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The 2020 Bordeaux Futures campaign has started, and I expect it to heat up now that WIne Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck have released their ratings. I've got a list of 150 or so... the early feeling is the wines aren't quite as good as 2019, but there are still great wines to be had. Pricing looks to be 10-15% higher than 2019. Which got me thinking... wouldn't it be nice if I could offer more 2019s! And then I realized... duh... I still have a load of wines not spoken for! So, here is a chance to grab up some of the 2019s at the original Futures pricing. Many beat the best US Price Online... All are within dollars if not... Payment is due now. Arrival anticipated Fall 2022. More details at the bottom. (3 bottles) Ducru Beaucaillou St. Julien 2019 - $155 - Beats Best US Price Online!!!– 97-100 pts Wine Advocate / 99-100 pts James Suckling / 97-100 pts Jeb Dunnuck /97-99 pts Wine Enthusiast / 98 pts Decanter - "This year the blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. The alcohol weighed in at 14.2%, while the pH is 3.8 and the IPT is 88. It will mature for 18 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Opaque purple-black in color, the 2019 Ducru-Beaucaillou explodes from the glass with bombastic notes of crème de cassis, blueberry pie and plum preserves plus hints of candied violets, dark chocolate, licorice, wild fungi, crushed rocks and tilled soil with a touch of mossy bark. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is a tightly wound coil poised to spring out with layer upon layer of minerals, rich black fruits and floral notes, framed by very firm, exquisitely ripe tannins and electric freshness, finishing long and incredibly layered. WOW!" WA “Just as concentrated yet more elegant, the flagship 2019 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou checks in as a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot raised in new French oak. It offers a gorgeous bouquet of pure crème de cassis and blueberry fruit that just screams of Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep purple-hued, with plenty of lead pencil, graphite, and floral notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, straight-up awesome tannins, and a monster of a finish. It's another magical wine in the making from this château. Give bottles a decade in the cellar if you can (it's going to be incredibly enjoyable in its youth as well), and it will evolve for 40-50 years or more.” JD
(2 bottles) Cos d'Estournel St. Estephe 2019 - $149.99 Futures Price - Beats Best US Price Online!!!(Was $205.99 for 2018) - 97-99+ pts Wine Advocate / 98-99 pts James Suckling / 98 pts Decanter / 97-99 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 96-98 pts Vinous "Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot (with no Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc this year), yields for this wine in 2019 were 43 hectoliters per hectare, and it is aging in 55% new oak. It came in at an alcohol level of 14.02% and an IPT of 67. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Cos d'Estournel soars out of the glass with vibrant black raspberries, Black Forest cake and crushed blackcurrants scents plus nuances of red roses, wild sage, dark chocolate and cast-iron pan with a waft of woodsmoke. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut, muscular and built like a skyscraper, with firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness supporting the concentrated black fruit flavors, finishing with incredible length and depth. This wine so beautifully, clearly captures the juxtaposition between the periods of dry heat and those hallelujah moments of refreshing rain - the hallmarks of this great vintage. It's a vinous masterpiece in the making." WA "A very powerful and structured Cos. It’s full and layered, but not overpowering in terms of fruit. It’s more about the abundant, very fine tannins. It’s a classic wine with historical grip and power. Real Bordeaux. Sophisticated and provocative." JS
(2 bottles) Montrose St. Estephe 2019 - Sale $129 - 98 pts Decanter – Decanter is the only review we have so far… BUT… BUT… the 2018 was rated 97 pts by Decanter… AND… we also know that 2019 is a spectacular year for the Left Bank. For the first time since 2010, it appears the Left Bank outshines the Right. As the Wine Advocate says, “If you are a Cabernet lover, the Cabernet Sauvignon coming out of the Medoc this year is through-the-roof good. In retrospect, I found that the châteaux that really made the most of their spectacular Cabernet this year shined like beacons.”
