By Edward Richardson on 31/05/2017
MALESCOT SAINT EXUPÉRY has been released at £252 per 6 bottles IB. We were all really impressed by this - it was clearly one of the stand-out wines from Margaux in 2016. Neal Martin gave it 94-96/100 and called it 'sensual and voluptuous' but with great delineation and precision on the finish.
By Beth Thomas on 30/05/2017
After the bank holiday lull, a very exciting morning in Bordeaux today. We have the release of the Domaine Clarence Dillon wines - most notably HAUT BRION and LA MISSION HAUT BRION - as well as LARCIS DUCASSE and RÉSERVE DE LA COMTESSE. HAUT BRION is out at £2,490 per 6 bottles IB.
By Charles Lea on 30/05/2017
Ignoring the holidays in the UK and US, second growth Château Gruaud Larose was launched onto the market yesterday, along with its popular second wine Sarget de Gruaud Larose. Half the vineyard here is now farmed biodynamically and this may account for what seems to be an increased transparency and detail in the wines.
By Beth Thomas on 24/05/2017
Out this morning are the Cazes family wines of Pauillac. The grand vin itself CHÂTEAU LYNCH BAGES has been released at £575 per 6 IB. The price of Lynch has drifted higher in recent years, but so have the reviews, and this 2016 has the highest ratings ever en primeur.
By Beth Thomas on 24/05/2017
While Lynch Bages (now sold out) was obviously the big news of yesterday, several other releases are more than worthy of mention. 2016 CHÂTEAU GRAND MAYNE at £360 per dozen was not only given a terrific note by Neal Martin (94-96), but was also mentioned in his introduction to the vintage: 'I was deeply impressed by Grand-Mayne this year.
By Beth Thomas on 24/05/2017
CHÂTEAU ANGÉLUS is out this morning at £1788 per 6 IB. There are some highly impressive scores here, 96-98 from Neal Martin who expects this wine will reach the top of his banded score once in bottle, 17++ from Jancis Robinson, 99-100 from James Suckling, 97 from both Jane Anson and Tim Atkin, and 94-97+ from Antonio Galloni.
By Edward Richardson on 22/05/2017
This morning sees the release of a trio of very impressive Saint Juliens. An excellent and highly-rated LANGOA BARTON has been released at £420 per 12 IB, and the stylish LA CROIX DE BEAUCAILLOU has followed at exactly the same price.
By Beth Thomas on 19/05/2017
Following the release earlier this morning of CHÂTEAU GLORIA and CHÂTEAU SAINT PIERRE comes the wonderfully impressive CHÂTEAU PALMER, one of the great wines of Margaux. This has been released at £1420 per case of 6 In Bond, which is certainly a price as grand as the wine.
By Edward Richardson on 19/05/2017
CHÂTEAU GLORIA , which has been on a quality charge this year, is out today at £360 per 12 bottles IB. We were really impressed with the quality of the 2016. It has good volume and density but will certainly need time in the cellar to round out.
By Edward Richardson on 18/05/2017
CHÂTEAU LE CROCK is a fantastic little cru bourgeois that sits right between Cos and Montrose. In great vintages this property really sings so when Neal Martin says the 2016 is a spitting image of the 2010, the signs are very good indeed! We found it bold and hedonistic.
By Edward Richardson on 17/05/2017
Lots of En Primeur activity this morning. The pick of the bunch is CHÂTEAU TALBOT at £246 per 6 bottles IB. Jancis says this is a wine that represents all that is best about the 2016 vintage. She's absolutely right. It's a wine of typically profound structure but there is plenty of intense blackberry fruit behind all that mass.
By Beth Thomas on 17/05/2017
Released this afternoon is CHÂTEAU DUHART MILON ROTHSCHILD at £310 per 6 IB. This is one of our recommended wines, we all found it a joy to taste and it is a great example of the brilliant wines from Pauillac in 2016. Neal Martin recommends it too, he says that it is 'a step up from the 2015' and scores it 92-94.