|
The US and the EU have agreed to a four month suspension of tariffs, meaning it is now a mad scramble to get stuff on the water. Our importer is moving as quick as they can to get our 2018 Bordeaux Futures moving. Given the container shortage, I suspect we will be pushing the envelope on the 4 month time frame, but that is there issue, not mine. And, everyone is hopeful that with this step, there will be no returning to the retaliatory tariffs on wine, cheese and Scotch in some weird attempt to punish the EU for airplane subsidies. Yes, it is that stupid. Anyhoo... Reply to order. And if you are looking at the over $80 stuff... let's talk...
Chateau Fleur la Mothe Medoc 2018 (plenty available) Sale $17.99
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot. “A good name to remember when looking for value in the Médoc. It's definitely up there with its 2016, with well defined plum and raspberry fruits, and freshness alongside the tannins, with an excellent smoky touch to the finish. The home estate of consultant Antoine Medeville, located just outside Pauillac. Drinking Window 2023 – 2038.” Decanter “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Fleur la Mothe opens with plums and earth with herbs.. Full-bodied, rich and seductive, it has a plush texture and great length.” WA
59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. “The 2018 Sénéjac has an attractive bouquet of blackberry and raspberry fruits, touches of graphite and pressed flowers. I admire the precision of this Haut-Médoc. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, well-judged new oak (25%) and a touch of dark chocolate toward the finish. This has real panache and class and comes highly recommended." Vinous
82% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc “This gem of a wine has terrific cassis, graphite, spice box and earthy aromas and flavors that develop nicely with time in the glass. Balanced, medium to full-bodied, and nicely textured, it has ample tannins and a great finish. There are a scant 1,000 cases, but I suspect it will represent a rocking value." JD
Haut-Brisson St. Emilion 2018 (1 bottle)
"The deep, saturated purple/plum-colored 2018 Château Haut Brisson checks in as a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from a 22-hectare vineyard of fine gravelly and quartz-rich soils sitting on top of deep clay. Still aging in 35% new French oak, this rich, medium to full-bodied Saint-Émilion offers a nicely layered and beautifully balanced style as well as complex notes of blue and black fruits, spice box, blood orange, and violets. It has an exotic edge, ample mid-palate depth, and the sexy yet pure style of the vintage. It’s a smoking good Saint-Émilion to drink any time over the coming two decades. Tasted twice." JD
“This is a final blend composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, with the Merlot harvested October 3-8 and the Cabernet Franc harvested on October 9. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Poesia opens with notes of baked black cherries, mocha, spice cake, redcurrant jelly and black raspberries with nuances of dried roses, aniseed, candied violets and Christmas cake plus a waft of molten licorice. Full-bodied, rich and packed with red and black fruit layers, it has a solid structure of firm, finely grained tannins and compelling freshness, finishing very long and layered.” WA
Prieure-Lichine Margaux 2018 (9 bottles) Sale $49.99
"Prieuré Lichine has done a great job of capturing the rich concentration in the cassis and blackberry fruits that are easily found in 2018, wrapped up perfectly in juicy, vibrant strands of acidity and tannin. There's no question that this is an intense wine, and although the alcohol is not especially high it has a generous texture. Spice notes lend a sense of uplift to balance out the exuberance of the palate. I expect this will close down for a good few years before coming into its own. " " Blackberry with white-pepper and some tile undertones on the nose. It’s full-bodied with tight, chewy tannins yet so beautifully polished and composed. Lingering finish." JS
Malartic Lagraviere 2018 (10 bottles) Sale $63.99
"This remains a little hidden and distant at this point in time, but there are some gorgeous rich liquorice and cassis fruits here, and the texture stands out for its silkiness. Clearly a very good wine, which opens up slowly and carefully. Classic but with depth and grip, continuing a run of successful vintages at Malartic. Last vintage before they take on Eric Boissenot as consultant. 2% Petit verdot makes up the blend, with 70% new oak for ageing." D “This is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, to be aged for 18-22 months in oak barriques, 70% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Malartic Lagraviere gives scents of baked red and black cherries, warm blackcurrants and balsamic with touches of underbrush, moss-covered bark and tobacco. Full-bodied, firm and chewy in the mouth, it packs in the berry preserves with some pepper and spice sparks coming through on the long finish.” V
