By Charles Lea on 26/04/2013
2012 Bordeaux - Robert Parker pronounces Robert Parker has released his Wine Advocate scores scores for the 2012 vintage, and here are those for wines released so far and available in our offer, with price in £ per case in bond. The full list can as usual be found on the Wine Advocate website https://www.
By Charles Lea on 26/04/2013
2012 Bordeaux - Château Talbot and Connétable Talbot All has now gone a bit quiet as Bordeaux prepares for one of those funny weeks in May when there are so many holidays that it is tempting for them to 'faire le pont' at both ends of the week and not actually turn up at all.
By Ed H-B on 25/04/2013
Whilst in Bordeaux, during primeur week, there was a bit of a buzz of excitement with some of the wines from Margaux – and amongst these Palmer was widely touted as one of the brighter stars in the vintage.
By Charles Lea on 25/04/2013
Another large number of releases this morning, some sensible and some.
By Charles Lea on 22/04/2013
Rather too many wines at once today - the Lafite stable, which of course includes the top Pomerol l'Évangile topping off a little rush of releases. A shame because there are some stories here - Jean-Luc Thunevin's Valandraud (£895) has been elevated to 1er Grand Cru Classé status from this year, and is a fab wine if you are into this sort of modern style - it is done with real panache.
By Charles Lea on 18/04/2013
The Bordeaux 2012 campaign, which has been criticised in recent vintages for its boringly slow progress, has had the sense to start briskly this year - slightly too briskly for me as I had to get to Vinitaly as well this year and the notes are far from complete.
By Charles Lea on 19/12/2012
The deadline for deliveries before Christmas outside London is past, but if you live in (central-ish) London, you can still order online for delivery today (Wednesday), or, if you really insist on taking it to the wire, tomorrow (Thursday). Even then our magnificent warehouse crew will get your wine to you before Christmas.
By Charles Lea on 13/06/2012
Quoted in Decanter.com, Pierre Lurton, who runs both Cheval Blanc and Yquem for the LVMH group, has said that he will not be releasing Yquem en primeur for the moment: 'There is no question that we are following the example of Latour, (who have announced they will not be releasing their wines en primeur after this year) or legitimising their commercial decision,' Lurton told Decanter.
By Charles Lea on 07/06/2012
Today may see the final releases of the 2011 Primeur 'campaign'. After yesterday's successes for Ducru Beaucaillou and Vieux Chateau Certan, today will see the release of the stables of Léoville Las Cases and Ausone.
By Charles Lea on 06/06/2012
Domaines Baron de Rothschild chose yesterday to release the 2011 Chateau l'Évangile, a wine which I am surprised to find myself the biggest fan of amongst the critics. Today has seen another mini-avalanche of releases, including Talbot at a sensible price, and some at spectacular drops in price over their 2010 counterparts - Beauséjour Duffau Lagarosse was £2200 in 2010, and is £540 this year.
By Charles Lea on 24/05/2012
Late release of the day is Denis Durantou's flagship, l'Église Clinet at £575 per case of six bottles. At last someone who has listened to the market: this is offered at a price lower than any comparable vintage (2006 and 2008 are around £1400, 2009 and 2010 are over £3500). A 2011 primeur worth buying.
By Charles Lea on 24/05/2012
Latour, of course, stole a good deal of publicity at the beginning of the the 2011 campaign by announcing that it was going to withdraw from the primeur system from next year. (In future the wine will be released by the Chateau at ten years old or later).