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White Bordeaux
Rhone, Red Burgundies and other areas

Red Bordeaux

1978 ~ Rating 7/10

This is an above average vintage, though many of the lesser wines will now be past their best.  Pauillac did best of all the appellations in this vintage.  The Latour was one of the best.

1982 ~ Rating 10/10

One of the greatest vintages of last century.  All appellations excelled with Pauillac, Pomerol, St. Emilion and St. Estephe being the best of a great bunch.

1983 – 7/10

A hot summer produced a large crop of good wine with the region of Margaux excelling.

1999 – 7/10

This was a difficult vintage with intermittent storms which challenged the growers of Bordeaux.  Careful selection is essential; the Batailley is very good indeed

2000 – 10/10

This is one of the great years in recent times.  A long hot summer with no rain from mid July to mid September produced a vintage of fine balance with good fruit and balancing tannins.

2003 – 9/10

Yet another above average vintage.  A very hot summer summer produce very big, alcoholic wine full of ripe fruit.  Some critics say it's an uncharacteristic Bordeaux vintage.  The wine will need time to show at their best.  All listed can be drunk now, but will benefit for another 3-5 years keeping. 

2004 – 8/10

This is being termed as the last 'cheap' Bordeaux vintage.  Since this vintage we have had the stellar 2005 vintage in which prices doubled, trebled and 1st growths increased by nearly 4 times the prices of this vintage.  This is considered to be a very good vintage producing wines that will come to hand quite quickly (from 2008 onwards) and yet drink well until 2020.  I have recently taken delivery so all wines are in stock.

2005 - Rating 10/10.  Landed Summer 2008

More has been written about this vintage than practically any other.  Perfect weather for growing and harvesting has produce a 'vintage of a life time' with pure fruit, good alcohol and great tannins.  Some of the growth clarets will not be ready for 25 years; I have gone for five lesser wines which I might be able to approach before my dotage, plus two magnificent examples of their terrior.

Chateau Patache d’Aux Medoc Stock 12 Bottles

£11.50 per Bottle

Chateau Cissac Haut-Medoc Stock 24 Bottles & 6 Magnums	£22.00 per Bottle £45 per magnum
Chateau La Tour By Medoc Stock 12 Bottles	£15.50 per bottle
Chateau Ormes des Pez St. Estephe Stock 24 Bottles	£25.00 per bottle
Chateau Croix de Beaucaillou St. Julien.  The second wine of Ducru Beaucaillou Stock 24 Bottles	£36.00 per bottle

Chateau Lynch Bages 5me cru Pauillac "Currant, blackberry, cherry and hints of licorice. Full-bodied, with silky and refined tannins and a fresh finish. This is racy and pretty. Very refined. Very structured. 92-94" winespectator.com "This dense inky/purple-hued, elegant Lynch Bages will not make tasters forget the 2000, 1996, 1990, or 1989, but it is a big improvement over some recent indifferent efforts. Although lacking the massiveness expected in a vintage such as 2005, it possesses copious quantities of creme de cassis, licorice, smoke, and minerals. With good precision, lively acidity, wonderful purity and elegance, it may represent a modern-day clone of the brilliant 1955 fashioned by charismatic proprietor, Jean-Michel Cazes’, father. The 2005 will require 3-5 years of cellaring, and should evolve for 20-25 years. 91-93" erobertparker.com Stock 12 Bottles

£85.00 per bottle

Chateau Montrose 2me cru St. Estephe Lovely intensity and purity on the nose with spices and great depth.  Big, sweet entry onto the palate, very tannic but wonderful ripeness.  Full-bodied and round in the mouth with great length.  RKL "The 2005 Montrose does not quite measure up to the 2003, but it is a beautiful effort. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc as well as a dollop of Petit Verdot, it possesses an inky/blue/purple color in addition to a sweet, provocative nose of creme de cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and subtle wood. Medium to full-bodied, elegant yet powerful, fresh, and nuanced, the acids are higher and the pH lower in 2005 than in 2002. The 2005 should be a long-lived classic, but patience will be required despite the relatively high alcohol (13.2%), which is counterbalanced by some of the highest tannins ever measured. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035.  92-94+" erobertparker.com Stock 12 Bottles

