Fine Bordeaux Selection

The 2012 Pibran has a ripe, forward, black cherry and raspberry bouquet, the Merlot component very expressive and lending vivacious allure to the aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins on the entry. A pleasant edginess supplies fine tension and energy on the fin...(read more)

The de Fieuzal Rouge has a succulent bouquet of blackberry, cassis and vanilla that is modern, well defined and showy. The palate is medium-bodied with a black coffee infused entry. The acidity is crisp and there is decent fruit concentration, but the finish is a little too oaky at the mom...(read more)

A property that is on the plateau between Cheval Blanc and l'Évangile. 50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot. Supple creamy cool fruit expression - sappy and delicious black berry fruit, juicy with real grace and elegance. Beautifully done, and once again the high Cabernet Franc content gi...(read more)

52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot. Very dark, with a little spice in the round and smooth blackberry fruit. Some succulence and definition in the smooth volume which puts it ahead of some of the other lesser Pauillacs. A bit of bracing tannin. Quietly confident, quite jui...(read more)

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Tasted after d'Armailhac, and it's a broader, softer, blunter style, less focus, but more broad charm. Mouthfilling and satisfying, soft purple fruit and a bit of spice: really a very good wine. 2015 saw the creation of a second wine her...(read more)

The Château Feytit-Clinet 2014 is another strong effort from Jeremy Chasseuil who has reinvigorated this Pomerol cru in recent years, almost under the radar (apart from perhaps the Pomerol cognoscenti and those that bought my tome.) This year is a blend of 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet...(read more)

Plush and full of sweet puddingy middle. Rather yummy 'gobs of fruit' style. Structure and fine tannin are here, but it's the glossy fruit that matters.

A similar style to Gloria, with a touch more solidity and even greater savoury elegance. There is lots of mass and volume, with fine tannins and pure length. The maitre du chai says he feels it is better than 2002 - and here 2001 was better than 2000, and 2002 better than either, so this i...(read more)

Not staggeringly deep in colour, but as usual this has an indefinably classy royal purple aspect. The nose is warm with the ripeness of black fruit and a deep cedary complexity. Sophisticated complex flavour to go with the dry velvet plush texture. Finish firm, grippy and long. A wine that...(read more)

78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Like the Capbern Gasqueton much of the Merlot was left out to keep the stylistic finesse. Calon has been better and better in recent vintages, and the thanks must go to Vincent Millet who seems to have a very tight grip on what goes on h...(read more)

33% Merlot, 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot. Nose of warm ripe berry fruit. On palate pure ripe rasberries and a silky suave feel. Taut acidity. Good juicy style - relatively simply and attractively balanced and long.