Branaire Ducru St. Julien 2018 (1 bottle) Sale $69.99
“The 2018 Branaire-Ducru is fabulous. Bright, lifted and impeccably precise, the 2018 is one of the best recent Branaires I can remember tasting. The 2018 is distinguished by its vertical lift, striking aromatic intensity and exceptional balance. Lavender, rose petal, gravel, mint and sweet red/purplish berry fruit are all given an extra kick of textural richness. More than anything else, I was blown away by the wine's density and precision. The 2018 is dazzling. There's not much else to say. Well, except the obvious question, which is why is Branaire not at this level every year? The 2018 is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Tasted three times.” Sale $74.99
"Tasted on two separate occasions, the 2018 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is a brilliant wine based on 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, aging in 65% new oak (there’s some in amphora as well) that comes from a magical terroir on the upper plateau, just outside of Saint-Émilion. This is pure limestone soils, and the wine shows it with its fresh, vibrant style as well as incredibly minerality. Vivid cassis, graphite, white flowers, and spice characteristics all flow to a medium to full-bodied, pure, incredibly elegant wine that shows the new style of this estate beautifully. It’s not for those seeking overt power and opulence, but it builds incrementally on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins and a great finish. It’s as classy as it gets. Give bottles 4-6 years of bottle age, and it will keep for 2-3 decades." JD "Blueberry, blackberry, coffee beans, slate, sage and rosemary are layered up here, opening slowly to show a gunsmoke edge. A success en primeur and has lived up the billing. The first vintage to be entirely overseen by Juliet Bécot. A yield of 50hl/ha. A mix of amphorae, 20hl Stockinger casks and 225l barrels used for the ageing." D
Larcis-Ducasse St. Emilion 2018 (5 bottles) Sale $81.99
"Incorporating 11% Cabernet Franc, the Merlot-dominated 2018 Château Larcis Ducasse come from an 11.5-hectare parcel of clay and limestone soils, on the south facing hillside just outside of Saint-Émilion, and there are only 2,400 cases made, which equates to 72% of the total production. This deeply colored beauty offers a thrilling blue fruit quality as well as complex violets, graphite, and a liquid rock-like minerality. It's deep and thrillingly pure, with fine tannins and a beautiful finish. This is an incredible terroir, and the estate has been firing on all cylinders thanks to the talents of Nicolas Thienpont and David Suire. Give bottles 4-5 years (if you can) and it will keep for 30-40 years if you’re so inclined." WA "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Larcis Ducasse features wonderfully expressive scents of baked black and red plums, kirsch, rose hip tea and cigar box with hints of pencil shavings, baked redcurrants and truffles plus a waft of licorice. Full-bodied and beautifully nuanced on the palate, it has layer upon layer of red and black fruit preserves with beautiful, velvety tannins and loads of freshness, finishing long and perfumed." WA
Domaine de Chevalier Pessac Leognan 2018 (4 bottles) Sale $87.99
"Possibly one of the finest wines ever to come from the Bernard family’s flagship estate near Léognan, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that hit 13.5% alcohol and will spend 18 months in just 35% new French oak. Its saturated purple/plum color is followed by a mammoth bouquet of cassis, black currants, gravelly earth, smoked herbs, and tobacco. Full-bodied, deep, brilliantly balanced, and seriously concentrated, it has polished tannins, no hard edges, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s a heavenly Graves that will keep for 30+ years." JD "The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. " JS
Chateau Pavie Macquin, Saint Emilion 2018 (7 bottles) Sale $88.99
Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac 2018 (6 bottles) Sale $91.99
"Another success from Grand-Puy-Lacoste – it’s bright and full of juice, prioritising vibrancy over power. As such, it has a touch less Pauillac typicity than in the absolutely brilliant 2016 vintage at this estate, although as it unfurls through the palate you do get the menthol, cassis and smoked cedar that is just such a beautiful sign of ripe Cabernet up in this corner of the world. They were extremely careful with extraction because of the high alcohols, so grapes underwent the shortest maceration to date with no pumping over just an infusion during the extraction process." D ""Juicy and compact now, with dark currant, blackberry and fig notes at the core, surrounded by lots of warm earth, singed alder and tobacco leaf notes. Cast iron note helps extend the finish, with the fruit and earth notes keeping pace. Has a slight throwback feel, so if you like old school, ageworthy Pauillac, this is your wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot." WSWS
