2006 Bordeaux
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Joseph at the window of our
gîte
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Victoria returned to the fray this year, having
missed last year's various tastings of the 2005
vintage (Joseph can thank the patron saint of babies
that he wasn't disguised as a dachshund and deposited
at the local kennels for the duration). Also in the
party, Victoria's parents, toting their stoutest
rhino hide gauntlets; they had volunteered to care
for His Nibs whilst Mum and Dad were out busying
themselves with the demanding task of assessing the
new vintage.
What did Mum and Dad find? Well, we discovered a
vintage as thrilling and dangerous as a river in
spate. Fortunately, there are many sound, strong,
even beautiful, stepping stones on which to cross.
So what occurred? What were the influences that
shaped this harvest that follows so hotly on what is
generally considered among the best vintages ever in
the region?
Well, another drought struck Bordeaux and that makes
four in a row. One of the results of long periods of
low precipitation in a vineyard is that the fruit
develops very thick skins and it is the skin of a
grape that protects against a number of undesirables:
ingress by water and mould for starters.
All this left the harvest in a good position to duck
the worst of the weather…and the worst of the
weather punctuated both the merlot and cabernet
sauvignon harvests (merlot ripens much earlier than
cabernet, the picking normally completed a good few
weeks before the harvesters enter the cabernet
vineyards). However, some appellations were notably
drier than others: Pessac-Léognan, for
example, saw much less rain than those regions
further north. Other vineyards had largely completed
their harvests before the rains arrived: Pomerol is
perhaps the single most homogenously successful
appellation in the vintage.
What we're left with is a very mixed bunch of wines.
There are some top quality examples, but a great many
properties found 2006 simply too testing. In
selecting wines for our offering, we intend to be
very price sensitive. We don't intend to offer wines
for which the quality/price ratio is unfavourable!
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Another window shot, this time in Mouton’s
new tasting room
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N.B. Robert Parker has recently published his
thoughts on the vintage and wow, does he ever love
2006! This may have two effects, one desirable, one rather less so. Firstly,
many of the world’s serious wine collectors
read Parker, some hanging on his every word. This may
well make easier our job of selling the wines. The
other side of the coin is that the Bordelais use Parker’s
assessments as a yardstick by which they calculate
prices for their wines. If Parker rates a vintage
highly, lofty tickets are often the result. Watch
this space!
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NB. All prices stated are per 12x75cl, in bond.
Should you require any different bottle or case
sizes, please email either Caspar
or
Victoria.
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St Estèphe
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price In Bond |
| 2006 |
Château Cos d'Estournel, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Rich, full, spicy, black fruit nose of chocolate and cassis and black plum. Creamy rich in the mouth, with plush, pure, black fruits underpinned by big minerals and firm tannins. There's medium acidity, well tucked under the fruit. This is very nutty, mineral and persistent, with a fabulous finish. A dry, structured wine and a backward one. 18/20.
"...It is another terrific effort from an estate that has done everything right over the last decade. 92-94+/100." Robert Parker
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2014-2025 |
12x75cl |
£720.00 |
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| 2006 |
La Dame de Montrose, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Very black cassis and plum fruit to the nose here. Very cool, medium weight, silky fruit on entry. This is compact and full of rich tannins. Mineral and long, with a really good, full finish. There's a dryness to the tannins, but they are integrated. Good cassis flavour to the aftertaste; long and fresh. 16.5/20.
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2011-2020 |
12x75cl |
£140.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Lafon-Rochet, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Orange scented, cassis and mineral nose, aspects that translate onto the palate, too. This is complete and mouth-coating and very mineral and boasts an excellent profile. Juicy-rich, nervy Lafon-Rochet. 17/20.
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2013-2022 |
12x75cl |
£180.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Montrose, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A smoky cassis and plum nose with a touch of spice. There are medicinal notes too. The palate is cool and concentrated and choc-full of blackcurrant fruit. This is rich and mouth-coating and full of nutty tannins. The profile is parallel, the whole very persistent and very long. Fine finish: very juicy-fresh at the end. Quite tough at the moment, just needing time. 18/20.
