FRAZIER s BORDEAUX. wine catalogue

Transcription

1 FRAZIER s BORDEAUX wine catalogue

2 Index BORDEAUX Managing Director John Frazier (john@fraziers.co.uk) General Manager Steven Jay (steve@fraziers.co.uk) Personal Assistant to M.D. Linda Brown (linda@fraziers.co.uk) Accounts Robert Grant (rob@fraziers.co.uk) John Frazier Ltd Stirling Road, Cranmore Industrial Estate, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4NE. Tel: Fax: sales@fraziers.co.uk Desert Wine Terms & Conditions Logistics & Sales Edward Whitehill (edward@fraziers.co.uk) Receptionist Mandy Leyland (mandy@fraziers.co.uk) VINTAGE GUIDE ***** **** *** ** * EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD AVERAGE POOR Red White Year Bordeaux Bordeaux 2009 ***** ***** 2008 **** *** 2007 **** *** 2006 **** **** 2005 ***** ***** 2004 **** **** 2003 ***** ***** 2002 *** *** 2001 **** *** 2000 ***** **** 1999 *** *** 1998 **** **** 1997 *** **** 1996 **** *** 1995 **** *** 1994 *** *** 1993 *** *** 1992 ** *** 1991 ** *** 1990 ***** *** 1989 ***** *** 1988 *** *** 1987 ** *** 1986 **** *** 1985 **** **** 1983 *** **** 1982 **** *** 1981 *** *** 1979 *** **** 1978 *** *** 1976 ** *** 1975 *** *** Bordeaux 1

3 Bordeaux Bordeaux Wine Districts Medoc The Médoc is situated north of the town of Bordeaux, on the left bank of the Gironde. Médoc is divided in two parts, the Haut-Médoc in the south, near the town, and the north part traditionally called Médoc. The wines are delicate, medium coloured, fine and elegant; often tannic when young, harmonious and splendid when matured. Grands crus classés in Médoc account for 25% of the vineyards, 20% of the production and about 50% of the sales. However none sells under the Médoc appellation but Haut-Médoc, Pauillac, Margaux, Saint Julien, Saint-Estèphe. Graves The area of Graves gets its name from the soil. Graves are a mix of gravels, clay and sand carried out by the river, located just outside the town of Bordeaux. The red wines of Graves are recognisable by their garnet-red colour, rich, attractive and more robust than the other Médoc wines. Two third of Graves wines are white. Among the best white wines in Bordeaux, they are generally fresh, fruity and dry. Pessac-Leognan Pessac-Léognan was detached from the Graves appellation. North of the Graves, Pessac-Léognan tends to get closer and closer to Médoc. The terroir in Pessac-Léognan is quite exclusive. Red wines from Pessac-Léognan have a powerful bouquet. They are among the best in Bordeaux. White wines are well-structured and can age in a cellar. After 5 years they begin to express rich aromas. St Emilion Saint-Emilion is the oldest wine area of the Bordeaux region. The UNESCO organisation recognised the great terroir of Saint Emilion and put the site on the World Heritage List. Saint Emilion wines are considered the most robust of the Bordeaux. They are generous, very coloured, and reach their maturity quicker than other red Bordeaux. Pomerol Pomerol is the smallest wine producing area in the Bordeaux region. You will not find typical huge Bordeaux Chateaux as in the Médoc area. However Pomerol hosts one of the most famous of all: Pétrus. The Pomerol wine can be more robust than others in Bordeaux. They have an exclusive velvety quality and are at their best when at least 15 years old. 2

4 Bordeaux 2009 One of the Greatest ever Vintages. Many truly magnificent wines have been made and this vintage rates with 1982, 1990, 2000 and Not every property has achieved greatness, particularly in Right Bank Merlot dominant wines, where alcohol levels of 15 degrees have been reached and the style is more New World than Classic Bordeaux. By and large Cabernet dominant Medoc s are beautifully balanced with harmonious tannins with ripe fruits and as near perfection as can be achieved. The downside is that volumes are reduced at many Chateaux because they increasingly discriminate in their selections for the Grand Vin. The amount of wine available from leading Chateaux is far less than 10 years ago. Top quality comes at a price! More than 6000 tasters attended the U.G.C. tastings held in Bordeaux in late March There is Worldwide recognition that in 2009 Great Wines have been made. Many buyers from the Far East were there, previously they only purchased wine in bottle, but for 2009 s they were buying En Primeur. The Price for 2009 s seem destined to be close to the 2005 s. Given the lusciousness and almost exotic nature of the finest 2009 s, one cannot but help compare them with the 1982 s, which displayed such wonderful fruit after six months in barrel. However the 2009 s show greater structure, concentration and grip. They appear to be more solid than the 82 s, with firmer structures. It is certain that the 09 s are longterm wines; quite how long we will need to cellar them remains to be seen. As one respected Médoc wine-maker commented, tannin levels are the highest ever and alcohol is above the norm. To some extent we are on a journey into the unknown. Undoubtedly the finest of the wines will receive glowing critiques and, for those who award them, high scores. Clearly the finest wines are great and will age magnificently. The Petit Chateau have attractive rounded fruits and will grace any cellar. Bordeaux Some glorious wines have been produced in Sauternes. Following consecutive years of pitifully low yields, Mother Nature smiled on these long-suffering proprietors. The sweet wines are excellent and, for once, quality went hand in hand with volume. Generally the sweet wines are the finest since the glorious 2001 Vintage. Please note all 2009 vintage wines can only be purchased En Primeur. 3

5 Bordeaux Cotes de Francs BORD0050 CHATEAU de FRANCS LES CERISIERS COTES de FRANCS 2009 Medoc Owned by Dominique Hebrard (previously co-owner of Cheval Blanc) and Hubert de Bouard, owner of Chateau Angelus and oenologist. Situated at the eastern edge of the Gironde area. Deep purple colour. Fragrant, soft, supple and attractive ripe fruit, well balanced. Very good value - a new find which we highly recommend. Drink BORD0460 CHATEAU LIVERSAN HAUT MEDOC % Merlot, 50% Cab Sauvignon. From the family - Lapalu, the vineyard is situated just outside the Pauillac appellation. The wine gets better every year. Rich, round and fruity. Great value! Drink BORD0093 CHATEAU PATACHE D'AUX MEDOC % Cab Sauv, 45% Merlot. On average the vines are 39 years old. The richest, ripest wine the Lapalu family have produced here - a wine that we have followed for the last 10 years. Excellent value! Drink BORD0016 CHATEAU CISSAC HAUT MEDOC 2009 The wine shows a deep purple garnet colour with a fine viscosity. After a few moments the first classic aromas of dark fruit, cassis, plums and blackcurrants reveal themselves blended with hints of spice, vanilla, toast and cedar wood. In the mouth there is an abundance of full ripe well structured tannins, rich with the elderberry and plum fruit, the finish is full and rich with spicy notes. Drink BORD0545 CHATEAU FOURCAS DUPRE LISTRAC MEDOC % Cab Sauv, 42% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc & 2% Petit Verdot. Lovely scented plummy nose, good weight and concentration on the palate. A new wine for us but stood out at the recent tastings. Way ahead of the normal standard from this Chateau. Drink BORD0030 CHATEAU BEAUMONT HAUT MEDOC 2009 One of the best results for this Chateau for many years, full rich colour, bags of structure and supple silky tannins. Drink BORD0540 CHATEAU FOURCAS HOSTEN LISTRAC MEDOC This Cru property is now in the hands of the Mommeia Brothers of the Hermes clothing and fashion house, they have been investing heavily in wines over recent years. Dark crimson, low-key but quite intriguing nose, full, firm and dramatic. Nicely balanced with polished tannins and very appetising, the type of wine that could be a pleasure to drink all its life! Drink

6 BORD0028 CHATEAU CARONNE ST GEMME HAUT MEDOC 2009 A Chateau that we have followed for many years. Dense colour, classy nose, full-bodied ripe fruit with silky tannins and pretty texture. Drink BORD0705 CHATEAU BERNADOTTE HAUT MEDOC % Cabernet Sauv, 47% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Getting better every year, owned by Pichon-Lalande and vinified by their expert team. Surely the best vintage ever at this Chateau, rich cassis aromas, plump, sumptuous flavours on the palate, with fine, sweet finish. Drink BORD0083 CHATEAU LAMOTHE BERGERON HAUT MEDOC 2009 New owners have greatly improved this Chateaux wine. 60% Merlot - lovely floral fruit on the nose, good balance on the palate with ripe berry fruit, fresh and clean, very attractive. Drink BORD0840 CHATEAU LA TOUR DE BY CRU BOURGEOIS MEDOC 2009 A definate buy! sorry! - one of the lowest priced wines tasted during the UGC week. Tour de By has always made competent wine but this 2009 is on a higher plain. Rich deep colour, full, ripe fruit on the nose with ripe tannins and rich berry fruit on the palate. An excellent value Bordeaux - Bravo!! Drink Bordeaux BORD0770 CHATEAU POTENSAC MEDOC % Merlot, 38% Cab Sauv and 14% Cab Franc. Must be one of the top Medoc AC wines of the vintage - Profound and intense with a lush generosity. 'A sleeper of the vintage, the 2009 is probably the finest Potensac ever made, eclipsing even the stunning Dense, rich, and full-bodied with lots of freshness, the wine reveals abundant red and blackcurrant fruit, a distinctive minerality, and a plush, full-bodied mouthfeel.' - R Parker. Drink BORD0985 CHATEAU CAMENSAC HAUT MEDOC % Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot. Great progress has been made here since the change of ownership in This is the finest de Camensac ever with rich, blackcurrant fruit, ripe, chunky tannins and a long, concentrated finish. Drink BORD0250 CHATEAU CANTEMERLE 5eme CRU CLASSE HAUT MEDOC % Cab Sauv, 38% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 6% Cab Franc. Spicy, plummy nose with hints of cedarwood. Rich and fleshy on the palate with masses of fresh fruit and very ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied, this will show well relatively young but has the depth to age gracefully. Drink

7 Bordeaux St Emilion BORD0002 CHATEAU TEYSSIER GRAND CRU ST EMILION 2009 A wine we have followed for the last ten years, achieved its highest score yet from wine advocate Robert Parker - 'The 2009 Teyssier possesses a dense ruby/purple colour as well as smoky barbecue notes intermixed with creme de cassis, black cherries, and earth. Ripe, generous, and medium to full-bodied, it should drink beautifully young yet age for years'. Drink BORD0027 CHATEAU BOUTISSE ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2009 BORD0111 A backward, but potentially outstanding 2009, this obscure vineyard near the superimpressive overachiever, Fleur-Cardinale, possesses a dense purple colour in addition to a big, pure nose of smoke, camphor, blackberries, and cassis. Deep, tannic, rich, and fullbodied, it will benefit from 1-2 years of cellaring. Drink CHATEAU QUINAULT L'ENCLOS ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2009 'Now owned by the proprietors of Cheval Blanc, the 2009 Quinault l'enclos (composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits an opaque purple colour, notes of liquorice, incense, raspberries, and black cherries, medium body, elegant, stylish flavours, and no hint of oak.'- Robert Parker. Drink BORD0635 CHATEAU CANON ST EMILION % Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Ah! freshness! Really delicious when tasted at the chateau in February and again at a négociant tasting. Also a 'stand-out' at the general appellation tasting. Quite powerful yet with refinement and refreshment value. This is the style of Saint-Emilion that we like to see. Reveals poise and an appetizing, natural personality. One of the best. Drink BORD0895 CHATEAU FIGEAC ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2009 'Really fabulous on the nose, with sweet milk chocolate, flowers, currant and plum. Fullbodied, with incredible length. The tannins are so silky, but they are warm and cuddly. You just want to hug it. Powerful but so attractive. The blend is one third each of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon'. - James Suckling. Drink BORD0925 CHATEAU ANGELUS GRAND CRU ST EMILION 2009 'This is a fabulous wine, with that tell-tale, dense, inky blue colour that Angelus always seems to achieve. It displays an extraordinary nose of acacia flowers intermixed with blueberry liqueur, black raspberries, cassis, liquorice, incense, and graphite. Full-bodied, viscous, with great intensity, vibrancy, and transparency, this is one of the all-time great wines from Angelus and a 21st century version of their 1989 and 1990'. - Robert Parker. Drink

8 St Estephe BORD0036 CHATEAU CAPBERN GASQUERTON ST ESTEPHE 2009 From the Calon-Ségur stable and very impressive! Blueish purple crimson. Very juicy and meaty. Lively fruit. Polished. Great vitality. Very much St-Estèphe on the finish. Minerals. But a quite amazing amount of sweetness on the front palate. Really wonderful expression of St- Estèphe though not of St-Estèphe in most vintages. Jancis Robinson. Drink BORD0325 CHATEAU HAUT-BEAUSEJOUR ST ESTEPHE % Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Stable-mate of Chateau de Pez. Blackberry and spices on the nose, full-bodied with lovely density of fruit and silky tannins. Long and rich, best wine ever from here! Drink BORD0970 CHATEAU LILIAN LADOUYS ST ESTEPHE 2009 'Dark colour, with a spiced nose of cloves and cardamon. Full-bodied, with round and velvety tannins and a rich, fruity aftertaste. This is a Gorgeous young wine'- James Suckling. Drink Bordeaux BORD0990 CHATEAU LE CROCK ST ESTEPHE % Cab Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cab Franc, 6% Petit Verdot. Splendidly situated property, just north of and overlooking Ch. Cos d'estournel. Owned by the Cuvelier family of Ch. Léoville Poyferré, this is a rich, satisfying wine. Full-bodied with plenty of chunky tannin and ripe, juicy fruit. Fresh and balanced on the finish. Drink BORD0018 CHATEAU MEYNEY ST ESTEPHE CRU BOURGEOIS 2009 Spicy and beautiful with blackberry and currant character, black red, deep, quite leathery fruit, good smoky, fleshy flavours, ripe and broad with good tannins, and a long finish. Drink

