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Autumn Release Wine Icons – proposed release schedule

By on 05/09/2017

We hesitate to use the word 'icon' in connection with wine ever since Jancis Robinson came up with the question 'is that one word or two?', but it is appropriate for some of the wines launched onto the market via the Bordeaux 'place' at this time of year.

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Gravette 2015

2015 La Gravette de Certan – second wine of a great vintage of VCC released today

By on 06/07/2017

Today sees the initial release of 2015 Gravette de Certan, the second wine of Vieux Château Certan. Now, we have not tasted this, and as far as we can tell neither has any other journalist/commentator/critic, but the 'Grand Vin' from 2015 was awarded 98-100 by Neal Martin and certainly one member of the Thienpont family spoke of the 'Gravette' with awe at the beginning of this year, saying he thought it as good as many earlier vintages of the Grand Vin.

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2015 Port – A great Vintage year, that almost never was

By on 29/06/2017

Brilliant Vintage Wines At harvest time in 2015, the shippers were all talking about ‘Vintage quality’ and fairly sure that there would be a general 'declaration' -  but then came the impressive 2016 in the cellars too, and a decision had to be made about which to declare. Both really are very good indeed.

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Lea & Sandeman Annual Tasting 2017

By on 26/06/2017

14th September 2017 - Trinity House Join us for our Annual Tasting in September, at Trinity House, home to the General Lighthouse Authority. Designed by Samuel Wyatt in 1794, this beautiful neo-classical building is located in the heart of the City overlooking the Tower of London.

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2016 Bordeaux – Fill your cellar for under £250 a case

By on 18/06/2017

We sample a staggering number of wines during the tastings of en primeur week and there is always a treasure trove of beautifully made and very well priced options. There are particularly rich pickings in a vintage with the quality and consistency of 2016. The *Fill your cellar for under £250 a dozen* list is our pick of the bunch. £2k could easily get you 10 cases of superb claret that will bring huge amounts of pleasure in the years ahead

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2016 Bordeaux – a ‘regal’ Lafite and a ‘voluptuous’ Vieux Château Certan

By on 14/06/2017

The (lengthy) en primeur show is drawing to a close but there are still a couple of the greatest hits left. First is LAFITE, out today at £2,950 per 6 bottles IB. Alongside HAUT BRION (now sold out) this was the first-growth that most impressed us en primeur. We found it silky, dense and brooding but still unbelievably pure.

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