So if we look at last year’s ratings and figure this will be even better? This could be the steal of the vintage… 97-99 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 98-99 pts Wine Enthusiast / 96-98 pts Wine Advocate / 97 pts Decanter /
“Oh this is good, it steals up on you with real depth of flavour, stately and concentrated in a way that reminds me of a 1996 or a 2016. Extremely measured, very clear that this is going to age effortlessly, it is extremely discreet and yet packed with persistent flavours. A masterclass in the flavours and aromatics that you expect in a great Médoc wine - slate, crushed stones, savoury blackcurrant, liquorice, hints of smoke and cold ash. After five minutes in the glass the sweeter berry fruit comes out, and the whole thing is sappy and mouthwatering, and makes you smile. 12% press wine, 3.77pH. A yield of 47hl/ha. 60% new oak. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend." D
(1 bottle) Pichon Baron Pauillac 2019 – Futures Price $125 - Beats Best US Price Online!!! -97-100 pts Wine Advocate / 97-98 pts James Suckling / 97 pts Decanter / 97-99 pts Wine Enthusiast / 96-98 pts Vinous - “The 2019 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, harvested from the 18th of September to the 11th of October. It is being aged in French oak barrels, 80% new, for 18 months. This grand vin represents 49% of the harvest. Very deep purple-black in color, the nose skyrockets from the glass with vibrant scents of freshly crushed blackberries, black raspberries and blackcurrant pastilles followed by perfumed sparks of fragrant earth, clove oil, lilacs, crushed rocks, molten chocolate and cinnamon toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with layer upon layer of black fruit, mineral and exotic spices, framed by beautifully ripe, finely-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing with a lingering soft-spoken whisper of floral and earth notions. This is an absolutely beguiling expression that is classic Pauillac and yet it is Pauillac like no other.” WA
(9 bottles) Canon St. Emilion 2019 - Futures Price $97.99 - 98 pts Decanter - Yes, you are correct… that is $30 less than last year’s price!!! While the only current review is from Decanter, I can tell you it is rated HIGHER this year than last! I fully expect 96-99 pt reviews from all the other critics, with quite possibly, one or two 100 pt reviews. Let me know what you are interested in.
“Sleek, elegant and appealing even before you get your nose near the glass. Aromatically it is deep and rich, and then it revs up and takes off. Dense, compact and intense, zingy limestone vibrancy and grip. Winemakers say they are looking for balance all the time, but here you feel it, with tiny pulses of electricity that appear from beginning to end of the palate. Salinity on the finish with gunsmoke and extremely moreish blueberry and blackberry fruit, with a creamy texture as things open up. 50% new oak. “ Decanter
(6 bottles) Haut Bailly Pessac Leognan 2019 -Futures Price $92.99 - 98-99 pts James Suckling / 97-99 pts Wine Advocate / 97 pts Decanter / 96-98 pts Neal Martin / 96-98 pts Jeb Dunnuck – "Composed of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 23rd of September to 11th of October. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with vivacious notes of blackcurrant cordial, black raspberries and plum preserves with a tantalizing undercurrent of candied violets, dark chocolate, menthol and licorice plus a touch of Chinese five spice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is achingly elegant, showing off perfumed black fruit layers with a firm frame of very fine-grained, silt-like tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with incredible persistence and fragrance. Just magic." WA “A stunning wine in the making, the 2019 Château Haut-Bailly sports a deep purple hue as well lots of smoky black and blue fruits, unsmoked tobacco, cedar pencil, violets, and gravelly earth. Showing the quintessential elegance and purity of this terroir, it's medium to full-bodied, has no hard edges, and delivers wonderful purity of fruit and a great, great finish. It reminds me of a slightly more elegant 2009 and is a beautiful, singular wine from this estate, which is being run brilliantly by Veronique Sanders. It will benefit from just short-term cellaring yet drink well for 40+ years.” JD