9 Bordeaux BORD0090 CHATEAU DE PEZ ST ESTEPHE 2009 A St Estephe with life and zest and a delicious fresh fruitiness, lovely stone fruit character, juicy and supple. Drink BORD0085 CHATEAU LES ORMES DE PEZ ST ESTEPHE % Cab Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Owned by the Cazes family of Ch. Lynch Bages, this estate benefits from the same technical team. Vivid, fruity blackcurrant nose. Rich and tannic on the palate with masses of ripe fruit and a long, elegant finish. Drink BORD0520 CHATEAU COS LABORY ST ESTEPHE 2009 'Very pretty aromas of sliced plums and blueberries, with hints of mineral, follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a fruity finish with hints of vanilla bean and coffee. - James Suckling. Drink BORD0680 CHATEAU PHELAN SEGUR ST ESTEPHE 2009 Less extracted than in several recent vintages and with less oak influence. Natural and fresh, the over-oaked style has been replaced by a more fruit-driven style. 'Deep aromas of crushed blackberries and fresh herbs. Full-bodied, with round and soft tannins and a polished texture on the finish. Rich and structured. Could be best ever from here'. - James Suckling. Drink BORD0910 CHATEAU LAFON ROCHET ST ESTEPHE % Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. Elegant, medium-bodied wine from one of the best value cru classes. Rich and plummy on the nose and carefully extracted on the palate to give a round, harmonious wine. Will give a huge amount of pleasure relatively soon. Drink

10 St Julien BORD0745 CHATEAU MOULIN RICHE ST JULIEN % Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot. The second wine of Château Léoville-Poyferré. Lovely cassis aromas, rich and generous on the palate. Fresh and balanced with well integrated tannins. A delicious Saint Julien - great value when compared to the Grand Vin. Drink BORD0980 CHATEAU LALANDE BORIE ST JULIEN % Cab Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. 'The finest wine I have ever tasted from Lalande Borie, the 2009 displays lots of purity along with a boatload of blackcurrant, raspberry, and black cherry fruit, no evidence of wood, broad, rich, deep flavours, and a velvety texture. It should drink well for a decade or more.' - Robert Parker. Drink Bordeaux BORD0103 CONNETABLE de TALBOT ST JULIEN 2009 This is one of the best second wines of the Médoc. Connétable saw the light of day in the sixties. Over the years it has profited from all the care given to the vineyard and the increasingly severe selections. Like its elder, this is a classic, elegant wine, with a clear, welldesigned structure and a long, fresh finish. Drink BORD0059 CHATEAU GLORIA ST JULIEN 2009 'There have been many great Glorias over the years as this property consistently overperforms. The 2009 may be the finest yet produced. Loaded with notes of Christmas fruitcake intermixed with red and blackcurrants, liquorice, spice box, and blackberries, this inky/purple-coloured wine is atypically full-bodied with a viscous texture, and loads of tannin, extract, and richness. Deep and layered, it will offer thrilling sipping over the next 25+ years.' - Robert Parker. Drink

11 Bordeaux BORD0560 LA CROIX DE BEAUCAILLOU ST JULIEN 2009 'Ducru's second wine, the 2009 Croix de Beaucaillou, is a thrill to taste. Made from a single vineyard, it exhibits a dense purple colour along with a creamy texture and loads of creme de cassis fruit intertwined with notions of charcoal, incense, and spice. Round, generous, and opulent, it can be drunk early or cellared for 15+ years'. Robert Parker. A MUST BUY FOR LOVERS OF REASONABLY PRICED ST JULIEN. Drink BORD0058 CLOS DU MARQUIS ST JULIEN % Cab Sauv, 20% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc & 2% Pet Verdot. 25% new oak ageing. Quite mineral on the nose together with dark fruits, then extract and structure forces its way through. Super harmony and with a freshness that brings flavours alive. Seamless in texture. There is nothing hard or harsh here, but a 'togetherness' and class that greatly impresses. Really good - indeed very good. Drink BORD0105 CHATEAU TALBOT ST JULIEN 2009 'This is the most impressive Talbot since the 1982 and It reveals an opaque plum/garnet/purple colour as well as knock-out aromas of black fruits, cedar, incense, liquorice, and a Provencal garrigue-like character. Substantial, sexy, and seductive, it is almost slutty in its exuberance and ostentatiousness. It was a thrill to drink this loaded St.- Julien. It should offer irresistible drinking over the next years'. - Robert Parker. Drink BORD0500 CHATEAU LAGRANGE ST JULIEN 2009 'Dark crimson. Purple rim. Very sweet indeed on the nose - unusually so for St-Julien. Glamorous and luscious with a hint of ink and freshness. Lots to enjoy! The tannins are very well handled and it's pure pleasure'. - James Suckling. Drink BORD0585 CHATEAU BRANAIRE DUCRU ST JULIEN 2009 'Only time will tell whether the 2009, another great effort from Branaire, will eclipse the 2005 and An inky blue purple colour is followed by raspberry, boysenberry, crushed rock, graphite, and floral notes, and an opaque, broad, dense, substantial, impressively structured wine without any hardness. It requires 4-5 years of cellaring, and should last four decades or more'. - Robert Parker. Drink

12 BORD0700 CHATEAU ST PIERRE ST JULIEN GRAND CRU CLASSE 2009 'This has been a fabulous wine over recent vintages, but I do not think many consumers have caught on. Unbelievably powerful, rich, and impressive, this may be the finest St.-Pierre ever made. Notes of creme de cassis, spring flowers, and forest floor, a layered, full-bodied, powerful mouthfeel, perfect balance, and extraordinary richness, purity, and unctuosity'. - Robert Parker. Drink BORD0015 CHATEAU DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU ST JULIEN % Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. One of the all-time great Ducru Beaucaillous. Remarkably, despite the fact that 90% new oak was utilised, not a hint of wood can be found in either the aromatics or flavours. This inky/purple-hued, unctuously textured 2009 reveals layers and layers of blue, red, and black fruits, and hints of liquorice and spice box. Drink Bordeaux Moulis BORD0023 CHATEAU CHASSE SPLEEN MOULIS % Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot. Big, rich and ripe, full-bodied wine with plenty of juicy blackcurrant fruit, succulent texture and sweet finish. Drink BORD0300 CHATEAU POUJEAUX MOULIS CRU BOURGEOIS 2009 Soft, fleshy, and opulent, with lots of blackcurrant and black cherry fruit intermixed with hints of cedar and spice box, and an enticing texture. 'Full and very velvety, with round and juicy tannins. New ownership here is really making a difference in wine quality; this is the best ever after maybe the 1929' - James Suckling. Drink

13 Bordeaux Pessac-Leognan BORD0430 CHATEAU LARRIVET HAUT BRION ROUGE PESSAC-LEOGNAN 2009 'Juicy redcurrant with subtle smoked herbs, truffle, and spice box jump from the glass of this dense wine. Possessing silky tannins, seductive, ripe fruit with an opulent texture and no hard edges, but serious tannin lurking behind the wealth of fruit and glycerin, this is another classic Pessac-Leognan that can be drunk young or cellared for years pts.' - Robert Parker. Drink BORD0795 CHATEAU MALARTIC LAGRAVIERE PESSAC-LEOGNAN % Cab Sauv, 35% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. 'Progress has been ongoing at this vineyard, but proprietor Alexandre Bonnie has hit the proverbial home runs in 2009 with both his red and white wines. The best Malartic Lagraviere I have ever tasted, unctuous texture, extraordinary elegance, lots of liquorice, graphite, blueberry, black raspberry, and cherry characteristics, full body, terrific purity and length, and good acidity'. - Robert Parker. Drink BORD0380 DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER PESSAC-LEOGNAN % Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Blueberry, sea shell and blackberry aromas. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins, yet polished and cool, with a long, racy finish. Dense, with a solid core of everything. Drink BORD0590 CHATEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE PESSAC-LEOGNAN 2009 One can't say enough about what proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard have accomplished at this estate since Their 2009 probably eclipes any previous performance. 'Clean. Blackberry and lightly toasted oak with coffee and cedar. Full-bodied and a very, very powerful structure. Blockbuster. Massive and dense, yet remains agile. A triumph for this estate'. - James Suckling. Drink BORD0215 CHATEAU HAUT BRION PESSAC-LEOGNAN 2009 Intensity of mineral and stone fruit and displaying firm but ripe tannins. Tremendous breadth, concentration and length - H-B is a more complete and harmonious wine. There is a voluptuousness here and density. 'A dark and brooding wine, delivering blackberry, black liquorice, mahogany, subtle grilled meat and raspberry jam. Full-bodied, with layers of ripe and chewy tannins. Loads of fruit yet subtle and reserved, and a long, long finish'. - James Suckling. Drink

14 Margaux BORD0595 CHATEAU DESMIRAIL MARGAUX 2009 'Very deep crimson. Minerals and interest on the nose. Round and supple and really very gorgeous indeed. I like the lead-pencil character and the coolness. Very refreshing, a complete, fairly forward wine. Skilfully made and beautifully balanced. A very successful Desmirail!' - Jancis Robinson. Drink BORD0995 CHATEAU FERRIERE 3eme CRU CLASSE MARGAUX % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Owned by Claire Villars of Ch. Haut Bages Liberal, this tiny (8ha) estate has made a very ripe, rich wine with relatively low acidity. The full-bodied succulent texture will make it appealing sooner than others but it has the depth and balance to age beautifully. Drink BORD0860 CHATEAU DU TERTRE MARGAUX GRAND CRU CLASSE % Cab Sauv, 22% Merlot, 15% Cab Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. 'Ripe notes of red and black fruits intermixed with subtle smoke, ink, and damp earth. The lusciousness continues on the palate with an opulent, layered, rich mouthfeel. Medium to fullbodied with not a hard edge to be found, but plenty of ripe tannins, the overall impression is one of a hedonistic and intellectually pleasing claret that should drink beautifully for 20 years.' - Robert Parker. Drink Bordeaux BORD0038 CHATEAU KIRWAN GRAND CRU CLASSE MARGAUX % Cab Sauv, 17% Merlot, 13.5% Cab Franc & 13.5% Pet Verdot. 'Wow. A subtle yet fabulous burst of fruit on the nose, with currant, mineral and flowers. Fullbodied, with velvety tannins and a fruity, beautiful finish. So pretty. Chewy. Big Kirwan.' - James Suckling. Drink BORD0930 CHATEAU GISCOURS 3eme CRU CLASSE MARGAUX % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc. 'This is the finest Giscours I have tasted in my professional career. Succulent and sexy with an inky/purple colour, it offers sweet aromas of subtle barbecue smoke, graphite, blackberries, blueberries, and spring flowers. The tannins are remarkably sweet and wellintegrated and the wine is full-bodied as well as voluptuously textured.' Robert Parker. Drink BORD0997 CHATEAU d'issan MARGAUX % Merlot and 60% Cab Sauvignon. Lightening doesn't strike in the same place twice. Try persuading Emmanuel Cruse that this is fact! In 2008 the potential crop Issan was drastically reduced by hail and so again on 11th May However Issan has produced a very appealing if mid-weight Juicy and appetising and in a natural, uncomplicated style. Classic Margaux. Drink

15 Bordeaux BORD0800 CHATEAU BRANE CANTENAC MARGAUX % Cab Sauv, 40% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Fine purple red, beautifully fragrant Cabernet nose, lovely expression of Margaux fruit, textured and dense, lifted and distinctive, both fleshy and classy, long and harmonious, very good. Drink BORD0062 CHATEAU RAUZAN SEGLA MARGAUX 2009 'Shows a lovely concentration of currant and blackberry. Hints of vanilla follow through to a full body, with layers of ripe fruit and fine, fruit-coated tannins. I love the ripe and pretty fruit to this. Very fruit-forward'. - J.Suckling. Drink BORD0390 CHATEAU LASCOMBES MARGAUX 2009 'Fascinating aromas of crushed berries and fresh herbs follow through to a full body, with velvety, polished tannins and a long, long finish. Wonderful wine. More reserved than the 2005, but potentially better'. - J Suckling. Drink BORD0150 PAVILLON ROUGE MARGAUX 2009 'Love the strawberry and ripe raspberry aromas. Full-bodied, with superrefined tannins, berry, flower and rose petal. Fresh finish. Harmonious'. - James Suckling. Sumptuous with a rich, ultra-generous nose. Luscious, ripe and exotic. So profound and exhilarating. Extraordinarily rich with the gorgeous floral notes of Margaux coursing through the palate. If tasted in isolation this could pass as 'Grand Vin'! Drink Pauillac BORD0155 ECHO de LYNCH BAGES PAUILLAC % Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc. Rich, cabernet, blackcurrant nose. Full, fat and juicy on the palate with relatively firm tannins but plenty of ripe fruit. Will be aged in one year old barrels to preserve the freshness and elegance of the wine and at 13.1% alcohol it's in perfect balance. Drink BORD0075 CHATEAU HAUT BATAILLEY PAUILLAC % Cab Sauv, 20% Merlot and 2% Cab Franc. Considerably denser and more voluminous than usual, super freshness and appeal, weighty but harmonious. Has a streamlined character with tannins in support of luscious fruit. Investment at the property is reaping rewards. The finest Haut Batailley yet! Very good value. Drink BORD0066 RESERVE DE LA COMTESSE PAUILLAC 2009 The second wine of Pichon Lalande, launched at the same price as the 2005 vintage. Currants and flowers on the nose, a really lovely St Julien style Pauillac. Full-bodied with silky tannins and a long finish. Drink

