TANNERS Bordeaux 2017 En Primeur Opening Offer JUNE 2018 The Wines Bordeaux 2017 quickens the blood. There s plenty of excellent quality, somewhere between 2014 and 2016, with balance and depth of fruit the key qualities. Alexandre Thienpont who at Vieux Château Certan has made one of the wines of the vintage, said it was: Back to Bordeaux more restraint, less alcohol, beautiful balance, the way I want to make wine. We agree, finding sensationally pure fruit, superb length and perfect harmony. There are very few blockbusters and the majority of wines are more intense than 2014, but less so than their drinkability is superb 2015 and 2016. Their drinkability is superb, and many will drink earlier than other recent vintages while having the capacity to age well. Our message is: don t be put off by the naysayers! We ve tasted En Primeur: What does it mean? All the 2017 wines in this offer are offered Lying Abroad or En Primeur. This means that you pay for the wine itself when you place your order and the duty (currently 2.16 ex VAT per 75cl bottle for mainland UK delivery) and VAT at the prevailing rates on the whole at the time of shipment. We anticipate shipping these wines in late 2018 and early 2019. Storage Wines purchased from Tanners by the case can be stored under bond. More information Please ring John, Robin, Graham or Rachel on 01743 234455 for advice. pure fruit, superb length and perfect harmony Château Rauzan-Ségla has produced an outstanding Margaux this year 276 wines; you have only to choose from the best wines, listed here, and you ll be amply rewarded. Take note that it is a sensational year to buy dry whites always the bridesmaids but this year more glamorous than the reds! There s density, aroma, glorious tropical fruit and a mineral finish on most wines and they are particularly recommended. There was good botrytis for the sweets, although parts of Barsac (Climens for example) were finished by the frost. For the rest it s a high quality, sweet, uncomplicated year that will richly repay buying one of our mixed cases. The Weather The 2017 vintage was heavily influenced by the weather, much more so than the previous two. Bud-break was early, leading to the risk of a late frost killing off these early shoots, and this is what afflicted many parts of Bordeaux on 27th and 28th April. Fortunately for many top properties on the Left Bank, the influence of the Gironde allowed higher temperatures and air movement to protect them, while on the Right Bank the plateau of Pomerol and the slopes of St-Emilion and Fronsac escaped unscathed too. The issue with frosting is that new buds regrow, but later, and these secondary bunches never really ripen fully. The question for the growers then is this: keep vital volumes up by including this fruit in the blend, or produce higher quality, but a lot less volume. This is a commercial decision, but it is the overriding reason we had to pick carefully from the lesser châteaux this year, and also why Angludet, devastated this year, has not made any wine from the vintage the quality remaining was not good enough. Early summer was hot, then cooler weather in August increased fruitiness, and reduced richness to some extent. The Merlot was ripe early, and this is why some Right Bank properties have made wines almost to 2016 levels. Then there was some rain in mid-september; it actually benefitted the Cabernets in the Médoc, but we discarded slightly dilute wines that caught some châteaux out. 1
The Market - should I buy? Buyer Stephen Crosland was thrilled by how good and typical Saint-Estèphe was showing, while Pauillac has power, and the best of St-Julien and Margaux is poised and charming. We loved some Haut-Médoc and Médoc wines - good everyday drinking - although a number of Left Bank stalwarts suffered from weather problems and are absent from this offer. Pomerol was generally great, Saint- Emilion very dependent on location, Fronsac and Castillon the best of the lesser regions. Finally the Graves (outstanding for whites as mentioned previously) for reds was a little patchy, some on the leaner, red-fruited side. Sauternes, highly undervalued, is a buy. The Red Wines 25 good value buys Château Semonlon, Haut-Médoc DCR46817 33 Balanced, good core of red fruit that goes through to the finish, clean and fresh on the finish too. Great everyday drinking. 