Calvados, Bitters, chardonnay,...

This 6 pack consists of one each of the following Grand Crus:

1 x William Fevre Chablis Les Preuses 2018
1 x William Fevre Chablis Valmur 2018
1 x William Fevre Chablis Vaudesir 2018
1 x William Fevre Chablis Bougros 2018
1 x William Fevre Chablis Bougros Cote de Bouguerots 2018
1 x William Fevre Chablis Les Clos 2018

------------------

William Fevre Chablis Les Preuses 2018
DON'T MISS. This is one of the most elegant wines in the range with its cool and admirably airy and pure aromas of citrus zest, oyster shell, seashore and once again gentle wood nuances. The mouth feel of the medium-bodied flavors combines volume with refinement while delivering excellent length on the balanced, stony and markedly dry finale. This is not quite as concentrated as the best here but as it usually is, it's a marvelous wine of refinement and punch. BURGHOUND

The 2018 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru is a super-classic expression of this site. Bright, punchy and intensely mineral, the Preuses possesses off-the-charts intensity and exceptional balance, all with the crystalline purity that is the signature of the very best wines from this site. Lemon peel, slate, mint, crushed rocks, white pepper and flowers build into the explosive, palate-staining finish. What a magnificent wine this is. ANTONIO GALLONI
 
William Fevre Chablis Valmur 2018
DON'T MISS. Once again there is just enough wood to notice framing the green fruit, quinine, algae and ocean breeze-inflected aromas. The mouth feel of the big, bold and robust flavors is muscular and serious while displaying outstanding length on the super-saline and impressively complex finale. This too is terrific though it is very clearly built for extended aging. BURGHOUND

The 2018 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru is quite dense, with explosive energy and tons of structure. Readers will have to be patient with the 2018, as it needs a number of years to be at its very best. Citrus, floral and savory notes open up in the glass, but only with great reluctance; this powerful, concentrated Chablis demands time. ANTONIO GALLONI
 
William Fevre Chablis Vaudesir 2018
DON'T MISS. An exuberantly fresh and cool and mildly exotic nose offers up unmistakable Chablis character that includes sea breeze, iodine and oyster shell along with an abundance of citrus elements. There is equally good freshness and verve to the utterly delicious, crisp and delineated medium-bodied flavors that possess fine persistence and a lovely minerality on the notably dry but not austere finale where the wood resurfaces. This almost delicate effort will need a year or so to digest the oak treatment but this too is very promising. BURGHOUND

The 2018 Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru is a gorgeous, radiant wine that captures the essence of this warm, early ripening site. Sweet and racy with striking inner perfume, the 2018 has so much to offer. Passion fruit, mint, citrus and exotic floral notes are beautifully woven together in this super-expressive, inviting wine. Strong mineral character graces the exquisite finish. ANTONIO GALLONI

William Fevre Chablis Bougros 2018
From an incredible <6 ha parcel
Pungent and broad-ranging aromas include those of mineral reduction, pear liqueur, green fruit, shellfish and soft wood influence. There is excellent volume to the delicious, lightly stony and notably powerful middle weight plus flavors that conclude in a very firm, clean, dry, long and youthfully austere finish. As the description makes clear, this is presently quite compact though promising. BURGHOUND

The 2018 Chablis Bougros Grand Cru is far more forthcoming than the Valmur, presenting gorgeous orange, peach, tinned apricot and light pineapple scents that are very seductive. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh. This immediately puts the Valmur in its place with a penetrating, saline finish that leaves you wanting another sip. Superb. ANTONIO GALLONI

William Fevre Chablis Bougros Cote de Bouguerots 2018
DON'T MISS. A pure essence is comprised by notes of white flowers, citrus, mineral reduction and a gentle application of wood. The racy, intense and equally refined middle weight flavors are also super-saline while exhibiting superb length on the balanced, youthfully austere and very dry finale. This will need to add depth over the next few years to merit the top end of my projected range but the underlying material appears to be up to the task. BURGHOUND

The 2018 Chablis Bougros Côte Bouguerots Grand Cru is a dense, powerful and richly textured wine endowed with tremendous power. Rich yellow orchard fruit, crushed rocks, citrus and floral notes infuse a dense, potent Chablis that marries fruit richness and intense minerality. Ample and dramatic in its tremendous scale, the 2018 is compelling, sensual and racy - wow. ANTONIO GALLONI
 
William Fevre Chablis Les Clos 2018
DON'T MISS. Once again the nose is both fresh and ripe and while it's not quite as elegant and airy as the Côte Bouguerots there is every bit as much classic Chablis character. There is a really lovely mouth feel to the sappy large-bodied flavors thanks to the copious quantity of dry extract that also serves to buffer the exceptionally firm acid spine on the powerful, punchy and beautifully complex finale. This beautiful effort, along with the Preuses, would appear to be the most promising wines in the range in 2018 and they are among the best wines of the vintage. BURGHOUND