16 BORD0690 CHATEAU d'armailhac PAUILLAC GRAND CRU CLASSE 2009 'This may be the finest d'armailhac I have ever tasted. Made in a textured, full-bodied, sumptuous style, it is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and the balance primarily Cabernet Franc with a tiny dosage of Petit Verdot. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue along with floral, red and blackcurrant, cedar, and spice characteristics. Deep, medium to full-bodied, and impressively pure as well as long, it should drink well for 25 years.' - Robert Parker. Drink BORD0880 CHATEAU CLERC MILON PAUILLAC GRAND CRU CLASSE 2009 Delivers blackberries galore, with fabulous floral and currant undertones. Complex on the nose. Full-bodied, offering of Clerc. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. - James Suckling. Drink BORD0350 CHATEAU GRAND-PUY LACOSTE PAUILLAC % Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Lovely nose of sweet currant and blueberry that follows through to a full body, with juicy, velvety tannins and a liquorice, tar and dark chocolate finish. Like it. The new 1982? - James Suckling. Drink Bordeaux BORD0108 CHATEAU DUHART MILON PAUILLAC 2009 'A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot, the opaque purple colour is followed by an extraordinary perfume of creme de cassis, violets, graphite, and subtle wood. This fullbodied, intense, voluptuously textured, pure, seductive wine seems more open-knit and opulent than the more structured Carruades de Lafite. Nevertheless, the Duhart requires 3-5 years of cellaring, and should drink well for 30+ years. Bravo!' - Robert Parker. Drink BORD0033 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON PAUILLAC 2009 'Very very dark crimson. Very mineral and grown up. Lovely lift and great, polished tannins. Very fresh and fine tannins with density and lift on the finish. Very sophisticated. Lots of mass. Remjnds me a little of their 1990, though the yields were very much lower in Very glossy and confident. Very sophisticated'. - J Robinson. Drink BORD0019 CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD PAUILLAC 2009 'I am speechless over the nose in this wine. Mint, blackberry, currant and black liquorice turn to flowers such as lilacs and roses. Wow. It fills your mouth with the same fruit, but with an intensity of superpolished tannins'. - James Suckling. Drink

17 Bordeaux Pomerol BORD0870 CHATEAU NENIN POMEROL % Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. 'What a nose of raspberry jam and violets. Amazingly rich and ripe, yet balanced and elegant. Full-bodied, with layers of ripe tannins and wonderfully ripe fruit. Opulent and sexy. Best since the 1950s?'. James Suckling. Drink White Bordeaux BORD0138 CHATEAU MALARTIC GRAVIERES PESSAC-LEOGNAN 2009 Bright pale yellow, fine complexity and fresh dry herbs on the nose, fine flesh and fruit on the palate, an arrestingly vibrant wine with a very good future. Drink

18 Bordeaux is a fascinating vintage, clearly superiore to Robert Parker loves this vintage and has given many wines very high marks. This is a good vintage for the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, which enjoyed exceptionally long hangtime, many properties not completing their harvest until nearly the end of October. The wines we have selected have been carefully chosen - we think the second wines of many top Chateaux offer excellent value. The Growing Season Climatically, 2008 was a hugely variable year. After a wet and rainy spring and a devastating frost on April 7th that ruined many Sauternes properties chances, summer only really arrived at the end of June. overall June and July were drier than average but temperatures remained below normal. Importantly, the weather during the flowering period at the beginning of June was cool and damp and a poor fruit set resulted in low yields throughout the region. August, as anyone who holidayed in France will remember, was dismal and, although total rainfall was not significantly above average, it was persistent rain that gave little chance to the grapes to develop thick skins and required growers to spray regularly if they were to avoid problems with oidium and mildew. By the beginning of September, fears were growing that 2008 would be the worst vintage for many years. Fortunately, from 15th September magnificent weather set in with clear skies and decent temperatures that accelerated the much-needed ripening process. Sugar levels rose quickly and a northerly wind dried out the grapes, concentrating all the elements in the juice (both sugar and acidity) and reducing the ratio of juice to skin. This compensated for the poor summer weather and wellmaintained vineyards were able to take advantage of the fine weather by delaying harvesting until the end of October. In the Médoc, most Châteaux consider that their later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon benefited more than the Merlot from the autumn weather and indeed was so ripe and generous in texture that it did not need much merlot to fill it out, e.g. Châteaux Latour and Margaux are 94% and 87% Cabernet Sauvignon respectively. On the right bank, those Châteaux with a high proportion of Cabernet Franc in the vineyard used most of it in the Grand Vin adding freshness and extra character to their wines. Bordeaux The Vintage. Overall, 2008 was saved by the Indian summer and has made wines richer and more concentrated than 2007, riper than 2004 and with more charm than They are very good wines but do not have the depth and character of the very best vintages such as 2000 and 2005, but will age most gracefully. 17

19 Bordeaux Medoc BORD0093 CHATEAU PATACHE D'AUX MEDOC 2008 Rich and juicy with lovely Cabernet flavours. BORD0028 CHATEAU CARONNE ST GEMME HAUT MEDOC 2008 St Emilion An old favourite, lovely ripe fruit and soft, well integrated tannins. BORD0900 PETIT CHEVAL ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2008 The finest second wine yet made at Cheval Blanc. Elegant, soft and richly fruity, it offers up hints of wood spice, forest floor, flowers and black fruits. With sweet tannin as well as good texture, it will be delicious young, yet evolve for years. Drink BORD0925 CHATEAU ANGELUS ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2008 One of the superstars of St Emilion, a yield of only 30 hectolitres per hectare. The wine is classic Angelus, black in colour, rich plump and full of black cherry fruit. Great intensity and sweet integrated tannins. Drink

20 St Estephe BORD0060 CHATEAU MONTROSE ST ESTEPHE 2008 An inky purple colour is accompanied by sweet, pure aromas of black fruits and spice. This full-bodied wine exhibits superb concentration, sweet tannin and a multi-layered, textured mouthfeel with no hard edges. The sweetness of the tannin, the extraordinary purity of fruit and the intense aromatics suggest a year of great ripeness. Drink St Julien BORD0105 CHATEAU TALBOT ST JULIEN 2008 A delicious ripe, carefully extracted wine, medium bodied. This is the most immediately attractive of the St Julien Cru Classe's but has the fruit and balanced tannin and acidity to age gracefully. Drink Bordeaux BORD0330 CHATEAU LEOVILLE POYFERRE ST JULIEN 2008 A delicious St Julien, rich, smooth, opulent, round and complete. Drink BORD0180 CHATEAU LEOVILLE LAS CASES ST JULIEN 2008 The wine of the vintage! Real depth, power and personality - classic cedar and blackcurrant nose, followed by rich cassis fruit and an impressive close-knit texture and long aftertaste. First growth quality. Drink Pessac-Leognan BORD0218 CLARENCE DE HAUT BRION PESSAC LEOGNAN 2008 The second wine of Chateau Haut Brion is consistently good. Made from first growth fruit and assembled from the vats that don't suit the final blend of Haut Brion itself. It will, for the first time, be bottled in the iconic and distinctive Haut Brion bottle. Soft and creamy, a hint of smoke and cigar-box with some exotic fruit. Forward and plush with succulent texture. Drink

21 Bordeaux Margaux BORD0056 CHATEAU ANGLUDET MARGAUX 2008 The Sichel family have made a delicious ripe and fresh wine, with plenty of blackcurrant fruit and an attractive succulent texture. Fresh flavours and fine acidity add to its appeal and enhance its ageing. Drink BORD0038 CHATEAU KIRWAN MARGAUX 2008 Although this is big, the boldly styled Kirwan is less concentrated than some recent vintages have been, it is an impressive effort revealing a dense ruby purple colour as well as aromas of new oak, blackcurrants, roasted herbs and graphite. Full and rich with plenty of tannin to shed, although the tannins are melted and unaggressive, this should evolve for two decades. Drink BORD0065 ALTER EGO DE PALMER MARGAUX 2008 The second wine of Chateau Palmer. Tremendous value when compared to the Grand Vin. First growth quality at a third of the price! Lovely depth of fruit on the palate, very elegant. Drink BORD0150 PAVILLON ROUGE DU CHATEAU MARGAUX 2008 Beautiful wine exhibiting classic purity along with red and black fruits inter mixed with liquorice, tobacco leaf and floral nuances. Sweet, round tannins and a lovely forward freshness of Chateau Margaux suggest this stunning second wine should drink well young, yet last for 15 or more years. Drink BORD0061 CHATEAU PALMER MARGAUX 2008 Very low yield of 30 hectolitres per hectare, gives definition and weight, silky round and attractive, will be delicious soon but the balance will allow the wine to age gracefully. Drink

22 Pauillac BORD0690 CHATEAU d'armailhac PAUILLAC 2008 From the team at Mouton Rothschild. A deep, broody nose, medium bodied with fine tannins and ripe, dark cherry fruit, will make attractive drinking, Drink BORD0880 CHATEAU CLERC MILON PAUILLAC 2008 Should turn out to be one of the best Clerc Milons of the decade, produced by the Mouton Rothschild team. Full and firm with plenty of blackcurrant fruit, good concentration and a long finish. Drink Bordeaux BORD0350 CHATEAU GRAND PUY LACOSTE PAUILLAC 2008 Xavier Borie has made a delicious, forward wine. Carefully extracted, fresh and immediately appealing but with the balance and depth to age well. A great success. Drink BORD0340 CHATEAU PONTET CANET PAUILLAC 2008 This should not be close to drinking for at least a decade but should still be in superb form circa 2060! An absoloutely amazing effect, it boasts an inky black purple colour as well as an extraordinary bouquet of creme de cassis, graphite, charcoal and incense - blockbuster depth and full-bodied power. The tannins are high, but they are remarkably velvety as well as well-integrated, sensational acidity gives the wine precision and vibrancy. Drink and beyond! 21

23 Bordeaux Bordeaux 2007 After a succession of high quality Vintages that need maturity to be at their best, Red Bordeaux in 2007 has produced early maturing, soft fruity wines that when carefully selected will give great pleasure, whilst we wait for the 2005 s and 2006 s in particular to soften. The Growing Season The growing season got off to a tremendous start with April the hottest on record. June, July and August were all cool, well below the average of the last 40 years and often with heavy rainfall. Fortunately an extremely hot and dry September and October saved the Vintage and gave the producers maximum scope to choose their moment when to pick. Most Chateaux realised that it would be impossible to make full bodied concentrated reds and aimed to extract just enough tannin to balance the ripe but relatively fragile fruit. The result is many most attractive wines no more than medium-bodied, light in tannin and low in acidity. The White Varieties. The cool summer was ideal for the White varieties. The dry white wines are consistently the best for many years, with fine ripe fruit aromas and flavours balanced by crisp mineral acidity. The sweet White wines benefited from the fine weather, which lasted well into October. The result is the best Sauterne Vintage since 2001, with high levels of botrytis and lovely fresh flavours. BORD0065 ALTER EGO de PALMER MARGAUX 2007 A fresh and floral nose, slightly meaty, with a sandy mineral character. On the palate, a fresh and immediate stony quality, not fleshy but structured, with obvious tannins coming through. Fresh, gently textured, harmonious and sappy, with a clean finish. 22

24 Bordeaux is an excellent Vintage, but will remain in the shadow of 2005 for sometime. Tasting 2005 s against the new vintage, the consistency of quality of 2005 vintage shone through. you take 2005 and 2000 out of the picture, 2006 is as good as any vintage since The Growing Season A successful flowering of fruit set and a warm and sunny June and July was followed by a dreary August with below average temperatures. A fine spell in the first 10 days of September turned a potentially mediocre vintage into one of good quality. Heavy rainfall between 10th and 15th of September resulted in a rapid increase in berry size and a fall in sugar levels. Generally dry and sunny weather for the rest of September and up to the 10th October, enabled the harvest to be gathered under excellent conditions, where the health of the grapes allowed a relaxed approach to harvesting. Only well maintained vineyards on the better sites were able to cope with the difficult, fluctuating conditions. Overall the grapes were ripe, often with the same high sugar levels as in The Vintage The vintage is at its best as in the heart of Medoc, in St Julien and Pauillac, in the Northern Graves (only sporadic rainfall) and on the free draining slopes and gravel beds of St Emilion and Pomerol. The best wines are to be found on the finest terriors and in those appellations renowned for their charm. In general most Chateaux have made wines richer and more concentrated than in 2004 and 2001 and are certainly riper than The tannins are firm and will remain so for some time. The Medoc s are similar to 1996, a classic vintage that will require patience. The result of vigorous selection of the grapes harvested has resulted in volumes considerably below 2005 vintage. If Bordeaux 23

25 Bordeaux Medoc BORD0093 CHATEAU PATACHE D'AUX MEDOC 2006 As ever great value. Rich and juicy on the nose with a dense, firm structure on the palate. Drink BORD0460 CHATEAU LIVERSAN HAUT MEDOC 2006 Under the same ownership now for 10 years and the wine is better every year. The vineyards are not far from Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste and it is extremely well priced and well worth buying. Generous red fruit and lovely fresh texture. Drink BORD0030 CHATEAU BEAUMONT HAUT MEDOC 2006 A very reliable Chateau, soft attractive fruit, fairly forward. Drink BORD0016 CHATEAU CISSAC HAUT MEDOC 2006 A popular Chateau, very reliable, continues the recent trend of more supple wines. Well balanced cassis fruit with a firm finish. Drink BORD0705 CHATEAU BERNADOTTE HAUT MEDOC Excellent depth of crimson. Pepper and incense on the nose - most interesting! Thick and sweet and very much better than most Haut-Médocs. Real concentration. With the tannins extremely well managed very glamorous indeed. Bravo! Note of green pepper only on the very, very end. Drink

