By Charles Lea on 02/06/2013
You will have seen our earlier push on Denis Durantou's 'little wines', not to mention the little video about the 2012 vintage. Of course 'little wines' is a misnomer since they are far from little and offer some of the best value in Bordeaux - just at a more accessible price than his 'big wine' l'Église Clinet.
By Charles Lea on 02/06/2013
Up in the northern Médoc, around the village of Saint Christoly, it was normal, right up to the 1970s, for farmers to have some maize, some cows, a few pigs – and 4 hectares or so of vines. Part of what is now Clos Manou was a 4 hectare ‘Cru Bourgeois’ called Château Cantegrive.
By Charles Lea on 02/06/2013
Regular Primeur buyers from L&S will know that we have been banging the drum for Pierre Taïx's 'La Mauriane' since 2001, and this tiny property in Puisseguin Saint Emilion continues to produce wines of remarkable value, with Pierre continuing to tweak the way the vineyards and managed and the wine is made and aged.
By David Porter on 01/06/2013
“…these are truly wonderful Vintage Ports that will reward extended cellaring. Declarations are, more often than not, promises that are kept…” Neil Martin, www.
By Charles Lea on 01/06/2013
The release of Sassicaia 2010 gives an opportunity to have a look at a few of the other wines from the west Tuscan coast, the ‘Maremma’.
By Ed H-B on 28/05/2013
2009 Château du Maine - AOC Graves, Langon, Bordeaux Bordeaux has something like five thousand different Châteaux all making wine – and inevitably you get the full gamut made, in terms of quality. There is a lot to avoid, but also some real gems too thankfully.
By Ed H-B on 24/05/2013
“Dom Pérignon Vintage 2004 is both all-embracing and intriguing. It never fully reveals itself. It reveals and hides at the same time”.
By Charles Lea on 23/05/2013
2012 Bordeaux - Denis Durantou's 'Haiku of the vintage' & Las Cases, Saint Pierre, Vieux Chateau Certan, and yes.
By Charles Lea on 22/05/2013
Brane Cantenac, Léoville Poyferre, Figeac, Beauséjour Duffau, Clos du Marquis, Nénin Today we have one of my favourite wines in Margaux, Brane Cantenac, where Henri Lurton has made another quintessentially elegant wine, and the release price is very realistic. The Cuveliers have released Léoville Poyferré at a price just under that of Léoville Barton, having been well above in some recent vintages.
By Charles Lea on 21/05/2013
2012 Bordeaux - Gruaud Larose and Sarget de Gruaud - and a reminder about La Conseillante The only significant releases this afternoon are Gruaud Larose and its second wine Sarget de Gruaud. Sarget is well-priced compared to some of the Saint Julien second wines, but on the other hand I think I'd still rather have the slightly juicier Connétable Talbot.
By Charles Lea on 21/05/2013
Ausone has just been put on the market at £3950. This seems a solid buy against the price of other vintages. Robert Parker calls this "a high class, aristocratic, nearly perfect wine to cellar for a decade and then watch it unfold over the following 40-50 years".
