En Primeur Releases: 22 June 2021
Giles Cooper
22 June 2021
Smith Haut Lafitte has become one of the ‘must-have’ wines of Bordeaux, such has been its run of success certainly in the past 10 years but arguably as far back as 2000. Their new 2020 released at GBP 1152 in a very smart celebratory black and gold livery (for 30 years of Cathiard family ownership), receives a string of rave reviews, including potential for 100 points from Lisa Perrotti-Brown, James Suckling and Jeb Dunnuck:
“This is the singular voice of Smith Haut Lafitte at its finest, and wow-oh-wow is it worth a listen.” 98-100pts Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“It’s so long and complete with such depth and toned muscles. Vertical. Very fresh and energetic… Maybe the best ever.” 99-100pts James Suckling
“Possibly ranking with the top two or three wines of the vintage, the 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte is a blockbuster that reminds me of a hypothetical mix of the 2009 and 2010.” 97-100pts Jeb Dunnuck
The quality at SHL has been immense for a decade and they have undoubtedly made luxury their watchword: the wine is typically remarkably plush and generous, although it does not sacrifice structure and minerality in search of sheer hedonism. Their terroir delivers layers of mineral complexity whilst delving into more Burgundian, Asian spiced territory at times. It has also become a consistently textural delight, as alluded to by Jane Anson in Decanter “It's a highly impressive wine with an amazing texture - something that is starting to mark Smith Haut Lafitte out every year.”
Put simply this one of those 2020s which you will be THRILLED you have owned from the very start…
We also have a smattering of the ever-popular Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2020 also at GBP 1152. This receives some of the highest scores for dry whites in the vintage, coming in only behind the famous, exclusive whites of Haut Brion and La Mission with Lisa Perrotti-Brown.
98-100pts LPB, robertparker.com “A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot aging in 60% new barriques, the very deep purple-black colored 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte makes an impactful entrance, opening with flamboyant notes of blackcurrant pastilles, chocolate-covered cherries and molten licorice, leading to nuances of ground cloves, woodsmoke, crushed rocks and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit preserves and shimmering mineral sparks, framed by exquisitely ripe and fantastically firm tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epically long-lasting earthy and savory layers. This is the singular voice of Smith Haut Lafitte at its finest, and wow-oh-wow is it worth a listen. This 2020 has an alcohol of 14.5% with a pH of 3.65. The tannins this year were a little higher than 2018 and 2019. A little less than a third of production went into this grand vin.”
99-100pts James Suckling “So much blackcurrant, graphite and iodine character. Full-bodied. Incredible quality to the tannins. They are polished yet powerful. It’s so long and complete with such depth and toned muscles. Vertical. Very fresh and energetic. Will it be better than the famous 2015? Maybe the best ever. From organically grown grapes. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.”
97-100pts Jeb Dunnuck “Possibly ranking with the top two or three wines of the vintage, the 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte is a blockbuster that reminds me of a hypothetical mix of the 2009 and 2010. Based on a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, its dense purple hue is followed by a monster bouquet of ripe black fruits, scorched earth, charcoal, and graphite. All of these carry to a full-bodied Pessac-Léognan with flawless balance, loads of ripe, polished tannins, a dense mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It’s one of the gems in the vintage and should be snatched up by readers. Give bottles just 4-6 years in the cellar, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20-30 years.”
97-99pts Jeff Leve “Incredibly dark in color, the aromatics spring from the glass with smoke, tobacco leaf, blackberry, cassis, licorice, flowers, cocoa and cigar box notes. The wine is full-bodied, rich, lush, opulent and intense. All that power is harnessed by freshness, intensity and lift. There is a beautiful sense of purity and vibrancy not found in previous vintages. With textures of silk and cashmere, with layers of perfectly ripe, seductive, black and dark red fruits accompanied by Valrhona chocolate, the seamless finish stays with you, expanding for close to 60 seconds! This is clearly the best wine Smith Haut Lafitte ever produced! The reason is simple. Previous vintages at times felt like they were made in the cellar. Here you taste a wine that was produced in the vineyard. Blending 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 14.5% ABV pH of 3.65. The harvest took place September 12 through September 30, yields were only 32 hectoliters per hectare.”