26 St Emilion BORD0006 CHATEAU NAGUET MONTAGNE ST EMILION 2006 St Estephe Largely composed of the Merlot grape, displays an obvious fruitiness, richness and freshness, with a gentle and delicate structure making the wine particularly charmful. BORD0910 CHATEAU LAFON ROCHET 4eme GRAND CRU CLASSE 2006 Superbly situated adjacent to both Lafite Rothschild and Cos D'Estournel. 40% of production allocated to second wine. 50% merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cab Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. There is impressive weight & structure here, a deep, powerful wine with lots of black fruit and some solid tannins at the finish - very good value. Drink Bordeaux BORD0060 CHATEAU MONTROSE 2eme CRU CLASSE ST ESTEPHE 2006 Chateau Montrose has new owners and they have the potential to make one of Bordeaux's greatest wines on a regular basis. Only 60% of the harvest has gone into the Grand Vin, Jean- Bernard Delrous, the winemaker formerly of Haut Brion has also reduced the yields. One of the densest, most backward wines of the vintage, high levels of extract & tannin will require lengthy ageing, but there is a sweetness on the finish that indicates that the wait will be worthwhile. Drink BORD0240 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL 2eme CRU CLASSE ST ESTEPHE 2006 Cos, under the control of Jean-Guillaume Pralis, is really making great wine. The yield is down from 48 hectolitres per hectare in 2005 to 38 hectolitres in This is a big wine that carries itself with true grace, one of the wines of the vintage. Wonderful aromas of violets & berries, with a mineral undertone. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit & tannins. Firm & chewy, tannic & muscular, mid-palate of fruit that builds on the palate. Drink

27 Bordeaux St Julien BORD0105 CHATEAU TALBOT 4eme CRU ST JULIEN 2006 Making very attractive wine - ever popular, delivering good quality at reasonable prices. Dense, ripe, blackcurrant aromas with a tough and spicy oak. Full and generous on the palate with plenty of ripe tannins and a sweet meaty finish. Full-bodied, concentrated wine with lovely length on the finish. Drink BORD0500 CHATEAU LAGRANGE ST JULIEN 2006 BORD0015 Top quality St Julien has been produced here over the last 20 years or so. 'Very pretty & blackberry aromas, full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit with a long silky finish - very good indeed - Almost ' James Suckling. Drink CHATEAU DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU 2eme CRU CLASSE ST JULIEN 2006 Bruno Borie continues to make serious wine here. Lovely ripe berry fruit on the nose, gloriously textured, almost silky - Classic Bordeaux. One of the wines of the vintage. 'layered & rich, with lots of liquorice and berry character. Turns to currants, full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Very serious, like it a lot, 1996 again. This is almost ' - James Suckling. Drink Pessac-Leognan BORD0380 DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER PESSAC LEOGNAN ROUGE 2006 Olivier Bernards splendid property produces beautifully natural, unforced Bordeaux that appeals to consumers who place elegance and sophistication above power and structure. A lovely wine with great finesse, beautiful juicy texture and wonderfully fresh flavours, and long finish. Drink

28 Margaux BORD0056 CHATEAU D'ANGLUDET MARGAUX 2006 James Sichel continues to make lovely wine here. Most attractive, sweet plummy fruit on the nose, ripe and round on the palate. Full bodied and firm finish will ensure the wine ages gracefully. Drink BORD0150 PAVILLON ROUGE MARGAUX 2006 The second wine of Chateau Margaux but always one of the top wines of the appellation in its own right. 40% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4%Petit Verdot. A very fragrant nose, full-bodied, masculine palate - very fine indeed. Drink BORD0930 CHATEAU GISCOURS 3eme CRU CLASSE MARGAUX 2006 We purchased the 2005 and the new Dutch owner continues to make serious improvements. Pretty, fresh nose of red fruits, silky textured, succulent palate of ripe fruit. Fresh and fairly forward - attractive, lighter style Margaux. Text book Margaux - very good indeed. Drink Bordeaux BORD0061 CHATEAU PALMER MARGAUX 2006 One of the wines of the vintage. 'Gorgeous nose, with violet, currant and berry, with a vanilla undertone. Full-bodied with a solid core of ripe fruit and super silky tannins, long and rich, wonderful wine, love and balance. Almost ' - James Suckling. Drink BORD0210 CHATEAU MARGAUX 1eme GRAND CRU CLASSE 2006 Perhaps one of the most consistent of the 1st growths. Rigorous selection again, only 33% of the crop used in the Grand Vin, 90% Cabernet Sauvignon (highest ever.) 4% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. A wine of grand structure and nobility - one of the wines of the vintage. Drink

29 Bordeaux Pauillac BORD0033 CHATEAU PICHON BARON 2eme PAUILLAC CRU CLASSE 2006 A splendid denser-textured version of Comtesse de Lalande with masses of youthful blackberry fruit, wonderful freshness and a long finish. 'Loads of ripe fruit on the nose, fullbodied with soft tannins that are ripe and round, long finish. Almost ' - James Suckling. Drink BORD0690 CHATEAU d'armailhac 5eme CRU CLASSE PAUILLAC 2006 BORD0063 Again good value this year, formerly known as Mouton Baron Phillipe, made by the team at Mouton Rothschild. Lovely sweet perfumed cassis and moucha on the nose, well crafted, velvety palate with nicely integrated toasty oak leading an understated fruity finish. Drink CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE LALANDE 2eme CRU CLASSE 2006 One of the most popular wines of Bordeaux. True super second, only 41% of the crop used in Grand Vin. Spicy, cedary nose with most attractive juicy texture. Firm tannins on the finish which will require patience. Drink

30 Pomerol BORD0225 CHATEAU L'EVANGILE POMEROL 2006 Consistently one of the finest wines of Pomerol, the 12 hectare estate overlooks Cheval Blanc. The wine is made by the team from Chateau Lafite. Masses of rich plummy fruit and some of the silkiest tannins of the vintage - Fantastic. 'Excellent dark crimson, fully ripe tarry nose - very mineral indeed. Great richness, rich purple fruit nose, very round and opulent - maybe not the most concentrated but lovely open charm.' - Jancis Robinson. Drink Bordeaux 29

31 Bordeaux Bordeaux 2005 Rarely if ever has there been so much excitement contained in the advance publicity for a Bordeaux vintage. This is likely to go down as one of the truly great claret vintages. The key for this was not only the weather in 2005 but also that over the last few years, there has in effect been a 3 year mini drought in Bordeaux, and cumulatively this has made conditions very favourable for producing a great vintage in Vines have been stressed and ultimately this has forced their efforts to be concentrated solely on the production of fruit rather than new shoots and foliage. Whilst temperatures were high in 2005 they were not excessive and crucially the summer nights were cool. After some rain early on, the long growing season was very dry allowing the grapes to develop great levels of phenolic ripeness without the problems of the diseases often associated with damper late-summer weather. The Harvest Without exception all the winemakers have harvested wonderful fruit and it was a vintage where the best wines were essentially allowed to make themselves, with little intervention. The grapes were small with thick skins and in perfect health, with the ripeness being such that some huge potential alcohol levels were reached. However, there is no question of imbalance as the alcohol is matched by intensity of fruit, full, ripe tannins and, unusual in a hot year, good levels of acidity. The wines are fresh, concentrated and well structured and there can be little doubt that they have immense potential longuevity. Unlike many vintages it seems that 2005 was equally successful for Cabernet and Merlot, left and right bank and even for the Barsac and Sauternes, where outstanding sweet wines have been made. The Vintage It is difficult to compare this vintage with others but we are even more excited about the quality than five years ago when remarkabe 2000 s were released. The reds are some of the best I have tasted in my career, and they have a unique character. They are rich and powerful, with loads of juicy, opulent, ripe fruit and powerful tannins, yet they also have a wonderful freshness due to their bright, crisp acidities. This is a rarity for a ripe vintage in Bordeaux; most of the time, acidities are lower in such mature years. The dry whites are equally exciting. They are solid and fruity, with good backbones of acidity...meanwhile the sweets are balanced, with plenty of sugar and spiciness from noble rot...honestly, I think that many people have made their best wines ever with And I am not sure that some can ever make better wine than they have in James Suckling. But the great thing about the successful 2005 s is their purity. They have power, but they also have refreshment value. They have keeping potential - witness the high levels of tannins in virtually all the wines - but in the best, those tannins are ripe, beautifully managed and so well hidden by fruit that the wines are already delicious. - Jancis Robinson. 30

32 Bordeaux Superior BORD0005 CHATEAU CLUZAN BORDEAUX ROUGE 2005 Well made, ripe fruit, easy drinking Claret, a great bottle buy it whilst stocks last. Excellent value. BORD0003 CHATEAU LA ROSE DU PIN BORDEAUX ROUGE 2005 A superb quality Claret with good fruit balance and a lovely deep red colour. Very fruity on the palate, with a delicious cherry flavour. Cotes de Castillon BORD0007 CHATEAU JOANIN BECOT COTES DE CASTILLON 2005 One of the stars of this appellation. Lovely dark fruit and cassis on the nose with a hint of wood. Good complexity and ripe tannins, on the palate it has good balance. Drink Bordeaux Medoc BORD0093 CHATEAU PATACHE D'AUX MEDOC 2005 Owned by the Lapula family since On average the wines are 35 years old. Rich and dense on the palate with splendid, glossy fruit and firm, ripe tannins. Drink BORD0540 CHATEAU FOURCAS HOSTEN LISTRAC MEDOC 2005 A delicious wine packed with blackcurrant juice aromas and tastes. The fruit is balanced with excellent very ripe tannins and just a touch of new wood.' - Roger Voss. Drink BORD0016 CHATEAU CISSAC HAUT MEDOC 2005 Very popular with our Claret lovers. The wine is superb and great value. The style is getting more supple - even a hint of feminine grace. Drink BORD0028 CHATEAU CARONNE SAINTE GEMME HAUT MEDOC 2005 An old favourite of ours. 'Lots of berry and chocolate character with hints of vanilla. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and silky tannins. Impressive, almost hard to believe its so good ' - James Suckling. Drink

33 Bordeaux BORD0770 CHATEAU POTENSAC MEDOC 2005 Moulis The Leoville Lascases team own this property and the pursuit of quality shows. This is serious, full bodied wine with plenty of ripe blackcurrant on the nose and a dense close-knit texture on the palate. Classically styled with high extract and fine balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. Drink BORD0300 CHATEAU POUJEAUX MOULIS EN MEDOC 2005 Consistently produces wines of classed growth quality, wonderful ripe fruit and spice in this wine. Full-bodied with very fine tannins, will take time to come round - little more feminine than Chasse Spleen. Drink BORD0023 CHATEAU CHASSE SPLEEN MOULIS 2005 One of the very best crus bourgeois of Consistently well made and great value. Very ripe blackcurrant aromas, deep and dense on the palate with delicious, fresh, dark fruit flavours and fine length. Drink St Emilion BORD0025 CHATEAU FRANC BAUDRON ST EMILION 2005 Lovely cassis nose leading to a soft velvety, cherry flavoured palate with just a hint of tannins on the finish. BORD0825 CHATEAU DASSAULT ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2005 Very well made wine, precise, spicy oaky aromas, elegant texture, classical flavours of berries, tobacco and truffles, certainly the most complete wine ever made by this Chateau. - Decanter Magazine. The silky tannins suggest that this wine will be for early drinking, lots of charm, nice weight and balance, good purity and a lovely long, refreshing, focused finish. Drink

34 BORD0875 CHATEAU LA DOMINIQUE ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2005 Situated right next to Cheval Blanc. Lovely sweet red berry fruit on the nose. This is a refined, informed and beautifully balanced St Emilion with smooth cream and a touch of spice, great purity - super wine. Drink BORD0895 CHATEAU FIGEAC 1er CRAND CRU CLASSE ST EMILION 2005 One of the great names of St Emilion whose wines exude class and sophistication rather than raw power. Lovely mixture of red and black fruits on the nose.the Cabernet Sauvignon was fully ripe and gives wonderful freshness to the wine. Has a splendid seamless texture and great length. Will age gracefully. Drink BORD0900 PETIT CHEVAL ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2005 BORD0920 Very stylish, elegant wine full of plummy fruit. Really delicious with lovely balance of fruit, tannin and acidity and fine, long finish. The second wine of Cheval Blanc, Jancis Robinson regarded this as one of the most open and charming of the 2005's she has tasted. Drink CHATEAU CHEVAL BLANC GRAND CRU CLASSE ST EMILION 2005 On the 2005 vintage, Cheval Blanc procures endless pleasure. From its brilliant ruby colour, intense flavours of mint, red, blue, black and surreal fruits. This prodigiously silky caress finishes on hints of coffee, liquorice and a soft woody flavour. Drink Bordeaux 33

