New Arrivals

Our Good Ordinary Claret is an early-drinking style of red Bordeaux. The 2021 vintage combines Merlot (52%) with Cabernet Sauvignon (44%) and a dash of Cabernet Franc (4%). This was a “classic” year for red Bordeaux: lighter-style wines defined by purity, lower alcohol and crisp acidity.

The nose here is bright, brimming with red and morello cherries, with a subtle lift of raspberry leaf and a hint of sweet spice. The palate is juicy and smooth, layered with crunchy red and black fruit. This is versatile and, as always, reliably delicious.

Georgina Haacke, Bordeaux Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Wow! A profound, precise Pauillac at a price to please even the most price conscious (I hope!). Raspberries and strawberries are dominant on nose and palate, with a very natural weight and comely seductive charm that just makes you want to quaff it. This really is a terrific and something new to boot.
Simon Staples, Asia Wine Director

Blackish crimson. Very fresh and crisp. Zesty. Very direct. Lots of fine tannins. Seems to have more volume and fruit than the 2005! 

Drink 2018 - 2035

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com 

Tignanello’s origins lie in a single vineyard Chianti Classico known simply as “Vigneto Tignanello” made for the 1970 vintage. From 1971 the wine was classified as lowly Vino da Tavola, and the Cabernets were added to the Sangiovese for the first time. The original Super Tuscan was born. The 2013 is the first release since the passing of the great Giacomo Tachis, Head Winemaker at Antinori from the late 1960s through to the 1990s and creator of Tignanello, Sassicaia, Solaia and many of the notable wines of Tuscany and Italy. The 2013 is a fitting tribute to this very talented man.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Blackberry and licorice aromas, with full body, very fine tannins and a long finish. Very silky. So much for jammy wines in 2003. Very fresh and refined. - James Suckling

70% new oak. Hold +2 years or carafe for 4 hours.

Density, power, concentration—this is a full-on Pauillac with a ton of cassis and blueberry, liquorice, espresso, and cocoa beans, with an intense muscular tannic frame. With precise architecture, it delivers on the promise that has been building for several years—muscular, ripped, will power for decades.

Drink 2025 - 2050

Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com (September 2024)

A lavish wine of extraordinary complexity. Rich, hugely extracted, with masses of fat and glycerin. Plenty of over-ripe tropical fruits, smoky new oak and astonishing length. Will go on developing for half a century or more.

Hermitage La Chapelle is named after the small hermit’s Chapel built in 1235 on the Hermitage hill; the wine regularly amazes with its incredible array of flavours - fruity and enticing when young but acquiring complex leathery and gamey overtones with age. This wine is ready to drink and will compliment any Autumnal or Winter fare well.

A rustic bouquet with dried cranberries and redcurrants, sous bois, tobacco leaf, tanned saddle leather and spice. A gentle brush of dark red fruit at the front palate leads to a lifted mineral acidity and finely intertwined tannin. A charming and gentle style of Hermitage from Jaboulet Aine, with nineteen years already in the bank, this is an elegant “traditional” style of Northern Rhone Syrah to drink now and maybe keep another 1 – 2 years.”

Stuart Rae, Private Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd

1996 La Chapelle is a classic example of mature Syrah, garnet in colour with delicate aromas of wild mushroom, stewed fruit and a slight earthiness. The palate is softly textured, with beautiful tannins and a high acidity which carries the savoury, gamey notes through to the finish. Great for drinking now, as it is expected to arrive in November; I could think of nothing better than enjoying some roasted game over the festive period. It will hold on for another year but will not get any better.

Chris Lamb, Private Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd

The nose of this fully developed but still richly coloured wine is highly enticing; the overall feeling is one of soft, very ripe Autumnal fruits – baked plums and damsons with a touch of rich and earthy roasted beetroots. There is even a suggestion of rather old-fashioned mature Pauillac fruit, with similarly comforting notes of polished sweet oak.

The palate has so many layers; it is fascinating – this is not to glug and swill but to enjoy and savour. There is tremendous energy to this wine, which is quite unusual, owing to the vibrant acidity which keeps the finish lively and really on its toes. This is unquestionably for drinking now and over the coming year to 18 months; it is the epitome of a well-aged and mature Hermitage, which is a perfect match for pheasant, boar or any game dish.

Gary Owen, Private Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd

The fruit comes from five lieux-dits to the north of Meursault. Fleshy, yellow apple aromas present on the nose and stone fruit on the palate. It has an excellent texture of peaches and cream. The acidity is bright and it feels very precise. This is well made, modern Bourgogne Blanc and offers immediate pleasure.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

This wine is showing exceptionally well in this classic vintage. The 2016 Guidalberto (Cabernet Sauvignon and a smaller percentage of Merlot) opens to a full and generous bouquet and a beautifully rich and velvety appearance. This edition of Tenuta San Guido's mid-level wine offers a bigger aromatic profile, more texture and more volume as well. Dark cherry and blackberry segue to spice, tar, leather and sweet fruit at the end. The mouthfeel is elegantly shaped, silky and nuanced. This may well be the best vintage of Guidalberto I have yet to tasteand you can get this wine at a great price too.

Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (February 2018)

The 2011 Sassicaia comes from a vintage with a cold winter, a mild spring with abundant rains and a very good difference in temperatures between night and day during the summer, and there were sunny days during the harvest. You can feel this sunny, bright personality in the wine. The nose is open and accessible with bright red fruit and cream aromas. On the palate, there are contrasting flavours which are a little green and firm, but these are enveloped in a luxurious texture and weight.

Drink 2022 - 2034

Susan Hulme MW, Decanter.com (November 2022)

Poruzots is a vineyard quick to ripen and, in an early year like 2017, care is needed. Certainly the wine shows an opulent side in 2017 but the year’s in-built freshness pulls the finish together. A potentially garrulous wine that has learnt some self-awareness. Drink 2023-2029.

Winemaker Brian Sieve draws comparisons between the white wines of 2017 and 2014, explaining that the texture, weight and freshness are very similar in both years, although 2017 has perhaps a little more fruit ripeness, along with excellent tension and persistence. He believes that this same freshness and brightness in the reds will provide ageing capacity, pointing out that they worked hard to restrict the yield of Pinot Noir to achieve riper grapes. Overall slightly less whole-bunch fermentation was used as Brian felt the stems and fruit were not as ripe as in richer vintages.

Next to Roncière and composed of two plots, one with 70-year-old vines and the other 31 years old, this is more powerful, perhaps typical, with a hint of a savoury element but still undeniably graceful. The Grivot house style, using only perfect de-stemmed berries, has enhanced the silkier side of this vineyard but not disguised its intrinsic personality.

Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Made by our good friends Jean-Luc Terrier and Christian Collovray, this is a textbook example of white Burgundy. Complex yet restrained aromas of citrus and white stone fruit combine with stony minerals and a subtle oak spice. The palate is generous and mouth-filling, culminating in a zesty, vibrant finish and a creamy, toasted aftertaste. Enjoy with grilled seafood or fresh goat’s cheese – or on its own as an apéritif.

Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (January 2025)

Philippe Blanc was on top form when we visited him to taste his 2015. This estate seems to improve with every year that we visit and the initial sweetness on the palate here is terrific. The round, plump, fleshy feel of 47 percent Merlot is certainly evident and there is plenty of crunchy bright fruit here.

The wine is really fresh, inviting, sumptuous. Balanced and rewarding, the wine has a clear structure, with fine integration of vanilla spice, cassis fruit and silky tannin. A bit broody, the wine will benefit ageing.

