Author Archives: Charles Lea

2010 Bordeaux Primeurs – Wednesday latecomers…

By on 25/05/2011

Bravo again to Francois Despagne for this year’s Château Grand Corbin Despagne which is a Saint Emilion which just tastes real, remarkably unforced, and unites the English palates: "Good juice and flow, it tastes like real wine" L&S, "Proper wine!" Jancis Robinson, "very pure and precise" Neal Martin, "Splendid wine with extra depth and purity of fruit" James Lawther (Decanter). It is offered at the same price as last year, and comes recommended.

Château du Tertre is possibly slightly pushing its luck – it is no better than the 2009 (but probably very close in quality), but offered around 11% more than last year. But it’s hard to find a Cru Classé Margaux for less, and it offers solid value in a big, round, slightly sweet and smudgy style.

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2010 Bordeaux Primeurs

By on 25/05/2011

It is turning out to be a busy morning, after a slow start with a raft of inconsequential right-bank wines, we have the release of the first of the top-performing Médoc Crus Classés in the shape of Lafon Rochet, which has by general concensus, made it’s best wine ever in 2010. Also on the market two remarkable wines from Didier Cuvelier, owner of Léoville Poyferré, Moulin Riche and Le Crock and Goulée, the top-performing Médoc owned by Cos d’Estournel, in what is also its best performance to date. Finally just released is Château Belgrave, a ‘lesser’ 5th growth, but one which is making better and better wines and which Robert Parker has, like Goulée, called a ‘sleeper of the vintage’, by which he means a lesser-known but good value offering.

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Bordeaux 2010 – the ups and the downs

By on 24/05/2011

If your wine sold out in seconds last year, and you have even better notes than last year, the temptation must be to hike a little. Sarget de Gruaud Larose flew last year, when it seemed one of the bargains of the vintage, and I’d suggest that this year it will also fly, because the 2010 is still a bargain. Sociando Mallet clearly just pushed above the critical point last year, and is offer about 16% down this year. I liked it even more, making it a bit of a bargain too. Long-term, mini-Latour like wine.

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2010 Bordeaux Primeurs, Château Labégorce

By on 19/05/2011

Nathalie Perrodo is bringing her father’s dream closer to reality with this ‘first’ vintage from the newly reunited Labégorce vineyards, after they had spent a couple of centuries split into three. The part that was names Labegorce Zédé in 1840 is reintegrated for the first time since then this year, and this new wine is offered at a very realistic, even bargain price for a Cru Classé level Margaux.

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Spear’s ‘Design for Living’ Awards – The Winners

By on 18/05/2011

On Wednesday the 17th May, The Lifestyle and Wealth management magazine Spear’s held their inaugural ‘Design for Living’ awards ceremony at the Jack Barclay showroom at Berkeley Square. Lea & Sandeman picked up the award in The Vintner category against stiff opposition, described as being ‘for a wine merchant, auction house, dealer or supplier who consistently sources the best wines for private clients’.

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