By Charles Lea on 26/01/2017
Domaine Francois & Isabelle Lumpp - Givry, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy Amongst all the chatter about high prices in 2015 Burgundy, some real bargains get overlooked. We have been happy to see some of our regionals - 'Bourgogne Rouges' gain good traction as critics realise what great value they represent - from as little at £90 a case of 12 in bond.
By Charles Lea on 01/07/2016
At the beginning of the 2015 campaign, we advised those who thought we'd Leave to pile in before the pound plummeted, and those who thought we'd Remain to hold their fire until after the referendum as the subsequent bounce in sterling might result in the remaining primeurs looking cheaper now.
By Charles Lea on 20/06/2016
2015 CHÂTEAU LAFITE has now been released. 'an excellent Lafite-Rothschild in the making and it often "finds its voice" only after bottling, so it could ultimately end with a higher score.' 94-96 Neal Martin, www.
By Charles Lea on 20/06/2016
This afternoon will apparently see the release of Château Lafite, the most regal of all the firsts. Before that we have the release of Pomerol belonging to the Rothchilds of Lafite, 2015 CHÂTEAU L'ÉVANGILE, and Lafite's second wine, darling of the Asian market, 2015 CARRUADES DE CHÂTEAU LAFITE.
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 Charles Lea on 16/06/2016
This morning sees the releases of two of the Médoc greats, in the shape of Mouton Rothschild and Ducru Beaucaillou. 2015 CHÂTEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD (£2130 per six bottles) is highly-rated, as one might expect, with 19 from Jancis Robinson 'Very fine.
By Charles Lea on 14/06/2016
The Delons have now released 2015 CHÂTEAU LÉOVILLE LAS CASES at £1475 per dozen, £737.50 per six. 'superlative Léoville Las-Cases with the substance to suggest long-term ageing will be repaid. 95 - 97/100' Neal Martin. 'Grabs the attention. 17.5' Jancis Robinson. 'This will be a very great wine.' 96 Steven Spurrier.
By Charles Lea on 14/06/2016
This morning sees the release of some of the big names in Saint Emilion, including Gérard Perse's 2015 CHÂTEAU PAVIE, Hubert de Bouard's 2015 CHÂTEAU ANGÉLUS and the one that missed out on the move up to Premier Grand Cru Classé 'A', 2015 CHÂTEAU TROPLONG MONDOT.
By Charles Lea on 13/06/2016
Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, everyone's favourite with its run of fabulous vintages spanning the seventies to the early nineties, definitely stumbled through under-investment over the turn of the millennium.
By Charles Lea on 08/06/2016
With Pomerol and Margaux as two of the most successful appellations of 2015, we have two releases of note this morning, but the big one is probably Palmer, second only to Margaux itself in Margaux, and indeed to the other firsts in the Médoc.
By Charles Lea on 07/06/2016
"This Haut Bailly is up there with the 2009 and 2010 - a bravura Pessac-Léognan" (Neal Martin in the Wine Advocate) Pessac-Léognan performed well in 2015, and 2015 CHÂTEAU HAUT BAILLY at £720 has the most amazing set of consistently high scores from the critics.
By Charles Lea on 07/06/2016
Out this morning is en primeur classic 2015 CHÂTEAU LYNCH BAGES 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac at £890 per case of 12 bottles. Creamy-rich, lovely top-note of fine red fruit. The density is all here, and this very much does what Lynch bages does. Big tannins, but all nicely wrapped in fruit and smooth body.