"...It is an outstanding, fresh, lively effort that appears to be a brilliant achievement for the vintage...92-95/100." Robert Parker
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2015-2025 |
12x75cl |
£471.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Calon-Ségur, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
Notes:
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2015-2027 |
12x75cl |
£300.00 |
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Return to online list format |
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Cos
d’Estournel from across
the road
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Pauillac
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price In Bond |
| 2006 |
Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A floral, berry-ish nose here, including cassia dn small plums and their flowers. There's a creaminess to the fruit on the nose. This is very mineral in the mouth: bristling. Very cool cassis fruit. The acidity is just medium, but this is backward and full of grip. A touch raw at the moment, but long and with great potential. 16.5/20.
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£192.00 |
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| 2006 |
Les Carruades de Lafite, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: This is virtually opaque in the glass. There are ripe, berry notes on the nose; citrus, almost a touch of orange beneath the pure cassis. Entry here is cool and citrus-fresh and there are blackcurrants all over the fruit. The tannins are square, rich, integrated. Great length to a lovely lift of grip at the back. The finish is full and laced with minerals. 17.5/20.
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£390.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: The blackest fruit to the nose here, with a sprinkling of peppery spice, plus that cassis and black cherry fruit. IN the mouth, initially creamy and leading to black cherry fruit. This is full of ripe, medium tannins and fine mineral grip. Black cherry flavours. A complete wine, with nice, subtle grip and a juicy finish. 17+/20.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£225.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Duhart-Milon, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: There are nutty, tannic notes to the nose here, in addition to the wealth of pure, creamy cassis fruit. Nicely fresh fruit and some smoke from the wood. Creamy, pure and fresh cassis fruit here - very mineral - with square, rich and very nutty tannins. An elegant, fresh, structured, parallel Duhart. 17.5/20.
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2012-2025 |
12x75cl |
£225.00 |
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| 2006 |
Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Nice, ripe purity of cassis fruit ot the nose here; a touch creamy, with some meatiness and decent breadth. Cool and just medium weight wine, with medium, nutty, integrated tannins. Nice shape in the mouth to this. By no means a big wine, but a complete on nevertheless. Long and composed. Finishes and grips very well. 17.5+/20.
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2010-2020 |
6x75cl |
£261.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Very nutty, with a fine weight of cassis fruit, although this is a touch closed. There a floral notes and creamy red and black currants combined with a lick of cocoa. This is very cool and medium weight and there's an almost minty flavour to the Cabernet fruit. Great drive here and equilibrium. Very mineral and long; subtle and finely balanced and that red and black currant fruit again. Fine shape. This is very cool and elegant and long. 18/20.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£312.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A good rich nose here, as ever more forward than the GPL. Red and black fruits, a touch meaty. This is very cool and just medium weight. An elegant, mineral wine, with some warmth at the end. Red and black, with nice lift and grip. Persistent. Rich and chunky, integrated tannins. Cool and composed. 17+/20.
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2011-2020 |
12x75cl |
£174.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Lafite, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Very pure, ripe, cassis aromas and a hint of liquorice, floral-fresh. This is very cool and creamy with cassis fruit; but this is full of freshness and elegant structure; subtly persistent, with masses of integrated, nutty, fresh tannins. Long and with fine, elegant grip. Very mineral at the end. Complete; very fresh. Classically built, Old World style and very fine Lafite. 19+/20.
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2016-2030 |
12x75cl |
£3,300.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: As ever, more aristo than the Forts, with complex cassis and mineral notes; damson, with hints of dark chocolate. A rich and medium-full palate. This is composed and complete; integrated, with rich, covered, ripe and fine tannins and a lick of alcohol at the end. Really mineral juice here. This is a rather atypically forward Latour, with good, juicy grip. Not really powerful at the back, but laden with cassis and damson. Delicious! 18.5/20.