(1 bottle) Smith-Haut Lafitte 2019 - $89.99 Futures Price - 96-98 pts Vinous Media / 96-98+ pts Wine Advocate / 96-97 pts James Suckling / 97 pts Decanter - "The blend this year is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, harvested from the 17th of September to the 10th of October. The wine is aging in French oak barriques, 60% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte is downright hedonic on the nose, rolling sensuously out of the glass with notions of warm cassis, chocolate-covered cherries, Black Forest cake and black raspberries with nuances of cinnamon toast, lilacs, camphor and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate juxtaposes remarkable energy and brightness with densely packed, rich, ripe black fruits, framed by wonderfully ripe, finely grained tannins and fantastically invigorating freshness, finishing long with mineral-tinged fireworks. Stunning!" - WA
(4 bottles) Ch Calon Segur St. Estephe 2019 - $87.99 – Beats Best US Price Online!!! - 97 pts Decanter / 95-96 pts James Suckling – “This is a brilliant Calon Ségur, absolutely one to search out. Dripping with lush brambled fruit, from ripe damsons to sleek blackberries and touches of hedgerow that add an unforced juiciness through what is a powerful and concentrated wine. The tannins are chewy and very much present, and this has great ageing potential ahead of it. 3.8pH. A yield of 40hl/ha. 100% new oak. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.” Decanter
(7 bottles) Pontet Canet Pauillac 2019 - $82.49 Futures Price - Beats Best US Price Online!!! 98-100 pts Wine Advocate / 98-99 pts James Suckling / 97-99 Wine Enthusiast / 96 pts Decanter / 95-97 Antonio Galloni- "The blend this year is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black colored, the 2019 Pontet-Canet has the most gorgeous, lifted perfume of lilacs, dark chocolate, Morello cherries and rosehip tea over a core of crème de cassis, plum preserves, licorice and woodsmoke with a waft of fragrant soil. Full-bodied, rich and fantastically opulent, the palate offers layer upon layer of ripe, finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. A real head-turner, this beauty is absolutely going to steal your heart!" WA "A very tight, compact red that shows wonderful precision and definition with lots of blackberries, blueberries, stones and black tea. The sorting and de-stemming was all done by hand. Love the sensibility to this. Superb length and finesse. Subtle and sophisticated. No pumping over and gentle pushing down. Handmade. Very exciting and thought-provoking. Very long. 35% in amphora and the rest in 50% new oak and 15% one-year oak." JS
(8 bottles) Rauzan Segla Margaux 2019 - Futures Price* $74.99 on six or more / $79.99 Sale all else – 96 pts Decanter - I'm afraid we don't know much about the 2019 Rauzan Segla... they didn't send samples around the world, so only those who came to Bordeaux were able to taste... the only review comes from Decanter, who rated it 96 pts, saying, "The black fruits burrow downwards through the palate at first, keeping things pretty closed, everything holding its breath, before the fruit opens. There is the precision of Rauzan Ségla that is reminiscent of the 2016, less of the immediate voluptuous impact of 2018 but the density becomes extremely clear in the glass. A serious Rauzan, cassis and cedar, still with a rinse of iris flowers to give it the Margaux touch. 62% Cabernet / 36% Merlot / 2 % Petit Verdot." BUT... we also know that 2019 is a spectacular year for the Left Bank. For the first time since 2010, it appears the Left Bank outshines the Right. As the Wine Advocate says, "If you are a Cabernet lover, the Cabernet Sauvignon coming out of the Medoc this year is through-the-roof good. In retrospect, I found that the châteaux that really made the most of their spectacular Cabernet this year shined like beacons."
And we know that Margaux wines across the board are receiving some of their highest ratings since that legendary 2010 vintage.