35 Bordeaux St Estephe BORD0520 CHATEAU COS LABORY 5eme CRU CLASSE ST ESTEPHE 2005 BORD0680 Fantastically situated alongside Cos D'Estournel and over-looking Lafite. The best wine they have made for decades. Blackcurrant nose, soft and creamy sweet fruit on the palate with a slightly firm finish. Drink CHATEAU PHELAN SEGUR CRU BOURGEOIS ST ESTEPHE 2005 Bordered by Chateau Mouton and Calon Segur. Well balanced with ripe tannins and good classic structure. Great Value. Drink from BORD0240 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL 2eme CRU CLASSE ST ESTEPHE 2005 One of the wines of the vintage.fabulously ripe, aromatic wine with tight Cabernet dominated structure, filled out with plump Merlot fruit. Creamy and rich but finely balanced and pure. A great wine of 1st growth quality. Drink

36 Margaux BORD0930 CHATEAU GISCOURS MARGAUX 2005 Impatient people will feel it is delightful even young, however, it has a good ageing potential that it would be wise to take advantage of, within a few years its aromas of red and black fruits, smoked and grilled, will achieve their climax in the succulence level. Drink BORD0390 CHATEAU LASCOMBES 2eme CRU CLASSE MARGAUX 2005 A total transformation under the new ownership, this wine has improved dramatically. ` Lots of very ripe fruit with blackberries and liquorice. Full-bodied with cherry tannins, starts off slowly but grows on the palate. The best in a long time here.' - James Suckling. Drink BORD0038 CHATEAU KIRWAN 3eme CRU CLASSE MARGAUX 2005 This extraordinary wine is the greatest Kirwan made since some of the estates historic offerings of the mid 1800's.' - Robert Parker. Michel Rolland advises here. Dark fruit intensity on the nose powdery tannins, coffee and chocolate, and a long, long finish. Has great ageing potential. Good value. Drink Bordeaux BORD0061 CHATEAU PALMER 3eme CRU CLASSE MARGAUX 2005 One of the wines of the vintage. Beautifully focused, opulent nose, pure black cherry and dates with cream and vanilla. On the palate, impressively deep but gorgeously soft and smooth, long velvety finish. Looks great value compared to the 1st growths. Drink Pauillac BORD0033 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON 2eme CRU CLASSE 2005 Jean - Michel of Lynch Bages has been making great wine here since the late 80's. Dense nose with good cassis fruit, concentrated power on the palate, chewy and chunky with great length.will be very impressive. Drink BORD0019 CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 1eme CRU CLASSE PAUILLAC 2005 Lots of currants, berries and minerals and light toasted oak on the nose. Full bodied and very refined with lots of silky tannins and a long finish. Elegant and fine, very pretty, but should be up with the rest of the first growths. Tasted twice with consistent notes.' - James Suckling. Not a blockbuster but one of the wines of the vintage. Drink from

37 Bordeaux BORD0107 CHATEAU LAFITE ROTHSCHILD 1eme CRU CLASSE PAUILLAC 2005 Renouned for its delicacy and finesse this wine is one of the wines of the vintage. `Fabulous aromas of currants, tobacco, mineral and cedar with liquorice undertones. Muscular wine with firm, yet velvety tannins. Full bodied with lots of fruit, yet reserved and long, wonderful balance yet plenty of strength. Extremely well toned and long again.' - James Suckling. Drink Pomerol BORD0755 CHATEAU MOULINET POMEROL 2005 The Armand Moueix family make the wine here, its their best wine for years. Good colour, lovely fruit and elegance. Great value. Drink BORD0810 CHATEAU BEAUREGARD POMEROL 2005 This wine gets better every year, again the best ever! Good colour, wonderful rich nose, super ripe, elegant fruit, with good length. Drink BORD0535 CHATEAU MAZEYRES POMEROL 2005 A new Chateau for us. Terrific value. `Lots of fresh fruit character with a citrus undertone. Medium bodied with fine tannins and fresh finish.' - James Suckling. Drink BORD0870 CHATEAU NENIN POMEROL 2005 Now owned by Jean Hubert Delon of Leoville Lascases and the quality gets better each year. `This is rich and powerful with seamless tannins and wonderful fruit. Full-bodied with lots going on and a long, long finish, gorgeous, lots of fruit and toasted, smoky oak - this is very close to classic.' - James Suckling. Drink

38 Bordeaux 2004 The Growing Season Whilst 2003 saw the earliest harvest since records began, with much of the crop gathered in August, 2004 was the latest since 1988, with a massive crop picked well into October. Although July was sunny it was not excessively hot. August, however, brought very heavy rainfall - 102mm as opposed to the normal average of 57mm! This stimulated growth and confirmed the need for green harvesting to reduce the yield. As is so often the case, September was the pivotal month. The weather was ideal to bring the grapes to full maturity - hot sunny days followed by cool nights. The Harvest The harvest was relatively late and picking only began at the end of September for the Merlots and around the 15th October for the Cabernets. Luckily the weather remained fine and dry and the grapes were brought in ripe and healthy. The Vintage In contrast to the a-typical 2003, 2004 saw the return to a Classic Bordeaux vintage. The wines have good colour, depth of fruit and an excellent acid / tannin balance, which undoubtedly made them seem somewhat firm when they were tasted En Primeur, but will allow them to age well. The crop was large but there is no doubt that it is an excellent vintage. If few 2004 wines can be called truly great, many can be called very good. The best have breed and elegance. They are fine and fresh with intense fruit and good tannins that are firm yet ripe. Bordeaux A Classic Vintage 37

39 Bordeaux Medoc BORD0030 CHATEAU BEAUMONT HAUT MEDOC 2004 Always good value - consistent. Good colour, ripe fruit and well-balanced. Drink BORD0016 CHATEAU CISSAC HAUT MEDOC 2004 Very consistent Chateau - good colour with ripe fruit and balance for the long term. Drink BORD0028 CHATEAU CARONNE ST GEMME HAUT MEDOC 2004 Supple with upfront fruit and soft tannins. Drink Cotes de Castillon BORD0009 CLOS LOUIE COTES DE CASTILLON 2004 Clos Louie 2004, which is full of elegance and finesse, releases aromas of blueberry and mocha and notes of grilled wood and vanilla with marvellous amplitude, after one has experienced its velvety body. Needless to say,pascal Lucin, owner of Clos Louie and Technical Director of a Saint Emillion Grand Cru, has done an exceptional job of preserving and growing this plot he has inherited from his grandfather. Drink St Emilion BORD0025 CHATEAU FRANC BAUDRON ST EMILION 2004 Lovely cassis nose leading to a soft velvety, cherry flavoured palate with just a hint of tannins on the finish. St Estephe BORD0060 CHATEAU MONTROSE 2eme CRU CLASSE ST ESTEPHE A large crop but no sign of dilution. The best kind of St Estephe, gutsy tannin structure and masses of intense juicy fruit - good value this year. Drink

40 BORD0240 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL ST ESTEPHE 2004 Jean Guillaume Prats has been given total control by the new owners to produce the best wine possible. This has allowed him to produce first growth quality at half the price. The wine is becoming more Cabernet Sauvignon (74%) dominant as the plantings of the early 80's become old enough for inclusion in the Grand Vin. A big, rich solid wine with light classic structure but gratifying soft texture. Drink St Julien BORD0015 CHATEAU DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU 2eme CRU CLASSE ST JULIEN 2004 Some serious work is going on here, only 10% more wine produced in 2004 than % Cabernet Sauvignon. Very deep colour, a powerful expression of Cabernet, firm but ripe berry fruit, pepper and spice. Ducru is going places!! Drink Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux BORD0217 LA MISSION HAUT BRION PESSAC-LEOGNAN 2004 Frequently the equal of sister - Chateau Haut Brion, this is normally a good buy as it is often lower priced, but achieves 1st growth prices on maturity. Rich, complex and balanced with a beautifully silky texture (42% Merlot) and classic Graves character. Drink BORD0215 CHATEAU HAUT BRION 1eme GRAND CRU PESSAC-LEOGNAN 2004 Jean Philippe Delmas conceded that 2004 surpassed the properties achievements over the last 3 vintages! 61% Merlot harvested at exceptional levels of maturity, gives the wine a silky, plummy texture and rich lush finish. Drink

41 Bordeaux Margaux BORD0056 CHATEAU D'ANGLUDET MARGAUX 2004 Even better than dense texture and fine floral fruitiness. Drink BORD0035 LES CHARMES DE KIRWAN 2004 The nose displays a bouquet that is at once fruity and floral. The mouth is both supple and generous, showing a well-balanced body. The flavours linger in the mouth, and one detects a final hint of freshness at the end. This is a wine that exhibits great harmony. BORD0061 CHATEAU PALMER 3eme CRU CLASSE MARGAUX 2004 No chaptalisation has been used here since 1999 and at 12.9% alcohol, this is a lovely dense, rich plummy wine, (47% Merlot), ripe and relatively low in acidity, it has a delicious succulent fine finish. Drink Pauillac BORD0160 CHATEAU LYNCH BAGES 5eme CRU CLASSE PAUILLAC % Cabernet Sauvignon, structured and natural, unforced style, palate laden with lovely currant fruit. Drink BORD0033 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON PAUILLAC 2004 Very ripe with huge nose of roasted fruit and vanilla oak. Lovely intense berry fruit on the palate and very attractive sweetness on the finish. Since 2000 has been coming back to form. Drink BORD0063 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE COMTESSE DE LALANDE 2004 This is lovely ripe Pichon, with lots of vanilla and new oak on the nose. Full and juicy on the palate with succulent texture and sweet finish. Nowhere as exotic as in 2003 but classic Pichon - a fine wine of the vintage - only 55% of the crop used in the Grand Vin. Drink BORD0019 CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 1eme GRAND CRU CLASSE 2004 Mouton have continued to reduce the toast on their new barrels. The wine is beautifully aromatic with fine cedary aromas, a lovley intensity on the palate. Not overly oaky as in the past, but with a delicious sweetness on the finish. Drink

42 Bordeaux 2003 The Growing Season This was Bordeaux s hottest summer ever! There were 53 days of 30 and 4 days in August hit 40 (over 100 F). Rainfall at only 248mm was 2nd lowest since records began except for 1961, (perhaps the best vintage of the 20th century). As a result of the heat-wave yields are some 35% down on average. The Vintage It is generally a left bank vintage, where the existence of clay soils and the preponderance of the later ripening Cabernet Sauvignon grape eased the wine-makers task. In Margaux, St Julien and St Estephe all Chateaux have produced very good wine and the top Chateaux wines are superior to the 2000 vintage and surely the greatest wines for a generation. The communes of Medoc, Haut Medoc, Moulis, Pessac-Leognan and Graves have also made lovely wines and our selection represents the best produced wines of the appellations. Bottles from the great Mouton Rothschild Many Medoc Chateaux have produced the greatest wines that they have made for 25 years, superior to the vintages of 1982, 1989, 1990 and Bordeaux The Dessert Wines Sauternes benefited from a sudden outbreak of noble rot from September 15th onwards, consequently sugar levels were a record high, they are the most concentrated Sauternes for many years and have enough acidity to balance the intense richness. This is a vintage that every Bordeaux lover will want to buy. 41

43 Bordeaux Medoc BORD0540 CHATEAU FOURCAS HOSTEN LISTRAC MEDOC 2003 Good colour, fragrant, aromatic nose, a slight sweetness, rich ripe and soft with plenty of fruit structure. Terrific value. Drink BORD0028 CHATEAU CARONNE ST GEMME HAUT MEDOC Supple and forward, a lovely wine with massive layers of up-front fruit and lovely soft tannins. Very good value. Drink BORD0705 CHATEAU BERNADOTTE HAUT MEDOC 2003 Made by a team at Pichon Lalande, the finest wine yet from this Chateau. Lovely nose of vanilla and creamy fruit, gorgeous cassis flavours, delicious. Drink BORD0770 CHATEAU POTENSAC MEDOC 2003 Leoville Lascases producers have purchased this property and their pursuit of quality shows. A wonderful balance of crushed fruits on the nose, full-bodied with loads of ripe berry fruit and silky tannins, then long. 'This might be the best Potensac I have ever had - almost 92-94' - James Suckling. Drink BORD0420 CHATEAU LA LAGUNE HAUT MEDOC 2003 A very popular Chateau. 'Possibly the finest La Lagune in over a decade' - Robert Parker. Impressive depth, robust and gutsy. Drink

44 Fronsac BORD0780 CHATEAU HAUT CARLES FRONSAC 2003 A new Chateau for us. Wonderful depth of colour, masses of soft, ripe fruit and long finish. 90 points from Robert Parker. - Great value. Drink St Emilion BORD0002 CHATEAU TEYSSIER GRAND CRU ST EMILION 2003 Eighty-five per cent Merlot with the remainder being met by Cabernet Franc, the wine originates from the communes of Saint Sulpice de Faleyrens and Vignonet. Award winning, spicy, velvety, and ripe, but above all, pivots on its expression of fruit. BORD0026 CHATEAU PUY BLANQUET GRAND CRU ST EMILION 2003 Deep coloured with rich tangy fruitiness, sweet black plums, minerals, herbs and good depth of flavour. Bordeaux BORD0760 CHATEAU TROPLONG MONDOT GRAND CRU CLASSE 2003 Christine Valette has consistently produced classic blockbuster St Emilion from the late 80's. Masses of cherry fruit and chocolate, full-bodied and velvety tannins. Drink St Estephe BORD0018 CHATEAU MEYNEY ST ESTEPHE 2003 We have not purchased this wine for many years, but this is a super wine and great value. Deep colour, impressive depth, smoky and roasted on the nose. Thickly structured, fleshy and concentrated on the palate. Drink BORD0085 CHATEAU LES ORMES DE PEZ 2003 Owned and made by Jean Michel Cazes of Lynch Bages. Again the best wine ever tasted from this Chateau, loads of fruit with succulent tannins, full-bodied with ripe mid-palate and nice length. Drink