The 2018 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru is a powerful, beautifully layered wine. Mint wild flowers and chamomile accents add complexity to the lemon confit fruit. Creamy and ample on the palate, the 2018 is an especially rich Clos endowed with notable textural depth and a real feeling of seamlessness. I loved it. ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

PESSAC-LÉOGNAN CRU CLASSÉ - LIMITED
The 2016 La Mission Haut Brion is a blend of 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 19 September and 14 October, one of the longest ever. "We had to be patient and wait for each plot," Jean-Philippe Delmas told me. "It took longer than usual." As is customary, I allowed my sample, and likewise all the wines poured at this tasting, around 40-45 minutes to open since they always transform in the glass. It has a clean and precise, quite understated bouquet with fine mineralité, cold stone aromas infusing the black fruit. This has incredible precision, perhaps even more pixelated than the "gaff over the road" Haut-Brion. The palate is medium-bodied with supple and lithe tannin. I appreciate the line of acidity here, the smoothness and harmony that takes your breath away. Every atom is infused with life-affirming freshness. It is a wine bridled with incredible focus and delineation. I thought that the 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion flirted with perfection. The 2016 has that extra edge, a "je ne sais quoi" that leaves you reaching for the thesaurus looking for superlatives. (98-100) NEAL MARTIN

The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion is a total knockout. Vertical and powerful, but not at all austere, it exudes class. Fine-grained tannins support the fruit, but they are barely felt, as the wine's balance is so extraordinary. Lifted floral notes and a host of red fruits give the 2016 energy and verve. I can't wait to see how it ages. (94-97) ANTONIO GALLONI

POMEROL
The 2016 Vieux Château Certan is the first vintage to be entirely bottled by the estate’s own bottling machine (just in case that ever comes up in a wine quiz). Alexandre Thienpont mentioned that he assiduously left out the stressed vines, and he places this above his more hedonistic 2015. The wine takes a few minutes to open in the glass, but boy, is it worth the wait: it reveals pixelated red fruit (crushed strawberry and raspberry) and crushed stone, plus a hint of graphite emanating from the Cabernets. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly chalky tannin that frames pure black and red fruit infused with graphite and almost flint-like notes. This is one of the most mineral-driven VCCs that I have encountered in over 20 years, with dizzying precision on the finish. A very intellectual Pomerol, in the realm of the profound. (100) ANTONIO GALLONI

This 6 pack contains one each of the following Grand Crus:

1 x William Fevre Chablis Bougros 2020
1 x William Fevre Chablis Valmur 2020
1 x William Fevre Chablis Vaudesir 2020
1 x William Fevre Chablis Preuses 2020
1 x William Fevre Chablis Bougros Cote de Bouguerots 2020
1 x William Fevre Chablis Les Clos 2020

----------------

William Fevre Chablis Bougros 2020
SWEET SPOT. This is restrained to the point of being all but aromatically mute though aggressive swirling eventually coaxes notes of green fruit, citrus peel and oyster shell nuances to reveal themselves. There is both excellent volume and concentration to the big-bodied, powerful and imposing flavors that are focused, structured and youthfully austere. This is very much a work in progress, and I would advise allowing this at least 5 years of cellaring and it should easily reward a decade or more. BURGHOUND

William Fevre Chablis Valmur 2020
DON'T MISS. Much like the Vaulorent, the nose instantly confirms with conviction that this could be from nowhere else but Chablis with its airy array of citrus rind, sea breeze, quinine and green fruit aromas. There is excellent size, weight and richness to the broad-shouldered yet sleek flavors if not nearly the same refinement on the powerful and driving finish. This even more firmly structured effort is impressive as well though with an entirely different texture. BURGHOUND

William Fevre Chablis Vaudesir 2020
DON'T MISS. A discreet dollop of wood sets off the ever-so-mildly exotic aromas of white and yellow peach, passion fruit and subtle mineral reduction wisps. There isn't the same weight and density though there is much better refinement to the lightly stony, focused and sneaky long finish. This is a classic Vaudésir that should also reward a decade or so of cellaring. BURGHOUND

William Fevre Chablis Preuses 2020
DON'T MISS Aromas of quinine, essence of wet stone and seashore add breadth to the nose of pear, apple and anise. Once again there is fine density and intensity to the mouth coating medium weight flavors that flash outstanding length on the bracingly saline suffused finale. This has already develop very good depth and more will also surely develop. This is potentially outstanding. BURGHOUND