Here is how 2018 Rauzan was rated: 99-100 pts James Suckling
97-100 pts Vinous
97-99+ pts Wine Advocate
97 pts Decanter
96-99 pts Wine Spectator
96-98 pts Jeb Dunnuck (11 bottles) Pavie Macquin St. Emilion 2019 - $74.99 – 98-99 pts James Suckling / 97 pts Decanter / 95-97 pts Wine Advocate / 95-97 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 95-97 pts Neal Martin – “Composed of 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Pavie Macquin was harvested from the 23rd of September to the 11th of October. Yields were 47 hectoliters per hectare this year with about 90% of the production going into the grand vin. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine opens with the most tantalizing perfume of lavender, lilacs and forest floor, giving way to a core of crushed blackberries, baked plums and blueberry preserves plus wafts of licorice and bay leaves. The full-bodied palate offers layer upon layer of black fruits and earthy nuances, sporting a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing with great length and depth.” WA “While this cooler terroir always yields a more austere wine that requires bottle age, the 2019 Château Pavie Macquin has a wonderful elegance and plushness to its fruit that gives surprisingly upfront appeal. Nevertheless, it has bright acidity, good concentration, and rocking purity of fruit, all pointing toward a good decade before it hits maturity. Dense purple, with lots of cassis, violets, spring flowers, crushed stone, and graphite, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, stunningly polished, silky tannins, and a great, great finish. I'll be a buyer.” JD
(22 bottles) Larcis-Ducasse St. Emilion 2019 - $69.99 - 98-99 pts James Suckling / 95-97 pts Wine Advocate / 95-97 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 95-97 pts Neal Martin – “Composed of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Larcis Ducasse was harvested from the 25th of September to the 7th of October. Yields were 38.5 hectoliters per hectare this year, with around 70% of production going into the grand vin. Deep garnet-purple in color, it sails out of the glass with effortlessly graceful notes of fresh blackberries, warm red and black plums and mulberries plus hints of cedar chest, potpourri, powdered cinnamon and clove oil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is quite tightly wound, giving glimpses of spice and mineral layers among the black fruits and firm, rounded tannins, finishing with bags of freshness and energy.” WA “Coming from an incredible terroir on the Côte Pavie, which is a south-facing hillside of clay and limestone soils, the 2019 Château Larcis Ducasse sports a deep purple color as well as classic Saint-Emilion minerality in its chocolatey dark fruits, scorched earth, camphor, and tobacco aromas and flavors. This rich, full-bodied effort shows the more elegant, supple style of the vintage, yet it still has building tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It's certainly in the same ballpark as the 2015 and 2016, and while a few years of bottle age will do it well, it should be relatively accessible in its youth.” JD
(6 bottles) Feytit Clinet Pomerol 2019 - $64.99 - 95-97 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 95-96 pts James Suckling / 95 pts Decanter / 94-96 pts Vinous - "The 2019 Château Feytit-Clinet is a beauty, offering loads of opulent blackcurrants, damp earth, licorice, new leather, and espresso aromas and flavors. It's a big, rich barrel sample that packs plenty of depth and richness, yet also stays light on its feet, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It also offers integrated oak and a great finish. I'd be thrilled to have bottles in the cellar."
(9 bottles) Domaine de Chevalier Pessac Leognan 2019 - $63.99 - 96-97 pts James Suckling / 95 pts Decanter / 94-96 pts Vinous - A lovely Chevalier, with rich tannins, juicy cassis and bilberry fruit, sage and pepper spice and a slate finish. Similar in style to warm but well-built years like 2000. Not the power of 2016 but this is an excellent wine, with lots to enjoy. Harvest finished October 12. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Vinous
(10 bottles) d'Issan Margaux 2019 - $56.99 - 96-97 pts James Suckling / 96 pts Decanter / 93-95 pts Jeb Dunnuck - "The flagship 2019 Château D'Issan offers more elegance and purity, with terrific cassis, black cherry and blueberry fruits supported by lots of violet, chocolate, and gravelly minerality. Balanced and medium to full-bodied, it has a solid spice of acidity as well as the lush, sexy, seamless style of the vintage. It's straight-up classy juice that's going to have a broad drink window." JD
(7 bottles) Giscours Margaux 2019 - $54.99 - 96-97 pts James Suckling / 94 pts Decanter / 94-96 pts Vinous - "The 2019 Giscours is ripe and extrovert on the nose with exuberant black cherries, blueberry and crushed violets bursting from the glass. This is very seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with a tang of seaweed infusing the black fruit on the entry, segueing into more tarry notes toward the well structured finish. This articulates a sense of completeness that I appreciate. The persistency is impressive. This is a superb, potentially long-term Giscours that may well end up at the top of my banded score." V
(16 bottles) Rouget Pomerol 2019 – Futures Price $54.99 – 95-96 James Suckling / 94 Decanter / 93-95 Antonio Galloni / 92-94+ Wine Advocate –A winery to watch… wait, don’t watch… a winery to buy! Thank me later. At the end of the 19th century, a classification of Pomerol wines placed Rouget among the top five estates of the appellation. But by 1990, the winery was dormant. The Labruyère Family purchased the property in 1992 and has been painstakingly restoring the vineyards to their former glory. They aren’t in a hurry… they’ve been producing Bordeaux for over 200 years! Now, with the 2019 vintage, they are really hitting their stride!