£95.00 per bottle

2006 - Rating 8/10 - Landed Summer 2009

An above average vintage where careful selection is the was and is the key.  Mildew was a problem which meant that the chateaux had to be very selective in which grapes where used.  Those that were have produced wines of excellence, those that haven't ...!  There are 5 carefully selected examples to choose from below all of which have had wonderful reviews.  The wines will not be in the UK until Summer 2009, but I can reserve them for you until they arrive.  They will go up in value before then.

Chateau de Fonbel St. Emilion Grand Cru. Owned and made by Alain Vauthier of the famous Ausone, this is well-made and very well-priced Saint Emilion from vines near Libourne. The 2006 is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. An earthy nose with good bright red fruits and some mineral quality. A hint of leafiness on the palate backed by rich dark cherry fruit. Smooth-textured with a clean, vibrant finish. Sure to be a good value St Emilion. Stock 24 bottles	£12.50 per bottle
Chateau L’Arrosee Grand Cru St. Emilion One Chateau whose star is now firmly in the ascendant. This is a well-situated Chateau whose favourable south-west facing aspect enables the grapes achieve perfect maturity. New owners the Caille family took over here just before the 2002 vintage and have renovated completely and appointed oenologist Gilles Pauquet (of Cheval Blanc, Canon and Figeac). The 2006 is 60% Merlot, and equal parts Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon, from low yields of 34hl/ha. The nose is gorgeous and very Burgundian mingling ripe plums, earth, and creaminess. Good vibrancy on the palate with lots of sweet sparkly red berry juice and good concentration and fine-grained tannins. There is real energy and length with a long, soft finish. Very appealing and stylish with a long drinking life ahead of it, this should be reasonably priced. Stock 24 bottles	£29.50 per bottle
Chateau Calon Segur 2me St. Estephe This traditional estate situated at the northern end of of Saint Estephe, is run by one of Bordeaux’s grandes dames - the no-nonsense Madame Capbern-Gasqueton. Dependably one of the best value wines of Bordeaux with another outstanding wine in 2006. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. The team at Calon Segur say that it is similar in style to the 1996 but with silkier tannins and more finesse. Deep dark crimson, with a pronounced nose of black cherry, plumskin, menthol and some animal earthiness. There is considerable body with smoky rich black fruit depth and freshness. Everything is here - texture, tannins, power and weight. A very complete Calon Segur, and the most generous St Estephe tasted. Stock 24 bottles	£36.75 per bottle
Chateau Lynch Bages 5me cru Pauillac An enormously popular Chateau in the UK, Lynch Bages is always a good bet en primeur. Now run by Jean-Charles Cazes who will be hoping to emulate and continue his father’s sterling efforts here. The 2006 is a great success certainly with 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. A gorgeous nose of high toned black and blue berry fruit with cloves. Very concentrated with layer upon layer of precise licorice fruit, cassis, tar and gentle oak spice. Voluptuous with supple tannins and refreshing acidity and expansive on the finish. Serious structure. Stock 24 bottles	£46.50 per bottle
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2me cru St. Julien Owned by the Borie family for more than sixty years, this famous estate is now managed by Bruno Borie and his sister Sabine Coiffe, combining tradition with innovation. The Borie family find parallels with the density 1995 and the structure and spice of the 1996. Described as an "aristocratic vintage", analytically it is as rich as the 2005 or 2003. A very attractive nose and complex nose with good vitality and intense berry purity, supported by ultra ripe black fruits, tar, and lots of cedar. The palate impression is cool, defined and very Cabernet with weight that builds. A sleek wine with suede tannins and a powerful structure, this will be very long lived. Undoubtedly a top Super-Second, the 2006 is a seriously good wine. Stock 24 bottles	£85.50 per bottle

Last updated: 04/07/08