Blend: 47% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot

Sweet rose petal, mint, chiseled red-toned fruit and chalk give the 2014 Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn its sculpted, brilliant personality. All the elements are in the right place. A wine of translucent energy and weightless elegance, the Sorì Tildìn is hauntingly beautiful today. A host of floral notes and red berry fruit infuse the persistent, chiseled finish in this fabulous Barbaresco. As it so often is, the Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn is a wine of pure charm and seduction.

Drink 2026 - 2044

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (October 2017)

The 2014 La Gaffeliere appears to have improved since it's showing in barrel (I did hint at this at the time). The nose is perfumed and slightly floral, certainly well defined with neatly integrated oak, dark fruit emerging with aeration in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly edgy, chalky tannin on the entry, shrouded by plenty of dusky black fruit and a potent, graphite-tinged finish. This is one to watch. Drink 2019-2040. - The Wine Advocate

It is great to see Pichon-Lalande back on superb form in 2006 with a wine whose purity and linear cassis fruit is reminiscent of their cracking 1996. General Manager Gildas d'Ollone and his team have produced a cerebral yet beguiling Pichon-Lalande full of sensual, exotic aromatics and pure supple flavours. This is a massive Pichon softened by a silky texture and velvety finish. New owners Louis Roederer must be delighted with their first vintage here, and rightly so.

Jasper Morris MW is a?highly respected?writer and critic on the wines of Burgundy.?He has been a Master of Wine since 1985, with an illustrious career behind him as a wine merchant and author.?He was Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Burgundy Director from 2003 to 2017

This second edition?spans 800 pages,?with expanded coverage of over 1,200 vineyards, 300 wine villages and 700 domaines. It offers detailed insider knowledge on the places and people that make Burgundy such a special winemaking region. 

Jasper gives particular attention to Burgundy’s more affordable regions: Chablis,?the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and?Nuits,?the Côte Chalonnaise?and?the?Mâconnais. 

The book includes?45 full-colour?maps?– all of which have been revised and updated since the first edition – shining a light on Burgundy’s complex network of vineyards and villages. It also includes six new maps, which illustrate plot-by-plot holdings in?individual?Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. 

Very full colour and still very young. Classic St-Julien with very well judged use of oak. Intense, harmonious, and beautifully balanced with a long lingering finish. Needs another 5 years of bottle ageing.

Tasted blind. Some polish, charm and rigour too. Just what I want of a St-Julien! Very vibrant. Dry finish but I think it will all come right as there is just so much going on there. Wonderfully long. Intense.

Drink 2025 - 2045

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com

A prodigious beast of a wine that's now starting to shed just a touch of its considerable baby fat, the 2003 Château Montrose is based on 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. It shows the vintage's richness with its ripe, opulent core of fruit, yet it freshens up noticeably with time in the glass, offering currants, mulberries, smoked tobacco, minty herbs, and liquorice. Full-bodied, deep, and powerful on the palate, it still has classic Bordeaux focus and structure. It's drinking brilliantly today with a decant and has another 20-30 years of prime drinking.

Drink 2022 - 2052

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (August 2022)

Ripe and succulent with the lovely perfume of great Margaux, this is concentrated but fresh, supple but structured, and very, very harmonious. Beautifully balanced and with great poise, this wears its 60% new oak like a glove. Henri Lurton mentioned that in 2009, the grape juice before fermentation was so fragrant that the vat room was already full of the smell of blackberries and raspberries. This certainly translates into the wine; it is a very fine achievement.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

I have loved this wine on many occasions, and I love it here again. This is not a wine that is hiding its age - there are already some tertiary notes developing - and you'll find younger-looking 2005s, but it has a generosity of spirit, a succulence to its fruit, and a hauntingly fresh menthol edge to the finish that is really beautiful. Mouthwatering brilliance. 45% of production.

Drink 2018 - 2030

Jane Anson, Decanter.com (November 2017)

The vines here are in the Côte de Bréchin, which is noted for its grey-blue marl and gives the wine its textbook bacon-fat reduction and mineral power. The nose is intense and complex, with a smoky, brooding character masking the fruit at present. The palate is concentrated, dense and chewy, with a dry, mineral finish that is almost tannic in profile. A wonderful wine which needs a little time. Drink 2022-2028.

Ben has been making this monopole wine since his days at Comte Armand, and this is one of the best he has produced. Attractive red-berry fruits and a touch of floral lift lead on to a palate which has a lovely kernel of sweet-cherry fruit and powdery tannins which melt away on the finish.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

Having created a name for himself as régisseur (general manager) of Comte Armand in Pommard from 1999 until 2013, Benjamin Leroux established a small négociant business based in Beaune in 2007. The emphasis is on Côte de Beaune whites and Côte de Nuits reds. The company also owns a small holding of Bâtard-Montrachet and since 2014 some vineyards in Meursault. In a short space of time Benjamin Leroux’s wines have built an impressive reputation. Ben is a big fan of his 2016s, praising the sizzling tension of the whites and the beautiful quality of the Pinot fruit, which allowed him to use more whole bunches than in 2015. In early stages of élevage he drew comparisons to 2010, and feels these are wines which will surprise people and gain complexity with time. Thanks to his strong relationships with suppliers, Ben was able to maintain production at around 2015 levels despite the frost, although in general he has less Village and Grand Cru wine and more at the Premier Cru level. For reasons of space, the limited volumes of Grands Crus have not been included in this catalogue. Since the 2014 vintage, all white wines are bottled under screwcap.

This small Pomerol Château has crafted a wine which exploits the very best hallmarks of the vintage. Modern and forward in style, it offers pure black cherry, blackberry and blueberry characters alongside an attractive bramble spice. Lifted, succulent and intense, this really is silk in a glass. Fine acidity injects real energy across the palate and the tannins are very fine with the balance exceptional.

Martyn Rolph, Head of Buying, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Ch. Ormes de Pez, St. Estèphe is a well known chateau that the Cazes family (Ch. Lynch Bages etc) has given more attention to in recent years. It shows the concentration and balance of 2005, a great year, as well as a sweetness of fruit which gave it real appeal.
Tom Cave, Cellar Plan Manager - Dec 09

The Jean-Michel Cazes estates have had a great year in 2005, and this one is no different. This is benchmark St Estèphe, with lots of earthy minerality, this has far more generosity than usual. Extremely accessible, the spicy nose with notes of licorice and pepper leads on to a rich balanced palate with lashings of sweet loganberries and cassis with tobacco hints. This is at once classy, concentrated and quaffable, but with great ageing potential too.
Simon Staples, BBR Fine Wine Director

This estate has been under new ownership since 2010 and the 2012 is a great success story.  The fruit shows luscious redcurrants and the overall style is really soft and attractive. It is the finish, however, where the wine really shows off a wonderful sapidité (a French term meaning an almost salty, mineral savouriness). The château's director, Guillaume Pouthier, puts this down to using ripe stalks in the blend, a difficult method frequently used in Burgundy but very rarely seen in Bordeaux. This 2012 is very much a success.

Composed of 54.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41.7% Merlot and 4.1% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour opens with a deep garnet-purple colour and beautifully expressive notes of crushed blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries and black raspberries with touches of baking spices and potpourri. Medium-bodied, finely crafted, refreshing and with wonderful purity in the mouth, the fruit is supported by velvety tannins and finishes long and spicy.

Drink 2020 - 2034

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020)

Myosotis is forget-me-not. From between Magny-lès-Villers and Villars-Fontaine, this vineyard has a lot of active limestone and the resulting wine is delicate with, in 2018, vivid blackcurrant scents. Lots of whole-bunch gives a succulence to the wine’s fresh cassis style. Drink now to 2024.

Cabernet Sauvignon is 70% of the blend, with 22% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, all of which will be aged in 60% new barrels.

