Bordeaux Blends

This is a special late release from Château Giscours: their second wine from an outstanding vintage. The label is the winning design from a competition launched in March 2021, designed by James Albon, and 100% of the profits from the sale of this wine will be donated to The Drinks Trust’s Covid-19 relief fund, to support members of the UK hospitality industry adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. The wine itself is beautiful. Notes of violets and pure, dark Cabernet fruit on the nose, while the palate is detailed, with fine tannins and a savoury note underpinning the core of ripe fruit. The finish is chiselled and intense, with lots of energy shining through. This demonstrates why 2015 in Margaux is such a legendary vintage: it’s a stunning wine, for an excellent cause.

Tasted April 2023. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 14.6% ABV. 50% new oak. Picked from 1st September. Aromatic and floral on the nose with bright black berry fruit and some fresh cherries. Opulent style of fruit compared to Le Chenade this year, with plenty of ripe tannin and a seam of stony freshness. Layered with stone and dried petals.

Montaiguillon’s 2020 is another resounding success, continuing a string of excellent vintages at the estate. It is a deep ruby colour with notes of spiced plums, cassis and blackberries on the nose. There’s a savoury, graphite note woven through the juicy, sumptuous palate. Its rounded tannins are already integrated with the plump fruit, and the finish has a fresh, balanced length, the likes of which you’d expect from wines with much bigger price tags.

The 2016 Langoa Barton is a real star from St-Julien. A beautifully classical nose of bramble fruit, sandalwood and graphite with accents of violets and wild herbs. The palate is supple and full of freshness with a certain muscularity and depth which builds to the long, savoury finish with tinges of tobacco and pencil shavings.

Tasted April 2022. Seriously impressive in 2021, La Garde has good concentration and a velvet, almost creamy texture. The flavours are full of bramble, blackcurrant, red plum and violets, and there's a developing silkiness to the tannins.

The 2022 is a superb vintage from this Tuscan estate, based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. There is a richness of red and black berry fruits combining with leather, liquorice and cinnamon spice. The tannins are plush and velvety and there is a refreshing acidity that lingers on the finish, displaying this wine's pedigree.

Château Thénac is undoubtedly the finest wine from Bergerac that we’ve come across. The 2015 is deep in colour with notes of ripe plum, dark chocolate, and bramble. There’s plenty of grip here, with vanilla spice and a hint of cedar, and fresh, lifted acidity. This really punches above its modest price tag.

From the Durantou family of wines, this is a bottle that will never disappoint. There's a coolness here, but still so much fruit, and wonderful tannic structure. For a wine at this price point this will age brilliantly - everyone should have a bottle or two in their cellar.

The 2020 Tronquoy is one of the best wines we've tasted from this estate. It offers cocoa dusted cherry, graphite, wild herbs, green tobacco. Sleek and sinewy in the palate, a modern style with a lot of energy and precision while notes of graphite, violets and black tea add complexity. Very pure and sinewy in style with iodine and kelp notes – lovely tension and fluidity. A wine you'll want a few cases of for the years to come.

The 2019 La Gaffeliere is a drop-dead gorgeous St-Emilion: the best wine I have tasted from this historic estate. Violets on the nose, with a wonderfully refined, focussed palate. This is so long, and so moreish. A top buy in 2019.

Elena Pozzolini has brought this Tuscan estate, which borders the heralded Bolgheri region, to new heights and this Bordeaux blend displays the richness and concentration of the vintage with the restraint and focus that the Sette Cieli wines offer.

A bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a small % of Sangiovese that is aged in oak burgundy barrels for 2 years. Blackberry fruits and bramble fruits are supported with cassis and bell pepper notes as well as tobacco and cedar spice. Tannins are firm, yet have a suppleness to them.

Ormes de Pez is the kind of wine we buy year in, year out En Primeur here at Lay & Wheeler. Made by one of Bordeaux's most talented teams - the team behind Lynch-Bages - it's a wine that delivers spectacularly for its price. Savoury and focused in 2020, there's beautiful energy here: this is classic claret that will never cease to impress. In short, it's a cornerstone of your cellar in the years to come.

A wine to challenge the brilliance of the 2015 and 2016 at this estate, notes of small plums and blackberries, and wild violets. The palate is silky and voluminous but not overblown, and there’s charming detailing on the finish. An estate you should buy every year.

