concentration and depth on the palate is absolutely there, with cocoa powder, grilled coffee bean, olive paste, cassis, bitter black chocolate on the finish as the tannins close in, ready for decades ahead. This walks the line, and is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Clearly needs a long time before approaching, give it the full 10 years and then some. Harvest began September 1, earliest since 1893. 32hl/h yield. 3.89ph, 76IPT, 100% new oak. Harvest overall September 1 to 26. Jean-Emanuel Danjoy director. 49% of production in the Grand Vin, 27% Petit Mouton. 100% new barrels for ageing. 98 points" janeanson.com------"A brilliant wine that likely sits somewhere between the 2019 and 2020 in quality, the 2022 Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot. Unwinding in the glass with complex aromas of minty cassis, cigar wrapper, violets and subtle hints of loamy soil, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered core of fruit and a fleshy, elegantly muscular profile. Broad-shouldered and seamless, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. This year the grand vin represents some 49% of the estate's production. 96-99 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The Mouton-specific creme de cassis is all there. Al dente, too. The grapes must have been picked at near perfection. Depth and complexity. Black berries, earth, violets and other flowers. Full-bodied yet very hemmed-in with tight tannins, which are precise and polished. You can taste the grape skins and dust of the soil. The length is rather endless. 92% cabernet sauvignon. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 3 cases | Château Mouton Rothschild - Le Petit Mouton | 75cl | £1,098 per case of 6 | Château Mouton Rothschild Le Petit Mouton 2022 / 3 cases / 75cl £1,098 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is laced with sumptuous red-toned fruit, pomegranate, mint, blood orange and rose petal. Silky tannins wrap it all together in style. Le Petit Mouton captures the exotic side of the year nicely and yet retains terrific energy throughout. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com ------"Representing some 29% of the estate's production this year, the 2022 Le Petit Mouton shares much of the character of the grand vin, offering up a rich bouquet of cassis, dark berries, espresso roast and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered palate that's fleshy and concentrated, with powdery tannins and an expansive finish. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Le Petit Mouton has an intense bouquet with violet infused cassis and blackberry fruit, just a faint touch of Medjool dates in the background. It opens extremely confidently in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. Structured, granular in texture and multi-layered, it's quite difficult to recognize this as a mere Deuxieme Vin. Long on the aftertaste, this is an outstanding Le Petit Mouton. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, RobertParker.com------"You often get powerful colour and texture with Petit Mouton, because it is never afraid to lean into its exuberant character, but this really does take things up a notch. Think chocolate brownies, olive paste, baked plum, damson, cassis, huge structure and phenolics, well integrated, with a plush mouthfeel and velvety tannins. Not easy to say when to drink this, because it is so appealing right now, even as an En Primeur sample, but the amount of tannins are going to safely take it through the years. One of the first wines that made me see the potential greatness of the vintage. Harvest September 1 to 26. 32hl/h yield. 60% new oak. 32hl/h yield. 80IPT. This is a buy. 95 points" janeanson.com------"Tasting more like a Grand Vin than a second wine, the 2022 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild boasts a deep purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, ripe blackberries, melted chocolate, espresso, and graphite. Rich, opulent, and still balanced, drink this sexy 2022 any time over the coming 15-20 years. The blend of the 2022 is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot that's still resting in 60% new barrels. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The Petit Mouton is more and more structured and intense. It's made for the cellar. Full to medium body. Lively and intense. Solid. 71% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 7% cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 1 case | Château Ormes de Pez | 75cl | £256 per case of 12 | Château Ormes de Pez 2022 / 1 case / 75cl £256 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Exhibiting aromas of rich cassis, pencil shavings and petals, the 2022 Ormes de Pez is medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit and plenty of powdery structuring tannin. It's a blend of 51% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Ormes de Per is bold, pungent and savory, in classic Saint-Estèphe style. Gravel, cured meats, spice and leather give the 2022 a good bit of aromatic and flavor complexity. Medium in body, with good depth, the 2022 has a ton to offer. This is a terrific showing. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"In line with the rest of the St Estèphe appellation in terms of its plum colour and vivid violet rim, this is already promising to be easy to drink, with supple velvet tannins, cocoa bean, caramel, sweet blackberry fruits, fig tart, patisserie cream, spice red peppers, it retains the appealingly unfussy welcome of Ormes de Pez even with the ripe signatures of the vintage. Blend finished February. Quantity down 40% after hail in June. 45% new oak. 93 points" janeanson.com------""The 2022 Ormes de Pez is matured in 45% new oak for a planned 16 months. It has a perfumed and floral bouquet, quite sensual for a Saint-Estèphe, developing blue fruit with time in the glass. The oak is neatly enmeshed. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a high-toned and racy opening. Good acidity, the Merlot (51%) occupies the driving seat and ensures its silky-textured finish, a mote of chalk dust on the aftertaste. Just needs its élevage to knit it all together. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A juicy and fruity red with blackberry, black cherry and chocolate character. Full and round with freshness and intensity. Very spicy. Black olives, too. 51% merlot, 39% cabernet sauvignon, 8% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"Another brilliant Saint-Estèphe, the 2022 Château Ormes De Pez offers up lots of ripe blue and black fruits as well textbook earth, crushed stone, and graphite. Showing more nuance and floral notes with time in the glass, this medium to full-bodied effort has plenty of mid-palate depth, velvety yet building tannins, and nicely integrated background oak. This serious wine is worth seeking out. Tasted twice. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 4 cases | Château Palmer | 75cl | £1,788 per case of 6 | Château Palmer 2022 / 4 cases / 75cl £1,788 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"As is the case at neighbor Château Margaux, the 2022 Palmer is one of the most powerful wines this estate has ever produced. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, it offers up aromas of blackberries, burning embers, violets, iris and sweet soil tones, followed by a full-bodied, broad and expansive palate, its velvety attack segueing into a rich and layered core. Supple, seamless and concentrated, it checks in at 14.4% alcohol and a rather high pH of 3.79. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Palmer is a wine of sublime beauty and refinement. Siky, caressing and super-expressive, the 2022 is also one of the most surprising wines of the year in that it does not show the drought or heat of the growing season at all either in its flavor profile or feel. Succulent black cherry, plum, leather, licorice, spice and dried herbs lend notable complexity throughout. The 2022 starts off rather slow and then really explodes on the back end. It is a magnificent wine in every way. 96-98 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Palmer was cropped at just 22hL/ha due to the berries being 25-30% smaller than usual. It bursts forth on the nose with precocious black cherries, blueberry, violet and touches of marmalade and tobacco in the background. Complex and expressive. The palate is structured, with the tannic backbone, that winemaker Thomas Duroux talked about, lending this Palmer a sense of verticality. Hints of black pepper emerge with time, multi-layered, powerful Margaux and yet the IPT is actually lower than elsewhere (76). Quite linear on the tobacco-infused finish which is just quintessential Palmer. Do reserve a bin in your cellar for this and let it gather dust for at least a decade. 14.4% alcohol. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Château Palmer is utterly brilliant, so much so that I questioned in my notes if this would challenge the 2018. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare, its mammoth-sized personality offers layers of blue and black fruits, notes of melted chocolate, crushed stone, and spring flowers, building, velvety tannins, and a great, great finish. While many estates commented that they extracted less in the vintage, Palmer went in a different direction and extracted more during the vinifications to provide a solid backbone to match the concentration and power of the vintage. It appears to have worked brilliantly, and hats off to Thomas Duroux for having the confidence to go his own path. He has produced a truly Grand Vin in 2022. The alcohol here is a normal 14.4%, and the pH is a healthy 3.79. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"So much class in the nose with a sophisticated kaleidoscope of dark fruit such as blackcurrants, and spices such as salt and pepper, as well as cloves and nutmeg. Full-bodied. Compacted and dense yet weightless. It opens beautifully. The tannins go on and on with wonderful presence. Salty undertones. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Palmer - Alter Ego de Palmer | 75cl | £402 per case of 6 | Château Palmer Alter Ego de Palmer 2022 / / 75cl £402 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"The 2022 Alter Ego is a deep limpid purple in color. It has a huge bouquet as if someone has shoved a bunch of violets in your face and said "Smell that'. It just doesn't hold back. The palate is medium-bodied, with a sweet, ripe entry, Quite dense, structured and grippy, with a slightly briny finish 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Dense fruits, violet reflections, with a hit of iris, peony and roses. This is a serious wine, with intense phenolics and full extraction that just walks the line, edges of ripe cassis, fig, saffran spice, cocoa bean, grilled campfire notes, dark bitter chocolate and fennel. High drama, maintains estate signature, keeping its own imprint and personality. Harvest September 7 right through to October 5. Blend done by December, yield 23hl/h. 3.73ph. Thomas Duroux director. 