Ch. Langoa Barton impresses in 2012. The character of its Cabernet Sauvignon is vivid and expressive, created from low yields by nature’s vicissitudes during the growing season and supported by a rigorously enforced selection process, which removed any fruit deemed even possibly unripe. The wine presents with a remarkably juicy initial expression of cassis and the palate remains fruit-driven. Any thoughts that Langoa might tend towards rusticity in this vintage should be dismissed although the wine should be considered for earlier drinking after five or so years.

Mark Pardoe MW, Wine Director, Berry Bros. & Rudd

The Grivots have been working very hard at their Clos de Vougeot over the years, looking to soften the wine’s usually sturdy tannins. Certainly there is a suavity this year, a touch of Vosne magic, perhaps. A strong wine that Étienne is trying to educate. Drink 2025-2032.

Jean Grivot, whose name continues to appear on the labels, took over from his father Gaston in 1955 and handed the estate on to his son Étienne in the early 1980s. Étienne, married to Marielle Bize from Savigny, has been through a number of incarnations as winemaker here. When he took over, his father’s style was for gentle, graceful wines which perhaps were a little weak in the lesser vintages. Since then Étienne has found his own voice and made a range of increasingly fine wines. The drive to reduce yields and fine-tune his work in the vineyards and cellar since the mid-2000s continues to enhance quality. The succession to the next generation is now well underway, with Mathilde and Hubert increasingly influential, under their father’s experienced and wise guidance.

Here the decision was to wait for a bit of rain, to get the skins and berries fully ripe. The rain did the trick and the resulting wines are among the best of the Côte this year. Adjectives tumbled from Étienne during the tasting: seductive and precise, glamorous, graphite and saline, luminous and suave. We both agreed we rather liked “resonant”. Volumes are up 50 percent but Étienne warned us that the run of short vintages has depleted their reserves, and  as such allocations this year will not  move up in line.

Based on the 2019 harvest and its great British summer, our friends at Hambledon Vineyard make this exclusively for us – home to the finest terroir in England. The nose offers orchard fruit crumble and hedgerow flowers. The palate is foaming and complex with white fruits, yellow pear and an appley bite. The finish is distinctly mineral – reminiscent of the chalk soils of Hampshire – but also moreish and very lively. This is the perfect wine for a party, as an apéritif or with fish and chips.

Davy Zyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

From the Clos des Roches Noires in the centre of this vineyard, there is an astonishing depth to the aromatics here, with hints of oriental spices alongside the classical Pinot fruit. The tannins are silky and refined; a classy wine with great distinction.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

In January 2002 Maison Camille Giroud was bought by an American consortium led by banker Joe Wender and winery-owner Ann Colgin, and a new chapter began. David Croix was installed as the winemaker/ technical director and tasked with a major revamping of the winemaking facilities and especially replacement and renewal of the old barrels to make wines in a much purer, more modern style. The company also owns 1.2 hectares of vineyards in and around Beaune. The 2016 vintage was a collaborative effort between the outgoing David Croix and his replacement, Carel Voorhuis, formerly of Domaine d’Ardhuy. The transition is a smooth one, with Carel’s gentle touch following on seamlessly from David’s elegant style. Carel described the 2016 vintage as lighter than 2015, with more elegance and better balance. It is clear he has a preference for 2016, highlighting the expressive, aromatic characteristics of the wines and calling them “ethereal”. He explained that it was important to avoid over-ripeness by picking in good time, and emphasised the value of gentle extraction to prevent obtaining hard tannins.

Absolutely fantastic! Rich, opulent and creamy-textured with the spectacular Léoville-Las Cases signature deftly etched across it from nose to finish, packed full of perfect dominating red fruit and a stunning finish.  Usually Las Cases blows this out of the water, but not so in 2010 – it’s the best any of us can recall: a must-have.
(75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc)

Simon Staples, Fine Wine Director

Wood toast and reduction dominate the nose today. By contrast, there is good freshness and verve to the beautifully delineated, punchy, bold flavours that display taut muscularity before concluding in a slightly dry, austere, lightly stony finish. My predicted range offers the benefit of the doubt that the dryness will age out as the supporting tannins seem ripe. Drink from 2022 onward.  Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (Apr 2018)

The blend of the 245 is 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and the rest Meunier.

Part of a new collection that’s just reaching the market now, the NV Champagne Collection 245 is based on the 2020 vintage. (The trilogy of vintages in the collection are from the early ripening 2018, which is lighter and fruitier, the 2019, richer and more powerful, and the 2020, which is somewhere between the other two.) It has a reflective straw hue and offers notes of fresh almond, bread dough, and fresh flowers.

Medium-bodied on the palate, with a fruity nature, it’s crunchy and fresh in the glass, with a lovely chalky texture, good refinement, a note of fresh nectarine, and a clean finish. Dry, but with a delicate rounded feel and some depth throughout, it opens to show more of its salinity and the delicate reductive smoke that frames the wine with oyster shell-like umami character. It’s approachable now but will age with ease.

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (December 2024)

This is Matthieu’s calling card, made from a selection of his vineyards across Verzenay, Verzy and Villers-Marmery. A complex wine, this was based on the vibrant 2021 harvest, with 45% reserve wine added to bring depth and spice. This cuvée is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and was vinified in oak before spending a short 15 months on lees, retaining fruit and vineyard character. Its nose is expansive, with earthy layers and citrus lift, while the palate is fine: compact, with notes of red apple, stone fruit and a firm mineral grip.

Drink 2024 - 2034

Davy Zyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Normally a blend from 75% of generic fruit from Meursault and 25% in Puligny, but the Meursault vines suffered much more from the frost, so this year the percentages are reversed. The result is a wine leaning much more towards the spicy gunflint style of Puligny. The wine is admirably correct, with well-delineated refreshing lines, and a commendable density on the finish.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

A more elegant and more complex nose features plenty of floral elements, and in particular violet and lilac, to the fresher aromas of dark berries and sandalwood. There is excellent energy and fine detail to the more concentrated medium weight plus flavors that conclude in a firm, serious and robust finish; indeed this is notably powerful. One to consider. *Outstanding*- 91-93 Burghound

This 0.2-hectare site in the clay-rich climat of Châtains. These vines are relatively young (25 years old), and this tends to be the earliest drinking of the Pinsons’ Premiers Crus. There’s an appealing earthy reduction and floral touches on the nose. The palate is fresh, with a little oak adding creamy, toasty notes before a tight, crisp finish.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

The 2019 Seña was made in a year in which the average temperatures were similar to 2018 but organized differently: the spring was warm and the summer cool. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 15% Carménère and 4% Petit Verdot, it was aged for 22 months, 90% in mostly new French barrels and 10% in foudres. Purple in the glass. The nose presents notes of plum with hints of blackberry and expressive layers of mint and herb. In the mouth the firm tannins are refined and a little compact. A delicate wine that will improve in the bottle.

Drink 2024 - 2043

Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous.com (August 2022)

2019 was another warm and particularly dry year in Burgundy. Powerful and concentrated yet very elegant and aromatically complex, this vintage's wines are remarkable for their superb balance. This purple-hued Forge de Tart unveils lovely fresh red fruits on the nose with spicy and floral notes. Delicious mouthfeel showing depth of flavour and great balance with soft tannins, fine acidity and a long, precise finish.

By contrast with the expressiveness of the Goutte d'Or, this is much more reserved and with a different aromatic profile more given to seductive and slightly exotic spices, citrus blossom and orange peel that leads to classy, rich, full and naturally sweet palate coating flavors as the dry extract is every bit as impressive.

Like all of the Lafon '07s, it is the impeccable balance that really sets these wines apart and the Genevrières is a wine of perfect harmony, particularly on the linear and explosive finish.
(Allen Meadows, burghound.com - Jun 2010)

The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes was showing especially well, soaring from the glass with a lovely bouquet of cassis, dark berry preserve, baking chocolate and peonies. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with lively acids and a long, aromatic finish. - The Wine Advocate

The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet-like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavours, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. 