“The 2019 Rouget is a bold, sexy wine. Super-ripe dark cherry, kirsch, new leather, cedar, menthol and cinnamon all flesh out in an ample, sumptuous Pomerol that captures all the best this warm, radiant vintage had to give. This is an especially flamboyant style that works so well.” AG “This is really finely crafted with sleek, polished tannins and beautiful, deep fruit. It’s full-bodied. Flavorful finish. Gorgeous texture.” JS “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Rouget comes prancing out of the glass with flamboyant scents of black raspberries, warm black plums and boysenberries with hints of red roses, Chinese five spice and oolong tea plus a waft of pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers a firm frame of ripe, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, nicely supporting the generous black fruits, finishing long and mineral laced.” WA
(7 bottles) Marquis d’Alesme Margaux 2019 - $49.99 – 94-96 NM / 94 D / 93-94 JS / 92-94 WA, AG – “The 2019 Marquis d'Alesme is fabulous. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2019 possesses superb depth and impeccable balance. Soaring aromatics make a strong first impression. The wine is every bit as appealing on the palate, with layers of fruit that open up effortlessly. Sweet tobacco, cedar, licorice, grilled herbs and red raspberry fruit come together in this superb Margaux. The 2019 is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, harvested between September 26 and October 12. Aging is expected to be 18 months in 65% new oak and 35% once-used barrels.”
(6 bottles) Talbot St. Julien 2019 - $49.99 - 94-96 Wine Enthusiast / 93-95 Jeb Dunnuck / 94-95 James Suckling / 93-95 Neil Martin - “The 2019 Château Talbot is another beautiful vintage for this château, offering pure Cabernet notes of cassis, tobacco leaf, graphite, and lead pencil. With medium to full body, a pure, balanced, focused texture, and building tannins, it's well worth a case purchase and is a classic, elegant yet concentrated Talbot to enjoy over the coming 20 years or more." JD
(4 bottles) Phelan Segur St. Estephe 2019 - $47.99 - 96-97 pts James Suckling / 94 pts Decanter / 93-95 pts Jeb Dunnuck - "Véronique Dausse continues to lift the quality at this estate. Her 2019 Château Phelan Segur reveals a dense purple color as well as a rich, full-bodied, powerful style on both the nose and palate. Loads of chocolaty dark fruits, roasted herbs, licorice, and graphite all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, with a big, rich mid-palate, plenty of tannins, and beautiful length. This rich, age-worthy Phelan Segur is going to have some upfront appeal yet will benefit from 5-6 years of bottle age. Given the wealth of material, purity, and balance, this could end up being a real superstar of a wine." JD
(8 bottles) Malartic Lagraviere Pessac Leognan 2019 - $47.99 - 95-96 pts James Suckling / 95 pts Decanter / 94-96 pts Vinous - "It has a lovely bouquet with disarming blackberry, briary and subtle marine scents, just a whiff of brine in the background from the distant Gironde estuary. The palate is medium-bodied with extremely fine tannins that frame the layers of blackberry, raspberry and orange rind notes. Satin-like in texture, this feels reassuringly long in the mouth with a dab of white pepper on the aftertaste. What an outstanding Malartic from the Bonnie family. " V
(4 bottles) Gloria St. Julien 2019 - $45.99 - 94-95 pts James Suckling / 94 pts Decanter / 93-95 pts Vinous - "This has a precise and detailed bouquet that offers blackberry, briary, cedar and light tobacco aromas that gently unfurl in the glass. The palate is very well structured with a lovely citric undercurrent lending freshness and sharpness. This is a nimble Saint-Julien, athletic in build with a sapid finish that urges you back for another sip. Excellent." V
(10 bottles) La Fleur Cardinale St. Emilion 2019 - $44.99 - 95-96 pts James Suckling / 93-95 pts Jeb Dunnuck - "Stunning stuff, the 2019 Château Fleur Cardinale might be the finest vintage of this wine I've tasted. Deep purple-hued, with awesome notes of ripe red and black currants, tobacco, chocolate, and spring flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a plush, seamless texture, polished tannins, and a great finish. This is a killer 2019 that shows the class, balance, and purity of the vintage while backing it up with depth and richness. JD
(100 bottles) Sociando Mallet 2019 - $39.99 – 94 D / 93-94 JS / 92-94 NM – “The 2019 Sociando-Mallet has a lovely bouquet with vivacious raspberry, wild strawberry and rose petal scents, touches of undergrowth coming through with time, one of the most elegant noses from this property in recent years. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy red fruit, crushed stone and a discrete pinch of white pepper, focused and full of energy on the finish. What a superb Sociando-Mallet.” NM
(108 bottles) Barde-Haut St. Emilion 2019 – Futures Price $39.99 – 95-96 pts James Suckling / 94-96 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 94 pts Decanter / 93-95 pts Neil Martin / 93-95 pts Antonio Galloni - Another property to buy.. then watch as ratings and prices go higher and higher! Owned by the Lévêque family of Pomerol property Clos l’Eglise, Barde-Haut adjoins Troplong-Mondot. That’s some serious terroir! The family purchased the property in 2000 and completed a massive cellar renovation in 2012. Watch out!