92 points" janeanson.com------"A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Alter Ego de Palmer offers up aromas of cherries, wild berries and plums mingled with vine smoke and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, deep and brooding, with a layered core of fruit, lively acids and rich, powdery tannins, it's a gourmand, voluptuous wine that will offer a broad drinking window. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"I always love the second wine from this estate, and their 2022 Alter Ego De Palmer should be terrific. Based on 61% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged in 25% new oak, it's a deeply hued Margaux with lots of ripe red and blue fruits, some classic chalky minerality, and floral notes. It shows the vintage's powerful, concentrated style and is full-bodied, with terrific balance. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Alter Ego is a total pleasure bomb. Ripe and sensual with caressing tannins, the 2022 is exceptionally beautiful. Floral and spice top notes lend tons of aromatic presence. More than anything, though, I am so impressed with the wine's exceptional balance. Especially the tannins. Nothing in particular stands out, as the wine's balance is nothing short of magnificent. The 2022 is pure and total sensualty. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The minerality and intensity to this wine is very impressive with blackberry and blue berry aromas and flavors. Salt and pepper. It’s full and linear with a brightness and freshness. Compacted center palate. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 1 case | Château Pichon Baron | 75cl | £810 per case of 6 | Château Pichon Baron 2022 / 1 case / 75cl £810 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"You are firmly wading through intense, sculpted Pauillac tannins here, gripping from the first moments with their structure and intent. Blocks of intense chocolate, slate, liquorice and black chocolate, this feels vertical and concentrated, could let more light in at this stage but that should come over ageing. Petit Verdot vinified in amphora, and they did a cold soak for every plot this year for the first time. 70% new barrels and 30% from barrels of one vintage. 94 points" janeanson.com--------"An unusually gourmand, sensual wine from this estate, the 2022 Pichon-Longueville Baron bursts with aromas of crème de cassis, sweet dark berries, licorice, lilac and pencil shavings. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with excellent concentration and a rather rich, supple profile. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, it's the result of sub-block by sub-block picking and cooler than usual fermentation temperatures. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A very structured and racy PB with blackcurrant, stone and black cherry aromas and flavors. Medium to full body with racy and fine tannins that are precise and focused. Elegance with structure. 81% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Pichon Baron is marvelous. It continues a series of vintages that have been absolutely compelling. Bright red-toned fruit, spice, rose petal and blood orange lend considerable brightness throughout. More than anything else, the 2022 impresses with its precision and magnificent balance. 96-98 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Pichon Baron was picked 8 September to 3 October and matured in 70% new dak. It has wonderful precision on the nose, with intense blackberry and bilberry fruit, crushed stone and graphite. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is tensile right from the start. Taut and linear, fresh, quite saline with a nuanced touch of black pepper toward the finish. Real pedigree and sophistication here, this is a magnificent Pichon-Baron that achieves a new level of precision thanks to the more piecemeal Sauternes-inspired harvest in tandem with the new winery. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 20 cases | Château Potensac | 75cl | £246 per case of 12 | Château Potensac 2022 / 20 cases / 75cl £246 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes""Aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper and licorice introduce the 2022 Potensac, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy Médoc with a deep core of fruit and powdery structuring tannins. It's built along similar lines to the 2020. 89-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Potensac has an intense bouquet with layered red and black fruit, cedar and light mint aromas. This is a Potensac with purpose. The palate is a little creamier than previous vintages on the entry, but then the tannic framework makes its presence felt. Firm grip, quite fresh and sappy with a fine thread of acidity maintaining poise. This is a superb Potensac. 