September Releases

2021 was an excellent vintage for white wines in Bordeaux, known for their electric acidity, mineral tones and zesty fruit character. As a result, although we always expect great things for the white wine of Cheval Blanc, in 2021 they have hit new heights. The wine has a brilliant, crystalline feel on the palate, and generous, rich citrus and white peach fruit builds on the palate.

A blend of 84.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot. Now with over 10 years in bottle, the 2011 from Château Latour maintains a core of blackberry, bramble fruit with complex dried mint, smoke, ferrous notes and spice. There are well-defined, silky tannins and a delicacy initially, before it unfurls into a powerful wine, with a lot of structure and concentration considering the medium-weight vintage.

Troplong Mondot has arguably gone through the biggest transformation in St-Emilion, moving from a high-octane, powerful style to more elegant expressions with greater tension and bright limestone character. Mondot is their second wine, and comes from two vineyards, one of which is a walled plot, shared with Jacques Thienpont's L'If. It's 100% Merlot, and is full of bright red plum and black cherry fruit, fresh mint, and lavender. The tannins are chalky but with a rounded edge that adds to the silky feel of this wine.

The dry wine of d'Yquem is absolutely delicious in 2021, a vintage where the white wines in Bordeaux excelled in general. Brilliant acidity, and mouth-watering citrus fruit on the palate. There's richer confit lemon and white peach as the palate carries on, with some subtle almond and fresh mint in the background. Mouth-filling and textural now, this will only build with time in bottle, and this should be one of the most long-living releases from this Sauternes powerhouse.

One of the iconic wines of the Rhône Valley. In 2021 Hommage à Jacques Perrin has a lifted red fruit profile, in addition to the more typical brambley, black plum fruit flavours. There's a reticence and delicacy at this early stage, also reflecting this more restrained vintage. There's plenty of freshness and earthy tones towards the finish, and approachable, rounded tannins.

Lafite’s successful venture in the Languedoc has continued its winning streak with this 2019. It’s a blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan and Grenache typical of the appellation of Corbières, with a certain Bordelais sophistication in evidence, where toasty oak supports the robust but polished tannins and creamy dark fruit flavours.

This is a cooler expression of this famous Hermitage, with incredible length and finesse. Fresh and bright with a combination of black berry fruit and some red plum and raspberry. There's plenty of earthy spice, with light peppery notes, cured meats, and wild herbs.

With decent time in bottle this famous Hermitage is knitted together well with a silky texture and ripe tannins. There's ripe black berry fruit, leather, woody herbs, and subtle white pepper.