97pts Jane Anson, Decanter “Powerful on the attack, dense and concentrated at first then brighter on the retro-olfaction with layers of spice, liquorice and flowers. Intense but beautifully precise, with iris and peony aromatics coming in strongly as it opens in the glass. A ton of nuance and complexity, really takes its time, delivering a masterclass in restrained Pessac glamour. Average yields 30hl/ha for the reds. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 60% new oak. Harvest started on September 9 - 30.”
95-97pts Neal Martin, vinous “The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte was picked from September 9, the yields 20% down on average due to the dry summer period, and matured in 60% new oak with no vin de presse. This actually blossomed after an hour’s opening, revealing exquisite blackberry, briar, crushed rock and light rose petal scents, very nuanced considering the growing season and the 14.5° alcohol. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a very fine line of acidity that keeps this on its tippy-toes. Disarmingly pure, its silky texture is very appealing, likewise the veering toward more red berry fruit lacked with white pepper toward the finish. This may well surpass the previous two vintages. An outstanding effort from winemaker Fabien Teitgen and his team.”
95-97pts Antonio Galloni, vinous “The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte is a thrilling wine of grandeur and spellbinding beauty. The aromatics literally soar out of the glass, perhaps driven by a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. A vertical, explosive wine, the 2020 possesses tremendous energy. It is a rapturous wine that will delight readers for years to come. A move towards gentler extractions, with less oak impact, allows the purity of the fruit to come through loud and clear. Inky dark cherry, plum, mocha, dried herbs and lavender are all amplified in the 2020, but what I admire most is a total sense of harmony. I can't wait to see how it ages, as evolution has at times been the sole Achilles heel here.”
GBP 1152 per case/12 IB
Other formats are available:
Halves – GBP 1172 per case/24 IB
Magnums – GBP 1162 per case/6 IB
Double magnums – GBP 1242 per case/3 IB
Imperials – GBP 813 each IB
97pts Jeff Leve
“With the pop of grapefruit, white peach, lemon peel, flowers, orange rind and honeysuckle in the nose, and a creamy, sweet, fresh, juicy, slightly honeyed, lush, white peach and citrus finish, you have all the ingredients needed for a luscious, white Bordeaux wine. The wine was produced from a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon.”
96pts Jane Anson, Decanter “This brings together depth and power, concentrated and hugely saline right from the start. Rich in texture, with layers of stone fruits from nectarines to white peaches, with a steely edge that squeezes through the fruit, holds interest and adds persistency. A delicious white wine with the point of bitterness on the finish adding another dimension. Average yields 29hl/ha for the whites. 50% new oak. Harvest started August 20, one of earliest on record, through to September 9th. Certified organic (AB) as of 2019 in the vineyard.”
94-96+pts LPB, robertparker.com “The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sémillon. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak, 50% new, within which it will age for 12 months on lees with bâtonnage before spending a further two to three months in tank. It prances out of the glass with vivacious notes of lime blossoms, Golden Delicious apples and green mango, plus hints of coriander seed, shaved ginger and wet pebbles. The medium-bodied palate possesses lovely harmony even at this nascent stage, featuring bright apple and citrus flavors with soft acidity and a chalky finish.”
GBP 1152 per case/12 IB
Please enquire about other formats
2020 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux
We are delighted to offer the sensational 2020 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux at GBP 1656 per 12. Lisa Perrotti-Brown awards it an impressive 92-94 points and, in our experience, sums it up pretty much perfectly below:
“a mouthful of pure vinous seduction, slowly releasing layers of perfumed black fruits and mineral accents within a frame of achingly plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and a whole array of fragrant earth sparks.”