2026-2042. 91-93 points." Neal Martin, Vinous.com, Apr '23------"The 2022 Potensac is a pretty rich, heady Haut-Médoc. Blue/purplish fruit, spice, new leather, menthol and sage fill out the layers nicely. The 2022 offers a combination of fruit depth and vibrancy that is hugely appealing. This opens beautifully with a bit of coaxing. 2027 - 2042. 93 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com, Jan '25------"Balance and depth to the fruit. This must be the most concentrated Potensac that I have tasted En Primeur, but you can pick out individual characters of sweet blackberry puree, slate, liquorice root, firm tannins, almost drying on the finish but there is juice and the cold ash aspect that is such a lovely sign of Cabernet Sauvignon on gravel. One to look out for. You needed the expertise of consultant Eric Boissenot with press wine I imagine in this kind of vintage, and it works well here. No 2nd wine now here as of this vintage, back to keeping things simple. No Chapelle de Potensac this year. Tasted twice. 93 points." Jane Anson------"One of the best ever with super currants, mint, mineral and iodine. Crushed stones. Medium- to full-bodied, it has wonderful caressing tannins that run the length of the wine. A real Potensac, cabernet-driven, that goes on for minutes. 43% cabernet sauvignon, 36.5% merlot, 19.5% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Drink after 2028 but already fantastic and one of the best values of the vintage. 96 points." James Suckling, Jan '25 |
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| RED | 2022 | 1 case | Château Poujeaux | 75cl | £246 per case of 12 | Château Poujeaux 2022 / 1 case / 75cl £246 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Poujeaux offers up aromas of cassis, plums, pencil shavings and sweet soil tones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated palate that opens with a velvety attack, segueing into a firmer, more austere mid-palate and finish that depress my score. If this rounds out with élevage, my review will prove conservative. 88-90 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Poujeaux is very beautiful. Silky, aromatic and elegant, the 2022 is flat-out delicious. Crushed red/purplish berries, mint, blood orange, graphite and spice are all beautifully woven together. Clean mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly. The 2022 is all class. It's as simple as that. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Poujeaux has a perfumed and delineated bouquet: copious black cherries and blueberry fruit, hints of pressed iris and violets. This blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced, impressive focus with fine-grain black fruit. This builds in the mouth. The 2022 Poujeaux certainly repays patience in terms of waiting for the sample to cohere in the glass. Ultimately, everything seems succinctly controlled and, who knows, it may well surpass a delicious magnum of 1953 tasted the previous evening. Tasted three times with consistent notes. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A medium-bodied red with crunchy fruit and tight tannin structure. Juicy acidity coming through. Chewy and solid at the end. Closed and pretty tannins. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 2 cases | Château Rauzan Ségla | 75cl | £505 per case of 6 | Château Rauzan Ségla 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £505 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla is a rich, opulent wine that very much reflects the nature of this radiant, dry year. Super-ripe dark plum, cassis, chocolate, gravel, cloves and new leather build as the 2022 shows off its unabashedly opulent personality. Even with all of its intensity, the 2022 retains tons of persistence and energy. It's a fabulous wine in this tricky vintage Tasted three times. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla was picked 2 to 28 September at 30hL/ha and matured for 18 months in 50% new oak. Nicolas Audebert told me that it contains 17% vin de presse which is slightly higher than normal, a combination of 150 separate vinifications. This has a very opulent bouquet with layers of black cherries, créme de cassis and violets. Perhaps just a little too decadent? The palate is medium-bodied with fine balance, grainy tannins, very pure and focused with quite a minerally finish. Long in the mouth. It's just missing that knockout blow at the moment, yet it's still a supremely well-crafted Margaux. 2030-2065. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla is a beautifully sensual, charming wine, bursting with aromas of cherries, dark berries and plums mingled with hints of violets, sweet loamy soil and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's fleshy and enveloping, with an ample core of vibrant fruit, supple tannins and a long, succulent finish. The 2022 is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot; and in 2022, the east-facing sides of the vines, which see the afternoon sun, were picked separately, along with anything that showed signs of stress. 