William Fevre Chablis Bougros Cote de Bouguerots 2020
from a 2.2 ha parcel at the bottom section of the vineyard; even so, the vineyard is so steep here that it must be worked entirely by hand as tractors would be dangerous to use
DON'T MISS A deft application of wood lurks in the background of the aromas cool citrus, apple, mineral reduction and ocean breeze wisps. There is an almost painful intensity to the powerful but sleek and defined medium weight plus flavors that brim with minerality on the clean, very dry and hugely long finish. This is also potentially brilliant and well-worth considering. BURGHOUND

William Fevre Chablis Les Clos 2020
DON'T MISS. A cool, restrained and airy nose grudgingly divulges its combination of lemon rind, green apple, quinine and acacia blossom scents. There is again excellent volume and concentration to the powerful and muscular flavors that also coat the palate with dry extract on the impressively complex and hugely long finish. This is classic Les Clos in that it manages to be at once big and overtly powerful while remaining refined and classy. This is, in a word, terrific. BURGHOUND

FIVE STARS - Glowing citrus yellow. Restrained intensity, a wine of the highest class from the first sniff. At the outset it is all about the fruit, and the stones (undeniably present) can wait. There is a huge intensity of pure white fruit, very concentrated at the finish, inalienably Les Clos. I suggest a long wait before you open your bottles, eight to ten years or more. (97) JASPER MORRIS MW

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

The 2020 Haut-Brion is shaping up to be one of the wines of the year. Substance, depth and textural intensity elevate Haut-Brion into the realm of the sublime in 2020. All the elements are so wonderfully balanced. Inky dark fruit, gravel, lavender, violet and dark spice build as the 2020 gradually opens with some aeration. Wow. 97-99 ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

This 6 pack contains one each of the following Grand Crus:

1 x William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros 2021
1 x William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2021
1 x William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2021
1 x William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2021
1 x William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Cote de Bouguerots 2021
1 x William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2021

------------

William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros 2021
Some width of white flower perfume. Gas that's adding energy. Rounder and richer but cut by fine acidity and minerality - never austere but properly balanced. That's a great finish - panoramic, gorgeously delicious and complex - I love this finish! BILL NANSON, The Burgundy Report

William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2021
DON'T MISS - This could be from nowhere else but Chablis with its nose of crushed algae, iodine, green fruit and shellfish. There is outstanding density to the broad-shouldered and muscular flavors that stain the palate while the abundant dry extract buffers the firm acid spine shaping the superbly long and highly complex finale. This is also extremely promising. BURGHOUND

More direct, fresh but ripe citrus that flexes its muscles. Extra mineral - almost a suggestion of the austerity - super energy and volume on the palate - here's a wine that's a study in minerality and with such a finish! A great lecture in Chablis minerality! BILL NANSON, The Burgundy Report
 
William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2021
From two separate parcels of vines, the larger of which is in the heart of the "amphitheater" from which the finest examples of Vaudésir originate
DON'T MISS - Cool and strikingly elegant aromas include those of quinine, white peach, spice and an abundance of classic Chablis notes. The dense yet wonderfully refined medium-weight flavors brim with dry extract on the gorgeously long, balanced and highly complex finale. This is extremely stylish and very promising. BURGHOUND
 
William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2021
DON'T MISS. A deft application of wood frames the beautifully elegant nose of essence of pear, green apple, acacia blossom, lemon rind and a plethora of classic Chablis scents. The dense and unusually powerful large-scaled flavors don't have the muscle of the Valmur but they're finer, all wrapped in a massively persistent and even more complex finale. As good as the Valmur is, and it's wonderful, there is just a bit more here. BURGHOUND

WORTH A SPECIAL SEARCH - A faint reduction in this nose of scale - mineral, almost a little seashore. There's extra depth - maybe 1 mm not 2, of richness. White flowers - perhaps more orange-blossom aromas. Again, this is a wine of scale - a little extra composure and even power vs the CdBouguerots. The minerality is more evident too. It's also a great wine - but a very different style. The finish is 'extra!' BILL NANSON, The Burgundy Report
 
William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Cote de Bouguerots 2021
From a 2.2 ha parcel at the bottom section of the vineyard; even so, the vineyard is so steep here that it must be worked entirely by hand as tractors would be dangerous to use
DON'T MISS - A cool and highly restrained nose reluctantly offers up its array of citrus, tidal pool, quinine and oyster shell. The exceptionally rich, even opulent, medium-weight plus flavors also brim with sappy dry extract on the mineral-driven, powerful and remarkably long finish. This is perhaps slightly less elegant than it typically is, but it is most impressive all the same. BURGHOUND