Margaux’s superb second wine Pavillon Rouge has continued on its path of improvement (we recall a few years back where the late Paul Pontallier admitted that the new Pavillon Rouge was better than the old Margaux Grand Vin, in lesser vintages). The 2020 is an absolutely gorgeous Pavillon, one of the most impressive of recent years, which combines a truly impressive structure with its signature early-unfolding Margaux aromatics. We found it to be so supple and so elegant, and so complete – absolutely nothing ‘secondary’ about it! US critic Jeff Leve suggests it is “a contender for the finest vintage of Pavillon Rouge that has been produced yet” and Jane Anson agrees, calling it “One of the really successful second wines in the vintage.”
Comes highly recommended – but move quickly as it won’t last!
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2020
96-97pts James Suckling “Blackberry and graphite with dark fruit and violets on the nose. Very complex. Full-bodied with lovely, fine tannins that are lightly chewy. Extremely long and polished. Really refined. Integrated tannins. Wonderful length.”
94pts Jane Anson, Decanter “Sinewed muscle, nuanced aromatics, graphite, gunsmoke, fresh tobacco leaf and blackberry puree. Great purity of fruits, a ton of lift and freshly crushed mint leaf aromatics that grip and curl out of the glass. One of the really successful second wines in the vintage. 31% of the overall blend. 2% of Cabernet Franc completes the blend.”
94-96pts Jeff Leve “Right off the bat you find an array of flowers before moving on to the ripe, red berries, dark pit fruits, black plums and earthy nuances. Refined, elegant, soft and supple, there is freshness and purity to the fruits, along with length and precision on the palate making this a contender for the finest vintage of Pavillon Rouge that has been produced yet. Give this 5-7 years of age and enjoy it over the following 15 years or so. The wine was made from blending 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2 Cabernet Franc.”
92-94pts LPB, robertparker.com “The 2020 Pavillon Rouge is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The alcohol weighs in at 13.6%. Deep purple-black in color, the nose slowly unfurls to reveal gorgeous floral notes of lilacs and red roses, leading to a core of blackcurrant cordial, Morello cherries and minted blackberries, plus wafts of crushed rocks, forest floor and tilled loam. The medium to full-bodied palate is a mouthful of pure vinous seduction, slowly releasing layers of perfumed black fruits and mineral accents within a frame of achingly plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and a whole array of fragrant earth sparks.”
92-94pts Antonio Galloni, vinous “The 2020 Pavillon Rouge shows just how compelling the vintage is. Rich red berry fruit, red plum, cedar, spice and licorice meld together in a sumptuous, racy yet impeccably balanced wine that is flat-out delicious. It displays tremendous reserve, freshness and nuance, and clean veins of salinity that refresh the finish. The blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. The Pavillon Rouge represents 31% of the harvest.”
93-94pts Michael Schuster, WOFW “Dark, rich, and vivid to smell, dense red and black fruit and gravel, long and floral, too; full, concentrated, and vital in acidity, finely firm in surrounding tannin; pure, intense, vivid, red and black fruit in flavor, long and tasty, concentrated without any sense of thickness, a purity partly conveyed by the acidity making the juices run! A very nice depth of dark fruit behind the acidity, and fine, gently fragrant length. Complete, elegant, stylish.”
92-94pts Jeb Dunnuck “The 2020 Pavillon Rouge checks in as 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It has a beautifully pure, classic Cabernet style in its cassis and blue-tinged fruits as well as notes of violets, tobacco, and chocolate. With medium to full body, ripe yet polished tannins, and a great finish, it shows the fresh yet concentrated style of the vintage beautifully. It's going to evolve nicely for 20 years or more.”
GBP 828 per 6 IB
Other formats are available:
Halves – GBP 843 per case/12 IB
Magnums – GBP 834 per case/3 IB
Double magnums – GBP 1746 each IB
Imperials – GBP 1149 each IB
“A most individual, grand, and immediately seductive expression of the vineyard.” Michael Schuster
The “vivid” (JA) 2020 Palmer has been released today at GBP 2880/12.