0-5 years. Château Brisson, Côtes-de-Bordeaux, Castillon DCR05817 36 Tasted three times and each time it got better! Impressively full-bodied, decent structure, density and some concentration. Wow, at this price it s outstanding! 0-5 years. Château Tour St Bonnet, Médoc DCR47717 45 Good body and structure, blackcurrant overtones then a long follow-through on the palate. All round, a juicy character and fine feel from a property we like more and more. A good buy this year. 0-5 years. Château Cissac, Haut-Médoc DCR45017 48 Plenty of raspberry and plum, fresh and well-structured with elegant tannins bringing in backbone. Stylish, mid-term drinking. So consistent, this go to claret has delivered again and it s still a great price! 3-9 years. Château Vieux Robin, Médoc DCR45517 48 Lots of dark raspberry fruit, very attractive, with a splash of spicy oak. Some weight, nice structure, good effort and very drinkable mid-term. 0-5 years. Château Puygueraud, Bordeaux Côtes-de-Francs DCR04017 54 Generous character with a peppery note on the palate, rich and robust with surprising depth. Almost fuller bodied than normal with lots of soft, sweet fruit and very supple tannins make this a lovely wine in 2017. Very fresh yet supremely balanced. Excellent, a real winner this year for us. 0-5 years. Château La Tour de By, Médoc DCR45317 54 More Cabernet in the mix this year giving a textured, weighty and denser feel, and the freshness of 2014. It s well integrated, plenty of freshness and lovely drinking. A really good effort, worth buying. 0-5 years. Château Lanessan, Haut-Médoc DCR45217 60 A Lanessan with plenty of character; lots of fresh raspberries with some spice mixed in. Mid weight with structure and balance, this will be great drinking in a couple of years. It s on form claret that really stood out in the first big raft of tastings a total pleasure to taste. 3-9 years. Saintem, Denis Durantou, grand cru Saint-Emilion DCR73917 66 Lots of soft, sweet fruit and very supple tannins make this a lovely wine in 2017, very fresh yet supremely balanced. Excellent, a winner this year in Saint-Emilion for us. 0-5 years. Château Puy-Blanquet, grand cru Saint-Emilion DCR74017 78 Some initial richness on a cool, red fruit frame that suggests early drinking. Uncomplicated, easy and friendly this year, the team at J-P Mouiex have done a fine job in a tricky location. 0-5 years. Château Moulin Haut-Laroque, Fronsac DCR09817 81 Lucky with its situation out of the frost zone, there s a lovely nose, plenty of fruit, some depth and good, grippy tannin. A triumph for a lesser property, stood out for us. 3-9 years. Château Beau-Site, Saint-Estèphe DCR33917 81 There s a good, round, fleshy character, typically stony in the middle and good purity on the finish, from a very decent, if fairly humble Saint-Estèphe property. Worth a punt. 3-9 years. Château Lilian-Ladouys, Saint-Estèphe DCR34517 84 Really decent effort this year; density of flavour, typical taut tannins of St. Estèphe but underpinned with red and black fruit that is supple and will age nicely. Good value. 3-9 years. Château La Gurgue, Margaux DCR30917 93 Bright with lots of fresh raspberry and red plum. Lively, with integrated oak and mid-weight. This is a drinker but, with supple tannin behind, this will live a bit too. Good effort. 3-9 years. Château Les Cruzelles, Lalande-de-Pomerol DCR65317 102 Behind vibrant curranty fruit this is quite beefy in character with good tannins and toasty oak. Straightforward, well-made and satisfying, it points towards Pomerol but without the price. 3-9 years. A wine with lovely balance and definition and the crunch of acidity and freshness serves to accentuate the bright fruit notes. It is a great vintage for Cabernet Franc and this is particularly clear in this wine. 17+ Matthew Jukes, Matthewjukes.com Château Haut-Bages Monpelou, Pauillac DCR33617 102 Dark fruit, cassis and a little anise. Good tannic structure lends some power while the wine is fresh and fine in the finish. Generous, attractive, will keep a bit. 3-9 years. 2