WORTH A SPECIAL SEARCH - More the white flower aromatic again - not a bright wine. Large-scale, mouth-filling wine - there's such an energy here. It needs time to help you better focus on its complexity - but it will be a great bottle! BILL NANSON, The Burgundy Report
 
William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2021
DON'T MISS. This too could be from nowhere else other than Chablis with its combination of strong mineral reduction, cool citrus, shellfish and iodine. The dense, opulent and powerful large-bodied flavors brim with dry extract that imparts a sappy texture to the lemony and massively long finish. Not surprisingly for a classic Les Clos, this super effort is very much built-to-age and a wine that I would advise not touching for at least 6 to 8 years first. BURGHOUND

WORTH A SPECIAL SEARCH - 4.10 ha, principally the higher section but some lower towards Grenouilles - mainly planted before 1950 by that father of Willaim Fevre. Always the only wine in this - or pretty much any line-up of great Chablis that makes me think - Chevalier-Montrachet - but this year I see Chablis! Extra breadth to this aroma - almost a hybrid of the previous two wines - but then it changes gear, floral and mega-impressive - wow - I almost don't need to drink it! Okay, for science : This is not the most forceful or incisive but it has a mouth-filling fluidity that infuses the senses. (Almost) always a wine apart and it is certainly that in 2021 - undisputedly great - bravo! BILL NANSON, The Burgundy Report

The 2022 Haut-Brion is powerful and explosive. At the same time, it is incredibly reticent. None of that should be of concern for readers who can wait. Black-toned fruit, gravel, incense, scorched earth and licorice all stain the palate, framed by impenetrable, imposing tannins. A vertical, explosive wine, the 2022 is going to need a number of years to be at its best. I suspect it will be magnificent in many years' time. The Haut-Brion softens with a bit of time in the glass, but it remains very much a blockbuster. (98+) ANTONIO GALLONI,Vinous.com

Pre- Arrival 1 bottle available

The 2022 Château Margaux obliged reams of superlatives from barrel. Now in bottle, it is a stone-cold breathtaking First Growth that belongs on the mantelpiece alongside the 1959 and 1983. That said, at first, the aromatics are bashful, yet it takes little to unfurl in jaw-dropping fashion, armed with heavenly pure black fruits laced with peony and iris flower and exuding mineralité (which is a mighty achievement given the season). The palate is imbued with stunning pixelation. There is a little more structure than I recall—an enthralling sense of architecture and thrilling tension, the pH of around 3.65 imparting acidic spine. Winemaker Philippe Bascaule remarked that he cannot compare the 2022 to another vintage. This is a profound Château Margaux that sets a contemporary benchmark. (100) NEAL MARTIN, Vinous.com

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Pre- Arrival 2 bottles available

The 2022 Mouton Rothschild is a powerhouse. Inky, deep and explosive, the 2022 is a real head-turner. The combination of intense dark fruit, strong gravelly/mineral notes and imposing structure clearly bring to mind another great Mouton, and that is the 1986. In a word: magnificent. The blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot. (96-98) ANTONIO GALLONI,Vinous.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) WILLIAM KELLEY, Wine Advocate

 

The 2020 Mouton Rothschild is very clearly one of the great, great wines of the Left Bank in 2020. All the elements are in perfect balance. A wine of total sensuality and nuance, Mouton is all finesse in 2020, all elegance. An explosion of dark cherry fruit, plum, pomegranate, mint and cinnamon are all amplified. From barrel, the 2020 Mouton hinted at greatness. Today, that greatness is evident. The rich, vibrant finish is a thing of beauty. 99 ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

 

Pre- Arrival 4 bottles available

The 2022 Lafite-Rothschild is a magnificent, thrilling wine. A Lafite for the ages, the 2022 possesses off-the-charts richness and yet never loses its unique Lafiteness. It's as if all the elements are dialed up to the maximum, but without sacrificing clarity. That's quite an achievement in my book. Inky red fruit, blood orange, spice and incense are some of the many notes that build in the glass. The 2022 is a Lafite of nearly indescribable beauty, driven by a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and spellbinding overall balance. Vinification was carried out over 22 days, after which the wine was racked into French oak, 100% new, for an élevage of 15 months.  (98) ANTONIO GALLONI,Vinous.com

Pre- Arrival 2 bottles available

The 2022 Cheval Blanc is quite unusual in that it was made from 46 out of the 47 parcels that make up the estate, the highest proportion of blocks ever used in the Grand Vin. There is also no Petit Cheval. One block was sold in bulk, and everything else went into the Grand Vin. That's basically it. In tasting, the 2022 is a wine of sublime elegance, and yet there's a certain strictness in its vertical build that keeps things buttoned up. Time in the glass starts to release the Cabernet Franc aromatics, but this remains incredibly dense. It barely budged over the two days I followed it. All the 2022 needs is time. The only question is how much.  (99) ANTONIO GALLONI,Vinous.com

