By Tom Lorimer on 26/04/2023
Tom Lorimer from our private clients team takes us through the third day on the road in Bordeaux: Day 3 A fairly straightforward itinerary for the team today: work out how to open boot the on our over-designed hire car, mop-up the rest of the right bank, and then head north to start tackling the vast expanse of the left bank.
By David Porter on 12/05/2022
All my pre-departure research had left me rather gloomy about the week ahead, tasting through the latest vintage in Bordeaux. Thank goodness I was travelling with Jack, ever upbeat, hopefully we could buoy each other along through the teeth-shattering tastings.
By Jack Chapman on 06/05/2022
How on earth to summarise a vintage by appellation, which more or totally defied homogeneity? I’m going to try my best, almost solely using our own meandering experience and stack of tasting notes. Luckily Pomerol, which is where we began, makes is rather easier than most.
By Charles Lea on 21/05/2020
I am still reeling from the news of the death last week of Denis Durantou, owner and winemaker of Chateau l'Église Clinet, La Petite Église (its second wine) Cruzelles, Montlandrie, La Chenade and Saintayme. He was only 62. I've been so disengaged (delegation) from the last two Bordeaux primeur campaigns, that I didn't even know he was ill.
By Edward Richardson on 10/04/2018
Yesterday began with a 9am tasting at Cheval Blanc (you have to start somewhere!). Sadly, it didn’t begin well. First came the news that there would be no Yquem tasting in the Orangery this year (quel désastre!), next came the unwelcome revelation that the Château was quite badly hit by frost in 2017.
By Edward Richardson on 12/06/2017
Today's releases include some of the top-rated wines from the vintage. The Chateaux certainly believe they have produced something very special, wines that are blessed with genuine greatness. The critics seem to agree. Léoville Las Cases, L'Église-Clinet and Ausone are all touching 100 points. Sadly, but perhaps unsurprisingly, the pricing reflects the hype and the high scores.
By Edward Richardson on 11/05/2017
The ever dependable right-bank stable of Denis Durantou has just been released. These are wines where the price-to-quality ratio is always off the scale - even more so so in a fresh and juicy vintage like 2016. The SAINTAYME and LA CHENADE will provide enormous pleasure almost immediately.
By Edward Richardson on 29/04/2017
Day 1: First Impressions This was my first primeur campaign so excitement was trumping exhaustion as we boarded the 06:30 flight to Bordeaux. Some startling efficiency at head office meant that we were sitting at the front of the aircraft (at no extra cost I might add!).
By Charles Lea on 24/04/2017
Classicism is the name of the day in 2016, but it is certainly a very polished classicism. A return to wines mostly in the 13-13.5% level, so more ‘Englishman’s claret’ than some recent top vintages.
By Charles Lea on 17/06/2016
This morning we can offer one of the greatest Pomerols and one of the acknowledged great wines of the vintage 2015 CHÂTEAU L'ÉGLISE CLINET . Denis Durantou's flagship wine is another classic; 'a quite magical 2015 L'Eglise-Clinet' 96-98 Neal Martin, 'Don't miss it', 95-97 Antonio Galloni, 'a great L'Église-Clinet' 18-19 The Wine Doctor.
By Beth Thomas on 12/06/2016
Bordeaux can be a rather confusing and confounding market and never more so than at 'primeur' time. It is very easy to switch off, and many of us do, with just some of the big names and wild prices making the headlines.
By Beth Thomas on 25/05/2016
This week sees the release of Château Clarke, (£115 per six) a Listrac-Médoc which belongs to the Baron Edmond de Rothschild, who also has a share of Lafite, and which has had a lot of investment since they bought it in 1971.