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2015-2030 |
12x75cl |
£3,420.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A ripe, black fruit cordial to the nose here: cassis, pepper and loganberry. Creamy, composed and backward in the mouth; rich and very, very mineral. Cool, with some good intensity and concentration and then that length. Good Lynch. 17.5/20.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£369.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: There's a really good purity of cassis fruit to the nose here, a little meaty. This 2006 is a rich, structured wine and very oaky at the moment. However, there's that delicious, pure, black fruit beneath and high grip to the long, long finish.
"...The 2006 is another massive wine...93-95+/100." Robert Parker
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£396.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Pichon Baron de Longueville, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: There are floral notes to the rich, black plum and cassis fruit here.
Really good concentration to the palate. This has grip and real drive and follow-through. It is also loaded with supple black fruits. Good Pichon and, unlike Lalande, a true Pauillac.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£522.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A wealth of red and black currant fruit on the nose. Meaty aromas and a touch of smoke; gingerbread.
A very cool, silky entry here and there are credible, nutty, ripe tannins. This is rather backward, but the finish is nicely chunky. A good wine and a long one. 17.5/20.
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2014-2030 |
12x75cl |
£651.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes:
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2015-2030 |
12x75cl |
£3,810.00 |
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Return to online list format |
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Looking south from Latour’s tasting room
towards St Julien
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Margaux and Moulis
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price In Bond |
| 2006 |
Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A warm, berryish nose of red and black fruits, plus biscuit aromas from the wood. Forward, flattering and full of accessible plum and currant fruit. This is nicely long, with moderate, integrated tannins. Altogether very come-hither! 17/20.
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£228.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Ferrière, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Very crisp, floral nose of red and black fruits. This is backward and very, very cool in the mouth, but there is a completeness about this: a beginning, middle and end, plus good character, minerals and intensity. This isn't a big wine, but rather a beautiful one.17/20.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£153.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Giscours, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Oaky nose, a little floral, with spice twisted about the red and black fruit. Medium weight, a little cool and rather backward. Mineral and persistent, with good shape and poise. Nicely clean and expressive. 17.5/20.
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2012-2025 |
12x75cl |
£270.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Kirwan, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Really good richness and purity to the nose here; something of a stand-out. There are some oak aromas coming over as freshly sawn wood. The fruit in the mouth is all cassis and this is very cool. This has shape and length. The tannins are nutty and a touch raw at the moment, perhaps sourced from the wood. Needs time. 16.5/20.
"A virile, muscular-styled effort...88-91/100." Robert Parker
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2013-2020 |
12x75cl |
£234.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Lascombes, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: An oaky, creamy, black fruit nose. Some very pure cassis fruit and a floral aspect. Cool and creamy on entry here. There are some nicely integrated tannins. This is a touch mineral and quite long enough. Modern, but very good with it. 17.5/20.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£372.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: The nose here is warm and broad, with fresh black fruits and a hint of orange. The oak is present, too. This is very cool, nutty and medium weight and there are a great many fine tannins. This is long, with very good equilibrium. 17/20.
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£261.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Very pure, aristocratic, cassis nose (this has more Cabernet is it that ever before: 90% this year). There are notes of Prunus flowers, very beautiful. A very cool, elegant, composed and complete wine showing fine harmony. Coolly persistent and subtle withy fine, integrated tannins. Medium, completely covered acidity. Very very long. A beauty in the vintage 19.5/20.
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2015-2030 |
12x75cl |
£3,300.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Touch of creaminess here on the nose and red and black fruit: cherries and cranberry. This is cool ands medium weight and fresh. A balanced wine, with rich, credible tannins. Very fresh and good and long. I like this. 16.5/20.
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£186.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Fine colour here: almost opaque. Quite an aristocratic, rich, black nose; blackcurrants and plum. Good purity. Cool and a touch creamy. This is a mineral, juicy wine with really good grip at the end. Small plums. Moderate, integrated tannin. A touch peppery right at the back. Long and this finishes very well. 18/20.