Tasted April 2023. This has the same bright red fruit character as La Gaffeliere, and has a lovely silky texture, with summer fruits on the palate and a chalky note to the finish. Balanced and pure, with a long finish and some taut, densely-packed tannin. Puyblanquet is a brilliant wine this year and a complete bargain.

Owned by the Vauthier family, of Château Ausone fame, Fonbel rarely fails to impress and in 2010 they have produced a truly beautiful wine. On the nose, notes of attractively pure dark fruit come through. On the palate, the core of fruit is fresh and fragrant and the tannins are well-refined, soft and expressive, giving this a deliciously layered texture. Poised and mineral on the finish, this offers excellent value for money.

Tasted April 2023. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot. Once again, Meyney is performing at the level of a classed growth, and remains brilliant value as a result. This estate, sandwiched between Montrose and Calon-Ségur, is in a great spot to manage the warm, dry conditions in 2022. The clay soils bring a welcome coolness, likewise their proximity to the river. There's a significant proportion of Petit Verdot, giving depth, concentration and spice. It's taut and structured, with ripe tannins, around a core of fleshy black fruit. We can't recommend it highly enough.

The blend is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it has turned out well in 2010, producing a richly fruity, elegant style of Pomerol with loads of berry fruit, cedar wood and roasted herbs as well as hints of coffee bean and cedar. Rich, medium to full-bodied , but never losing its finesse (which is usually the style of La Croix de Gay), this wine should drink nicely for up to 15 years. 91 points, Robert Parker

Described by Bruno Borie at Ducru-Beaucaillou as being another expression of Ducru, rather than simply a second wine, this is a wine that has certainly seen an enormous increase in quality over recent vintages.

Very attractive and pure, perfumed, blueberry and blackcurrant nose, with creamy notes and a touch of graphite. On palate the fruit is pure and focused. The tannins are fine and accessible and the finish is fresh and of good fruit length. Gently expressed, very well balanced and likely to represent a fabulous quality to price ratio.

Deep and brooding, very mineral and fine, striking tannic structure and there's a depth to the fruit. Power, balance and intensity. Really impressively put together with energy and length.

Deep hedgerow fruit notes on the nose, which carry through onto a broad, expressive palate. Tannins here are quite robust, giving a delineated framework to the concentration of ripe fruit. Some oak comes through on the finish, but this is balanced by a vein of freshness.

Matthiasson are renowned for their elegant style, with earlier picking than their neighbours to protect the bright, expressive red cherry and bramble fruit. There's some floral lift here and subtle spice. A refreshing, appetising version of Napa Cabernet that remains excellent value.

Almost as deep as the Grand Vin, the aromas are scented and floral, with appealing dark cherry fruit to the fore. Revealing impressive intensity, with dark cherry and berry, there is the same fragrant and floral lift as evidenced in Ausone itself. Juicy and vibrant in style, this is an impressive Chapelle – very intense, and mineral to the finish, with a lush quality to the fruit.

Robert Parker: 93-95 points (Wine Advocate 188)

Jean-Michel Cazes' property is firing on all four cylinders in 2000. Dense in colour it has a feeling of warmth, richness and concentration only achieved in great years. The natural acidity on the finish will enable this wine to age and develop into a classic Pauillac. Fabulous!

Voluptuous with silky definition, l’Etoile is evidently the brainchild of the Vieux Chateau Certan outfit with a quality fleshy feel from the 85% merlot and gorgeous, perfumed fruit.

Ripe, scented, attractive and appealing, with a gently creamy, but mainly perfumed nose of red and black berry aromatics. Seamless texture and balanced weight. The fruit here is wonderfully pure, tannins are finely tuned and the wine is sustained by long, mineral freshness.

Robert Parker: 94-98+ points (Wine Advocate 188)

Another top ‘Cru Bourgeois’ that is owned and run by the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages and which makes rich, fine quality wines. Attractive on the nose, with notes of cassis and wet stones. There is a creamy touch to the fruit on the palate and a rich nature. None-the-less, the minerality that one comes to expect from St-Estèphe adds a delightful balancing freshness, giving this a sense of elegance in an opulent vintage.

Very intense in the glass with floral-edged, dark-berry fruit and a pure, sweet note of ripeness. The palate reveals a soft, fruit-laden attack and glorious depth, with layer upon layer of sumptuous fruit. Beneath the fruit there is an assertive, underlying structure but with more than enough substance to balance out. A long-term effort a grand vin in the truest sense.

