Out today is Château d’Issan at £295/12. ‘Really very impressive even if not a very long-term wine’ says Jancis Robinson of the 2014. The 2012 was re-rated by Robert Parker from 87/100 to 95/100 last week, so one can have confidence in the élevage here.
Also out is – Château Climens at £435/12, sadly we did not get over to see Bérénice Lurton this year to taste, but Neal Martin is clear on the quality when he says that she ‘..has a winning Climens on her hands, one that will in the top two or three sweet wines of the vintage…’ L&S gives the option to have this bottled in halves, and indeed to buy just 12 halves or six bottles with no extra cost at this stage.
We should be excited that Château Lagrange has come out at the appealing price of £240/12. However, despite the appearance of doing all the right things – we just could not find a sample that excited us during primeur week. It seems the same was true for Neal Martin. Such a shame, at this price if the wine does turn out as well as some critics found it it looks like a runner.
Rather lost in the deluge of releases yesterday – Gruaud Larose came out and is yours for a rather ambitious £390/12. At his price it seems classic case of missing the point of primeurs. Buyers could consider the comparable 2012 at more than £50 less. However, their second wine, the Sarget de Gruaud Larose, does not seem mad and is a good opportunity to have a smart slice of St Julien in the cellar at £140/12.
Château Poujeaux also quietly slipped out and deserves a mention at £170/12. Described by James Suckling as ‘Full-bodied yet refined and gorgeous.’ This is another enjoyable ‘supper-party’ claret drinking in 6-12 years time.