One of the stars of the vintage is the striking 2022 Château Cheval Blanc, a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon that bursts from the glass with aromas of mulberries, cherries and wild berries mingled with mint, orange zest, pencil lead, vine smoke and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's rich and gourmand, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and a long, saline, pungently perfumed finish. Harvest began on 29 August, with all the Merlot picked before the month was out, and the result is a wine that is as vibrant as it is lavish. (97-100) WILLIAM KELLEY, Wine Advocate

100 points - Magnificent - NEAL MARTIN
100 points - Unforgettable, Magnificent, Captivating  - ANTONIO GALLONI
100 points - A benchmark Latour that reminds me of the 1982 in many ways - JAMES SUCKLING
100 points - JEB DUNNUCK

Under CEO Frédéric Engerer and technical director Hélène Génin, unremitting perfectionism and attention to detail are the order of the day at Château Latour, so it's no surprise that this great estate has delivered some of the finest wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. Certified organic since 2018, most of Latour's historic "Enclos" is being farmed biodynamically these days, and its entirety is now cultivated by horse to minimize soil compaction and preserve intact as many old vines as possible. But the objective, above all, rather than subscribing to any particular theoretical approach, is to treat the vineyard holistically, as a system, within and with nature rather than against it. Winemaking is precise but traditional, with macerations in stainless steel followed by maturation in barrel with rackings every three months and one fining with egg whites. Great attention is paid to the choice of barrels: each lot is tasted, and its style defined, before it's barreled down in cooperage adapted to that style. But if these methods realize the potential of this great site, what makes Latour's site so great? After all, this isn't the only vineyard to occupy the quaternary gravel terrace that makes its appearance along the banks of the Gironde. When I posed this question, Hélène Génin's response was to point to Latour's lenses of blue clay interfingered with and underlying those gravels. It's these pockets of clay in just the right places, Génin contends, that contain the secret to the wine's elegantly muscular power and immense longevity. WILLIAM KELLEY


I am dreaming as I smell this wine, perfectly ripe cabernet sauvignon with currants, tobacco and fresh mint. Orange blossoms too. This amazing nose is so complex. Medium- to full-bodied, this has has perfectly integrated tannins that you don't feel but know are there, elevating the wine to another level. It's very drinkable because of its stellar balance, yet the tannic tension gives it energy and seamless texture. A benchmark Latour that reminds me of the 1982 in many ways. Drink or hold. (100) JAMES SUCKLING

The 2016 Latour is magnificent. Regal and nuanced, with tons of energy, the 2016 is immediately captivating. The bouquet announces an important wine, a feeling that builds through the wine's mid-palate. There's a real feeling of exuberance in 2016, and yet the wine remains quite classic in its structural composition. Beams of supporting tannin extend the effortless, beautifully persistent finish. Unforgettable.(100) ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2016 Latour is a vintage that I have tasted a couple of times post-bottling. On one occasion, it warranted a perfect score, but that was then moot since this vintage had not been released. Now that it is due to hit the shelves this coming March, does the wine still merit that three-digit accolade? Without question, yes. Deep lucid deep purple in color, it seems to shimmer in the glass. The bouquet plays with you, a bit of a femme fatale, distant for the first few minutes during which I chatted with the superstar of this First Growth, winemaker Hélène Genin. Then, it magically coalesces and gains incredible intensity with blackberry, pencil lead, background hints of oyster shell and notes of Japanese wakame. The aromatics announce exactly which château you are doing business with. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, again, as I found before, blessed with beguiling symmetry and ineffable poise. Residing firmly on the black side of the fruit spectrum, there is underlying mineralité. Veins of cassis run through the persistent finish. This is everything you could really wish for in a Latour. The 2016 can be uttered in the same breath as the 1900, 1924, 1959, 1961, 1982 and 2010. Magnificent. (100) NEAL MARTIN

Retasting the 2016 Château Latour next to both the 2010 and 2022 had me feeling like a kid in a candy store. Needing lots of air to show at its best, its dense purple hue is followed by quintessential Latour notes of smoky blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and lead pencil shavings. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Pauillac that has lively acids, a pure, seamless, layered mouthfeel, building yet perfectly ripe tannins, and that rare Latour mix of power, austerity, and elegance that makes this château so compelling. Pulled from just 36% of the total production, the 2016 is 92.9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7.1% Merlot hitting 13.5 alcohol with an IPT of 83. It's primarily academic at this stage, but it's starting to round the corner and clearly, with its level of fruit and overall balance, offers pleasure. I think it needs another 5-7 years to hit the early stages of its prime drinking window and will have 75-100 years of overall longevity. (100) JEB DUNNUCK