“Joseph Phelps’ flagship wines include the incredibly ageworthy Insignia. The 2012 Insignia Proprietary Red is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, all aged 24 months in 100% new French oak. The vintage was of such high quality and quantity that 17,500 cases were produced. A magnificent Insignia that will be bottled in several months, it boasts an opaque purple color as well as fabulous notes of graphite, blackberries, blackcurrant liqueur, camphor, barbecue smoke and spice box. Rich, full-bodied and opulent with plenty of tannin and structure lurking beneath the extravagant generosity of fruit, this stunning 2012 should drink well for 25-30+ years.”
(96-100) points, Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

With 30 hectares of vineyards situated next to those of Lagrange (and averaging 40 years old), winemaking expertise straight from over-achieving super-second Ducru-Beaucaillou (and the investment that comes with it), Lalande-Borie is really starting to show great potential. The blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc has produced a lovely wine for medium-term ageing. It is already very approachable and displays a juicy and fresh texture, dominated by black cherries and a hint of red fruits.

"This is one of my all-time favorite wines from Domaine de Chevalier, a silky, rather classic Pessac-Leognan with notes of scorched earth, tobacco leaf and black and red currants, but no hard edges. Fragrant, complex aromatics are followed by a savory, expansively flavored wine made from a final blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine hit 13.5% natural alcohol, which must certainly be among the highest they have ever achieved, even eclipsing the 2009. An opulent, precocious style of wine that seems much more developed, complex and delicious than I thought from barrel, this beauty can be drunk in 5-6 years or cellared for 20 or more. " 95 points, Robert Parker

One of the outstanding wines of the vintage. Scents are an amalgam of opulent, profound and sumptuous black fruits and spices whilst the palate is both rich and luscious with perfect harmony of tannins, fruit and acidity. An ultra-generous and lace-textured pauillac.

Concentrated, with considerable yet very fine-grained tannins, this is incredibly impressive. Blackcurrant notes and pencil shavings abound, with freshness and real complexity. A wine that is punching way above its price point, this still has a considerable, and exciting, future ahead.

Scented dark fruits on the nose, with notes of plum and damson. On the palate, this is supremely elegant, with finely expressed tannins and a voluptuous fruit core. Mouthfilling and rich, yet balanced by freshness that ensures that this wine remains a charming and attractive Moulin-St-Georges.

“What a wonderful 2009 from La Croix de Gay, as a new chapter opens in its history. It is blessed with a beautiful, very pure bouquet with floral red cherries strawberry and a touch of marmalade and apricot blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins, great precision with fine mineralite and length. Superb.” Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 92 Points (January 2010)


“A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc from this well-situated vineyard on the plateau of Pomerol… [I]t displays plenty of kirsch, sweet cherries and red currants along with some sandy/loamy soil and roasted herb notes in a very sexy, up-front, lush, medium to full-bodied style. There’s not a hard edge to be found in this La Croix de Gay…” Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 Points (February 2012)

Dense and opaque in the glass. With coaxing, aromas of sweet cassis, blackcurrant leaf and wet gravel reluctantly emerge. The initial impression is one of cool, fresh ripe fruit. This is so streamlined, rich and dense (perhaps more so than many young Lafite of the last decade) and has staggering purity. A textural style, on account of silken, round tannins and seamless, with pure fruit of soft-skinned blackcurrant, allied to notes of tobacco leaf and graphite. There is a racy, focused linear nature to this vintage, with concentration gradually building across the palate. Long, refined and driven, this is a bold Lafite with considerable power, yet always retaining hallmark refinement. Just how great this is, time will tell. Exceptional.

Robert Parker: 98-100 points (Wine Advocate 188)

In this vintage Carruades comprises near equal proportions of Cabernet and Merlot, with around 10% of Cabernet Franc. The quality of the second wine of Lafite continues to impress: deep appearance in the glass, with a smooth flowing texture and ample dark mulberry and currant fruit. The 2005 seems more generous than previous Carruades with a pleasing weight and a peppery touch to the tannins. Fresh and pure, this is classic pauillac.

The 2019 Seña is a vibrant, ripe, yet incredibly refined red from this iconic estate. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 15% Carmenère, and 4% Petit Verdot, it shows refinement of tannins, poise, and a long and stony finish. There’s tons of energy here, and a slightly smoky finish. This is quintessentially Chilean, but with real poise.