Leoville Poyferre St. Julien 2018 (6 bottles) Sale $99.99
64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. "One of the gems in the vintage will be the 2018 Château Léoville Poyferré, which is a powerful, incredibly sexy wine based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, representing just 45% of the total production. In the same ballpark as the 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2010, its deep purple color is followed by a rich, opulent bouquet of sweet black and blue fruits, tobacco, and graphite. Both intellectually and hedonistically satisfying, it fills the mouth with fruit, has remarkable purity and precision for such a powerful wine, sweet tannins, and a finish that goes on for nearly a minute. It's similar in character to the 2009 and will keep for three decades or more. This wine checks in at 14.4% alcohol, with a pH of 3.7, and a massive (one of the highest in the vintage) IPT value of 90. Tasted twice." JD
Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion, Pessac Leognan 2018 (3 bottles) Sale $114.99
37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot. "The march of Carmes Haut-Brion continues in 2018. Once again it stands out for a number of reasons: not least because of its high amount of Cabernet Franc, and also because it is made with 53% whole-bunch fermentation - a brave choice by winemaker Guillaume Poutier and one that pays off hugely in terms of balance and lean muscular build. Even without knowing any of the story behind the bottle, you would be hard-pressed to pass this wine by.
Ch. Calon Segur St. Estephe 2018 (1 bottle)
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot “The 2018 Calon-Ségur is blended of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot (14.9% alcohol). It is anticipated to age for 20 months in barriques, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs just a little coaxing before it reveals seductive notes of baked cherries, warm cassis, licorice and smoked meats with nuances of hoisin, camphor, Chinese five spice and dried roses with a waft of cardamom. Full-bodied and completely packed with concentrated black fruit and spice layers, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and a wicked backbone of freshness giving an energetic lift to the very long finish. There's lots of brightness coming from the Cabernet Franc component in here, but it is nonetheless a decadent expression.” - WA
Pichon Lalande Pauillac 2018 (4 bottles) Sale $194.99
“a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Compared to the 2010 by director Nicolas Glumineau, this saturated purple-colored effort offers the classic elegance and regal style of the estate as well as plenty of pure Pauillac character. Crème de cassis, liquid violets, charcoal, and scorched earth nuances all give way to a full-bodied, deep, layered 2018 that has remarkable purity, building yet ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. It's in the same class as the magical 2016, and while I suspect it will be approachable with just short-term cellaring, it's going to age for 40 years or more. This estate has been on a qualitative roll over the past 5-6 years thanks to the talents of Glumineau, and this is unquestionably another great wine from him and his team.” JD
Ducru Beaucaillou St. Julien 2018 (2 bottles) Sale $199.99
“The grand vin of this terrific estate, the 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is based on 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that will spend 18 months in new barrels. It’s as classy as they come, boasting a deep purple/blue color as well as awesome notes of pure crème de cassis, smoke tobacco, crushed rock-like minerality, and violets. Haute couture at its finest, with full-bodied richness, building structure and tannins, and remarkable purity, it’s certainly in the same ballpark as the magical 2016. It will be approachable in just 4-5 years yet keep for 40+.” JD " blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc to be aged for approximately 18 months in oak barriques, 60% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Pape Clement is a little closed, slowly unfurling to reveal fragrant earth, crushed rocks, iron ore and tobacco notions over a core of crushed red and black currants plus kirsch, red roses and Ceylon tea. Full-bodied and wonderfully vivacious, it offers a solid line of firm and fine-grained tannins and amazing freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced." WA
|
 |