As in 2019, Palmer’s sensitivities towards the quality of samples means that they did not ship to critics and merchants around the world; only those who are based in, or who travelled to, Bordeaux have tasted the wines. The good news is that the quality looks to be as exceptional as ever “with appellation and estate signature at every turn” (JA). Michael Schuster captures it beautifully: “A most individual, grand, and immediately seductive expression of the vineyard.”
Whilst many Bordeaux chateaux have found themselves accruing untold and (perhaps) unexpected riches as the market for their finest wares has expanded across the four corners of the globe, Palmer is one of the few Chateaux that has spent less on vanity and more on tangible projects – notably the long and initially painful shift to both organics and biodynamics – with the undoubted intention of improving the quality of their wines rather than their facades. A constant raising of standards, both in the vineyard and winery with stricter selection than ever, has reached a zenith; the second wine grows in volume as the Grand Vin focuses exclusively on quality.
“In 2009, we chose to adventure down a new path. In some places, the way proved quite sinuous; in others, it was bestrewn with pitfalls, challenges and unknowns. Yet rather quickly, this choice began to appear self-evident, and today the Palmer vineyards seem to be rewarding us for all the care and energy we have given them over the past ten years.” – Thomas Duroux, Chateau Palmer
We have every faith in the direction and potential of the modern Palmer – so this is one to take, sit on and get ready to enjoy in the years to come.
Just as a reminder the estate’s excellent second wine Alter Ego is still available at GBP 606 per 12. A blend of 46% fleshy Merlot, 50% succulently structured Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% perfumed Petit Verdot, the 2020 Alter Ego has “sinew and juice” and “real purity of fruit” (JA). It will be a delicious, early-drinking celebration of this unique vintage (for many reasons) and most definitely deserves a place in your cellar.
97pts Jane Anson, Decanter “Vivid colours, and the aromatics grab hold straight away. This is intense and concentrated, elegant, balanced and classical, all about the texture which is velvety and seductive with softly-grained tannins. Moves oh so slowly through the palate with dozens of layers to get hold of. The overall feel is precise, slow and seductive, with appellation and estate signature at every turn. Sappy, hawthorn freshness, rosemary, redcurrant, tobacco, cigar box and dark chocolate shavings on the finish.”
95-97pts Michael Schuster, WOFW “Closed, tight, dense to smell, blackcurranty, warm, almost northern Rhône smoky and Côte-Rôtie-like! A rich, generous, ample wine, with a suggestion of Rubens to its profile, yet contained and fresh, too, and very fine in tannin. Notably large-scale Palmer. Ripe, generous, juicy, mouthfilling, powerful, and spicy, with great length of flavor, something almost licoricy in its taste, long and warm and vital … and Rhône-like, and with great resonant length, too. A most individual, grand, and immediately seductive expression of the vineyard. 2030–50+.”
18+/20pts JL, jancisrobinson.com “The Merlot provides the broad sweep and touch of sweetness on entry, the Cabernet the fine but punchy tannins that drive the wine. Lots of life and persistence, the tannins fine-grained and fresh. Clear potential.”
GBP 1440 per case/6 IB
Other formats are available:
Halves – GBP 1455 per case/12 IB
Magnums – GBP 1446 per case/3 IB
Double magnums – GBP 2970 per case/3 IB
Imperials – GBP 1965 each IB
17+/20pts JL, jancisrobinson.com “Very much in the Alter Ego mould – lively, fruit-driven with that vineyard-fresh feel but with a little more structure than previous years. Pure and appetising but will age.”
93pts Jane Anson, Decanter “Chocolate shavings and smoked coffee bean on the nose, it's a vintage where you can't get away from the tannins, but here they have sinew and juice, like the best translation of the tannins in the year. This has real purity of fruit (very low SO2 addition at Palmer), together with the gourmet touch that you want in Alter Ego. 45% of overall production. 3.73pH. Survived mildew better than in 2018 because of experience in dealing with the conditions. August 15 to 29 for the harvest. A yield of 31hl/ha.”