Nicely pure on the nose, with fresh blackcurrant and a hint of plum. There’s a floral element here, and silky, sensuous, cool tannins. Brilliant length and a juicy, mouthwatering finish.

70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, picked in four separate passes through the vineyards. The fruit leaps out of the glass, even at this early stage: lovely intense cassis and raspberries, with a fresh edge of blackcurrant leaf and herbs. Winemaker Alexandre Thienpont accurately describes the texture of the tannins as 'cashmere' and the wine as 'archi-classique'. Great purity and elegance, with a tightrope quality, an unusually delicate concentration, which promises a great future. Legendary.

Once one of the most highly thought of properties in Bordeaux at the time of the 1855 Classification, Château Rauzan-Ségla's reputation declined over the years until it was bought by Chanel in 1993. Since then, substantial investment and the influence of talented wine-maker John Kolassa has led to this property undergoing a major turn-around and it now produces some of the finest Margaux in any vintage. Charming nose of creamy cassis fruit. The palate shows a fresh, vibrant fruit character with black and red fruit spreading across the mid-palate. Beautifully textured with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannin giving length to this appealing Rauzan.

This is an excellent second wine from Les Carmes Haut-Brion, undoubtedly one of the most-improved estate in Pessac-Léognan in recent years. The vintage was saved by an Indian summer, hence this cuvée's increased proportion of late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, giving it uncommon backbone for a wine of this price.

This château exemplifies the fine quality available from the more humble estates in 2010. A well defined taut and linear structure is balanced by ripe concentrated fruit with a supple texture and good density. Well pitched and one of the successful gems of the Médoc. Described by Robert Parker as “under-valued and tast[ing] like a mini-version of the well-known Pauillac, Grand-Puy-Lacoste”.

The 2020 Château La Gaffelière is another incredible wine from this estate, that's producing some of the finest wines on the right bank right now. Chiselled and precise, with lots of energy, this manages to balance the solar character of the vintage, with real purity and precision. An incredible wine, and one of the picks of the vintage.

Charming, with sweet-ripe fruit characters awoken in the glass. On the palate, this has a glossy, plum and damson nature, offset by enlivening violet notes. A dart of minerality and a swathe of silky-fine tannins are balanced by seductive fruit, but this a subtle wine that carries its weight and structure with great poise and grace.

Picked at optimum ripeness following cool nights in the vineyard, which led to high natural acids and a fresh structure, the palate was immediately perfumed. Almost black in the glass, it nevertheless showed sweet ripe summer fruits and fine, mouthcoating, tannins. A prickly acidity keeps all that structure in place and leads onto a long, rich finish. An excellent performance from this property.

The 2018 Serre Nuove is another stunning second wine from Ornellaia. A blend of 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 17% Petit Verdot, it’s an elegant, spicy wine from this legendary estate, with wonderful freshness and a rich core of black fruit. Very long indeed: brilliantly put together.

Petit Eglise is a wine of stunning quality. The second wine of Château Eglise-Clinet, it is a wine of epic proportions on every level. A wonderfully expressive and complex nose is jam packed with dark plummy fruit, but there is a really appealing meaty and spicy note. The palate is opulent and gorgeously smooth, with the most amazing mouthfeel. Sweet black fruit, chocolate and coffee notes are underpinned by massive, superfine tannins and balanced by just enough acid to retain freshness. A wine of depth, balance and truly seductive nature.

One of the oldest estates in the Médoc producing a classic and typical Pauillac.
Complex on the nose, with notes of cassis, chocolate and mocha, with a hint of cloves and cinnamon. Blackberries, chocolate notes and cream texture, with nuances of vanilla and nutmeg on the palate, there is a real plush richness to this wine. It is held together beautifully with very well integrated tannins and a soft vein of acidity running through the finish. An excellent wine that should not be missed!

The vintage conditions at Vieux Château Certan were somewhat reminiscent of 1988, with a dry but not too hot summer that favoured Cabernet Franc. There is only one word to describe the result here: stunning. Very ripe plum characters, with a leather and tobacco edge, are beguiling. The texture is simply magnificent, with plenty of richness yet retaining a fresh edge, extremely fine tannins and a fantastic length. A Pomerol classic in the making.