"...This structured, powerful, medium- to full-bodied, beautifully made, ageworthy 2006...91-94/100." Robert Parker
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£1,152.00 |
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| 2006 |
Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Notes: There are floral touches to the red and blackcurrant fruit here and there's a hint of spice from the wood. Rich, very cool entry. This continues cool too and there are masses of very fine, ripe tannins. This gains in intensity throughout. Full of grip: this is a great, fresh, juicy wine. Delicious. Very fine at the finish. 17.5/20.
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£345.00 |
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Return to online list format |
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Château Giscours, resembling something
from High Chaparral
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St Julien
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price In Bond |
| 2006 |
Clos du Marquis, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Floral nose, concentrated, of red and black fruit: raspberry and cassis. Easy going entry here, then the mouth fills with fine, serious, nutty tannins. This is fresh and very cool and backward; very juicy and tangy-fresh. Red and black fruit at the finish. 17/20.
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£234.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Croix du Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Good blackcurrants to the nose here, floral, a touch nutty. This is medium weight and full of structure and black, cassis and plum fruit. Loaded with medium plus, ripe, full tannins. Mineral and very long and very juicy. Mouth-coating; full of energy. 17/20.
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2011-2020 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Ducru Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Good blackcurrants to the nose here, floral, a touch nutty. This is medium weight and full of structure and black, cassis and plum fruit. Loaded with medium plus, ripe, full tannins. Mineral and very long and very juicy. Mouth-coating; full of energy. 17/20.
"...Powerful, pure, rich, and intense...94-96/100." Robert Parker
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2014-2025 |
12x75cl |
£762.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Gruaud Larose, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A melange of small red and black fruits here: currants and plums. Cool, backward wine, with really decent fruit concentration. Medium, very fine, paste-like tannins. Medium plus, crisp acidity. Long, composed. Nice profile. Mineral. 17/20.
"Velvety and fruity. Lots of mineral and berry character. I would like to see a little more fruit in the center palate, but it's clean and racy. And it should grow in the barrel. Better than the 2005. Close to 92-94. Score range: 89-91." The Wine Spectator (Not scored by Parker)
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2014-2025 |
12x75cl |
£273.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Langoa-Barton 3ème Cru Classé, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Fresh, floral black fruits to the nose. There are currants and plums and a dash of dried fruit. Very cool and creamy entry. This is backward and very rich and full of very fine, integrated tannins. Very long; medium-fresh. Creamy red and black fruit. Langoa's on a roll. 17.5/20.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£300.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Léoville-Barton, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Very black and really backward nose, rather closed and wafting minerals at the taster. This is pure, with nutty, cassis fruit. This is long and compact and has everything it needs to shrug off the passage of time and become something very serious in its maturity. 18+/20.
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2015-2030 |
12x75cl |
£396.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Léoville-Lascases., St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Lovely pure and floral cassis nose. The palate is creamy and of floral, black, berry-ish fruit. This manages to be both elegant and backward; subtle and very mineral and fresh. Lovely aftertaste of nut and dried black fruits. 18.5+/20.
"...It reveals a strong similarity to its next door nrighbor, Chateau Latour...93-95+/100." Robert Parker
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2014-2030 |
6x75cl |
£600.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Léoville-Poyferré, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A rich and very black, meaty nose with some good beadth to it. Very black fruit on the palate. Medium weight and backward and a touch dusty. Plummy fruit. This is long and juicy, unexpectedly elegant. 17/20.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£357.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Talbot, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Good, rich nose here; a mélange of red and black fruit. The palate has a creamy texture, good minerality and intensity. There’s grip and rich, nutty tannins. If anything, the finish is a touch dry, but I reckon this will be resolved with time. Good Talbot. 17/20.
“…a more seductive, possibly sexier wine than the 2005…89-91/100.” Robert Parker
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2014-2025 |
12x75cl |
£225.00 |
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Ducru-Beaucaillou
from the garden
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Médoc
and
Haut-Médoc
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price In Bond |
| 2006 |
Château Beaumont, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France
Notes:
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2010-2016 |
12x75cl |
£63.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Potensac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Very black nose here, of cassis and plum Cool, cassis fruit and lots of rich, slightly dry-but-integrated tannins. Cool and fresh and backward. This is a balanced, but highly structured wine. Long, with a really good finish. 16.5/20.