96-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Supple texture, thoroughly impressive in its depth and grip, blackcurrant, blackberry, crayon, liquorice, mint, slate, fennel, ink, has confidence and character and just so much class. Brings precision to the exuberance of the vintage, barely puts a step wrong, so concentated and yet delivering slate and lift. Excellent. Tasted twice. 50% new barrels, Nicolas Auderbert director, 50% of production in the first wine. 97 points" janeanson.com------"The freshness and clarity of the fruit is really something with black currants and cherries. Brilliant. Full-bodied, layered and round with polished tannins. I like the intensity and focus with such precision and gorgeousness. Is this the 2016 plus more? 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"This château has been firing on all cylinders of late, no doubt due to the talents of technical director Nicolas Audebert, and a wine that's going to flirt with perfection is their 2022 Château Rauzan-Ségla. Powerful notes of black cherries, currants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and leafy herbs all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated texture, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish. This is a legit great wine that's going to rival the 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 8 cases | Château Roc de Cambes | 75cl | £330 per case of 6 | Château Roc de Cambes 2022 / 8 cases / 75cl £330 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Roc de Cambes is a wid, exotic wine that cuplures all the natural intensity of the year Super-ripe black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, licorice, lavender and hard candy all race out of the glass. The 2022 is pretty exuberant, so readers should expect a flamboyant wine that approaches the sort of richness that is often found in the flagship Tertre Roteboeuf. Roc de Cambes is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Mingling aromas of sweet cherries and cassis with notions of licorice, espresso roast and spices, the 2022 Roc de Cambes is medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with a broad-shouldered profile, framed by powdery tannins, and concluding with a chalky finish. This is always the most structured wine in the Mitjaville portfolio. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Roc de Cambes displays a very perfumed bouquet with black cherries and blueberry fruit, more floral than the Domaine des Cambes, iris and peony. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, dark berry fruit laced with white pepper and clove. Hints of iron toward the spicy finish. Very fine. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A bigger, riper, sexier wine, the 2022 Roc De Cambes just about jumps out of the glass with its exotic red and blue fruits as well as vanilla bean, sweet spice, and acacia flower-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has beautiful tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It shows the riper, opulent style of the vintage, yet it has a core of ripe tannins and mid-palate depth that keeps it nicely focused and balanced. It's a gorgeous wine that's unfortunately hard to find in the market. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 2 cases | Château Roc de Cambes | Magnum | £345 per case of 3 | Château Roc de Cambes 2022 / 2 cases / Magnum £345 per case of 3 |
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| RED | 2022 | 3 cases | Château Saintayme | 75cl | £150 per case of 12 | Château Saintayme 2022 / 3 cases / 75cl £150 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Saintayme was picked from 17 September to 5 October and matured in 30% new oak. It gushes with quite intense red cherries, kirsch and orange pith scents, lovely definition, simple in a positive sense. The palate is medium-bodied with darker fruit than the nose suggest, quite saline with a black pepper-tinged finish. Enjoy this over the next decade. Drinking Window: 2027 - 2040. 89-91 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"All Merlot from a mix of terroirs, the 2022 Saintayme has impressive darker cherry and blackberry-like fruit as well as medium to full body, a terrific chalky mineral character, ripe yet firmer tannins, and outstanding length. 90-92 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Saintayme is bright, floral and vibrant in this vintage, almost surprisingly so. Crushed red berry frut, rose petal, chalk, mint and white pepper all run through this taut, nervy Saint-Émilion. All the elements are so well balanced. I especially admire the wine's persistence and inner perfume. Terrific. Drinking Window: 2026 - 2037. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Intense muscular contraction to the tannins on the opening beats, the fruit gets creamy as it opens, with vivid raspberry reflections and plenty of mouthwating salinity. This is a pretty serious Saintayme, great quality and great value. Olivier Gautrat alongside Noémie Durantou. Harvest September 17 to October 3 (extremely late for the vintage, because cool clays in a cooler part of St Etienne de Lisse, something you also see in the generous 50hl/h yields), 30% new oak. 93 points" janeanson.com------"So much sea salt and crunchy fruit with berry and grape character. Some orange, too. Medium-bodied, bright and vivid. Lively finish. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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