45 Bordeaux BORD0520 CHATEAU COS LABORY 5eme CRU CLASSE 2003 Next door to Cos D'Estournel, good value here. Impressive nose of ripe berry fruits, masses of lovely ripe fruit and good backbone of smooth and ripe tannins. Drink St Julien BORD0490 LES FIEFS DE LAGRANGE ST JULIEN 2003 Second wine of Chateau Lagrange - Lovely ripe fruit with soft tannins and lingering finish. Great value! Drink BORD0560 LA CROIX DE BEAUCAILLOU 2003 Second wine of Ducru Beaucaillou, Grand Vin pedigree at a fraction of the price of Ducru Beaucaillou. Drink BORD0700 CHATEAU ST PIERRE ST JULIEN 2003 Highly recommended by Robert Parker. Very jammy but some serious backbone of tannins and acidity, medium finish, wild fruit and very impressive. Drink BORD0105 CHATEAU TALBOT ST JULIEN 2003 Always good quality at reasonable prices, perhaps the best young Talbot we have ever tasted. Deep colour, prune like concentration, silky and appealing, generous and long. Drink BORD0500 CHATEAU LAGRANGE 3eme GROWTH ST JULIEN Great depth, real power and concentration, rich and roasted, produced with classic cassis fruit and a hint of pepper from the Petit Verdot. Impressive wine - excellent value. Drink

46 BORD0059 CHATEAU GLORIA ST JULIEN 2003 Incredible aromas of black liquorice and ripe currant character, full-bodied with soft round tannins and a long finish. Drink BORD0014 CHATEAU GRUAUD LAROSE ST JULIEN 2003 Typical Gruaud Larose generosity of aromas and texture, very ripe and intensely fruity on the palate, with rich tannic finish. Drink Bordeaux Moulis BORD0023 CHATEAU CHASSE SPLEEN MOULIS 2003 Consistently well made and always in demand, great value. Well structured, the leading Chateau of the Moulis appellation. Drink BORD0300 CHATEAU POUJEAUX MOULIS en MEDOC 2003 Consistently produces wines of classed growth quality. 'Blackberry and cherry aromas and flavours, medium to full-bodied with soft tannins and a pretty finish, delicious already though slightly short' - James Suckling. Drink Pessac-Leognan BORD0380 DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER 2003 Stephane Derencourt, superstar wine maker, is involved here. Charming and beautifully made, distinct plummy, cedary nose and soft, silky texture. Very elegant. Winner of the recent blind tasting of wines from the Graves region of Bordeaux. Drink

47 Bordeaux BORD0400 CHATEAU DE FIEUZAL CRU CLASSE 2003 Super exotic nose with Graves complexity. The palate is complex but with soft, silky texture. Drink BORD0076 CHATEAU HAUT-BAILLY GRAND CRU CLASSE 2003 Amongst the top echelons of Pessac-Leognan wines. Renowned for its smoothness and silkiness but since the mid 90's the wines have better depth of fruit as well as more grape concentration and body. Drink BORD0215 CHATEAU HAUT BRION 1eme GRAND CRU CLASSE % Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc. The smallest vintage in years, under 10,000 cases. Jean-Philippe Delmas, the owner, says this wine could be better than the 2000 vintage. Super ripe and exotic, very elegant and refined. Great class. Drink Margaux BORD0056 CHATEAU D'ANGLUDET 2003 Charles Sichel is keeping up the good work, very attractive blackcurrant aromas with lovely ripe fruit, elegant. Drink BORD0064 ALTER EGO DE PALMER 2003 Second wine of Chateau Palmer - 47% Merlot. Delicious with very ripe plummy aromas and soft, juicy texture. Drink BORD0750 CHATEAU MONBRISON 2003 Very deep ruby, good concentration of lovely Cabernet fruit, supple, elegant, floral and fragrant, ripe with good length. Drink

48 BORD0800 CHATEAU BRANE CANTENAC MARGAUX 2003 Open and appealing nose with good fruit and some attractive oak. Has the tannins of the vintage but not obtrusively so, nice flavour, good balance and a grippy finish. Some success for Brane Cantenac in this vintage. Drink BORD0061 CHATEAU PALMER 3eme CRU CLASSE 2003 Very fine fruits on the nose, low acidity, but fresh and juicy with silky tannins and a lovely fresh finish. Drink BORD0150 PAVILLON ROUGE MARGAUX 2003 The second wine of Chateau Margaux, great concentration but the wine is so opulent and open-hearted that it will be hard to resist at an early stage. Drink BORD0730 CHATEAU PRIEURE LICHINE 4eme CRU CLASSE 2003 A new Chateau for us, Stephane Derencourt is wine maker. Lovely fragrant vanilla nose, on the palate it is beautifully smooth, supple and silky with good depth and intensity. Probably the best Lichine ever! Drink Bordeaux BORD0390 CHATEAU LASCOMBES 2eme CRU CLASSE 2003 Intense aromas of black liquorice and minerals, full-bodied with lots of fruit and velvety tannins, very long, yummy already well done. Drink Pauillac BORD00690 CHATEAU d'armailhac 5eme GRAND CRU CLASSE 2003 Once known as Mouton Baron Philippe - always good value. Lovely smoky nose, rich and powerful, serious yet very approachable. Drink BORD0160 CHATEAU LYNCH BAGES 5eme CRU CLASSE 2003 A very popular Chateau, which is released at competitive prices compared to the prices people pay for mature wines. The wine is a cracker again this vintage, lovely cigar box nose, intense Cabernet character, rounded and subtle on the palate with good grip. Classic and delicious. Drink BORD0720 CHATEAU PEDESCLAUX 5eme CRU CLASSE 2003 A new Chateau for us - has been improving over the last few vintages and has now produced the goods. Lovely ripe fruit and soft tannins, delicious now. Great value. Drink

49 Bordeaux BORD0108 CHATEAU DUHART MILON 4eme CRU CLASSE 2003 Produced by the same team that make Chateau Lafite. General agreement that this is the finest Duhart ever tasted, deep crimson, meaty, full substantial nose, really deep, velvety and exciting. Drink BORD0019 CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 1eme CRU CLASSE 2003 Herve Berland feels that this is an exceptional Mouton, comparable with Prune like richness and concentration married with exotic spiciness. Brooding and powerful building to a long finish. Drink

50 Bordeaux 2002 The Growing Season Due to the good weather in September and October the vintage was saved and for most of this Indian summer a north-easterly wind further concentrated the grapes. The result, for those with the ability and courage to wait, was a crop of healthy, concentrated grapes with sugar levels as high or even higher than in 2000, unusually complimented by a high, natural acidity. The Vintage The best wines have a sumptuous blackcurrant character derived from extremely ripe Cabernet Sauvignon, the worst examples, picked too early are skinny and tart. The Cabernet Sauvignon in Northern Medoc has produced some great wines. For the first time since 1996, this is a year when the Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc outshone the Merlot. Bordeaux As a result, as in 1986 and 1996, the finest wines come from the Medoc and Northern Graves. It is also an excellent vintage for dry white wines and another successful year for Sauternes. James Suckling of the wine spectator quotes 2002 made good to outstanding wines that reminds me of 1966 most of the wines from well known Chateaux were of good to very good quality, a few were exceptional. Medoc BORD0030 CHATEAU BEAUMONT HAUT MEDOC 2002 Fine deep colour, ripe Cabernet fruit, very attractive balance. Harmonious St Julien style Medoc, good fruit, good length and good wine. Drink BORD460 CHATEAU LIVERSAN HAUT MEDOC 2002 Dense purple colour, powerful heady nose of plum and cherry. A little liquorice and spice, rich and concentrated on the palate and a long finish. Drink

51 Bordeaux St Emilion BORD0002 CHATEAU TEYSSIER GRAND CRU ST EMILION 2002 Spicy aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries and cassis with hints of oak. Lush and supple with smooth chocolaty tannins and a mineral note. BORD0026 CHATEAU PUY BLANQUET GRAND CRU ST EMILION 2002 Deep coloured with rich tangy fruitiness, sweet black plums, minerals, herbs and good depth of flavour. Drink St Estephe BORD0240 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL 2eme GROWTH ST ESTEPHE 2002 The sugar, tannins and acidity levels were all the highest ever recorded at the Chateau. Black colour, fantastic richness, remarkable concentration and wonderful oily mouth-feel with hints of coffee and spice. A fabulous wine. Drink St Julien BORD0105 CHATEAU TALBOT 4eme GROWTH ST JULIEN 2002 Soft, scented, extremely fruity nose, medium bodied with a very ripe and stylish succulent texture. Low acidity and attractive soft finish. Drink BORD0330 CHATEAU LEOVILLE POYFERRE 2eme GROWTH ST JULIEN 2002 Lovely sweet fruit with succulent creamy character, will come round relatively quickly. Drink BORD0015 CHATEAU DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU 2eme GROWTH ST JULIEN 2002 The most stylish St Julien of Beautiful fresh pure Cabernet aromas and silky plum and blackcurrant fruit on the palate. Drink

52 Moulis BORD0023 CHATEAU CHASSE SPLEEN MOULIS 2002 Great value, consistently well made and always in demand. Drink Margaux BORD0061 CHATEAU PALMER 3eme GROWTH MARGAUX 2002 The best wine of the Medoc after the first growths. Super nose, full-bodied with big, yet silky tannins. Drink BORD0150 PAVILLON ROUGE MARGAUX 2002 The second wine of Chateau Margaux. Creamy, sweet ripe fruit already showing good balance, will mature relatively early. Drink Bordeaux Pauillac BORD0340 CHATEAU PONTET CANET PAUILLAC 2002 Chewy black fruit, quite firm and powerful. This is impressive, serious Pauillac. Drink BORD0690 CHATEAU d'armailhac PAUILLAC 2002 Formerly known as Mouton Baronne Phillipe. Very good value, will need a little time to come round. Drink

53 Bordeaux BORD0108 CHATEAU DUHART MILON PAUILLAC 2002 This Lafite managed property seems to go from strength to strength. Big, serious essence of Cabernet nose. Really bright deep glossy healthy colour, lovely balance. Tannins extremely well hidden and velvety, almost opulently full on the palate, lovely for relatively early drinking. Drink BORD0160 CHATEAU LYNCH BAGES PAUILLAC 2002 One of the most popular Chateaux of Bordeaux. Dark colour, wonderful ripe fruit with a touch of cream, soft and velvety tannins - superior wine. Drink BORD0063 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE COMTESSE DE LALANDE 2002 Lots of big plump ripe fruit, lovely warmth and creamy texture, very beautiful indeed. Drink BORD0019 CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 1eme GROWTH PAUILLAC 2002 Very concentrated flavour of blackcurrant and cedar, full and fat on the palate and enormous finish. Drink Pomerol BORD0280 CHATEAU PETITE EGLISE POMEROL 2002 The best value wine in Pomerol, very fine indeed. Denis Duranton's second wine of Eglise Clinet at a fraction of the price. 52

54 Bordeaux 2001 The Harvest Fruit from well-managed vineyards on the best sites were able to be picked at optium maturity, often with higher sugar levels than in 2000 and with fully ripe tannins. It is these wines which offer splendid drinking in 2001 with rich, ripe flavours and full-bodied, succulent, chewy textures. Such wines can be found in all the major regions, although the greater presence of early ripening Merlot gave a slight advantage to producers on the right bank. The Vintage Overall, 2001 offers more fruit and concentration than 1999, more flesh and charm than 1998, whilst in most cases falling short of the glorious, concentrated 2000 vintage. In many cases 2001 is similar to that of the 1988 s with their classic flavours and elegant structures, which make for delicious drinking now. Bordeaux Vineyard management and wine-making has moved on considerably so perhaps 2001 is best summed up as a modernday The Dessert Wines Sauternes is the one area where 2001 is clearly superior to The glorious October weather favoured the development of pourriture noble and the wines are the finest since 1990 with intense, honeyed aromas and rich, luscious textures, and all not in the least bit cloying. 53

55 Bordeaux Medoc BORD0093 CHATEAU PATACHE D'AUX HAUT MEDOC 2001 Ripe, sweet cherry and blackcurrant aromas, soft round and full flavoured with soft tannins. BORD0016 CHATEAU CISSAC HAUT MEDOC 2001 Another favourite of ours, stylish, deep colour with ripe Cabernet fruit and soft tannins. Drink BORD0250 CHATEAU CANTEMERLE HAUT MEDOC 2001 A popular classed growth Chateau that always provides good quality and exceptional value for money. Good density, sweet fruit, well balanced by fine tannins. Drink St Estephe BORD0090 CHATEAU DE PEZ ST ESTEPHE 2001 Purchased by Louis Roederer in The quality has increased dramatically with greater finesse, elegance and riper fruit. Careful selection at vintage time has produced a wine with good deep colour, good ripeness and supple tannins. BORD0140 CHATEAU CALON SEGUR ST ESTEPHE 2001 'Wonderful elegance and seductiveness. Silky tannins, full to medium-bodied with liquorice, mineral and spice, very long, a beauty, almost classic, I'd buy this!' - J Suckling. Drink BORD0060 CHATEAU MONTROSE ST ESTEPHE The most impressive wine of St Estephe this year. Fine, rich and juicy, even chocolaty, full fat, nice concentration, big and bold, good length and chewy. Drink