It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It will take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!

Drink 2031 - 2068.

Jeb Dunnuck - 100 points

This was previously a cuvée made by Clos de Tart only in certain years (often when they needed greater selection for the first wine) but it will now be produced annually from the vines that are under 20 years old. Touches of caramel-edged oak at first that is slightly intrusive, but as it opens up there is tons of blueberry and raspberry fruit. Fresh and appealing, silky with edges of steel. - Decanter 92 points

This is a brilliantly pure expression of the Mâconnais region. The nose is elegant with white flowers, citrus zest, and ripe orchard fruits—think golden apple and juicy pear— and underlined by wet stone and a touch of almond. On the palate, it is both generous and precise, with a creamy texture balanced by a vibrant backbone of acidity. Subtle oak ageing adds refinement, with hints of vanilla and brioche that never overpower the wine’s innate freshness. This is drinking beautifully right now.

Mark Ferguson, Fine Wine Specialist, Berry Bros. & Rudd

A fresh vibrant purple colour. This is wonderfully pure and intense, all red fruit, sensual finish, the sweetness of the fruit easily outplays any dryness from whole bunch. Very long. Not as concentrated as the richer years but certainly very fine. - Jasper Morris 92-96 points

Inky purple, this is extremely concentrated, reflecting the thick skins that develop at this high altitude site. A little different in style from the other vintages in this vertical, with a touch of smoky reduction that accentuates the fresh herbs, smoked black tea, raspberry leaf and sour cherry along with Cabernet-dominant blueberry and blackcurrant fruit. Sculpted, with mouthwatering oyster shell and slate minerality on the finish.

This feels like a mountain wine, and is excellent quality, from a cooler vintage overall. Harvest September 19 (Xidang Village, 2,100m altitude) through to November 22 (Adong Village, 2,600 altitude), the longest to date with over two months between first and last picking. A touch of Merlot in the blend for the first time, bringing the number of grape varieties in the blend to five, 36% new oak.

Drink 2024 - 2038

Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com (March 2022)

The old vines here ensure this is a remarkably consistent wine that retains its character regardless of the vintage conditions. The nose is rich, exuberant, and spicy, with plenty of ripe fruit that follows through on the palate. Don’t be fooled, though; there is also a stinging acidity that maintains the balance. This is an outstanding, concentrated wine.

Jean-Philippe explained how he and his vineyard team had to work extremely hard after the 2016 frost, managing the vines to ensure that the following year’s growth would not be compromised. Meticulous marathon runner Jean-Philippe is just the man for such an arduous task. He is delighted with the results, explaining that quality is excellent and the yield was neither too big nor too small. These wines are as reliably fresh and precise as you expect, with each vineyard’s character shining through.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

This white from the famed Lynch Bages stable often stands out as one of the whites of the vintage. Beautifully crisp and clean on the nose, this is full of white stone fruit with a citrus verbena note. The palate is fresh and vibrant packed full of citrus, with lemon pith, wet stone and a lovely phenolic feeling that gives the palate great depth and yet a vivacity with its precise tannins. Delicious. Keep for three – five years in bottle and enjoy.

The first red to be picked. 35 year old average age for the vines on sandy chalky soil, one third whole bunch vinification. Pretty mid purple, pretty and floral, more open than Grèves. No great weight but it is attractive and finishes with its floral perfume.

Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (November 2018)

Merlot 52%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Petit Verdot 1%.

This has a dark, ruby hue. Even before you have lowered your nose into the glass, this comes at you with a wave of dark, black fruit – think Morello cherry, cassis and liquorice. The palate feels “cool” but is full-bodied, with elegant, silky tannins and a long finish.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

The 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin is supple, fruity and forward and yet also has more than enough detail and nuance to reward at least medium-term cellaring. Hints of violet, lavender, menthol and blue/purplish fruit add to the wine's considerable appeal. There is terrific potential here. I tasted the 2016 from tank just prior to bottling. - Stephen Tanzer

The delightful, vibrant Clos La Gaffelière is the perfect chance to experience the winemaking expertise of Château La Gaffelière. Merlot dominates in this St Emilion red, bringing vivid aromas of ripe red berries and tart cherry, while a touch of Cabernet Franc (10%) further lifts its fresh, aromatic profile. A ribbon of minerality runs through a rounded palate full of soft red fruits and juicy blackberry. This is a joy to savour and a perfect wine to drink with a Sunday roast.

Victoria Bull, Junior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

From the very first moment you are completely encapsulated in this wine. An array of delicious notes draw you in from baked apples and pears to crème anglaise and lemon posset. On the palate, the delicate creaminess carries through but it is lifted by an incredible freshness and a crunchy hit of red fruits. On the finish, white chocolate melts into toasted nuts and a saline air breezes through.

Amy Johnson, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd

The 2015 Canon was a benchmark wine that seemed to revitalize this historic estate. I was crossing my fingers that it would not disappoint in bottle and I am glad to say that it delivers the goods. It has a very intense bouquet (just as it showed out of barrel) with laser-like precision offering wild strawberry, raspberry preserve, wet limestone and hints of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, clean and fresh with pure black and red fruit whose every atom appears infused with minerals. The mouth is tingling long after the wine has exited and your brain is thinking...when is the next sip coming? It is frankly heads and shoulders above almost every Saint Émilion this vintage, to reaffirm, a benchmark for this historic estate that will give pleasure to many over the coming years. Astonishing. Anticipated maturity: 2021 - 2050. - Neal Martin

44% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The new cellar, winery and tasting room is now open at Les Carmes and it really is quite an astounding building. The 2015 is a pretty powerful wine, serious, complex and very interesting indeed. The floral bouquet is very pretty, layered with really ripe raspberries which are ever so attractive. My favourite aspect of the wine has to be the earthy, mineral character though, as well as the brilliant tannic structure.

The gravelly soils offer a lovely character and the wine has a sense of place, of terroir. Light in the mouth, the tobacco, sweet black fruits and creamy texture create a wonderful palate, but the savoury characteristics are what I enjoy most about this wine. It is another really promising wine for this up and coming estate.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Here, the nose is notably more complex with its broad-ranging aromas of spiced plum, dark currant, violet and an interesting whisper of orange peel. There is a wonderfully refined mouth feel to the intense, vibrant and mineral-driven medium-bodied flavours with a sophisticated texture that transfers over to the serious, built-to-age and hugely persistent finish. This is a Caillerets of class and grace but one that is going to require bottle age first.

Drink 2027+

Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (April 2017)

This wine demonstrates why Clinet is currently one of the most exciting properties in Bordeaux. There is an alluring perfume on the nose, which is full of ripe blueberry and redcurrant fruit.

The tight kernel of fruit unfurls on the back palate coupled with persistent tannins. The finish is accompanied by an attractive smoky profile, suggesting clever use of oak. With plenty of dense and concentrated fruit, liquorice and blackberries, this is the most enjoyable tasting of this wine en primeur that we can remember.

Blend: 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc

In recent years this fine estate has performed extremely well and 2015 is no exception. The wine has a great balance of ripe raspberry fruit and soft-grained tannins. It is simply delicious and will be a joy to drink two to three years after the vintage and 10 years thereafter. It shows a silky, seductive nose, with a core of redcurrant fruit. It is certainly one of the more successful wines from St Emilion this year.

Balance, purity and finesse are the hallmarks of this approachable, intense wine – another fine example from the 2015 vintage. Very pure, fresh and clean, it also has a super attractive palate of blackberry and raspberry.

The finish is peppery and full of spice, with some hints of cedar too. I really like this wine. It's a top-class Pauillac, brilliant Claret and so precise. The velvety palate is polished and direct, but there is lots of interest dancing around the mouth. Another fantastic wine from François-Xavier Borie.