New concrete egg fermenters at Pontet-Canet The barrel chai at Château Talbot Château Potensac, Médoc DCR46617 102 Really juicy mulberry and plum flavours, silky tannins a very harmonious, balanced wine that will fatten out too. Super structure underpins the whole. The quality of the Léoville Las-Cases wine-making rubs off on this wine. 3-9 years. Château Meyney, Saint-Estèphe DCR35017 114 Lots of black fruit, very Cabernet-driven and a hint of coconut from the oak. Petit Verdot, important here, comes into play too; structure is firm, feel is clean with a stony side. Very expressive, and as good a Meyney as we ve seen. 3-9 years. This is more proof of the consistency of Meyney. It has clear oak finessing, well held together with a cinnamon dusting and white pepper spicing, giving a gourmet edge with its own character. This feels finessed, contemporary and accomplished; a pretty complete package. 92 Jane Anson, Decanter Château Les Ormes de Pez, Saint-Estèphe DCR34917 114 Terrific colour, then a chunky, blocky style with black fruit character and an intense core. Big wine with a bit of muscle to it. 5-15+ years. This is a lovely wine and a buy for me. Succulent, bristling and charming, it has juicy brambled fruit extraction and tension. It doesn t take itself too seriously, just asking to be loved. The fruit spectrum is rich with blueberries and damsons, with integrity and a swirl of vanilla bean oak. 92 Jane Anson, Decanter Château Bonalgue, Pomerol DCR68517 120 Big and quite intense in style. Ripe, sweet fruit and good structure make for a powerful Pomerol that will repay ageing. Impressive this year. 5-15+ years. Château Cantemerle, 5me cru Haut-Médoc DCR27117 123 Freshness and purity all the way through, with fine balanced tannins. Juicy too, and should fatten up. Lovely, really on song, with the sort of structure to make this a great mid-term wine. 3-9 years. Château Chasse-Spleen, Moulis-en-Médoc DCR45117 132 A mix of black and red fruit, damson and plum. Good depth, punchy feel on the palate. Everything in balance. 3-9 years. Another very clever wine from this estate and in the face of adversity they still manage to make aromatic wines with welcome balance and élan. While this is a slimmer wine this vintage, it lacks nothing in complexity and attraction. You will need to be patient for the tannins to soften, but this is an admirable slice of winemaking. 17 Matthew Jukes, matthewjukes.com Château Fonbadet, Pauillac DCR29417 138 Reflecting the case for Pauillac this vintage, Fonbadet is fresh, has pretty black and red fruit, plenty of tannin and a gutsy finish. With a bit of power about it, this is approachable early but should hang on too. Great all-rounder this year. 3-9 years. Sarget de Gruaud Larose, Saint-Julien DCR37517 105 A fruit compôte on the nose and palate. Good curranty Cabernet tones with a lick of spice, fresh too but more intensity and generous oak comes through on the finish. Well-made and worthwhile, on the lines of Gruaud itself. 3-9 years. Lacoste-Borie, Pauillac DCR38017 111 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste has made brilliant wine yet again, and this second wine is an excellent option. Very obvious oak at the moment, plenty of black fruit and needs to meld together the tannins are quite forward. Looks like a longer term proposition but loads of quality. 3-9 years. 3
The Red Wines 12 Favourites on top form Château Lafon-Rochet, 4me cru Saint-Estèphe DCR26517 189 Typically chalky nose with mulberry and cherry behind. Sweet ripe feel in the mouth, some grip but lovely balance from a biggish wine that retains elegance and energy. Cracking effort. 5-15+ years. It is very well defined and more sophisticated than I have detected in recent vintages a crisp and vivacious Lafon-Rochet that should please many wine-lovers. 91-93 Neal Martin, vinous.com Château Langoa-Barton, 3me cru Saint-Julien DCR24117 195 Damson and black cherry fruit, this is a lovely fresh mouthful, dense and spicy with seamless tannin and super length. Plenty of life and intensity, Langoa is very appealing this vintage. 5-15+ years. Château Batailley, 5me cru Pauillac DCR28017 196.50 Blackcurrant, damson and a hint of fennel. Smooth, fresh with balanced oak holding everything together. Good weight, classic not showy. 5-15+ years. displays firm Pauillac tannins, well held together, with savoury and juicy fruit. I get the impression that this will close down, because those tannins are pretty serious, and with good levels of freshness this will age very well. 93 Jane Anson, Decanter Château Feytit-Clinet, Pomerol DCR67617 249 Hugely impressive. A compôte of black fruit on the nose gives way to spice and a rich yet mellow palate with super complexity, velvety tannins. It s robust yet not over-worked. Terrific. 