GBP 606 per case/12 IB
Other formats are available:
Halves – GBP 626 per case/24 IB
Magnums – GBP 616 per case/6 IB
Double magnums – GBP 696 per case/3 IB
Imperials – GBP 449 each IB
The 2020 Leoville Las Cases has been released at GBP 2376. As with so many previous vintages, this estate once again ranks close to the very top of the Bordeaux hierarchy with 96-98pts from both Lisa Perrotti-Brown and Neal Martin and a slightly broader 95-98 from Antonio Galloni.
“a powerhouse of energy… The finish has jaw-dropping fragrance and depth.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“Readers with classically leaning palates will flip out over the 2020… It is certainly one of the standouts of the year at this point.” Antonio Galloni
“There is plenty of freshness here and impressive weight, yet no sense of heaviness toward the finish.” Neal Martin
Regardless of how stunning so many of the wines of Bordeaux are, especially when you get to this level, few compete with Las Cases’ singular ability to transport you directly into the vines when dipping your nose into the glass. The 2020 has this in spades, with Jane Anson opining “You get the full array of serious St-Julien character - pencil lead, cigar box, cassis bud, bilberry, earth and granite-edged tannins”. It surely ranks directly alongside neighbouring Chateau Latour for pure expression of terroir.
One of the most legendary wines of Bordeaux, Leoville Las Cases borders the northern end of St Julien and the southern tip of Pauillac and carries many of the characteristics of both. Sharing exact proximity to the river with Chateau Latour and separated from this First Growth only by a meagre dribble of water known as the Ruisseau de Juillac, Las Cases delivers a perfect combination of intensity and minerality much like its next-door neighbour. As with so many of the top wines in this commune, the 2020 is a surprisingly ‘dialed-back’ example of Las Cases – very much in the classical mould “not 1986, not 2010… just a beautiful, complete balance… Gorgeous wine” says Michael Schuster. This looks to be another long-distance runner that promises decades of positive evolution – as Jeff Leve says “Give this at least 12-15 years before popping a cork and enjoy it for the next 3 decades after that” and Jane Anson agrees: “you are going to need a lot of patience for this vintage to reach its drinking window”
Las Cases’ stoic proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon and his ultra-talented team, led by Pierre Graffeuille, made the very best of this complex, yin-yang vintage, sculpting a wine of incredible class, finesse, and precision.
The estate’s little brother, the ever-impressive Le Petit Lion, also has its 2020 iteration available for sale at GBP 504/12. We love this wine every year – it does a proper second wine job of expressing the estate in a more accessible, joyful fashion and contains the old vine Merlot from the main LLC vineyard that used to go into Clos du Marquis. The 2020 counts some serious names amongst its fans, including a huge 96-97 from James Suckling who suggests it could be the best ever, and Lisa Perrotti-Brown (92-94) who calls it “a very impressive second wine!”
98-99pts James Suckling “This is incredibly classic in style with so much currant, lead pencil, crushed stone and sweet tobacco. It’s full-bodied with minerally, stoney and powerful tannins. It goes on and on. Real Las Cases here. Solid as a rock. Progresses to violet, graphite and licorice at the end.”
96-98pts LPB, robertparker.com “The 2020 Léoville Las Cases is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot, aging in 80% new French oak barriques, weighing in with an alcohol of 13.68%, a pH of 3.8 and an IPT (tannins index) of 79. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from the 21st to the 27th of September, the Merlot from the 12th to the 15th of September and the Cabernet Franc on the 18th and 19th of September. With an opaque purple-black color, it slowly unfurls to reveal beguiling notes of fresh blackcurrants, Morello cherries, candied violets and dark chocolate, giving way to an undercurrent of crushed rocks, unsmoked cigars, clove oil and fragrant earth. The medium-bodied palate is a powerhouse of energy, delivering tightly wound red and black fruits, mineral and floral layers, supported by fantastic tension and incredibly ripe, silt-like tannins. The finish has jaw-dropping fragrance and depth.”