Blend: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc

This is seriously impressive, with a kick of sweet cassis fruit beautifully cloaking the grippy but extremely ripe tannins. It is a fine introduction to the wines of the great Ch. Lynch-Bages estate and really well proportioned. It is so cool, so refreshing, yet wonderfully ripe and opulent.

There is lovely creamy blackcurrant and strawberry fruit, all kept together by a fine persistence. A delicate, harmonious red fruit nose leads onto a silky, feminine palate and a beautifully balanced finish. This is an excellent (and very good-value) glimpse at the wonders of the estate, but is also a very good wine in its own right.

Blend: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot

The first thing that is immediately obvious when visiting Ch. Pedesclaux is that things have changed! The difference in the glass is remarkable, with a deep blackcurrant nose that is powerful, rich, and harmonious. The palate demonstrates that they have been able to harvest at the perfect time, with blackcurrant fruit having the perfect fresh edge in the form of very fine tannin and juicy, fresh acidity. There is a touch of spice to round things off that hints at the complexity that will undoubtedly develop over the coming 20 years.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

This is an engaging treat of plums, damson, cherry, blackcurrant and blackberries, all rounded off by lovely creamy notes. The wine shows a bright, deep  ruby colour and a perfumed nose of ripe, red fruit as well as a hint of spice from oak-ageing. The palate is well balanced, with brambly fruit shining through.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot.

What a lovely, rich and fresh wine. Ch. Angludet is always one of the most reliable châteaux. The rich concentration is so generous and rewarding. I love the sweetness at the front of the palate. It has good depth, a bit of intensity and lovely tannins that harmoniously combine with an appealing acidity on the finish. Often described as a traditionalist's wine, this is rather delicious. Cabernet provides the power here, but it is so restrained, floral, aromatic and flavoursome. Margaux performed very well in 2015 and this wine reflects the quality of the vintage. Given that the price is always appropriate to the quality of the wine here, we have no hesitation in recommending it.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Blended of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc, the medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Guinaudeau G Acte 7 opens with gorgeous plum preserves, spice cake and oolong tea notes with hints of kirsch, blueberry preserves and Sichuan pepper plus a waft of potpourri. The palate is medium to full-bodied and very firm, with wonderfully fine-grained tannins and impactful freshness and tension, finishing long. This needs time! - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

This is a lively deep crimson colour and feels full and sweet. There is a lovely core of fruit, with velvety tannins and large acidity. There is an enticing nose with full, dense, dark fruit. The creamy red fruit finish is ever so delicious.

The succulent palate effortlessly combines the powerful character of St Estèphe with extraordinary finesse. This wine is surely going to be one of the bargains of the vintage.

Blend: 49% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot.

Ch. Palmer's second wine is really aromatic in 2015, a hallmark of this great commune in Bordeaux, but something that always seems to be taken to the next level at this historic estate. One of the top second wines, Alter Ego, is lush and approachable, with red fruit dominant on the nose. The wine almost has its own identity now, which is one of the greatest compliments we can pay it. Beautifully fine tannins surround a mighty, meaty, focused core of fresh, ripe, crunchy fruit and a creamy texture. Very good indeed; the length is quite astonishing. Really enticing and attractive, this is a real triumph indeed.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Poured from Magnum

This is just starting to get into its stride. From a cool year, with a late start to spring and an early end to summer, which generally produced lighter, earlier drinking wines, Sassicaia 2014 nonetheless rises above the noise with a fresh and juicy expression of fragrant dried fruits and moreish blackberries with spicy, meaty and balsamic touches. It displays a streak of blackcurrant coulis and an aromatic note of toasted fenugreek seed on the long, gentle finish. Perhaps lacks some complexity and concentration compared to more esteemed vintages, but don't be fooled into thinking this is anything other than very good.

Drink 2023 - 2043

James Button, Decanter.com (February 2023)

50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot.

This is a very juicy wine and, in line with many of the most famous estates his year, remains faithful to the style of the Grand Vin. A lightness, a soft fruit profile and a tannic structure balanced by beguiling acidity. It is seriously refreshing on the finish. The fruit has a lushness, good weight, and a sense of poise. The property is clearly happy with the result, as they certainly should be. This is a good second wine from 2014; it is authentic, positive, and enjoyable.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Bartolo Mascarello's 2013 Barolo is made with the estate's traditional blend of vineyard sites. This includes the San Lorenzo cru that will go offline starting with the 2015 vintage. This is a classic and traditional interpretation of Nebbiolo with an absolutely pristine and polished flavor profile. The bouquet opens to pressed violet, cassis, licorice, wild sage and cola. There is an elegant mineral imprint as well with rusty iron and iodine. This edition is evermore solid and centered compared to the warmer 2012 vintage. It will also require extra bottle aging in order to bring out its natural, but nuanced intensity. - Wine Advocate 

Fruit, spice and dried flowers.So youthful when tasted, but hinting at greatness. Blackcurrant notes on the palate, layer with precise tannins and vivid acidity. There is a sense of purity, elegance and intensity that one comes to expect from Monprivato. Stunning. Drink from 2025+
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer 

A strikingly elegant and pure nose that features notes of white flowers, spiced pear, iodine and oyster shell is also trimmed in a deft touch of oak. There is remarkable concentration to the intense, driving and highly energetic flavors that exude a fine minerality on the explosively long finish. This really builds from the mid-palate before staining the palate as it fans out. Most impressive. - Burghound

This is a blend from half a dozen different vineyards within Vosne-Romanée and lovely fruit is evident right across the palate before a very stylish finish. Etienne has tamed the tannins beautifully as he set out to do.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

This has been one of the most exciting cellars in the whole of Burgundy for the last few vintages, a fact which is beginning to be reflected in the pricing. The significant reduction in crop this year, which Etienne Grivot ascribes more to the extreme winter cold than poor flowering, is also a factor. Etienne has been working hard to refine the tannins in his wines, and has surely succeeded in 2010, by producing wines of great energy but with suave, sophisticated finishes. These are brilliant wines that unfortunately, are in short supply.

Based in Premeaux just south of Nuits-St Georges, Domaine de la Vougeraie was created in 1999 by Jean-Claude Boisset. The vines are farmed biodynamically and the wines are stylishly made by Pierre Vincent. The Clos du Prieuré is a Monopole of the domaine, the oldest vines dating back to 1901 though most are 30 to 50 years old. A fine rich red colour with lighter rim, supported by dark red-berry Pinot fruit with some elegance, matched by the beginnings of forest floor fruits. This is beautifully made, with ripe fruit, supple texture and attractive persistence. Drink now to 2018.

A fabulously intense, fruit driven nose, with wave after wave of all the typical Pauillac nuances, leads to notes of pencil and tobacco. It is powerful and rich on the palate with a cool, sensual core of precise blackberry fruit. Xavier Borie’s 2009 was one of the wines of the vintage for us and he’s given us a double whammy here, with possibly an even finer example with his incredible 2010.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2009 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has a more intense bouquet than the 2010, although it does not possess the same otherworldly sense of nuance and complexity. Yet it blossoms in the glass, attaining more and more precision, and redcurrant and cranberry scents appear mixed with rose petal and bergamot. The palate is medium-bodied with lovely balance and poise; the tannins are perhaps a little firmer and grippier than the 2010 with a symmetry on the finish that is beguiling. It actually becomes more like the 2010 on the finish so that the two wines end up more similar than you would expect, given the growing season. It is a sublime expression of the vintage. - Neal Martin

Olivier Bernstein owns no vineyards, working on contracts for grapes instead. His 2009s are certainly very ripe, though his gift for winemaking is clear. A man to watch.