5-15+ years. A wine of real distinction and class, the 2017 Feytit-Clinet possesses tremendous intensity and exceptional balance. Inky black cherry, lavender, charred earth and licorice, along with potent tannins, give Feytit-Clinet its explosive rich personality. 92-95 Antonio Galloni, vinous.com Château Rauzan-Ségla, 2me cru Margaux DCR21817 324 Another top wine this year, soft, complex and rich almost a fruit bomb but then the silky tannin and layered structure come through. Great depth, plenty of weight and the purity of black fruit emerges at the end. Outstanding. 5-15+ years. Château Léoville-Barton, 2me cru Saint-Julien DCR21017 327 Fabulously deep inky colour, super balance on fine tannins, and poise. Layered fruit and great structure, through to a mineral finish that brings purity and poise to the wine. Superb. 5-15+ years. Château Pavie-Macquin, 1er grand cru classé Saint-Emilion DCR81617 315 Loads of fresh dark fruit, plenty of depth and concentration, and crammed with silky tannin. The balance is impressive and the whole wine hangs together very well. Extremely good. 5-15+ years. Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, 5me cru Pauillac DCR27017 324 G-P-L is often good in a cooler year, and this year it is outstanding. Plenty of blackberry and blackcurrant, concentrated and intense on the palate. Super mouthfeel, very expressive and pure, then some good oak behind, touch of spice. Delivers superb length, classy and complex. 5-15+ years. a real success that s juicy and carefully extracted. It has weight and impact, with a Pauillac tannic hold and presence. It s one of my wines of the vintage, and a must buy. 94 Jane Anson, Decanter Château Bélair Monange, 1er grand cru classé Saint-Emilion DCR77017 594 A wine that is finally living up to its superb location. This is showy, intense on the nose and palate showing black fruit with a dash of spice. Perfect weight and the whole hangs beautifully together. Classy. 5-15+ years. Perfectly balanced and with decades ahead of it, this is an impeccable 2017 and it is going to drink within ten years, such is its grace and polish. 18.5+ Matthew Jukes, matthewjukes.com Château Pontet-Canet, 5me cru Pauillac DCR21217 504 Loads of fruit here, both raspberry and blackcurrant, then silky, velvety intensity in the mouth. Pretty and poised with superb fruit flavour, seamless tannin. This is a fabulous wine. 5-15+ years. Vieux Château Certan, Pomerol DCR71017 Est 1060-1240 Deep colour, super ripe black fruit with a tension on the palate. Powerful and full-bodied, blackberry and strawberry blend seamlessly with very fine ripe tannins. Brilliant texture and complexity. The whole is outstanding. Our candidate for Wine of the Vintage. 5-15+ years. Château Mouton-Rothschild, 1er cru Pauillac DCR20417 2160 Fruit compôte on the nose, very intense which continues on the palate. Real density and weight, but balanced and fresh. Not overrich, nice tension and lovely tannins, silky and long. Exceptional presence and stature, for us the most impressive of the Firsts. 5-15+ years. For more red wines, listed as they are released, please visit our website www.tanners-wines.co.uk/enprimeur and follow the path to Bordeaux! 4
Château La Mission Haut-Brion An anti-frost candle in Pessac-Léognan The White Wines Château Marjosse Blanc, Entre-Deux-Mers DCW80417 39 Tropical notes on the palate, succulent and fresh a very tidy effort with more density than most. 0-5 years. Clos des Lunes Lune d Argent Blanc, Bordeaux DCW02417 45 Quite a bit of greengage and lime on the palate, very refreshing with some peachy notes behind. Mineral feel at the end, wellbalanced, lighter than others but classy. 0-5 years. Château Doisy-Däene Grand Vin Sec, Bordeaux DCW01217 78 Good Sauvignon character with a lick of fine oak. Rich and racy, plenty of depth, then a lemony finish. This is a lovely, fresh, clean effort, plenty going on and a pleasure to drink. 0-5 years. Clos Floridene Blanc, Graves DCW80317 87 Rich, round fleshy peach fruit, quite delicious with a fresh finish. 0-5 years. Château La Garde Blanc, Pessac-Léognan DCW00817 Pretty nose, quite restrained on the palate. Delicate, more lemony in character with attractive freshness balance and elegance here. 0-5 years. Château Picque Caillou Blanc, Pessac-Léognan DCW80517 Loaded with peach and apricot fruit, then a slug of oak with cream and spice, the whole wrapped up in a lemony coat, this is formidable at the price. 