Initially a little closed on the nose, this is awoken to give dark berry notes and a touch of woodsmoke. On the palate, appealingly fresh, with notes of cassis and red berries to the fore. Tannins are well-integrated, giving this a silky-texture. Very good Cru Bourgeois Margaux and excellent value.

A great vintage, and a great Pomerol. This is one of the finest Conseillantes made, one with an incredibly long lifespan ahead.

Bought by Cheval-Blanc in 2006 and located next-door to the property. This has a beautifully scented nose of violets, cloves and ripe red cherries. The lovely fruit intensity on the mid-palate is framed by silky, ethereal tannins and a vein of acidity that make this wine both elegant and concentrated. Exquisitely balanced, with a persistent finish.

Robert Parker: 92-94 points (Wine Advocate 188)

Perfumed on the nose, this is restrained, with a cool, menthol aspect to its ripe creamy fruit. There is a terrific freshness and purity to this vintage, as well as wonderfully ripe blackcurrant fruit. A linear style, with plenty of racy, fine tannins courtesy of an elevated, impeccable Cabernet component. Again, another classically proportioned style with impressive length – surely one of the finest vintages for d’Armailhac.

Pure, lifted cassis nose - ripe and perfumed. Lovely grace through the mid-palate, giving a layered feel to the fresh berry fruit-laden palate. The tannins are gently mineral on a finish of fresh, fruit skin grip. An elegant Langoa, which shows a classy lightness of touch.

One can't help but be impressed by Château Ausone, set at the top of a tortuously twisted road, with its caves and chapelle dug into the limestone cliff. It is a fittingly romantic location for one of the world's greatest wines. A blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, this is dark and brooding in the glass. The nose is exceedingly rich and dense, with attractive black cherry and bramble fruit characters. The tannins are firm and structured, yet ripe and well integrated with the rich core of dark cherry, cassis and damson fruit. A stony minerality and a dart of refreshing acidity reflect the terroir and lend backbone to the rich succulent fruit.

Deep brilliant purple colour with a strikingly rich herbaceous and cinnamon essenced aroma. In the mouth there is a wonderfully enticing, almost gamy character supported by sweet black fruit flavours. This is a tremendously concentrated wine with an incredible weight of fruit which truly expresses the wine's origins. Full and flavoursome.

The commune of St-Estèphe has enjoyed particular success in this challenging vintage. A very different style from Lafon-Rochet, for here the accent is on restraint and finesse. The wine has good colour and is medium bodied with defined yet supple tannins. The elegance is particularly appealing, not overstated but fine-tuned and reserved with a long and attractive finish. Phélan Ségur is definitely an estate to watch, and major value for the vintage.

The commune of St-Estèphe has enjoyed particular success in this challenging vintage. A very different style from Lafon-Rochet, for here the accent is on restraint and finesse. The wine has good colour and is medium bodied with defined yet supple tannins. The elegance is particularly appealing, not overstated but fine-tuned and reserved with a long and attractive finish. Phélan Ségur is definitely an estate to watch, and major value for the vintage.

Hard to believe but the quality here is still on the up! Jean-Guillaume Prats is clearly maximising the full potential of this Cabernet-dominant cuvée. In fact, the assemblage here comprises 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. In the glass, a wine of great colour with pronounced tobacco nuances as well as clove and cinnamon spice on the nose. The superlative quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon really shines through, defined, structured and powerful. Despite great extract and depth, the balance here is so fine it can be described as elegant despite the power and personality that it exudes. A fine, long finish – a truly memorable Cos.

Very primary at the moment on the nose, with dark fruits, violet notes, and a sprinkling of well-integrated sweet fruit. In the mouth the power builds, but the thread of freshness ensures a weightless quality. With excellent acidity, fine-grained tannins, and intensity of flavour, the 2013 Caro has all the characteristics required for a long life ahead.

A deliciously approachable claret that opens with fleshy bramble and hedgerow fruit with a little savoury accent of tobacco and wild herbs. Mid-weight and bright, this is soft and supple on the palate with an easy charm. Excellent value.

This is perfectly aged claret: a wine from an area for those in the know. There's beautifully pure fruit, with notes of dried plums, graphite, and store cupboard spice. The tannins are finely judged, with drive on the finish. All in all, an excellent wine.

