This morning sees the release of a trio of very impressive Saint Juliens. An excellent and highly-rated LANGOA BARTON 
has been released at £420 per 12 IB, and the stylish LA CROIX DE BEAUCAILLOU has followed at exactly the same price. The ‘sensational’ and ‘electrifying’ (Neal Martin, 96-98) BEYCHEVELLE is also out at £680 per dozen IB – volumes are down 20% and for now this is limited to last year’s buyers. If you place firm orders we will do our best to fulfill them.
From the Haut Médoc, SOCIANDO MALLET is also out at £315 per dozen IB. This really impressed us with its harmony, length and mineral intensity in 2016. Neal Martin gave it 92-94 and called it ‘outstanding…one of the best wines produced at this estate‘ – we can’t immediately recall a better vintage either. At this price you get a lot of quality for your money.
Jancis Robinson absolutely loved Langoa Barton in 2016, giving it 17.5 points and calling it ‘long and precise,’ and ‘truly terroir wine.’ Galloni was also a huge fan calling the 2016 ‘soft, pliant and absolutely delicious’ (90-93). We couldn’t agree more and at £420 per dozen this sits nicely in the middle of our price-estimate so there is good value here too. We expect it to be very popular so do get your orders in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Also highly recommended is La Croix de Beaucaillou. Jancis gave it 17 points and thought it ‘dramatic’ with ‘lots of spiciness and glamour.’ Neal Martin found ‘great tension’ and ‘immense purity’ in this wine giving it 92-94. While that score will have pleased Bruno Borie, he’ll no doubt be disappointed that Neal still referred to La Croix as ‘Deuxième Vin‘. Bruno is always at pains to point out that La Croix is not a second wine but rather a separate vineyard area that lies on the other side of the road, slightly further from the river. Whatever you call it, La Croix is a Saint Julien of real quality and class.
As ever, you can keep up to date with everything out from #Bdx16 on our Recent Releases page.
Late morning news is that Lafite is expected to release this afternoon. However the first tranche is rumoured to be 50% down on last year, so négociants will almost certainly hold back on offering any wine until they have the second tranche – and average the price.