By Charles Lea on 07/06/2012
Today may see the final releases of the 2011 Primeur 'campaign'. After yesterday's successes for Ducru Beaucaillou and Vieux Chateau Certan, today will see the release of the stables of Léoville Las Cases and Ausone.
By Charles Lea on 06/06/2012
Domaines Baron de Rothschild chose yesterday to release the 2011 Chateau l'Évangile, a wine which I am surprised to find myself the biggest fan of amongst the critics. Today has seen another mini-avalanche of releases, including Talbot at a sensible price, and some at spectacular drops in price over their 2010 counterparts - Beauséjour Duffau Lagarosse was £2200 in 2010, and is £540 this year.
By Charles Lea on 24/05/2012
Late release of the day is Denis Durantou's flagship, l'Église Clinet at £575 per case of six bottles. At last someone who has listened to the market: this is offered at a price lower than any comparable vintage (2006 and 2008 are around £1400, 2009 and 2010 are over £3500). A 2011 primeur worth buying.
By Charles Lea on 24/05/2012
Latour, of course, stole a good deal of publicity at the beginning of the the 2011 campaign by announcing that it was going to withdraw from the primeur system from next year. (In future the wine will be released by the Chateau at ten years old or later).
By Charles Lea on 23/05/2012
Branaire Ducru looks fair value at £335 and joins the list of wines recommended in the 2011 vintage. Jean-Dominique Videau is rightly proud of this wine, and it was one of very few properties prepared to show us their 2009 and 2010 alongside the 2011.
By Charles Lea on 23/05/2012
Today sees the release of a fine Pomerol, Château la Conseillante. Under the intelligent directorship of Jean-Michel Laporte, La Conseillante is a property which has gone from strength to strength, and in this is a wine that all the critics liked a lot - all except Robert Parker who gave it a rather measly 88-91.
By Patrick Sandeman on 22/05/2012
Tio Pepe 'En Rama' Sherry- 2012 release from Gonzalez Byass Gonzalez Byass' much awaited 2012 release of the very special Tio Pepe Fino 'En Rama' coincides with the 200th birthday of its founder, Manuel Maria Gonzalez, and is a fabulous wine to celebrate this anniversary.
By Charles Lea on 22/05/2012
We can now offer Mouton Rothschild on general release, at £1900 per six bottles or £3800 per case of 12. As before click the wine name below to see all the critics on this. I confused the hell out of those who were paying attention to this morning's email by calling Moulin Saint Georges 'Croix Saint Georges'.
By Charles Lea on 22/05/2012
Slow start to the morning after yesterday's splurge. The buy here for me is the 'cheapy' from Alain Vauthier's Ausone stable, Moulin Saint Georges. This wine is just one of those which seems to hit the spot every year, and every year I'm surprised by how incredibly reasonable it is, but then is is a not so well-known, 'under the radar' name.
By Charles Lea on 21/05/2012
This afternoon has proved rather quiter than this morning, with just three wines to add to the list of releases. Léoville Poyferré has reduced its price significantly, and comes recommended at £550.
By Charles Lea on 21/05/2012
Another morning when many Chateau owners seem to have decided not to much to launch their wine onto the market as to rush them all out at once and hope no one notices them in the crowd.
By Charles Lea on 16/05/2012
France has a day off tomorrow, so we may have seen the last releases before next Monday. This afternoon saw the two junior wines from the Cheval Blanc stable take the the track. I liked both La Tour du Pin and Quinault l'Enclos, and the prices are not mad for the quality they are achieving here.