LEA & SANDEMAN

After three years of hunting we are delighted to have finally secured a brilliant new source for our perennially popular House Claret. It is such a high-pressure tasting when we assess the next vintage and we kept finding the latest releases from our old supplier just not quite there, hence the hiatus. So it was a great moment when we came across a young winemaker in Juillac, one of the highest points of Bordeaux - just inland from Saint Emilion and Castillon on the left bank of the Dordogne River. This is not a generic 'Bordeaux' that we have simply labelled, but it comes from a single property and with its own discernible style. This is a classic Bordeaux Blend with Merlot at its heart but also Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot too. Guillaume is gentle on the élevage - preferring to focus on the fruit expression and the super lift that won us over, rather than too much oak impact. He's nailed the balance here, its a proper Bordeaux, very claret-like yet with generous fruit, bright tannins and fresh bounce. L&S (Apr 2025)