Very dense rich purple colour. Thick texture, though fresher on the palate than the first nose suggested. There is plenty of detail in here, swimming in a sea of ripe fruit. Black cherries coat the mouth.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

The finest wine ever made by proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard, the 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte exhibits an opaque blue/purple color in addition to a glorious nose of acacia flowers, licorice, charcoal, blueberries, black raspberries, lead pencil shavings and incense. This massive, extraordinarily rich, unctuously textured wine may be the most concentrated effort produced to date, although the 2000, 2005 and 2010 are nearly as prodigious. A gorgeous expression of Pessac-Leognan with sweet tannin, emerging charm and delicacy, and considerable power, depth, richness and authority, it should age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. Bravo! - The Wine Advocate 100/100

With its fantastic texture and crunchy cassis fruit, Claire Villars-Lurton acquitted herself with honours with her 2009 Ch. Haut-Bages Libéral. This is a beautiful wine which wears its new oak seamlessly whilst a cleansing freshness and an intriguing earthy complexity add perfect balance. Punching well above its weight, this is destined to be a great value buy in 2009.

Krug 2008 is the beautifully contrasted story of one of Champagne’s coolest vintages in 14 years, and least sunny in almost half a century. The absence of extremes in 2008 provided ideal circumstances for the creation of a timeless vintage. Balancing structure and finesse, this champagne is nicknamed “Classic Beauty” by the Tasting Committee.

With elegance and depth, Krug 2008 is a blend of Pinot Noir (53%), Meunier (25%), and Chardonnay (22%).

The 2008 Morey St. Denis Clos de la Bussiere is sweet, sensual and totally beguiling, Dark cherries, herbs, violets and white flowers are some of the nuances that emerge from this precise, striking wine. An underpinning of minerality accentuates the energy of the fruit and the wine’s overall persistence. This is a gorgeous 2008. - The Wine Advocate 93/100

Bright yellow with a green tinge. Classic Montée de Tonnerre aromas of lemon ice, crushed rock, iodiney minerality and white flowers. floral, lemon ice, straight and classic. Tactile, juicy and utterly gripping--in fact still almost painful today. Powerful salty minerality and penetrating acidity currently dominate the wine's lemon oil, grapefruit and floral flavors, with the wine showing a weightless impression. The dusty mineral-driven finish stains the palate and builds inexorably. (When I first tasted this wine from the barrel, I suggested that it might be the longest Chablis premier cru of the vintage.) Drink the 2010 for lunch now but hold this magical wine for another couple years, as its spring is still tightly coiled. This was my favorite wine of the tasting. The 2014 and 2010 vintages may be richer and deeper, as Isabelle Raveneau suggested to me three years ago, but this '08 is utterly classic. - Vinous 96/100

Pichon-Lalande's 2008 is, in our opinion, the chateau's best wine since 2002. With big, soft tannins, good fruit concentration, lots of oaky spice and a juicy, fruity finish, this displays classic Lalande elegance with the rounded, plump, fleshy fruit of the vintage. Not quite as majestic as next-door neighbour Latour's 2008 perhaps, but this is very fine nonetheless.

From vines located in the parcel of Les Murets, situated to the east of the appellation, Ermitage Blanc, Cuvee de L'Orée is a an expressive and ripe 100% Marsanne. A nutty texture is backed by a youthful, almost tropical ebullience, held in check by the citric notes at the back. This is a complex, serious white Hermitage.

This rightly popular wine from the owners of First Growth Lafite-Rothschild is as engaging and sumptuous as ever in 2007. The soft, dense, rich texture is classic Rieussec while the level of sweetness is more balanced than in some previous vintages. A rich, precise, apricot tart nose is followed by an incredibly concentrated, succulent, creamy palate with apple, caramel and overripe peach, relatively low acidity and a long, intense finish. This hedonistic Rieussec may be a smidgen behind their 2005 and 2001 in quality but it is nevertheless an immensely impressive effort.

Composed of 49% Cabernet Franc, 41% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, this is one of the more monolithic Le Desirs produced. Although an outstanding effort, in the company of some of the great vintages, it comes across as a one trick pony. Though there is plenty of fruit and body as well as good size, power and an aging potential of 10-15 years, it lacks charm and complexity at this stage of its evolution. - Robert Parker 90/100

We are thrilled to have a small allocation of this wine from Burgundys greatest white vineyard. There is not space to do it justice here but suffice to say that the fruit bursts out in every possible direction and dimension. Theres an awesome sense of completeness although the detail will take some time to show itself. Do not touch it before its 10 years old and keep a few bottles to celebrate your first telegram from the Queen!

Léoville Barton’s 2005 has an inky ruby/purple color and shows fairly high tannin levels, but the balance is slightly better that the Langoa Barton, which is very hard. This is probably a 30-year wine and needs at least another 20 years of cellaring, and while the tannins are high, they are balanced more thoroughly and competently. With deep cassis and red currant fruit, the wine is earthy, spicy, medium to full-bodied, and needs at least another decade. Drink it between 2025 and 2050. - The Wine Advocate 92/100

Wonderful, this is the best Giscours since 1970. A great waft of fruit on the nose is amply supported by a palate that epitomises the best of 2005 Bordeaux: it is full and rich yet is also very fresh with ripe but firm tannins and a lovely minerality. Making 25% less of the Grand Vin than in 2004, this is reminiscent of the 1990 vintage but is cleaner with better acidity. This is very classic, masculine and serious and makes an ideal counterpart to the more approachable Du Tertre. Once again, the Margaux terroir shines through here, with wonderful concentrated fruit and a structure that marks it out as a real vin de garde.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Ch. Giscours is one of the largest Margaux properties and now producing wine worthy of its Troisième Cru Classé status. Giscours was in a dire state when it was acquired by Nicholas Tari in 1952. He invested heavily and the quality of the wine improved beyond recognition. In 1995 he sold the property to Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma. Giscours produces richly aromatic wines that are surprisingly powerful on the palate, displaying ripe, black fruit with hints of cedar and new oak.

In 2004 Giscours produced a restrained and precise example. Powerful yet sophisticated, densely fruited yet refined, this is one of the most masculine wines of the Margaux appellation. The 2004 vintage is seriously under-rated and it’s in a cool style, with elegant fruit and a structure which allows the terroir to shine through.

Initially I had my reservations about this controversial wine. Question marks have hovered above the vintage across Bordeaux since release, many Chateaux claiming their 2003s are great but atypical. Let me set the record straight, this 2003 Ch. Latour is more than great, and quintessential Latour. The nose is rich and pure Pauillac. In the mouth the ripeness really shines through.

The wine builds and builds, the volume of flavour is outstanding but all kept in check by a beautiful structure. The wine is complete and now beautifully integrated with an endless finish. Of course, this icon will age almost indefinitely but has the balance to give some much pleasure now. If you love Latour, your cellar is not complete without this.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Deep crimson. Silky, satiny texture. Great spread of red fruits. Punchy, yet subtle. This is good! - Jancis Robinson MW 18/20

Please note that the ABV of the magnum is 12.5%, in contrast to the 12% ABV of the 75cl bottle.

Krug's 2002 Brut (ID 415064 disgorged IV/2015) has an intense citrus color and opens with a generous, intense yet fine and precise bouquet that indicates great depth and elegance. Red fruit flavors on the nose lead to a generously rich yet pure, highly refined and elegant palate, with lots of ripe cherry fruits and delicious yeasty flavors. This is a highly complex and tensioned but beautifully balanced 2002 with a charming dosage that gives perfect roundness. The finish, however, is clear, fresh and well-structured, if not taut, and very mineral.