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2011-2020 |
12x75cl |
£117.00 |
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Return to online list format |
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Pessac-Léognan
and Graves - The
Reds
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price In Bond |
| 2006 |
Château Bahans-Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A smoky, tangy, nutty, plum skin nose. Black fruit with a hint of liquorice and plum. Immediately very fresh, with more grip and power than the Chapelle de la Mission. Medium weight, the tannins are a touch firmer. Long and more mineral. More backward. Very tangy/crunchy. 17++/20.
|
2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£330.00 |
|
| 2006 |
Château Bouscaut, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Black, rich and spicy nose of plum fruit. A creamy nose. This is rich and richly, ripely, chunkily tannic; long and grippy. Medium plus acidity, very fresh. Touch warm at the end, but I really like this. 17/20.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£129.00 |
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| 2006 |
Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Very interesting nose , very ripe floral aromas including bramble, ripe plum and chocolate. A tangy, rich, concentrated palate, with oak evident. Nice grip and shape in the mouth. This is long and modern. 17+/20.
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2014-2025 |
12x75cl |
£237.00 |
|
| 2006 |
Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A fresh, ripe, floral nose, veneered by nutty wood. This is creamy-rich, nutty, with red and black fruit (currants) and masses of very nutty, square tannins. Long and rather embryonic. Juicy-fresh. A keeper! 17.5/20.
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2015-2025 |
12x75cl |
£369.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: N.B. This is 57% Merlot; 41% Cabernet Sauvignon; 2% Cabernet Franc. 14% abv A rich, black, tangy nose, more solid and masculine than the La Mission. There's wood spice on top. Nutty. The tannins here are apple pippy and very fine and integrated. More backward than the La Mission. Very black, plummy fruit. Very fresh and chunky-rich. Long and bristling. Fabulous tannins here.18.5+/20.
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2016-2030 |
12x75cl |
£3,120.00 |
|
| 2006 |
Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: N.B. This is 59% Merlot; 40% Cabernet Sauvignon; 1% Cabernet Franc. 14.3% abv This is a touch floral and rather closed. Hints of chocolate plum and the oak is apparent. A rich entry of black plum fruit and then very mineral and full of nutty, chunky tannins. There's a lick of alcohol at the back. This is long and fresh and loaded, but cool, with good focus and purpose. An elegant wine. 18.5/20.
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2015-2030 |
12x75cl |
£3,000.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Very spicy, black pepper nose including Oriental spice and cassis aromas. Cassis and spice again on the palate. Quite exotic, but backward. Nutty, long and complete. Full of nenergy. I like this. 17.5/20.
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2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£306.00 |
|
| 2006 |
Château Pichon Baron de Longueville, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Notes: There are floral notes to the rich, black plum and cassis fruit here.
Really good concentration to the palate. This has grip and real drive and follow-through. It is also loaded with supple black fruits. Good Pichon and, unlike Lalande, a true Pauillac.
|
2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£522.00 |
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La Mission-Haut-Brion…
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…and the view from La Mission towards the
gates of Haut-Brion
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Pessac-Léognan
and Graves - The Whites
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price In Bond |
| 2006 |
Château Laville-Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: N.B. This is 86% Semillon; 14% Sauvignon Blanc Pungent, quite complex aromas of fresh and dried fruits: white currant and angelica; touch of spice and grilled chicken. Tangerine, perhaps; pear. Concentrated, but very crisp. Really compact and mineral this. Lime juice. Composed, persistent and very nicely balanced, this has an almost earthy minerality. Leafy and lemony. Very, very young, very fresh. Great lift at the back. 18/20.