“Beautiful black cherry fruits, violets, spring flowers, graphite, and ample minerality emerge from the 2019 Château Barde-Haut. Medium to full-bodied, it offers beautifully integrated chocolatey oak, that classic sense of minerality that you always find in these limestone soils, and a great finish. It has the vintage's purity and elegance as well as plenty of building tannins. In the same mold as the 2016, this is going to be a stunning value in the vintage that will keep for 20-30 years.” JD “The 2019 Barde-Haut is an opulent, full-throttle Saint-Émilion. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, licorice, cloves and menthol power through in a heady, exotic Saint-Émilion that very much reflects the opulent style of the year. Today, the tannins are equally imposing, which suggests the 2019 is going to need a number of years in bottle to come around. Readers should expected a potent, flamboyantly ripe style.” AG
(18 bottles) Tour St. Christophe St. Emilion 2019 - Futures Sale $34.99 / Buy 6 or more pay $31.99 - 96-97 pts James Suckling / 95-97 pts Jeb Dunnuck - How good of a deal is this? Some others that have the same rating in the 2019 vintage? Oh, just some "little-known" wines like Le Petit Mouton Rothschild @$189, Lynch Bages @ $90, and on and on...
Yeah... you're going to want this one... "From an estate that continues to fire on all cylinders, the 2019 Château Tour Saint Christophe reveals a saturated purple color to go with a pretty, floral bouquet of black raspberries, mulberries, violets, graphite, and crushed stone. Fabulously balanced, medium to full-bodied, with good acidity as well as sweet tannins, it's a finesse oriented, elegant version of this cuvée that does everything right. This estate has backed off the power and ripeness over the past few vintages, and the wine is more elegant, balanced, and seamless. It's a better wine today." JD " This is tight with finesse and focus. Minerally and salty with an ultra-fine palate and polished tannins. It goes on and on and on. Strength and finesse at the same time. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc." JS
(5 bottles) Poujeaux Moulis en Medoc 2019 - $32.99 – 93-95 NM/ 93-94 JS / 92 D – “The 2019 Poujeaux has a more introverted bouquet than some of its Moulis associates, though it opens nicely offering black cherries, liquorice, pressed iris petals and touches of crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with insistent grip on the entry. This Poujeaux has good backbone, almost Pauillac-like in style with a dense and persistent finish that augers for a long-term wine that will repay those with the nous to cellar it a few years. Superb.” NM
(17 bottles) Siran Margaux 2019 - Futures Sale – Buy six or more pay $31.99 / Three for $34.99 ea / All else $37.99 - 94 -95 pts James Suckling / 93-95 pts Wine Advocate / 93-95 pts Neil Martin / 93 pts Decanter - Hmmm… let’s see… 94 pt average rating from four major critics… under $40… for Margaux!!!
Wine Advocate and Neil Martin (Vinous) rate this higher than Pavillon Rouge @ $175 and Lascombes at $75!
