Current Offerings
100 Cases Available—Max 1 Case per Customer
(Price includes all taxes and delivery)
So popular has Chateau Pontet Bagatelle Rosé been that we are delighted to be able to offer it en primeur at £8.30, substantially below its retail price, which is likely to be £10.95 this summer. It is the best and highest quality Rosé to come out of the South of France for many years: very pale, attractive and bright pink and packed with understated fruit flavours.
The 2008 vintage won gold medals at three of the more illustrious French wine competitions—quite some achievement!
The yield for 2009 was tiny, resulting in an unbelievably rich, sensuous and concentrated wine. It does however mean that there are only 100 cases available en primeur, so we have to limit customers to 1 case each on a first come first served basis.
75cl Bottle, Case of 12:
£99.60
Delivery May 2010
Recommend this wine to a friend
Our tasting notes
Pale pink and very elegant fruit driven flavours: red currants, peaches and exotic fruit. Good full flavoured, subtle taste. Excellent balance and acidity. Just what you would expect from a very good and well made Rosé from the South of France.
Wine data
Grape variety: 10% Syrah and 90% Grenache
Appellation: AC Coteaux d?Aix en Provence
Alcohol: 14.0%
About Provence & Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
The climate here is France’s most Mediterranean, with long hot summers and minimal rainfall. As a wine growing region Provence has almost become synonymous with a Rosé, most of which is consumed locally, but it is also showing great potential for producing good red wines.
The most famous appellation in this part of France is Cotes du Provence, where no fewer than 13 different grape varieties are permitted, the most predominant of which, by some way, is Grenache.
Of the smaller appellations Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence is of particular significance. It is a quiet, hilly appellation, which covers an area of 3500 hectares, in the middle of which lies the famous Sainte Victoire Mountain (the subject of many a Cezanne painting). The wines produced here are predominantly dry Rosé and a small amount of red. The soil diversity brings complexity to the wines with the clay in particular lending the wines great power and aromatic structure.
Our View of the vintage
A mixed spring and early summer followed by a marvelous August, September and October produced a small harvest that confounded everyone. The wines are very good, possibly exceptional, and the producers brought the prices down, which is unheard of in Bordeaux, so take advantage!
Here is what Robert Parker said:
'... the 2008 vintage was dramatically better than I had expected. It had all the qualities that make an excellent and in some cases, a great vintage so special: exceptionally dark opaque colors, gorgeously ripe fruit, stunning purity almost across the board, great freshness (because it was a cool year), slightly higher acids than normal, and remarkable density as well as concentration.… it seems clear that after the vinifications were done in late October and early November, something excellent had been produced.
…a vintage of at least excellent quality. In some cases, there are wines as profound as 2005. In short, the vintage is vastly superior to 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003 (with some exceptions in that unusual vintage), 2002, 2001, and 1999.'
We have chosen a small list of what we consider to be
exceptionally good value drinking 2008s that you will enjoy for many years to come.
A tremendous value en primeur wine—very good quality, very inexpensive. Ideal for a few cases to put away. Château Peyrabon is a classic Cru Bourgeois from the Haut-Médoc and is widely-regarded as a property ‘in the ascendancy’; its popularity is derived from the exceptional value this rich Claret represents.
75cl Bottle, Case of 12:
£86.00 (In Bond)
Delivery Autumn 2010
Recommend this wine to a friend
Our tasting notes
The 2008 is a dark,deep and concentrated red with brambly fruit aromas. It is relatively forward so should be drinking from 2011.
Wine data
Grape variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon with a small percentage of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc
Appellation: AC Haut-Médoc
Alcohol: 13.0%
About Château Peyrabon and Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois
The property was bought ten years ago by Patrick Bernard, who made significant changes to the vineyard as well as the wine-making process. The wine is mostly a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is made using modern traditional techniques (minimal intervention—for example vertical wine presses which are gentle and rely on gravity).
This wine from Jonathan Maltus, the producer of our La Reserve Claret and Le Dome, is a really serious St Emilion Grand Cru. Jonathan is assisted in the production of this wine by Gilles Pauquet, the oenologist to Cheval Blanc, and the quality shines through in this vintage.
75cl Bottle, Case of 12:
£118.00 (In Bond)
Delivery Autumn 2010
Recommend this wine to a friend
Our tasting notes
Very elegant, with good concentration and fine tannins. Great plum fruit with hint of minerality, spice and savouriness. Delicious!
Wine data
Grape variety: 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: AC St Emilion Grand Cr
Alcohol: 12.5%
About Chateau Teyssier
Wine has been at Chateau Teyssier, the family home of maverick producer Jonathan Maltus, since the 1700s. At one stage in the nineteenth century it was the largest estate in the neighbourhood.