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2011-2020 |
12x75cl |
£3,300.00 |
|
| 2006 |
Château Pape-Clément , Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: This smells ripely of pear, apricot and spice, with orange notes. A creamy entry, peachy, spicy and nutty. This is concentrated, almost a little solid. Nutty and long. Touch of angelica. Drying minerals. Juicy, medium acidity. Very long. 17.5/20.
"...this beauty is one of the appellation's finest wines...92-94+/100." Robert Parker
|
2013-2025 |
12x75cl |
£762.00 |
|
| 2006 |
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Real green orange aromas here and some toastiness from the wood. Touch of dried fruit about it. Orangy, creamy entry. Composed and compact, subtle, but quite square at the moment. Very long, with dusty minerals at the end. Fabulous S-H-L. 18/20.
|
2009-2014 |
12x75cl |
£372.00 |
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New growth in Pessac-Léognan
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St Emilion
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price In Bond |
| 2006 |
Château Angélus, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: This is a little dumb, but there are chocolate and spice wood aromas and hints of brambly black fruit. The entry is creamy and shows some decent concentration. There's balance here and length too. Medium, slightly grainy tannins; the acidity tucked up. This is good 2006. 17.5/20.
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2014-2025 |
12x75cl |
£1,125.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Canon-La-Gaffelière, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Smoky notes and a wealth of black cherries. There's a sweetness to the aromas, as well as floral notes. There are some dried fruits and something medicinal. The fruit on the palate is black, with some peppery spice. This is richly structured and long and full of minerals and nutty tannins. Again, a mix of fresh and dried fruit. Nice shape. Crisp acidity. Nice intensity at the back. Tasted twice. 18
"Stefan von Niepperg's flagship estate...has turned in another stunning performance. 91-94/100." Robert Parker
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£405.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Cheval-Blanc, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: N.B. This is 55% Merlot; 45% Cabernet Franc. There's a chocolate note to the wood on the nose here. The fruit is rather closed, although some concentration of black plum and a touch of dried fruit. This is nicely rich and full of fine, nutty tannins. Cheval's quite a meaty wine this year; quite dry. Composed and nicely balanced and very mineral. Black plum fruit. Very juicy; nutty from the tannin. Medium plus acidity well tucked in. very, very long. Nicely chunky at the end. One of the wines of the vintage for me. 19/20.
"...While the 2006 may not eclipse the 2005, 2000, or 1998, it is not far off in terms of quality and longevity...92-95/100." Robert Parker
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2015-2030 |
12x75cl |
£4,410.00 |
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| 2006 |
Clos Fourtet, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: The usual smoky, meaty, oaky nose; smoked beef and creamy red and black fruits: cherries. This is really quite backward, with good concentration. Peppery notes to the back of the palate. Grippy, with medium acidity and a nice lift at the end. 17.5+/20.
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£303.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Figeac, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: The usual smoky, meaty, oaky nose; smoked beef and creamy red and black fruits: cherries. This is really quite backward, with good concentration. Peppery notes to the back of the palate. Grippy, with medium acidity and a nice lift at the end. 17.5+/20.
"Very impressive aromas of blackberry and coffee follow through to medium- to full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a long finish. This is all in finesse. A tiny bit more on the midpalate would make it 92-94. Score range: 89-91." The Wine Spectator (Not marked by Parker)
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2013-2020 |
12x75cl |
£489.00 |
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| 2006 |
Petit Cheval, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: N.B. This is 60% Merlot, 40& Cabernet Franc There are lots of nutty, biscuit oak aromas here and there's a touch of meatiness to the fruit. Quite a solid nose here: meaty plums, very black. Touch of dried fruit about it. A dry and dryly tannic palate. This is full of nutty, decently natural, quite dry tannin, pretty well integrated. Black fruit: plums and kernel cherry flavours. This is very, very mineral. Medium plus acidity well covered by the fruit and there's a nice juiciness about it. This is highly structured and quite concentrated. 17/20.
