Saint Emilion & satellites

Chateau Lauriol is the 100% Merlot second wine of perennial over-achiever - Chateau Puygueraud, owned by the Thienpont family. It comes from their vineyards in the Côtes du Francs. Sleek and sophisticated this is r...(read more)

Bordeaux is a big region with over 100,000 Hectares of vines planted. A lot of people only get to know the Cru Classe, which is a shame, as there are so many cracking properties in the lesser known areas that turn out de...(read more)

This is another great effort from Francois Thienpont. It comes exclusively from a 2 Hectare plot that the family rent on a very long-term basis. The vines were planted in 1958 and that old vine intensity is clear. Althou...(read more)

The second wine of L’Hêtre, a new wine in the distinctly up-and-coming AP of Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. Owned by the Thienpont family, organically farmed and situated high on the limestone plateau to the ea...(read more)

A firm favourite at L&S and delivering cracking quality year after year. From a satellite of St Emilion so Merlot, Cab Franc dominant. Freshly delivered with ripe cassis, cherry and plum, tea leaf, tobacco and just a...(read more)

From the Nicolas Thienpont family of estates (which includes Pavie Macquin and Larcis Ducasse) the Puygueraud is juicy and intense with ripe fruit exploding on the nose and a generous palate of cassis and black cherry. A...(read more)

This wine comes from vineyards planted at the tip of the limestone plateau which stretches west to Saint-Emilion. These are the best parcels of the estate situated on the outskirts of the village of Saint-Philippe-d'Aigu...(read more)

Big, juicy wine for the vintage with lots of berries, dried fruits and toasted oak. Full and velvety. Very serious for the vintage from here. Better in 2016.

This lovely youthful cuvee demonstrates good rounded acidity with subtle notes of blackcurrant, cedar wood and black plum. Its mid-bodied mouthfeel would partner any good game bird dish or a more classic red meat roast o...(read more)

Like Canon itself this just a complete joy. Extreme sophistication and deliciousness - bright and pure and unctuously fat but not big - delicately poised, silky fine and fresh. Gorgeous.

This was an absolute joy and stood out in quite a long line up of options at a recent tasting. Real freshness and purity, elegant with great delivery of plum and cassis fruit, complex tobacco and tea notes. It was the fi...(read more)

We visited the La Mauriane cellar with Pierre Taix, and tasted the 2016 in its three component cuvées as well as an approximation of the final blend. The Merlot from the chalky hillside had fantastically delicious...(read more)