CLOS FOURTET is out at £500 per 6 bottles IB. Now this is really top-quality Saint Emilion. There are all the elements you’d expect in abundance; a concentrated smokey nose, a really dense and polished black fruit core, and that inimitable mineral undertow which holds it all together. This is an extremely well made wine and the critics all agree. The Wine Spectator called it ‘a beauty in the making‘ and scored it 96-99/100(!). Neal Martin labelled it ‘outstanding‘ and gave it a score to match – 95-97/100. Jane Anson thought it ‘cerebral but sexy…‘ (96/100)
Also from the right bank is LA MONDOTTE at £1,194 per 6 bottles IB. This is super-concentrated, extremely dense and very tannic. It’s a bit of a blunderbuss of a wine. Nevertheless, there is real purity of fruit here and some will love it’s sheer intensity. James Molesworth of The Wine Spectator certainly did. He scored it 97-100/100(!) and described it as ‘a stunner‘ with ‘a towering display of purity‘ and a ‘jaw-dropping core of fruit‘.
CHÂTEAU LE GAY has been released at £522 per 6 bottles IB. This was everything you’d expect – creamy, ripe Merlot fruit and typical velvety texture. There’s lots of oak evident at this stage but it will all knit together. Galloni gave this 93-96/100 and described it as ‘one of the most compellingly delicious Pomerols of the year‘.
CHÂTEAU LA VIOLETTE is also out at £1,095 per 6 bottles IB. This is a floral, suave and opulent Pomerol with bags of warm, supple fruit. James Molesworth from The Wine Spectator scored it 93-96/100 and described it as ‘exotic juice‘. Jane Anson thought it ‘a great wine‘ and rated it 94/100.
DURFORT VIVENS is out at £277 per 6 bottles IB. The revival of this estate is well under way under Gonzague Lurton. His move to biodynamics and the high proportion of Cabernet in the blend have certainly brought more tension and poise to these wines. The 2016 is a perfect example. It has a lovely weight and boasts notable purity and freshness. Jane Anson scored it 94/100 and commented, ‘I just love this, it has a true sense of forward motion but it is also intense, complex and layered‘.
As ever you can keep up to date with everything #Bdx16 on our Recent Releases page.