56 St Julien BORD0105 CHATEAU TALBOT ST JULIEN 2001 A fine textbook St Julien with good depth of fruit and relatively forward, 40% Merlot. Medium to full-bodied, solid structure. Drink BORD0330 CHATEAU LEOVILLE POYFERRE 2eme GROWTH 2001 Fine, rich deep and brooding. Intense with soft supple fruit and attractive finish. Another excellent wine from Didier Cuvelier. BORD0585 CHATEAU BRANAIRE DUCRU 2001 Rich, very perfumed with ripe blackcurrant, evident oak and distinctively chocolate flavour, full yet supple and very smooth. BORD0014 CHATEAU GRUAUD LAROSE ST JULIEN 2001 Consistently impressive, real value for such a great name. Drink Bordeaux Moulis BORD0023 CHATEAU CHASSE SPLEEN MOULIS 2001 Great value - consistently well made and always in demand. Drink Margaux BORD0056 CHATEAU D'ANGLUDET MARGAUX 2001 Most attractive blackcurranty aromas, medium-bodied, elegant wine with a lovely juicy texture, balanced by a correct amount of tannin. Another winner from Charles Sichel! Drink BORD0038 CHATEAU KIRWAN 3eme MARGAUX 2001 Made under the guidance of Michel Rolland. Always one of the most opulent wines of the Margaux region. Very good value this year. Drink BORD0595 CHATEAU DESMIRAL MARGAUX 2001 Under the direction of Lucien Lurton this Chateau is returning to its former glory. Next door to Chateau Palmer it has great potential. Drink

57 Bordeaux BORD0150 PAVILLON ROUGE 2001 The second wine of Chateau Margaux. 51% of the Chateau's crop went into this wine. Lovely, supple and refined, the texture is creamy with milk chocolate and red berries. BORD0061 CHATEAU PALMER 3eme CRU CLASSE MARGAUX 2001 Only 50% of the crop has been used in Grand Vin. Rich and spicy with smoothness and power - very good. Drink Pauillac BORD0075 CHATEAU HAUT BATAILLEY PAUILLAC 2001 From the producers of Grand Puy Lacoste and Ducru Beaucaillou. Xavier Borie says that the wine is between 1999 and 2000 in quality and similar in style to Drink BORD0620 LES CARRUADES DE LAFITE 2001 Lafites second wine has improved in quality enormously in recent years and is always a good buy. A strict selection this year means that 43% of the crop at Lafite was used in the Carruades. The very ripe Merlot gives a succulence to the wine rarely found in Pauillac. Rich cedary aroma, ripe, open, plummy flavour and soft fleshy texture. Drink BORD0063 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE LALANDE PAUILLAC 2001 Lots of big, plump ripe fruit, lovely warmth and creamy flesh, thanks to 34% Merlot.Very beautiful indeed. Drink BORD0019 CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 1eme CRU PAUILLAC 2001 Very concentrated flavour of blackcurrant and cedar. Full and fat on the palate with enormous finish. Drink Pomerol BORD0650 DOMAINE DU REMPART POMEROL 2001 Good balance between body and finesse. The wine production is under the control of J-P Mouiex. Drink BORD0670 CHATEAU ROUGET POMEROL 2001 Extremely beautiful presentation for this high-class wine of Pomerol, once again very successful, as well for its intense garnet red colour as for its powerful and complex bouquet of red fruits and subtle empyreumatic scents. The full mouth evolves on a tannic structure of quality ensuring us a beautiful potential of guard balanced charm and silkyness, all that made Pomerol great!

58 Bordeaux 2000 The Harvest All the red grape varieties performed well. Merlot produced wines high in alcohol, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon have very ripe tannins and intense blackcurrant aromas and even Petit Verdot ripened successfully. The wines are therefore consistently good throughout the Bordeaux area with no particular region standing out. In addition, although the strict selection practised at the top Chateaux has only enhanced quality, many estates found that in 2000 the overall quality was so high that it was difficult to find vats not worthy of the Grand Vin. This enabled many Petit Chateaux and Cru Bourgeois to produce good quantities of excellent wines at sensible prices. The Vintage To summarise, in St Emilion and Pomerol the wines rival the best of 1995 and 1998 with the same ripe lush flavours and very ripe tannins. In the Medoc and Graves the wines are the best since 1990, complimenting the succulent texture. Many Chateaux have progressed tremendously in the past ten years, investing in new equipment and a higher percentage of new oak barrels, producing their best ever wines. Overall it s a vintage of fine quality that will provide great drinking at all levels over the next twenty years. The Petit Chateau are very approachable and can be consumed from Christmas Bordeaux This is definitely a vintage to buy! Medoc BORD0540 CHATEAU FOURCAS HOSTEN LISTRAC MEDOC 2000 One of the best Fourcas Hosten's for many years. Black meaty liquorice fruit, ripe structured layered tannins and lovely complexity of tannin and fruit balance. BORD0450 CHATEAU BELGRAVE 5eme GROWTH HAUT MEDOC 2000 Tart ripe currants and raspberries follow through to a full bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long finish. It is the best value of this inexpensive Cru Classe. Drink BORD0480 CHATEAU CHARMAIL HAUT MEDOC 2000 Deep colour, very aromatic with lush fruit on the palate. Deceptively forward at the moment but will age well. 57

59 Bordeaux BORD0510 CHATEAU LATOUR CARNET HAUT MEDOC 2000 'Huge colour, big and intensely rich, very ripe, almost meaty blackcurrant fruit, lots of extract and attractive tobacco-y flavours, ripeness goes all the way, good class and good potential.' Steven Spurrier - Decanter. Drink BORD0420 CHATEAU LA LAGUNE 3eme GROWTH HAUT MEDOC 2000 This Chateau has excelled in Only half the crop was put into the final blend, 40% Cabernet, 30% Merlot aged in 70% new oak. Very well balanced with lovely mature tannins. Drink St Emilion BORD0320 CHATEAU BEAUSEJOUR BECOT ST EMILION 1eme CRU 2000 BORD0220 A much improved vineyard since the 80's, rich, ripe and plummy - very impressive. CHATEAU PAVIE MACQUIN GRAND CRU CLASSE ST EMILION 2000 Robert Parker describes this wine as - La fleur of St Emilion. Lovely plum flavoured fruit, fat yet fresh and lovely creamy texture. Good structure and weight of fruit. Drink St Estephe BORD0520 CHATEAU COS LABORY 5eme GROWTH ST ESTEPHE 2000 Jancis Robinson states - Particularly opulent, appetising nose although the tannins are currently rather jagged. A good testament to the vintage however, from this rather modest property, my score 17 / BORD0090 CHATEAU DE PEZ ST ESTEPHE 2000 The good work continues, good structure with plenty of ripe fruit. Drink

60 BORD0240 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL 2eme GROWTH ST ESTEPHE 2000 On the palate, plenty of sweet intensity and liquorice. Very well structured with big, firm tannins supporting vivid oppulent fruit. A lovely dense wine, typical of a great Cos, reminiscent of Drink BORD0140 CHATEAU CALON SEGUR 3eme GROWTH ST ESTEPHE 2000 The 1995 vintage won world wide acclaim continues the success. Exotic spicy nose, the palate is packed with black dense fruit. Beautifully integrated tannins leading to a soft, velvety finish. Drink St Julien BORD0058 CLOS DU MARQUIS ST JULIEN 2000 The second wine of the Leoville Lascases, always very consistent. It is powerful with ripe, clean fruit. A taste of Grand Vin at a fraction of the price. Bordeaux BORD0560 LA CROIX DE BEAUCAILLOU ST JULIEN 2000 Second wine of Ducru Beaucaillou - Grand Vin pedigree at a fraction of the price of Ducru Beaucaillou. Drink BORD0370 CHATEAU LANGOA BARTON 3eme GROWTH ST JULIEN 2000 This Chateau produces excellent wine year after year. St Julien is probably the top district in The wine is perfectly integrated with lovely soft tannins yet will age for years despite its early accessibility. Drink BORD0500 CHATEAU LAGRANGE 3eme GROWTH ST JULIEN 2000 The traditional cigar box nose is evident in this wine with the highest Cabernet content ever - 76% perhaps due to the wonderful ripeness of the fruit. Masses of fruit, lovely ripe integrated tannins and a long finish. Drink BORD0330 CHATEAU LEOVILLE POYFERRE ST JULIEN 2000 'Wow, this wine has really come on strong. A brilliant effort, it boasts an opaque purple colour in addition to a gorgeously sweet nose of blackberries and creme de cassis intermixed with minerals, smoke and earth. The 2000 is opulent, full-bodied and much more accessible than either of its two siblings, Leovilles Lascases or Barton, with low acidity, sweet tannin and a layered, sumptuous finish. It continues to improve dramatically and looks to be a great success, rivalling the brilliant 1996 and 1990'. - Robert Parker BORD0014 CHATEAU GRUAUD LAROSE 2eme GROWTH ST JULIEN 2000 One of the greatest wines of the vintage, layer after layer of pure fruit, with a long, long finish. The owner, Jacques Merlant, is bringing the property back to where it used to be with the wines being more friendly and refined, as opposed to over tannic and rather harsh. Drink

61 Bordeaux Pessac-Leognan BORD0021 CHATEAU DE GAILLAT 2000 Excellent Claret from Pierre Coste, good, soft ripe fruit. BORD0400 CHATEAU DE FIEUZAL CRU CLASSE PESSAC - LEOGNAN 2000 Gerard Gribelin considers this the finest wine he has ever made. Lovely aromas, fine, sweet ripe fruit with hints of vanilla on the nose. Full and weighty on the palate, with a rich intensity and dense concentrated finish. Drink BORD0430 CHATEAU LARRIVET HAUT BRION PESSAC - LEOGNAN 2000 This ripe plum and easy going wine is made in the modern style, with the help of Michel Rolland. Loads of chocolate and very ripe fruit, long, long finish - very good indeed. Drink BORD0380 DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER ROUGE PESSAC - LEOGNAN 2000 A lovely rich plummy nose, with ripe fruit on the palate. Good balancing acidity and tannins give an elegant wine with good structure for ageing. A very, very attractive wine. Drink Margaux BORD0360 CHATEAU BRANE CANTENAC 2eme GROWTH MARGAUX 2000 Until recently this Chateau rather disappointed but since 1989 it has been back to its best under the guidance of Lucien Lurton. A big powerful wine that will need time to come round, however patience will be rewarded. Drink BORD0290 CHATEAU RAUZAN GASSIES 2eme GROWTH MARGAUX 'The finest wine I have tasted from this Estate in over four decades, this dense purplecoloured 2000 offers up a sweet perfume of black cherry liqueur intermixed with cassis, graphite, liquorice and incense. Full-bodied and concentrated, with high tannin and loads of extract, this is a serious, broodingly backward, high-class offering for patient connoisseurs'. - Robert Parker. Drink

62 BORD0390 CHATEAU LASCOMBES 2eme GROWTH MARGAUX 2000 Very dark colour, powerful bouquet showing ripe plummy fruit characters. Big full rich palate with great intensity and concentration on middle palate, with quite firm tannin finish, giving good balance. Great length with concentration of flavour yet quite soft and supple. Drink BORD0061 CHATEAU PALMER 3eme GROWTH MARGAUX 2000 Pauillac BORD0350 A magnificent wine has been made, the epitome of Margaux, with fragrant fruit and soft supple texture. Not at all massive on initial tasting, it builds in the mouth and finishes with sweet, succulent symphony of flavours. CHATEAU GRAND PUY LACOSTE 5eme GROWTH PAUILLAC 2000 Deep opaque colour, wonderfully complex on the nose. On the palate the wine is fantastically concentrated with oodles of spicy fruit and a long lingering finish. Bordeaux BORD0075 CHATEAU HAUT BATAILLEY 5eme GROWTH PAUILLAC 2000 Owned by the Borie family who own Grand Puy Lacoste. Masses of fruit, quite forward, very stylish, fantastically well balanced with an enchanting finish. Drink BORD0340 CHATEAU PONTET CANET 5eme GROWTH PAUILLAC 2000 Situated almost opposite to Mouton Rothschild, the potential has always been there. Only recently, under the ownership of Guy Tesseron, has it begun to be realised. Dense colour, solid and chunky on the palate, with a long powerful finish. A big wine that will take time to come round, but well worth waiting for. Drink

63 Bordeaux Pomerol BORD0440 CLOS RENE POMEROL 2000 A middle weight traditional Pomerol, with nice ripe fruit. Aromas of raisins and spices, medium bodied, velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Drink BORD0530 CHATEAU LA COMMANDERIE DE MAZEYRES POMEROL 2000 New on the scene, the latest acquisition of Clement Fayat, owner of Chateau La Dominique (St Emilion Grand Cru Classe) Ripe fruit flavours on the nose, full bodied with loads of flavour and velvety tannins. One to watch. Drink

64 Bordeaux 1999 The Harvest The weather during the growing and harvest season was excessively wet and hot and in earlier times could have been disastrous. September rains and a hailstorm in St-Emilion resulted in patchwork performance across the region, after a promising crop had materialised during the sweltering month of August. The Vintage A very good vintage that produced low acidity, ripe wines which have matured quickly and are drinkable now. However, they should last a good years. A good year for Merlot, which benefited from being harvested before the rains. Medoc Bordeaux BORD0016 CHATEAU CISSAC HAUT MEDOC 1999 Terrific value, an old favourite, once again they have made a very stylish Claret. BORD0058 CLOS DE MARQUIS ST JULIEN 1999 Second wine of Leoville Lascases, deep colour, very serious wine, firm and will need time to show its true colours. Drink St Emilion BORD0220 CHATEAU PAVIE MACQUIN ST EMILION 1999 A new Chateau for us, huge concentration of fruit, a superb wine that we highly recommend. Drink St Estephe BORD0090 CHATEAU DE PEZ CRU BOURGEOIS 1999 The first time we have purchased this wine since 1996, good structure with plenty of ripe fruit. BORD0230 PAGODES DE COS ST ESTEPHE 1999 Second wine of Cos d' Estournel - exceptional value. 63