Deep, dense and almost opaque in colour with a restrained nose of cassis and plum. The palate has a core of dark fruit, cedar wood and a rich violet edge. There is firm structure here but the tannins are ripe and well integrated. Styled in a similar vein to the highly impressive grand vin, this shows terrific promise.

The recent run of strong wines from Malescot has continued in some style with the 2009. Vivid, bright nose of ripe fruit, both red and black. This has the ripeness of fruit and a lovely silky texture, in a structured medium bodied style. There is a lot of volume here, but backed up by a degree of restraint that makes it very appealing and a winning combination of both vintage and commune.

Robert Parker: 95-97 points (Wine Advocate 188)

Le Boscq overlooks the Gironde, on a deep gravel bank. It gets better and better: the 2019 might just be the best yet. It’s a wine for the cellar: one that really over delivers.

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Petite Sirah. The 2018 Bard is a showcase of the best Cabernet the Valley had to offer in this widely celebrated vintage. It's got a fantastic balance of intensity and power, with dense cassis and black plum with rich chocolately texture, and fresh, vibrant floral notes of violet and lavender, along with woody herbs. Incredible mouth-coating texture and richness, this also shows enough grip to age gracefully for years to come. A seriously exciting Napa wine.

Floral and expressive, haunting aromatics with wonderful ripeness of fruit. Palate is very textured and fresh, and very saline. Impressive density and length on the finish. This is wonderful.

Power and depth on the nose, cassis and blueberries. The 2018 is a brooding monster, with a touch of pot pourri and of volcanic stones. Such detailing and layers, touch of herbs but also so much red liquorice. It’s fine and silky, and such intensity and complexity. Keeps unfurling, floral delicacy, saline and iodine high points, ensuring this remains savoury and layered. A perfect wine?

Lalande de Pomerol is an appellation that is often overlooked, but that seems to have worked well in 2015. This has a good density of sweet, ripe fruit without being overbearing. It has a good balance of acidity and fine-grained tannins, with a roundness to the finish.

58% Cabernet, 37% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot make up the 2011 blend. Baptiste Cuvelier rates the 2011 as 2008++ and I agree. It has the same freshness, but with more flesh. Raspberry and violet aromas lead into a concentrated but elegant palate of juicy fruit, fine tannic structure and excellent length. Very fine and excellent value.

A consistently high performing château.The wine shows sweet, ripe blackcurrant fruit with notes of
cedar on the palate.The tannins lend definition and structure for cellaring.A graceful wine with a
natural balance and a long finish. Great value, which will reward cellaring.

Owner Mme Gasqueton is clearly very pleased with this vintage, and rightly so. Careful selection from healthy fruit (roughly 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, the rest Cabernet Franc) has produced a fragrant wine, with ripe, dense black and red fruit on the mid-palate, hints of spice and beautifully melted tannins. Very well balanced with a long finish.

Splendid in 2003. The partnership of wine-maker Michel Raoul, consultant oenologist Jacques Boissenot and the Barton family has chalked up successes in each and every vintage of the last twenty years. Abundant black fruits on the nose and palate – blackberry, cassis, plum and blueberry are all here – plus spices, and graphite (lead pencil), ably supported by a firm mattress of structured tannins. This is a prodigiously-built Barton – huge colour, power and concentration – yet there is no lack of harmony nor the indefinable saint-julien elegance.

The 2017 Caro is a really impressive, structured wine. Dark and intense, with lots of grippy tannins and a very fine finish, this will be brilliant in a few years. The best yet?

A mini Ornellaia, this second wine is made up of a Bordeaux blend of Merlot (44%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Cabernet Franc (13%) and Petit Verdot (13%). 2020 saw rather changeable weather with very long periods followed by heavy rainfall and drops in temperature, resulting in a longer harvest than usual to enable the different varieties were picked at optimum ripeness and condition. A combination of hand picking, sorting tables at the winery as well as the addition of an optical sorter in 2016 has resulted in a wine that is of impressive quality. The wine is aged in French barriques (25% new) for 15 months before being bottled and remains in bottle for a futher 6 months prior to release. The winemaker believes the 2020 is reminiscent of 2018, 2013 and 2010, and having tasted all three recently, this wine is destined for great things. Expect red plums and red wild berry perfume, combined with liquorice spice and herbal undertones.

Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, but with a whole host of supporting grapes ranging from the expected to the totally unexpected, this is surely the Languedoc's greatest wine. The 2016 is impressive, with amazing balance between concentration of flavour and freshness. Unfortunately, yields were way down in 2016 - so this is a wine that needs to be bought on first release.

Friends Arnaud and Christophe craft this fine St-Emilion from just 1.8 hectares of vines. 2019 is their maiden vintage, and the result is absolutely stunning. Fresh with floral lift and perfectly ripe cherry and black plum fruit. Beautifully silky tannins and a hint of toasty oak in the background. Definitely one to watch.

Some of this fast-improving Château’s plots of vines touch the vineyards of Château Margaux, and the quality of its illustrious neighbour has certainly rubbed off in 2015. A silky, sensuous texture, with ripe yet pure fruit and a well defined finish, this shows Margaux’s classic power and precision.

A broad, deep wine of volume and depth which, whilst not expressive at this young stage, displays stature and sheer class. Ripe fruit, almost liqueur-like in its intensity, covers fine tight-grained tannin, given focus by an underlying fresh minerality. A wine of precision and delicacy, with an incredibly persistent finish and highly-nuanced complexity. Complete in every way and, although it is currently quite subdued in character, be assured that this classy wine will blossom into a spectacular one.

Robert Parker: 98-100 points (Wine Advocate 188)

The 2016 Rahoul is a blend of 60% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot picked from 28 September until 10 October. It has a well-defined bouquet with blackberry, sandalwood and light smoky aromas. I like the focus and detail of this Rahoul. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, very refined with nicely integrated new oak and a long, quite sensual finish. You know, this is a very good Rahoul that will surpass the excellent 2015.

A nose of exotic spice and ripe plums, with a hint of spearmint, this is a fresh, complex, yet generous Pomerol. There’s lovely length, and a silky, suave mouthfeel. A fantastic vintage for l’Evangile, this class has rubbed off on the second wine.

Lalande-de-Pomerol is often accused of producing slightly rustic wines, but this 2016 L’Etoile from Guillaume and Francois Thienpont is anything but. Guillaume is better known for crafting brilliant wines at Vieux Chateau Certain and Le Pin, and in Lalande the team have created a beautifully balanced and finessed wine with plenty of potential for ageing. Perfectly ripe black fruit and just enough crunchy red fruit creating freshness. The tannins are fine and there is a lovely velvet texture. A truly stunning wine that would not look out of place in a more illustrious appellation.

When asked whether the Château was having to change anything to compensate for climate change, Marie Descotis, who heads up the Château's research and development department, explained that their terroir is proving to be perfect for the somewhat warmer and drier conditions over the last few years, allowing their Cabernet Sauvignon to flourish. The blend this year is made up of 86% of this Cabernet, 10% Merlot and the rest split between Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The resultant wine is the most concentrated they have ever produced, yet it is also incredibly poised and balanced. Dark berry fruits, notes of woodsmoke and spice come through on the nose. The palate is immediately fresh and pure, with a layered sense of fine tannin, depth and power. There is a graphite-like grip to the structure, a definite minerality and a core of cool-natured, classic fruit. Despite the concentration and density in the wine, the balance is such as to give it an almost approachable sensation. Beautiful rather than pretty, this is an elegant and refined wine that shows what could be achieved in 2011 with great terroir and a deft hand.

“The 2011 Le Serre Nuove is striking for its beauty and symmetry. Some vintages of Le Serre Nuove are open and radiant, others are more structured. The 2011 seems to bring together elements of both in a wine of superb pedigree and pure class. Mocha, dark raspberries, tobacco and grilled herbs all flesh out on the inviting, vivid finish. Today, the 2011 is absolutely singing and points to a spectacular vintage at Tenuta dell'Ornellaia. This is impressive juice. In 2011 the blend is 57% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 12% Cabernet Franc. The relatively high amounts of both Petit Verdot and Franc are very much felt.”

94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Expressive on the nose, with notes of dark hedgerow fruits and a touch of spice. The palate is broad and expansive, with vibrant fruit characters offset by dense, finely-tuned tannins. A Margaux in the classic vein.

Perfumed on the nose, this has attractive notes of dark berry fruits. On the palate, this has a layered texture, with good density to the rich, dark fruit character. The tannins are fine and ripe, giving an appealing layered texture to this impressive Haut-Bages-Liberal.

