PHELAN SEGUR 2019 - £330.00 ZR 16++; JS 95-96; JA 94 This is certainly an improvement to the usual hard core St Estephe one finds at Phelan. More matt than bright, but good structure, some very fine tannins and soft blue fruit on the palate, prunes and damsons all the way. This will certainly be a very decent drop of wine in about 6- 8 years. Pretty decent buy at £330 and might have an investment potential as well - the neighbour Calon was released at more than double the price. Well done, an easy 16+ with 17 potential. Another …
Read moreLYNCH BAGES, Pauillac. £395.00 per 6 bottles. ZR N/A; NM 95-97; JS 96-97; AG 96-98; JA 98; As Armailhac, not tasted by us, but at this price and with these scores, free money. We have very limited stock as I did not buy any last year due to high prices, so first come first served. The 2019 Lynch-Bages is intense on the nose with layers of blackberry, bilberry, cedar, pencil shavings and light mint aromas defining it as a Pauillac. Very focused and I noticed it gaining delineation with aeration. The palate is very smooth and harmonious, the acidity …
Read moreTALBOT, St. Julien. £420.00 per 12 bottles. ZR - 17+; JD 93-95; AG 91-92; NM 93-95; JS 94-95; JA 93; This is a great Talbot, but even if I did not think so it makes no difference. At this price it is a gift, so I would strongly suggest taking 5 cases or more. I cannot think of a safer place to park some pennies than this. The wine itself is a classic St Julien, deep purple, shiny and impressive in all aspects of it. Small black berries dominate nose and palate, with just a hint of wood in the …
Read moreARMAILHAC, Pauillac. £360.00 per 12 bottles. ZR – N/A; NM 92-94; JD 92-94; L P-B – 91-93; JS 92-93; JA 93. I did not manage to get a sample of Armailhac this year, but feel that it needs to be included in this offer. It is made by the Mouton team which by all accounts seem to have excelled in 2019, but most importantly released below any other physical vintage of Armailhac on the market including the 2013. This is free money! The 2019 d'Armailhac was the last vintage made in the old winery that has since been demolished …
Read moreLANGOA BARTON 2019 - £350.00 per 12 bottles (YES THIS IS THE PRICE FOR 12 BOTTLES!!!) ZR 17+; NM 93-95; JS 95-96; AG 91-93; JA Decanter 94; JL 17 Those of you who have followed my en primeur campaigns since way back in 1996, know that I have a soft spot for Barton properties. There is something very refined, classy and classic about them. However, their pricing policy since 2015 had been such that I could not recommend them as a good buy (despite the fact that the wines were up to the usual high standard). In 2019 we are back …
Read moreCHATEAU LABEGORCE 2019 £240.00 per 12 bott ZR – 17, JD – 93.95; LPB – 89-91; NM – 93-95; JS – 91-92; AG 91-93; JA – 92 Pleas from my last tasting sessions were answered and we eventually got the sample. Labegorce is on a roll and by my calculation one of the great bargains, not only in the commune of Margaux but in the whole of Bordeaux. Bright shiny and purple, jumping out of the glass, decent concentration and focus of autumn fruit. Quite rich on the palate, damsons and blackberry jam. Decent wood balance and fine tannins in the back. This will drink very well …
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