0-5 years. Château Lespault-Martillac Blanc, Pessac-Léognan DCW02817 96 A mix of grapefruit freshness and apricot fullness, bound together by some toasty oak, just enough for good balance. Delicious. 0-5 years. 0-5 years. Château Olivier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan DCW02517 126 Peach and pear aromas, then a broad palate with good richness, slightly tropical on the mid palate; ripe lemons at the end, very complete feel to this. 0-5 years. Château Carbonnieux Blanc, Pessac-Léognan DCW02217 135 Tidy, restrained and balanced. Very elegant, quite mineral at the end, not a blockbuster but lots of energy. 0-5 years. Château Latour-Martillac Blanc, Pessac-Léognan DCW02917 141 Soft and richly fruited on the palate, that typical tropical character with a fresh finish. A dollop of flashy oak ups the ante here impressive this vintage. 0-5 years. Domaine de Chevalier Blanc cru classé, Pessac-Léognan DCW01917 414 Creamy and soft, super depth and intensity but with tension on the finish, even some zippy lemon. Powerful yet luxury feel to this wine, outstanding. 3-9 years. 5
Part of our sweet wine tasting Château Suduiraut in Sauternes The Sweet Wines Analysis at Château d Yquem suggests that this vintage is very similar to 1947! What is apparent is that the fresh acidity works very well with the rich sweetness, and could make it very great indeed. Do procure a Sauternes case for yourself the wine continues to be a bargain for the time, effort and quality put in. Otherwise avail yourself of a mixed case; we have put together two at different quality levels at the bottom of the page. Château Liot, Sauternes DCS00417H Very flowery aromatics, appealing and pretty, then a dollop of sweetness on the palate. Smooth and clean on the finish, with a pure feel. Attractive and charming Sa uternes. 0-5 years. Château Haut-Mayne, Sauternes DCS03517H Rich, luscious and friendly, plenty of barley sugar and acacia honey on the palate, simple yet satisfying. 0-5 years. Château Doisy Daëne, 2me cru Sauternes DCS01217H 171 Good Sauvignon character with a lick of fine oak. Rich and racy, plenty of depth, then a lemony finish. This is a lovely, fresh, clean effort, plenty going on and a pleasure to drink. 3-9 years. Château Raymond-Lafon, Sauternes DCS04817H 174 Intense, slightly oily nose with a lick of raw honey about it. Rich and butterscotch sweetness on the palate, good length. 0-5 years. Château Guiraud, 1er cru classé Sauternes DCS02417H 204 Plenty of honey sweetness about Guiraud this year, with a fresh acacia note through to the finish which lifts it although the sweetness is full-on. Straightforward, fabulous lushness in length, gloriously drinkable! 5-15+ years. There is an extraordinary barley sugar and honeycomb feel about this wine and it is refreshing and also exotic in equal measure. Not as fruity or tropical as many, this wine is all about depth of honeyed fruit and staggering grandeur! 19+ Matthew Jukes, matthewjukes.com Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, 1er cru classé Sauternes DCS01717H 228 Superb nose of spice, ginger, ripe lemons yet incredible balance. Lovely tension, generous and builds in flavour to the end. Great. 0-5 years. Château Rieussec, 1er cru classé Sauternes DCS01017H 276 Incredibly stylish, full-bodied and loaded with burnt orange notes, this is an amazingly detailed wine and one of the finest vintages of Rieussec in recent years. 19+ Matthew Jukes, matthewjukes.com (5-15+ years) Château Suduiraut, 1er cru classé Sauternes DCS00817H 294 There was a little frost here, but none of it affected the best plots. This is a vintage with botrytis affecting grapes that were ripe but not overripe and so there was a lot of acidity in the grapes in addition to the botrytis. This brings a peculiar balance and while, in theory, this should make a long-lived wine but in practice it actually changes the balance of the wine and brings freshness to the whole. Lovely! 18.5 Matthew Jukes, matthewjukes.com (3-9 years). Sweet Cellar A Three halves of each of the first four wine above: Châteaux Liot, Haut-Mayne, Doisy Daëne and Raymond-Lafon 131.25 Sweet Cellar B Three halves of each of the last four wine above: Châteaux Guiraud, Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Rieussec and Suduiraut 250.50 6