***** One barrel, not new. A pale primrose with a startlingly fine and pure bouquet. Magical. There is a refined yet exceptionally intense pure fruit, with a saline and citrus touch behind. Ultra stylish and very pure. The finish extends beautifully behind. Bravo! (98) JASPER MORRIS, Inside Burgundy

This is also quite floral in character with its spicy white orchard aromas where a hint of citrus confit lurks in the background. On the palate there is a refined and succulent texture to the middleweight flavors that also display focused power on the firm, moderately austere and clearly built-to-age finale where a hint bitter zest slowly surfaces. This is also impressive though at least some patience is strongly advised. BURGHOUND

The 2020 Lafite-Rothschild, which contains the highest proportion of Merlot since the 2016, hit the bull's eye from barrel. Revisiting the wine in the bottle since July, it still bursts from the glass with copious blackberries, touches of blueberry and juniper, pencil lead and a hint of crushed stone. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins, quite linear and "correct" - a quintessential Lafite-Rothschild in many ways. It gently builds in the mouth while keeping a restraint on things, finishing with fine sapidity yet a little more juiciness than you would have found a decade or two earlier. This has the potential to evolve beautifully over several decades. 98 NEAL MARKTIN, vinous.com

Pre- Arrival 2 bottles available 

The 2022 Ausone, which was the earliest-picked ever on September 5 (although that is later than Cheval Blanc) has another very intense bouquet with layers of plush blackberry, blueberry, crushed violet and incense aromas that are beautifully entwined with the 100% new oak. Hints of blood orange emerge with a few minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins and perfectly pitched acidity. The slightly higher proportion of Cabernet Franc imparts a touch more pepperiness toward the finish. You can feel this on your tongue long after it has departed. There is a surfeit of freshness on the finish. This is an outstanding Ausone that can look forward to a very long future. (98) NEAL MARTIN, Vinous.com

The 2020 Ausone is stellar. Usually a showier wine, Ausone is packed with bright acids, deep fruit and tons of supporting structure. Dark red fruit, blood orange, pomegranate, rose petal, mocha and dried herbs all race out of the glass. Deep and layered, with magnificent finesse, Ausone is lights out in 2020. What a wine. Readers lucky enough to own it are in for a thrilling ride over the next few decades. 99 ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

2 BOTTLES AVAILABLE

The 1970 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a vintage that I tasted regularly about twenty years ago - always a strong performer even if it did not deliver fireworks. At over half a century, it has not lost a bit of vigour, but there are lovely scents of clove, liquorice and a touch of furniture polish combining with the remnant of black fruit. The palate is well defined with fine tannins, crisp acidity, quite harmonious. Quite peppery on the aftertaste, it is a Ducru-Beaucaillou that is entering its dotage after a fine career. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. NEAL MARTIN, Vinous

1 AVAILABLE

I have had a remarkable number of opportunities to taste this wine. One of the most frustratingly irregular wines I have ever encountered, the 1970 Mouton can range from pure nectar, to a wine that is angular, austere, and frightfully hard and tannic. This bottle (one of the Reserve du Chateau bottlings that was mistakenly released by the estate and labeled with the letters R.C., rather than a number) was impossible to assess when decanted, given its hard, tough, impenetrable style. Nearly eight hours later, the wine had opened magnificently to reveal a classic bouquet of sweet cassis, tobacco, minerals, and exotic spice aromas. Opulent, full-bodied, thick, and juicy, the extraordinary evolution of this particular bottle would make a persuasive argument for long-term decanting. After being perplexed throughout much of this wine's evolution, I was reassured by this bottle. No doubt Mouton's high Cabernet Sauvignon content causes this wine to go through a tight, hard, ungenerous stage, and the 1970 requires 5-7 more years of cellaring. ROBERT PARKER

The 2005 Léoville Las Cases is a classic that numbers among the wines of the vintage in the Médoc. Wafting from the glass with notes of dark berries, cassis, incense, burning embers, sweet soil tones, dark chocolate and cigar wrapper, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a vibrant core of fruit, lively acids and sweet, powdery tannins. More elegant and refined than the hulking, uncompromising 2006, the 2005 is nevertheless a powerful, tightly wound wine that will reward further bottle age, even if it's actually quite expressive today. (98) WILLIAM KELLEY, The Wine Advocate

The 2005 Léoville-Las-Cases is one of my favorite wines of the night. Now, after 17 years, the 2005 is in a place where it is not a crime to open a bottle. Elegant and regal in bearing, the 2005 Las-Cases is simply everything Las-Cases can and should be. This is a great, great bottle. I loved it. (98) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