65 Bordeaux BORD0240 COS D'ESTOURNEL ST ESTEPHE 1999 Exotic spicy nose with a lovely spicy rich fruit. Very good. Drink St Julien BORD0170 CHATEAU LEOVILLE BARTON ST JULIEN 1999 Fabulous nose, deep rich sweet fruit and wonderfully intense with a real sense of velvetrobed fruit. Exquisite in the mouth, fruit covers the palate with a great sense of concentrated fruit and a stunning length. Magnificent!! Drink Margaux BORD0061 CHATEAU PALMER MARGAUX 1999 Very deep colour, spicy nose, creamy velvety fruit. The first unchaptalised vintage since the great Drink BORD0210 CHATEAU MARGAUX MARGAUX 1999 Very attractive ripeness with a long velvety finish. Drink

66 Pauillac BORD0200 CHATEAU FORTS DE LATOUR PAUILLAC 1999 Over 30% of Latour production is in this wine. Classic Claret, rich with lovely deep colour. Drink BORD0033 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON PAUILLAC 1999 Masses of spicy fruit with a good firm finish. Drink Bordeaux BORD0063 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE COMTESSE DE LALANDE 1999 Rich chocolate spice on the palate - superb wine. Drink BORD0019 CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD PAUILLAC 1999 Very deep colour and great concentration a super wine. Drink

67 Bordeaux Bordeaux 1998 A very good vintage in Pomerol and St Emilion. Wines have been made on a par with the great 89 and 90 s. Also excellent wines have been made in Pessac-Leognan. The wines are not inexpensive but in years to come we are sure you will be well pleased with your investment. Medoc BORD0016 CHATEAU CISSAC HAUT MEDOC 1998 A Chateau that we have followed for many years. The style has slightly altered since the late eighties. The wine has more up-front fruit and softer tannins, but will still last. Drink St Julien BORD0058 CLOS DU MARQUIS ST JULIEN 1998 The second wine of Chateau Leoville Lascases. Wonderful colour, good structure with masses of ripe fruit. A super wine. Margaux BORD0150 CHATEAU PAVILLON ROUGE MARGAUX nd wine of Chateau Margaux, rich spicy fruit. Paul Pontallier believes it is the second best wine he has ever made, just behind the Drink

68 Bordeaux 1997 This is a charming vintage. The wines are ripe and delicious with lovely summer fruit flavours of raspberries and cherries. The tannins are soft and velvety. The wines lacking the tannin and structure of the 1996 s have youthful appeal and are now providing excellent drinking, the Clos Du Marquis St Julien is superb. St Emilion BORD0110 CHATEAU QUINAULT ST EMILION GRAND CRU 1997 St Julien Extremely ripe and fleshy on the palate, combines backbone with charm and finesse. Very good concentration and impressive length, a rising star! Substantial investment has been made in the cellar and this wine is made from very old vines. Bordeaux BORD0058 CLOS DU MARQUIS ST JULIEN 1997 The second wine of Chateau Leoville Lascases. Has the elegance of classed growth, long and smooth. Drink

69 Bordeaux Bordeaux 1996 The weather is crucial in Bordeaux and a dry start to the summer fuelled the flames of expectations but heavy rain in August dampened hopes. The rainfall in St Emilion and Pomerol was particularly heavy. The heavier clay soils, which predominate in this area, retained a lot of moisture with the resulting inevitable dilution of the grapes. In the Medoc (Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux and St Estephe), where gravel soils predominate, the rains had little effect and the growers, who had the courage to wait for the Cabernet to ripen fully were rewarded with fine weather in October. Consequently they harvested grapes with wonderful complexity and a finesse rarely seen. The best wines have rich ripe fruit with a lovely silky texture and long finish. Medoc BORD0048 CHATEAU FOURCAS HOSTEN LISTRAC MEDOC 1996 Good colour, lovely fruit. Great value. St Estephe BORD0018 CHATEAU MEYNEY CRU BOURGEOIS ST ESTEPHE 1996 Lovely concentration of ripe cassis and raspberry fruit flavours. Drink

70 St Julien BORD0058 CLOS DU MARQUIS ST JULIEN MEDOC 1996 The second wine of Leoville Lascases. Very highly regarded Chateau. Drink BORD0014 CHATEAU GRUAUD LAROSE ST JULIEN 1996 Wonderfully rich and well balanced, good long finish. Drink Bordeaux 1995 The Harvest A very hot summer, with quite a bit of rainfall during the vintage. However the grapes were extremely healthy and mostly harvested in good condition. Bordeaux The Vintage 1995 is regarded as the best vintage since 1990, it is a vintage every claret lover should acquire for future drinking. The Petit Chateaux are most attractive with lovely ripe fruit flavours showing great charm. Overall the quality is very high with plenty of fruit and soft tannins. A classic vintage, we recommend to drink before the 1996 vintage. Pessac-Leognan BORD0112 DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER CRU CLASSE PESSAC-LEOGNAN 1995 One of the Bordeaux's most under estimated vineyards, producing wines of 1st growth quality. Wonderful fruit and lovely long complex finish. Drink 2010 to

71 Bordeaux Margaux BORD0038 CHATEAU KIRWAN 3eme CRU MARGAUX 1995 Pauillac The best Chateau Kirwan for many years. Very concentrated with great length. Should develop superbly, very classy. BORD0063 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON PAUILLAC 1995 Minty cassis nose for those who like big powerful Clarets. Drink

72 Bordeaux 1990 A very successful vintage across all communes of the region, the third year in a triumvirate of excellent Bordeaux vintages. The left bank was perhaps a little stronger than the right, but the differences are minor. Many of the wines have a baked or roasted quality, representing the torrid sun under which the grapes were grown. They have ripe tannins and low acidity. Pauillac BORD0033 CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON 1990 This is drinking really well now and it is just so consistent. Coffee nose, melting on the palate, cigary finish. A thoroughly worthwhile wine. Bordeaux 71

73 Bordeaux Bordeaux 1989 The 1989 vintage is generally regarded as an excellent if not outstanding vintage for Bordeaux, it being in the middle of the triumvirate of successful vintages that this region enjoyed over the years from 1988 to Bordeaux is a vast and heterogeneous viticultural region, however, and it is therefore important to remember that although a successful vintage for Bordeaux as a whole, some appellations will always fair better than others. Medoc BORD0016 CHATEAU CISSAC HAUT MEDOC 1989 Excellent wine from Louis Vialard. Bordeaux 1961 St Julien BORD0015 CHATEAU DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU 2eme CRU ST JULIEN 1961 Soft lush fruit with lovely texture. 'A brilliant wine' - Robert Parker. 72

74 Dessert Wines A dessert wine is one that is potent, sweet, and full of flavour. It is because of their sweet flavour that the wine compliments a dessert. Often extra spirits are added to raise the alcohol content. In general, dessert wines are thicker, richer, and sweeter than table wines. The grapes are picked late in the harvest to preserve residual sugars. Sauternes Sauternes is a region of Bordeaux, France, and is well known for its sweet white wines. There are five villages in Graves that make this wine style - Sauternes, Barsac, Preignac, Fargues, and Bommes. This region is located near a river, and the resulting misty conditions helps breed a "noble rot" - pourriture noble. This is a type of fungus. Early winemakers found that this rot turned the flavour of the grapes into a rich, honey flavour, with a deep brown colour. This wine can age almost indefinitely. Sauternes are primary made with the Semillon grape, along with small amounts of Sauvignon and Muscadelle. Chateau d Yquem dominates the Sauternais, situated near the peak at the centre of the southern half of the appellation, it is visible for miles, with a fine view of near neighbours, Lafaurie Peyraguey, Guiraud and Rieussec. It dominates the 1855 classification of Sauternes and Barsac, sitting in its own private ranking of Premier Cru Superieur, this is reflected in its price, as it is several times as expensive as those of its neighbours. Flavours in Sauternes range from apricot, peach, pineapple, and vanilla. The wines are smooth and creamy. More so than many other wine types, vintage in Sauternes is extremely important. The weather conditions can make or break and entire year's crop in this region. Bordeaux Sauternes vintages 2009 Classic year 2008 Very good 2007 Extremely good 2006 Extremely good 2005 Superb 2004 Very good 2003 Superb - Opulent 2002 Extremely good 2001 Superb 1996 Superb 1989 Superb 1986 Superb 1983 Wonderful year good complexity 1976 Rich and sweet At their peak 1975 Classic year Powerful and complex The Cellar at d Yquem 73

75 Bordeaux Dessert Wines Bottle BORD0128 MOUTON CADET RESERVE SAUTERNES 2006 Produced in limited quantities this wine, with its rich aromas of apricot, honey and blossom, is made from three grape varieties typical of the region, Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle, transformed by the effect of Botrytis Cinerea, the famous 'noble rot'. BORD0127 CHATEAU COUTET 1er CRU BARSAC % Semillon, 23% Sauvignon, 2% Muscadelle. Supremely elegant Barsac with fine balance of sugar and acidity. Really fine and fresh with fantastic, honeyed fruit and long, clean finish. 14% alcohol and 146 g/l of residual sugar. Drink BORD0260 CHATEAU RIEUSSEC 1er CRU SAUTERNES % Semillon, 11% Sauvignon and 4% Muscadelle. One of the richest wines of the vintage at 13.75% alcohol. Picked over 10 days at the end of September and the beginning of October, this is an intense, concentrated wine of perfect balance and class. The best Rieussec since the monumental Drink BORD0134 CHATEAU CLIMENS 1er CRU BARSAC 2009 'The aromatics display pure honey, minerals, occasionally a faint scent of spearmint and white peach, most with spellbinding precision. On the palate, Berenice Lurton has some stupendous lots at her disposal, with ample botrytis, ethereal definition, one or two more powerful, quite spicy lots and others that are shorter and will undoubtedly lend the blend an acidic cut.' - Neal Martin. Drink BORD0129 CHATEAU LAFAURIE PEYRAGUEY 1st GROWTH SAUTERNES Very fine, rich concentrated and sweet with spicy ripe peach and apricot flavours. Will benefit from cellaring.

76 Half BORD0126 SAUTERNES BARON PHILIPPE Ripe apricot, pineapple and citrus flavours with a honey, perfumed nose. BORD0133 CHATEAU BROUSTET BARSAC % Semillon 25% Sauvignon and 10% Muscadelle. A new wine for us, a lighter style but impressively rich and long on the finish. A great success probably the finest Broustet ever. Great value! Drink BORD0129 CHATEAU LAFAURIE PEYRAGUEY 1er CRU SAUTERNES % Semillon, 2% Sauvignon and 2% Muscadelle. A fine, rich, elegant wine. One of the freshest and most aromatic of the vintage. Drink BORD0127 CHATEAU COUTET 1er CRU BARSAC % Semillon, 23% Sauvignon, 2% Muscadelle. Supremely elegant Barsac with fine balance of sugar and acidity. Really fine and fresh with fantastic, honeyed fruit and long, clean finish. 14% alcohol and 146 g/l of residual sugar. Drink Bordeaux BORD0260 CHATEAU RIEUSSEC 1er CRU SAUTERNES % Semillon, 11% Sauvignon and 4% Muscadelle. One of the richest wines of the vintage at 13.75% alcohol. Picked over 10 days at the end of September and the beginning of October, this is an intense, concentrated wine of perfect balance and class. The best Rieussec since the monumental Drink BORD0134 CHATEAU CLIMENS 1er CRU BARSAC 2009 'The aromatics display pure honey, minerals, occasionally a faint scent of spearmint and white peach, most with spellbinding precision. On the palate, Berenice Lurton has some stupendous lots at her disposal, with ample botrytis, ethereal definition, one or two more powerful, quite spicy lots and others that are shorter and will undoubtedly lend the blend an acidic cut.' - Neal Martin. Drink BORD0129 CHATEAU LAFAURIE PEYRAGUEY SAUTERNES 2002 Very fine, rich concentrated and sweet with spicy ripe peach and apricot flavours. 75

77 Bordeaux Terms and conditions En Primeur: Where wine is stated as En Primeur the wines are purchased and are held in France - these will be shipped approximately 18 months after the vintage declaration and will be held in a bonded warehouse in Buxton. You will be notified when your wines have been shipped and should you wish to have them released from bond you will incur charges of duty, shipping and VAT (on the original purchase price) calculated at the time of release. Wines left in storage at Buxton will incur a yearly storage charge. Prices: All prices for wines in this brochure can be found in our separate price list. Prices are quoted per bottle exclusive of V.A.T. without engagement and are subject to alteration without notice. Credit Terms: We are pleased to offer credit terms to customers once references have been verified. Payment is required 21 days from date of invoice. We reserve the right to charge interest on overdue accounts at the rate of 2% per month or part thereof. ANY DISCOUNTS GIVEN ARE ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PAYMENT IS MADE BY THE DUE DATE AND THAT THEY MAY BE WITHDRAWN AND RE-INVOICED IN THE EVENT OF A PAYMENT BECOMING OVERDUE. Title of goods: Shortages, breakages or claims for non-delivery must be notified to Head office within 48 hours of delivery otherwise credit cannot be given. ALL GOODS ARE OFFERED SUBJECT TO BEING UNSOLD AND TO MARKET FLUCTUATIONS. N.B. This list cancels all previous lists. E & O.E. 76

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