By Charles Lea on 07/06/2016
Out this morning is en primeur classic 2015 CHÂTEAU LYNCH BAGES 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac at £890 per case of 12 bottles. Creamy-rich, lovely top-note of fine red fruit. The density is all here, and this very much does what Lynch bages does. Big tannins, but all nicely wrapped in fruit and smooth body.
By Charles Lea on 06/06/2016
This week will almost certainly see the final wines released from the 2015 Bordeaux primeurs, so likely to be a busy one. Kicking off with one of the wines of the vintage 2015 CHÂTEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON at the fairly feisty price of £995 per case IB.
By Charles Lea on 02/06/2016
Two big gun Saint Emilions out this morning.
By Charles Lea on 01/06/2016
This afternoon has brought the releases of our perennial favourite in the sheer deliciousness stakes, 2015 CHÂTEAU HAUT BATAILLEY as well as its senior stablemate 2015 CHÂTEAU GRAND PUY LACOSTE . Both these were showing well and confirming their places as some of Pauillac's most gorgeous wines.
By Charles Lea on 01/06/2016
Yesterday was the opening of the new tourist attraction in Bordeaux, the Cité du Vin, so nothing happened in the way of releases until late in the day when the two hugely rated wines from the Chanel group, Canon and Rauzan Ségla (£570) were released.
By Charles Lea on 01/06/2016
Bank Holiday Monday saw just one release, with the Pomerol Château Rouget coming out at £330. Given Neal Martin's 92-94 note in the Wine Advocate, this might not seem dotty, but the 2010 (RP 93) is available for the same price. All the same we liked it enough for it to rate a in the vintage.
By Charles Lea on 29/05/2016
'This is a dream vintage for sweet wines' Tim Atkin MW Lea & Sandeman offers the opportunity to buy a mixed case of 2015 Sauternes en primeur, as this is enough for many people and allows a bit of variety, and to make it easy to buy a selection of these gloriously fine wines.
By Charles Lea on 19/05/2016
'an outstanding, classic, drop-dead gorgeous Léoville Barton that is destined to give immense pleasure over the coming years'. Neal Martin, erobertparker.com The big one out this morning is Château Léoville Barton, always a decisive moment in any en primeur campaign.
By Charles Lea on 18/05/2016
The visit to Ducru Beaucaillou this year was another great tasting, with all the wines singing and showing lovely real Saint Julien character - a fine well-knit delicacy of expression, while certainly not lacking oomph. These two 'lesser' wines are good examples, Lalande Borie should be a good drink from the moment it is delivered ('Very sweet and perfumed.
By Charles Lea on 18/05/2016
Just as we were thinking that the big names would all wait until after Vinexpo Hong Kong to release, along comes Alfred Tesseron with Château Pontet Canet at £795, one of the real big beasts, and a wine with universally high scores across the board - 97 - 98/100 James Suckling, 94 - 96/100 Neal Martin, 17 Jancis Robinson, 94 Tim Atkin etc.
By Charles Lea on 17/05/2016
Undecided as to what bottle size you want? Do something different and order a 'multiformat' case. These cases are available for only a few wines, but they are rather fun. You get 4 normal 75cl bottles, 2 magnums and one double-magnum all the the same wooden case.
By Charles Lea on 13/05/2016
Out this morning are the single vineyard wines from Jonathan Maltus, Vieux Château Mazerat (£630) and Les Astéries. These Saint Emilions have have rave reviews and are worth a look.