96-98pts Neal Martin, vinous “The 2020 Léoville–Las Cases was picked September 12–29 and matured in 80% new oak with 13.68° alcohol. The Cabernet Sauvignon is in the driving seat on the nose, offering almost saturnine black fruit, pencil shavings and cedar, perhaps one of the most Pauillac-like bouquets that I have noticed on this wine out of barrel, which is no surprise considering its vines adjoin that appellation. The palate is medium-bodied, strict and linear at first, that Pauillac tincture the continuing theme thanks to conspicuous graphite/pencil lead notes interwoven into the black fruit. There is plenty of freshness here and impressive weight, yet no sense of heaviness toward the finish.”
95-98pts Antonio Galloni, vinous “The 2020 Léoville Las Cases comes across as a super-classic Saint-Julien that combines mid-weight structure of previous decades, with the greater textural finesse that has become the norm here in recent years. A shy introvert, the 2020 Las Cases won’t impress with size or brawn as is often the case, but with a total sense of finesse. Readers with classically leaning palates will flip out over the 2020. I can't wait to watch it evolve, hopefully for many decades to come. It is certainly one of the standouts of the year at this point.”
96-98pts Jeff Leve “Dark garnet in color, the wine pops with aromas of tobacco leaf, cigar box, cedar, herbs, black currants, coffee and spice. Refined, fresh, polished and firm, the fruit is vibrant, long and intense. The tannins are ripe, almost creamy in texture. The finish is long, regal and compelling, leaving you with layer, of black currants and cassis. Give this at least 12-15 years before popping a cork and enjoy it for the next 3 decades after that. The wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, 13.68% ABV, 3.80 pH. The harvest took place from September 12 - September 27, making this the earliest vintage since 1989.”
96pts Jane Anson, Decanter “A subtle intensity where the power steals up on you through the palate - this is an excellent example of what Las Cases can deliver. Intellectual, concentrated and reined in for the foreseeable future. You get the full array of serious St-Julien character - pencil lead, cigar box, cassis bud, bilberry, earth and granite-edged tannins, this needs time. Very little press wine was used because this has such a plainly evident natural intensity. Needs time, but knowing how this estate is a slow burner even in generous vintages, you are going to need a lot of patience for this vintage to reach its drinking window. Impressive, not yet showing its heart. May be upscored once in bottle. This is 1% less than 2018 and 0.5% less than in 2019 in terms of alcohol.”
18/20pts JL, jancisrobinson.com “Very deep colour. Dense and reserved with an abundance of dark, ripe fruit. Tannins really very fine, providing length and persistence but no aggression. A measured wine with good concentration and a saline freshness but without the muscle seen some years. More St-Julien than Pauillac this year.”
GBP 2376 per case/12 IB
Other formats are available:
Halves – GBP 2396 per case/24 IB
Magnums – GBP 2386 per case/6 IB
Double magnums – GBP 2466 per case/3 IB
Imperials – GBP 1629 each IB
96-97pts James Suckling “This is very deep and rich with ripe tannins that take your down and through the palate. Full and layered. This is really plush and intense. Could be the best ever for the second wine. Goes deep.”
92-94pts LPB, robertparker.com “Sporting a medium to deep purple-black color, it springs from the glass with vibrant notes of black cherries, redcurrant jelly and cassis, plus touches of lavender, fallen leaves and cinnamon stick, with a waft of black truffles. The medium-bodied palate has bright, bold black and red berry layers with a grainy texture and loads of freshness, finishing long with a spicy kick. A very impressive second wine!”
92-94pts Jeb Dunnuck “The second wine of this great estate, the 2020 Le Petit Lion checks in as 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It has the class of the Grand Vin yet is made in a slightly softer, more forward style and offers lots of black cherry and dark currants fruits as well as notes of lead pencil, dried tobacco, and loamy earth. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it's balanced, has ripe tannins, the hallmark purity of fruit of the vintage, and a great finish. I’d be thrilled to drink a bottle any time over the coming 10-15 years or more.”
GBP 504 per case/12 IB
Other formats are available:
Halves – GBP 524 per case/24 IB
Magnums – GBP 514 per case/6 IB
Double magnums – GBP 594 per case/3 IB
Imperials – GBP 381 each IB