"This 100% Merlot cuvée (which, during this era, came from the choicest parcels of La Croix de Gay) is a rich, concentrated, extracted Pomerol with a dense ruby/purple color, sweet mocha, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, some licorice and truffle. It is medium to full-bodied, still quite young, but very approachable." 90+ points, eRobertParker.com #219
Jun 2015

Catena and the Rothschilds continue to show what can be achieved in Mendoza. The 2015 Caro is superb: blackberries and plums, with notes of fresh herbs and smoke. It’s beautifully balanced, with ripe tannins and a freshness that gives a touch of salinity. Already impressive, and there’s clearly a long life ahead of this.

“The 2011 Napanook is deep, rich and intense for the year. Plums, mocha, spices, licorice all flesh out in an inviting wine to drink now and over the next few years. The 2011 has no hard edges or greenness, but the medium-bodied structure suggests it is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc.” 91 points, Antonio Galloni, VinousMedia.com

This is a classic Italian red, with notes of crushed herbs, wild morello cherries, and also plenty of citrus fruit. The palate is cool and structured, with beautifully refined tannins, and plenty of minerality. Blind, you’d think this was worth a lot more.

Mas de Daumas Gassac’s quirky blend has earned it many fans over the years. It really works in 2020, with its heady, dark, black fruit aromas. The main component of Cabernet Sauvignon gives it structure and tannic backbone, whilst Merlot fleshes out the mid-palate. Spiced notes from Petit Verdot and a herbaceous lift from Cabernet Franc help add complexity. So far, so Bordelais… But the Mas de Daumas has an extra edge, engendered through the baking southern sun of the Languedoc, and the unusual components of Tannat and Pinot Noir that also play supporting roles. The overall impression is a rich, full-bodied wine, with a dried herb-scented lift, and fine, peppery tannins.

Luxurious and coated with ripe stone fruit flavours. Dense and concentrated.

Brilliant, ageworthy Bordeaux, with red and black bramble fruit, mineral notes, truffle and then light smoke and graphite as it develops in the glass. The tannins are resolving, leaving the palate silky and supple. Medium-bodied, fresh and appetising, with years ahead it of despite considerable time in bottle already.

La Garde sits on a gravel bank above Latour-Martillac, and offers some of the best value we know of. It's classic claret, with black fruits, as well as classic Pessac smokiness, and well-judged, matte tannins. Such a great bottle to have in your cellar, particularly at this price.

This is one of the oldest estates in the Médoc, and in 2019 it’s produced a superlative Margaux. Plush on the palate, with plenty of silky tannins, and a very fine thread of acidity, it a model of balance from Emmanuel Cruse.

A source of excellent St-Emilion at an excellent price, the 2019 Pavie-Macquin from Nicolas Thienpont really delivers. Showing richness of fruit, but maintaining freshness, it’s a blend of 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.

A vintage where St-Estèphe has soared makes this a smart buy. Such expressive juicy fruit, amazing power and definition, great balance and power. The finish long and floral and lots of iodine and sea spray. Complex, this punches way out of its league. The best ever.

The 2018 Ducru has 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s deep and intense and powerful, lovely cassis and floral and gorgeous intensity. It shows a more serious side of St Julien: this is a wine that will go the distance.

A blend of 90% Merlot and 10 % Cabernet Franc. This wine has a vigorous attack, concentrated and full bodied with density and tannin. This is a powerful wine and is notably muscular compared to its Pomerol peers. That said, the fruit is supple and round and there is precision, control and freshness. Yet another great success for Denis Durantou.

Notes of plum and dark cherry mould with silky tannins and graphite hints, and remarkable length for a wine of this price. It comes from young vines throughout the estate, including some from the celebrated ‘L’enclos’ vineyard. It’s a wonderful taste of Château Latour.

Under the same ownership and vinified by the team at neighbouring Château Cheval Blanc, the star of La Tour du Pin is most certainly in the ascendant. An aromatic red floral nose leads on to a red cherry and raspberry fruit dominated palate. Fleshy and full on the mid palate, finishing on a subtle note of dark chocolate and spice, the tannins, fruit and acidity are harmonious.

Made in tiny quantities, this, the second wine of acclaimed Château Evangile, represents great value in 2011 vintage. A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, it represents 27% of production at the estate this year. Described by Robert Parker as “an elegant, dark ruby-hued, medium-weight wine offering notes of raspberries, licorice, herbs and earth.”