Eighty-five per cent Merlot with the remainder being met by Cabernet Franc, the wine originates from the communes of Saint Sulpice de Faleyrens and Vignonet. These communes provide terroir that produce a wine that may be attacked on release or laid down for a few years. The approach in winemaking, which has all the benefits of the modern equipment afforded by the more senior wines (Le Dome etc), is new world in style.
An excellent hand-crafted Claret produced from vines that are situated between the heavy-weight Pauillac Chateaux: Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild an Pontet Canet. The 2003 won the prize for International Wine Challenge Red Wine of the Year. Excellent value for money.
75cl Bottle, Case of 12:
£144.00 (In Bond)
Delivery Autumn 2010
Recommend this wine to a friend
Our tasting notes
A lovely, concentrated, high-class Claret. Full bodied and savoury, with great structure and balance. Should be drinking from 2013.
Wine data
Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a small amount of Petit Verdot
Appellation: AC Pauillac
Alcohol: 13.5%
About La Fleur Peyrabon
The La Fleur Peyrabon is grown on similar sandy gravel soil that is characteristic of this part of France. The La Fleur, however, is derived from seven hectares that lie within the Pauillac region. In 2005 the property bought an additional 2 hectares situated in a prime location between Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Pontet-Canet to further improve the quality of this elegant wine.
Château d’Angludet, the home of the Sichel family, punches far above its weight and now ranks among the best made wines in Margaux. This is one of the best and most complex Angludets we have tasted. Jancis Robinson gave it 17/20 saying “Deep purplish crimson. Fragrant, scented, complete—elderberries again. Very opulent but good freshness too and some very ripe tannins. Real zip on the finish. An admirably complete wine. Long.” It is excellent for the price.
75cl Bottle, Case of 12: £156.00 (In Bond)
Delivery Autumn 2010
Recommend this wine to a friend
Our tasting notes
Rich, dark colour with berry fruit and plum flavours. A soft and silky Margaux with supple tannins and a lovely, long fruity finish. The best d'Angludet for many years. Highly recommended. For drinking from around 2015.
Wine data
Grape variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Appellation: AC Margaux
Alcohol: 12.5%
About Château d’Angludet
The Sichel family home and vineyard at d'Angludet in Margaux receives very special loving care and attention from the owners of Château Palmer and other vineyards—and produces wonderful wines from aged vines. The terroir at d'Angludet is why Bordeaux is centre of the fine wine industry—and always will be. Margaux normally produces more delicate and scented wines than its more northerly neighbours in the Médoc.
We also offer the 2001 vintage, which is a firm favourite of all of ours.
One of the best value Clarets around and certainly the best from Moulis en Médoc. Château Poujeaux is now under the full control of the Cuvelier family which has earned such a great reputation at St.-Emilion’s Clos Fourtet. Robert Parker gives the 2008 89-91 points saying “A sleeper of the vintage, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of red and black fruits, outstanding purity, medium to full body, and supple tannins in the finish. It should drink well for 12-15 years." Really excellent value.
75cl Bottle, Case of 12: £158.00 (In Bond)
Delivery Autumn 2010
Recommend this wine to a friend
Our tasting notes
Deep, dark fruit with juicy tannins and fresh minerality. Hints of spice and a finish that goes on and on. Will definitely get even better with some time in the cellar.
Wine data
Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
Appellation: AC Moulis en Médoc
Alcohol: 12.5%
About Château Poujeaux
Château Poujeaux, known in the 16th century as "La Salle de Poujeaux", an outbuilding of the present Château Latour, was purchased by Mr Castaing in 1806, and subsequently divided into three in 1880. In 1921 the Theil bought one third.
All the vintages from 1957 onwards were signed Jean Theil, who was responsible for reuniting the three châteaux into a single winery. Since 1981, the estate has been run by three of his sons, who have expanded the production area by 10 hectares and have invested considerable sums in modernizing the cellars.
Famously Baron Rothschild mistook the highly acclaimed 1953 Poujeaux for his own Lafite.
Another château that produces superb value Claret. Robert Parker says “this property deserves a higher ranking than its 1855 classification” and we’re very much inclined to agree. This is a very elegent, classic Claret that will improve considerably over the next 5-10 years.
75cl Bottle, Case of 12:
£165.00 (In Bond)
Delivery Autumn 2010
Recommend this wine to a friend
Our tasting notes
Sweet raspberry and plum flavours with great freshness and purity. It is a medium bodied wine with fairly fine tannins and lovely, well balanced finish.
Wine data
Grape variety: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot & 3% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: AC Haut Médoc
Alcohol: 12.5%
About Château Cantemerle
The estate has a long history in the Haut-Médoc with records detailing its existence since at least the 12th century and wine production since at least the 14th century. In the 1855 Classification Cantemerle was included, seemingly as an afterthought, with the 5eme Cru Classes.
More recently the Château was bought by Groupe SMABTP (Les Mutuelles d'Assurance du Bâtiment et des Travaux Public) who have invested vast sums of money in reviving the Château and have elevated this Château to the status it now enjoys.