1 Bottle at the time of the offer

This really is a creation of true refinement and class, that lends itself to the harmonious, graceful style that is so typical of great St. Emilion. Suckling, Perotti-Brown and Galloni all awarded it perfection, with Jeff Leve noting that there are few wines at this level of quality produced from any vineyard in the world. If you can afford just one of 20,000 bottles produced annually, it will be a trophy for any cellar designed to last 50-100 years. -Tom Portet

Antonio Galloni  99
The 2018 Ausone is mind-blowing. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing. I don't know what more to say. Cabernet Franc is so expressive, so vibrant so nuanced. Rose petal, cinnamon, star anise and sage meld into a core of red fleshed fruit. The 2018 doesn't impress with opulence or richness, rather it is a Saint-Émilion that is all about persistence and energy. I won't be at all surprised if it merits a higher score in the future. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. The 2018 is a viscerally thrilling wine of the highest level.
 
James Suckling 99-100
This is really exotic with wild-fruit character that I have seldom encountered in Ausone. Full-bodied yet reserved and very tight. Amazing depth and purity of fruit. Incredible beauty. Sexy.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown 98-100
Full-bodied, rich, decadent and tightly knit, it offers layer upon layer of fruit, spice and mineral nuances with a firm frame of exquisitely fine tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and heart-stopping beauty.

 

Once again, Masseto shows why it is one of the world's truly great wines. Vibrant and nuanced in the glass, the 2012 possesses magnificent complexity to match its textured, inviting personality. Black cherry, espresso, smoke and licorice meld into the creamy, resonant finish. The 2012 is not a huge Masseto, but rather a wine that convinces with its exceptional balance. (96) ANTONIO GALLONI

(a blend of 83% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 13% alcohol) Bright, full ruby. Very pure, highly aromatic nose combines blackberry, boysenberry, minerals, dark chocolate and violet. Densely packed but pure and perfumed in the mouth; at once suave and penetrating. Offers outstanding mouth coverage and great class. Finishes with extremely fine-grained tannins and extraordinary length and breadth, without losing any of its definition and purity. A great Margaux in the making. (98) STEPHEN TANZER

An extraordinary wine and undeniably one of the great wines of the Medoc, and qualitatively a wine that towers over what other estates produced in the appellation of Margaux, the 2003 Chateau Margaux is made in a style that almost mirrors Lafite Rothschild in 2003. Last year I thought it could represent a hypothetical blend of the 1990 and 1996, but the wine has taken on even more opulence and seductiveness in an almost atypical but still fragrant, elegant, classic Chateau Margaux personality. Dense ruby/purple to the rim with an extraordinary floral nose intermixed with blackberries, cassis, mineral, licorice, and some vanilla, the wine is dense, opulent, voluptuously textured, with wonderful sweetness (reminiscent of 1982 and 1990 in that sense), low acidity, but tremendous concentration and an almost seamless integration of all components – alcohol, tannin, new wood, and acidity. This is truly sumptuous stuff that should drink reasonably well young after 4 or 5 years in the bottle and age for 30+ years. Bravo! (100) WINE ADVOCATE

1 AVAILABLE

I have had a remarkable number of opportunities to taste this wine. One of the most frustratingly irregular wines I have ever encountered, the 1970 Mouton can range from pure nectar, to a wine that is angular, austere, and frightfully hard and tannic. This bottle (one of the Reserve du Chateau bottlings that was mistakenly released by the estate and labeled with the letters R.C., rather than a number) was impossible to assess when decanted, given its hard, tough, impenetrable style. Nearly eight hours later, the wine had opened magnificently to reveal a classic bouquet of sweet cassis, tobacco, minerals, and exotic spice aromas. Opulent, full-bodied, thick, and juicy, the extraordinary evolution of this particular bottle would make a persuasive argument for long-term decanting. After being perplexed throughout much of this wine's evolution, I was reassured by this bottle. No doubt Mouton's high Cabernet Sauvignon content causes this wine to go through a tight, hard, ungenerous stage, and the 1970 requires 5-7 more years of cellaring. ROBERT PARKER

The 2010 is a brilliant Chateau Margaux, as one might expect in this vintage. The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend hit 90%, the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and only 38% of the crop made it into the Chateau Margaux. Paul Pontallier, the administrator, told me that this wine has even higher levels of tannin than some other extraordinary vintages such as 2005, 2000, 1996, etc. Deep purple, pure and intense, with floral notes, tremendous opulence and palate presence, this is a wine of considerable nobility. With loads of blueberry, black currant and violet-infused fruit and a heady alcohol level above 13.5% (although that looks modest compared to several other first growths, particularly Chateau Latour and Chateau Haut-Brion), its beautifully sweet texture, ripe tannin, abundant depth and profound finish all make for another near-perfect wine that should age effortlessly for 30-40 years. (99) WINE ADVOCATE