Drink 2018 - 2030

Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate (June 2018)

Tasted from an ex-château bottle at BI Wine & Spirits Calon-Segur dinner in London. The 2000 Calon Segur is one of those wines that reminds you how great the millennial vintage could be. Now at fifteen years old, it has a brilliant, vivacious red berry nose infused with ash and cigar box aromas. The detail here is a beguiling and it just "sings" Saint Estèphe. The palate is medium-bodied with dense, firm tannin that provide a rigid backbone, but it is swathed in copious tobacco-drenched black fruit and a superb line of acidity. It finishes with a twist of bitter cherry on the finish that completes what is a deeply impressive Calon-Ségur; it might just outclass the 2005. Tasted March 2015.

Neal Martin - 28/10/2016

An explosive nose of sweet, ripe, black fruits with layers of vanilla and toasted new oak. Broad, extremely ripe and sensual on the palate, with an intoxicating flavour of blackberries and cream. Drinking from 2005-2018.

Chapoutier's brilliant 1999 Ermitage Le Meal is essentially a liqueur of white Hermitage. Notes of pear liqueur intertwined with fino sherry, peaches, minerals, nuts, and licorice are offered in an amazingly concentrated, super-extracted style that manages to be delicate as well as precise. This is a 40-50 year dry white, that will undoubtedly close down in 3-4 years and re-emerge a decade later. Along with Gerard and Jean-Louis Chave, Chapoutier is producing the finest expressions of white Hermitage. His single vineyard cuvees are to die for if you like these eccentric, idiosyncratic, mammoth dry whites. - The Wine Advocate 95/100

Even after many years, the Graham's 1963 still retains its superbly balanced components of fruit, tannin and elegance. This wine conveys rose-petal aromas, and the flavours of concentrated and caramelised fruit are in perfect balance.

Written by author and critic Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux is a ground-breaking guide to the region.

Jane has used her extensive knowledge of Bordeaux, alongside newly commissioned research, to delve into the region’s wines and winemakers. You’ll discover underrated properties, learn why particular wines taste as they do and much more. It’s an essential read for anyone who wants to understand the world’s most famous wine region.

Awards:

Gourmand Awards 2021 - Best in the World
Best of the Best – World of Wine

Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2021
Shortlisted – results on 13th July 2021

André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards 2020
Shortlisted

Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards
Wine Book 2020 – Shortlisted

For me Beauséjour Duffau Lagarosse is one of the absolutely outstanding wines of the vintage on the Right Bank. The big challenge in St Emilion was to retain freshness in the face of the high alcohol and high tannins, and this is a resounding success. Nicolas Thienpont, cousin of Alexander and Jacques of Vieux Château Certan and Le Pin fame, holds the reins here and the family talent is much in evidence.

Sumptuously rich on the bouquet and palate with flavours of dark chocolate, plum and berry fruits, the finish is beautifully fresh with excellent balancing acidity, and has a real sense of minerality and great persistence.
(73% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon)

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%), the nose of the 2012 are bright and persistent and open in the glass to reveal beautiful aromatics with layers of cassis, espresso bean & dark plum fruit characters with hints of wild herbs and spices. The palate is complex and persistent with supple red cherry fruit characters, all spice and tobacco notes balanced by a mouth-watering and finely laced freshness and a refined mineral quality which leads to a long finish. Impresses with its overall balance and finesse. Although this wine is delicious on release it will develop greater complexity with age.

Stuart Rae, Private Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd

This wine is gorgeous, with a lovely perfumed floral nose of violets and black fruit supported by a pure, creamy and elegantly structured palate. Classy blackberries and cassis shine through with great precision, alongside minerality and firm tannins. The wines of this estate are renowned for their purity, but in 2005 they have taken on that extra richness that they required to make them truly outstanding.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Maison Jacquesson's Cuvée 748 comes from the 2020 harvest, a grape variety with excellent ripeness and magnificent balance. A very fine Extra-Brut Champagne (2g/l), it is made from 55% Aÿ, Dizy, Hautvillers and Champillon terroirs and 45% Avize and Oiry.

Il Poggione is one of the stars of Brunello, despite this it is always incredibly reasonably priced. Every year we sell through our allocation quickly and 2010 I think it is a case of blink and you will miss it! Il Poggione is a wine that reflects the more modern end of the styles in Brunello, it always has rich, lush fruit and in 2010 it is perfectly held in check by a cool freshness. Alongside the lovely cherry fruit, there are floral characters and toasted spice a wine with a sensual character.

Il Poggione is a winery steeped in history with its origins dating back to the late 1800s. Owned by Leopoldo and Livia Franceschi , it is situated below the beautiful hilltop town of Sant’Angelo in Colle, a part of the Brunello di Montalcino appellation characterised by a temperate, yet well-ventilated micro-climate. This benefits the grapes by maintaining refreshing acidity levels and extending their ripening time.

Father and son winemaking team Fabrizio and Alessandro Bindocci coax the best from these privileged vineyard sites; they are also proponents of a traditional wine-making style which includes submerging the cap with frequent pump overs (for more colour and tannin extraction), and ageing in large casks (so that wood flavours remain subtle and do not interfere with the natural expression of the Sangiovese and the Sant’Angelo terroir).

In the best vintages the wines demonstrate extraordinary development in bottle. Even better, prices have remained very reasonable, considering the superb quality of the wine. Poggione’s straight Brunello is one of the most fairly-priced, cellar worthy wines of the appellation. This is a benchmark property for fine, traditionally made Brunello capable of ageing superbly.
Chris Pollington- Private Account Manager

One of Bordeauxs shining lights in terms of both quality and consistency over the last decade, the 2001 is no exception. As with the other wines in Franois-Xavier Bories care the beautiful, pure ripeness of fruit and vanilla oak hints immediately win you over. But Ducru is in another league to its stablemates. Viscous yet deliciously silky, it boasts blackberries and cream, spices, leather and firm ripe tannins on the palate. With a generous 30% Merlot in the blend, this is as well-balanced, elegantly structured and rewarding as ever. Drink 2008-2025.

The 2014 Château Pontet-Canet has a deep, rich colour that comes from beautifully ripe grapes. The nose is shy at first but opens up to reveal balsam and dark cherry notes that are seriously impressive. The rich cherry fruit shines through on the palate, backed by clean acidity and fine tannins. It has a classy, structured feel, suggesting it will age brilliantly.

There’s a lovely balance here, with waves of wild strawberry and raspberry, plus a hint of savoury aged beef and tapenade for extra depth. The wine is pure and refined, with silky tannins and great acidity, which gives it energy and precision. It’s another superb vintage from Pontet-Canet, showing incredible finesse and proving they keep raising the bar.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Following on from last year’s marvel, Figeac has done it again. It is almost impenetrable, a huge, brooding beast below the surface, with a dark red/black colour and a viscosity that matches. Having said that, this does not take anything away from the wine; it is incredible! Super-fine tannins and a sweet, silky, velvet-like mouthfeel have amazing complexity and vibrancy that takes your breath away. It might even be better than 2009 if that’s possible. Brilliant.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

The 2005 is a beautiful Calon Ségur, with sweet mocha, black cherry, leathery fruit, medium to full body, attractive purity, a gorgeous texture, and serious nobility, gravitas and density. Drink it over the next 20-30 years, yet it is surprisingly accessible. Drink 2015 - 2045. - Wine Advocate

The 2014 Hermitage La Chapelle shows the more charming, supple style of the vintage and, while young, is certainly drinking nicely. Giving up pretty redcurrant and black raspberry fruits as well as chalky minerals, peppery herbs, spice, and hints of charred meat, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a supple, elegant texture, fine tannins, and a great finish. Despite the charming style of its fruit, it has a classic Hermitage focus, minerality, and structure and is a wine that will evolve gracefully on its balance for another two decades. It should hit full maturity in another 4-5 years or so.