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2011-2018 |
12x75cl |
£708.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château La Mondotte, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: N.B. This is 60% Merlot, 40& Cabernet Franc There are lots of nutty, biscuit oak aromas here and there's a touch of meatiness to the fruit. Quite a solid nose here: meaty plums, very black. Touch of dried fruit about it. A dry and dryly tannic palate. This is full of nutty, decently natural, quite dry tannin, pretty well integrated. Black fruit: plums and kernel cherry flavours. This is very, very mineral. Medium plus acidity well covered by the fruit and there's a nice juiciness about it. This is highly structured and quite concentrated. 17/20.
"...The raw potential for something even more exquisite than my initial rating suggests is obvious...93-96/100." Robert Parker
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2014-2025 |
6x75cl |
£750.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Troplong-Mondot., St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Smoky, black, cocoa-scented nose here. The palate is creamy, giving up brambly fruit flavours. This is full of rich tannins, but they're not overdone. This is balanced and even quite powerful. Long, with blueberry and bramble at the finish.
"The 2006 is a marvellous effort...91-94+/100." Robert Parker
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2012-2025 |
12x75cl |
£654.00 |
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| 2006 |
Clos de l'Oratoire, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A rather delicious nose, oaky and modern; floral, with black cherry fruit and hints of spice, almost clove. There’s real sweetness to the fruit. Very cool fruit on the palate. That spice again and the black cherries. Medium weight and super-cool, with a very nice profile. Long and complete. 17+/20.
“…Fragrant and rich at the start – very opulent. So sweet and smooth. 16.5/20.” Jancis Robinson
“…A big-time sleeper of the vintage…Opulent, fleshy, rich, and atypically fruity and forward for the vintage…” 90-93/100.” Robert Parker
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2011-2019 |
12x75cl |
£186.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Beauséjour-Bécot, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Some rich, black fruit aromas of cherry and bramble. There are notes of red apple and dark chocolate too. A creamy-rich and cool palate, with lots of spice and some drying tannins. This is very compact at the finish, but is concentrated, with good purity. 17.5/20.
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2011-2020 |
12x75cl |
£300.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château Canon, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Notes: "A sweet, ripe, fleshy effort with soft tannins, impressive concentration, and sexy, up-front aromas of black cherries, herbs, crushed rocks, and spring flowers, this medium-bodied St Emilion will undoubtedly put on more weight with additional cellaring. 89-92/100." Robert Parker
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2012-2025 |
12x75cl |
£390.00 |
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St Emilion and the
plain beyond
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Pomerol
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price In Bond |
| 2006 |
Château Clinet, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Notes: A big, smoky, black fruit nose of bramble and the blackest cherry. Touch of cocoa, chocolate and plum. Very cool, with bramble and soft plum fruit. This is not massively concentrated, but there's grip and mineral interest at the finish. Medium, quite chunky, natural tannins. Medium plus, juicy, hidden acidity. Very long. 18/20.
"Clinet seems to have come of age over the last several vintages...90-92/100." Robert Parker
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2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£369.00 |
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| 2006 |
Château La Conseillante, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Well concentrated red and black fruit aromas here. Nice purity of fresh black cherries. Very cool, backward and compact wine. Very nice profile and "life". Composed. Mineral. Juicy and very long. 18+/20.
"La Conseillante has been hitting on all cylinders over the last several vintages...92-95/100." Robert Parker
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2015-2025 |
12x75cl |
£654.00 |
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| 2006 |
Vieux Château Certan, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Notes: N.B. This is 75% Merlot; 25% Cabernet Franc A ripe mix of red and black fruits here, plus a whiff of smoke. Very glossy, silken entry. Red and black fruits again. This is delicious! Very cool and lively, but very natural too. Long, with very ripe tannins. Very long, lovely, easy wine. Fabulous finish. Cool and very beautiful indeed. 19/20.
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2014-2025 |
6x75cl |
£415.50 |
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| 2006 |
Château L'Evangile, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Notes:
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2013-2030 |
12x75cl |
£960.00 |
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Racking the wine at Vieux-Château-Certan
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Barsac& Sauternes
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