As we head out of Pauillac, you feel the register change. It takes a heartbeat to adjust, but then you start to see the beauty of a different style of 2010, a little more elegant, a little more sculpted, with concentration that sits deep in the body of the wine but builds more slowly through the palate. This shows the beauty of the appellation of Margaux in the way that you always want and hope the First Growths will - a signpost towards the rest, showing why they should be celebrated. Here are violet aromatics, soft black truffle flavours and silky, elongated tannins. Extremely good quality; fairly savoury berry fruits. (99) DECANTER

A phenomenal nose of roses, violets, and other flowers. Subtle yet rich raspberries and currants. It is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon. The is a curious wine, almost ethereal. It is all in the front of the palate with ultra-fine tannins. It is full and very, very rich but it is forever balanced and in harmony What a wine. It is a pinpointed wine. So cerebral. It sends shivers down my spine. Incredible. (100) JAMES SUCKLING

FIVE STARS
Fine pure lemon yellow. The bouquet starts off rather reserved. A suggestion of immense weight, certainly some new oak, but waiting for the fruit and the personality of the wine to emerge. Now some coconut and the feeling that the wine is about to release its magic. Superbly suave on the palate, more lifted than I expected and still the main core of the wine does not want to be touched. A fine mineral acidity at the finish but still wait and see. Only right at the end does it all start to kick in. A wine of immense density for the very long-term future. Retasting the glorious Cabotte reinforces the majesty of this Montrachet. Drink from 2034. Tasted Oct 2023. (97-99) JASPER MORRIS, Inside Burgundy

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

The 2000 Château Pichon Baron is just getting better and better and better. Perhaps the magnum format played its part, but nevertheless...just...wow. This is a millennial Left Bank with the keys to the top drawer. It has an incredibly precise, mineral-driven bouquet with intense black fruit infused with cedar and graphite scents. It just reeks of Pauillac in an almost uncompromising, yet compelling manner. The palate is structured, stylish and effortless, extraordinarily pure and unerringly youthful. This is a Pichon Baron saying, "You ain't seen nothing yet." You could broach this now if you wanted, but the clever people will wisely bunker this for another decade and gloat from 2025 onward. Tasted January 2016. NEAL MARTN

This is one of the great wines of the vintage, and certainly a candidate for one of the finest wines made at this estate under the management of Christian Seeley and proprietor AXA. Showing incredibly well at two tastings of 2000s, the wine has a dense bluish/purple color and a beautiful nose of incense, melted asphalt, and creme de cassis as well as hints of new saddle leather and licorice. It is superbly concentrated and very pure, with excellent texture and opulence. The acidity seems low, the tannin high but well-integrated. This is a compelling 2000 that is just closing in on its window of maturity and should stay there for at least 20 or more years. Bravo! ROBERT PARKER

Two barrels made. A glowing pale lemon and lime colour. Though the barrels are not new they still lend a touch of coconut to this sublimely opulent Montrachet. The riches are properly balanced on the palate though, with waves of perfectly ripe fruit sweeping through the mouth. Some tropical notes, and lower in acidity to taste, thanks to the power of the fruit. (98) JASPER MORRIS, Inside Burgundy

DON'T MISS! A reticent if discreetly beautiful nose reflects notes of green apple, just sliced citrus, white flowers and a lovely array of spice nuances, especially anise. The highly seductive, even opulent, big-bodied flavors are almost thick thanks to the abundant dry extract that also buffers the powerful, serious and intensely mineral-driven finish where a similar hint of bitter zest appears. This is presently an almost impenetrable block and to my taste this is best purchased with the intent to cellar it for at least a decade. BURGHOUND

A wonderful minerally nose with a savory, almost biscuity touch from the Cabernet Franc. The palate is very supple and lithe, but there is immense concentration here. Rounded, seamless tannins almost meaty on the mid-palate. The Cabernet Franc really makes this wine. A sublime, slightly savory finish. Very persistent length. This is an outstanding 2002. Tasted April 2005. NEAL MARTIN

Somewhat of a revelation in a vintage that was obviously difficult in this appellation, Lafleur’s 2002 represents the essence of old vines with structured, deep, concentrated flavors. This medium-bodied, dense ruby/purple-colored effort exhibits impressive purity as well as a persistent, long palate offering a kiss of sweet kirsch and licorice. Some jagged tannin needs to be resolved if this wine is to merit a score in the low nineties. However, it will be very long-lived, especially for a Pomerol. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025 ROBERT PARKER