Drink 2026 - 2042

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (June 2022)

Rich inky purple belies the finesse which is soon apparent in the mouth. Very beautiful and extremely long, with tingling minerals underneath the coating of velvet. This is always the most elegant of the Bernstein grands crus.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

Very dense purple with a bright, energetic nose, this has some bramble fruit and dark cherry notes. The wine is very tightly knit yet beautifully rich. While creamy, thick, dark fruits roll gently across the palate and the tannins show a fine, ripe and rounded personality, this 2014 Clos Vougeot is quite backward and quite firmly structured, with good, clean acidity defining the finish. The Berry Bros. & Rudd team consider this Olivier’s finest Clos Vougeot to date.
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Torre Muga is aged for 18 months in new French oak and is made up of 15% Mazuelo and 10% Graciano in addition to the core of Tempranillo. Spice from the oak is married to the distinct berry fruit character which is pure, direct and powerful. In time power will somewhat reluctantly cede to complexity and the work of art will be complete.
Simon Field MW – Wine Buyer

Very much the epitome of an English gentleman, the charming Anthony Barton must be one of the most reasonable proprietors in Bordeaux. Year after year he leads the quest for prices to come down; if only other châteaux owners would follow suit! The 2008 is loaded with massive, chewy tannins that coat the mouth while the underlying essence of dark, brooding blackcurrant fruit is perfectly complemented by notes of coffee and chocolate. It will take many years for the complexity and depth of this wine to shine through but the long, fulfilling finish is an indication of just how good it will become. This will be a force to be reckoned with when fully mature.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Château Beychevelle’s 2009 has a beautiful nose of ripe bramble fruit, dark cassis, and a smooth but highly concentrated palate of red and black fruits. The Merlot content (44%) is surprisingly well-balanced here, considering the turbo-charged nature of some of the Right Bank wines. Beychevelle have blended it perfectly with their 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to make a truly harmonious wine.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc.

There is fleshy, tasty fruit here, and a lovely intensity on the nose. The bouquet is beautifully expressive and laced with sweet, dark fruits. Cassis and dark fruit continue to dominate on the palate, the crunchy tannins a welcome arrival. The wine is very dark, and you can sense an underlying power, even though it doesn't express itself that way, yet. A wine to be cellared for several years, it will reward those with patience. Well balanced, harmonious and, dare I say it, a classic Poyferré.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

The 2022 Meursault, by Domaine Antoine Jobard, is a blend of multiple parcels, including the prized En la Barre and Tillets, Meix Tavaux, Les Corbins, Sous La Velle, Les Chaumes, and Le Pré de Manche. It has a beautiful creamy richness with outstanding volume and depth of fruit on the mid-palate. There are aromas of pear and stone fruit and an underlying nuttiness. This is one of the finest modern village Meursault wines and will age well over the midterm.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

61% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc.

Not young vine stuff – that goes into another wine. Half in screwcap since 2004. Nervy. It really quite chewy on the end. Light and lively and fresh and vivacious. Quite delicate. Warm, rich, very juicy, fruit juice. Sold a little En Primeur but not via the Bordeaux Place, through their négociant instead.
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com

The 2009 Les Tourelles de Longueville has a lovely, pure bouquet with joyful red cherry and crushed strawberry aromas. The oak is beautifully integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a fine line of acidity. It is fleshy and nicely framed with raspberry and blackberry laced with tobacco and a generous sprinkling of cracked black pepper on the finish. Excellent.

Drink 2022 - 2038
Neal Martin, Vinous.com

The second wine of Pichon Baron, the Les Tourelles de Longueville, is the best second effort I have tasted from this estate. An equal part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is very seductive, with loads of black fruits, an almost caramelized note, low acidity and voluptuous texture. Endearing and pure, this full-bodied second wine is better than many vintages of the grand vin from the 1940s and 1950s. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

Drink 2012 - 2027
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Because of its high proportion of Cabernets, Figeac is always the most restrained (and sometimes misunderstood) of the best St. Emilions, with a lacy quality in lighter years but a beguiling presentation in the best. In 2005, the wine had majestic harmony, and although the tannins were exceptional, they were also perfectly ripened.  The finish is lifted by a creamy, fresh acidity whilst the multitude of scents and flavours of black fruit, leather, dried spice and liquorice swirl and ascend on the palate. This is an impeccable Figeac, almost accessible now but glorious in 10 years (and for many more after that).

Mark Pardoe MW, Wine Director, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Château Brane-Cantenac is among the most reliable names on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, ranked a Second Growth in 1855.

The 2014 has immediate appeal on the nose, with black fruits, peppery spice, violets and cigar box aromas. It’s a delicious Claret to drink now, with inviting flavours of blackberry, plum and earthy complexity from bottle age. It also has the structure to age further, with fine tannins and refreshing acidity. The spicy note works very well with Ixta Belfrage’s porcini mushroom ragu, though you couldn’t go wrong with a simply prepared duck breast.

Charlie Geoghegan DipWSET, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Plum, cherry, red liquorice, smoked meat, and beef marrow dominate the Camille Giroud 2008 Charmes-Chambertin, with a tart sense of rhubarb entering the palate, offset by a deep richness of cocoa powder and persistent seamlessly ripe sweet cherry and plum. This combines richness, carnal depth, and vintage-typical invigoration for an impressive performance that should play well for at least ten years.

David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate (June 2010)

20% whole clusters

Subtle floral nuances add a touch of elegance to the spicy red currant and cherry-suffused nose. Once again, there is a sleek mouthfeel to the mineral-laden middle-weight flavours that possess lovely delineation. All this is wrapped in a moderately austere finish where the acidity is mildly drying.

Drink from 2019 onward

Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (April 2016)

The 2004 Comtes de Champagne Rosé, Brut shows an expressive nose with notes of strawberries, fresh rhubarb compote, and delicate notes of dried flowers, fresh biscuit and toasted bread. The layered, succulent, textural palate is almost full-bodied with incredible depth and intensity. The linear, firm acidity leads to an elegant, refined finish. 

Adrian Brice, Fine Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Vinification with the stems gives these wines a notable character on the nose, with floral, spice, and rose petals all coming to the fore. The palate has an impressive density. This is a very graceful wine, and the finish shows a touch of tannin to maintain structure.

Domaine de Montille was picked between September 18th and 26th, 2010. The red wines, made by American Brian Sieve (one of two winemakers in this catalogue born in Indianapolis!) under the surveillance of Etienne de Montille, now show a consistency of style and quality that was not entirely there a few years ago. The whites are the responsibility of Etienne’s sister Alix and maintain the class of recent times. Together, they produced a fine result in 2010.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, Faiveley's 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers felt a little diffuse on the nose compared to its peers. But it melds together with aeration, offering pretty dark plum and raspberry scents, later pressed flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip and structure, a little rough round the edges but well balanced, although the finish just needs more flesh and body since it seems to attenuate, ossify a little, and it leaves you wanting more. Tasted September 2017.
Neal Martin - 31/10/2017

Deep ruby. These old vines offer dark berry aromas, violets, tobacco and minty notes. 100+ year old vines generates concentrated and rich flavors of dark fruit, plum, cassis and blackberries. This is a muscular yet balanced and well-structured wine that will reward its owner after some cellar aging. - 92 points, Wine Spectator.

The Clos Cazals Vielles Vignes is a wonderful expression of Oger. The wine was sourced from 50-year-old Grand Cru vines, and was fermented mainly in steel to preserve purity of character and freshness. Some barrique ageing, and extended time on the lees, added layers of richness and a beautiful complexity. Despite its age, the wine retains a wonderful chalky energy.

Drink now – 2030

Davy Zyw, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Sep 2022)