In a year where the Left Bank (Cabernet-heavy) wines shined, there are bargains to be had! At the top of my list under $40 is this gem right here. 47% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Siran slips easily out of the glass with fragrant notes of violets, blackberry pie, fruitcake, blackcurrant pastilles and dried lavender with hints of kirsch and chocolate mint. The medium to full-bodied palate is packed with perfumed black fruit layers, knitted with a solid foundation of firm, fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. Punching well above its weight, this is a very impressive showing for Siran!” WA
(7 bottles) Les Cruzelles Lalande de Pomerol 2019 - $30.99 – 93 D / 92-94 AG / 92-93 JS – “ It has a very really gorgeous bouquet with disarmingly pure blackberry and blueberry fruit. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with dark berry fruit mixed with dried orange peel and a pinch of sea salt. This has so much character and personality, the salinity on the finish lingers wonderfully.” NM
(7 bottles) Haut-Brisson St. Emilion 2019 - Sale $29.99 net / Buy 6 or more pay $26.99 - 93-94 pts James Suckling/ 92-94 pts Jeb Dunnuck - "The 2019 Château Haut Brisson is another rich yet finesse-oriented Saint-Emilion, and it might be the finest I've tasted from them. Lots of black raspberry, cassis, spring flowers, and violet notes define the bouquet, and it has a touch of chocolatey oak, lots of opulence and decadence, straight-up awesome purity, and a great finish. It's a beautiful, powerful yet elegant 2019." JD “This is very opulent and rich with lots of ripe fruit. Full-bodied, layered and very rich. Dried fruit and black truffles. Very velvety and flavorful. Rich, yet fresh. Less new oak for this. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc." JS
(19 bottles) La Vieille Cure Fronsac 2019 - $28.99 – 94 D / 92-93 JS / 91-93 WA / 91-93 AG – “The 2019 La Vieille Cure dazzles from start to finish. Inky dark fruit, lavender, licorice and espresso infuse the 2019 with striking depth and textural resonance. Vieille Cure has tremendous presence and pedigree to burn; it is one of the under-the-radar gems of the vintage.”
(73 bottles) Lilian Ladouys St. Estephe 2019 (Left Bank) - Futures Price $24.99 - 93-95 pts Wine Enthusiast / 92-94 pts Neal Martin (Vinous) / 91-93 pts Wine Advocate / 91-93 pts Jeb Dunnuck - 59% Merlot / 37% Cabernet Sauvignon. Lilian Ladouys is possibly THE estate to watch in all of the Medoc. And it all started with the 2009 vintage, after Eric Boissenot was brough on to revamp the vineyards. Wine Spectator named him “Bordeaux’s Secret Weapon” in a 2013 article. He consults or has consulted for Lafite Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild, Margaux and Latour, among others. Heard of them?
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Lilian Ladouys comes bounding out of the glass with expressive scents of crushed blackberries, cassis and boysenberries with touches of dried Provence herbs, charcoal, clove oil and espresso. The medium-bodied palate is charged with energy, offering firm grainy tannins and electric freshness to support the tightly wound black fruits, finishing with loads of invigorating herbal and mineral sparks.” WA
“Always including plenty of Merlot, the 2019 Château Lilian Ladouys emerges from a gravelly site in Saint-Estèphe. Its deep purple color is followed by a big, juicy bouquet of ripe black cherries, kirsch, blueberries, leafy herbs, and cedar pencil. Nicely textured, medium to full-bodied, and with some chewy tannins which will be more integrated from bottle, it shows the fruit purity and sexiness that's the hallmark of the vintage, has good balance, and a great finish.” JD
(90 bottles) Montlandrie Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon 2019 (Right Bank) - Futures Price $24.99 - 93-95 pts Wine Advocate / 93 pts Decanter / 92-94 pts Neil Martin (Vinous) / 92-93 pts James Suckling / 91-93 pts Antonio Galloni (Vinous) - A brand new property to me, it is produced by the owners of the famed Pomerol property l'Eglise Clinet. Having been purchased in 2009, it is just now beginning to shine after a decade of work. "The 2019 Montlandrie is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It comes bounding out of the glass with bright, cheerful scents of warm redcurrants, Morello cherries, wild blueberries and boysenberries with touches of lavender, red roses, cinnamon stick and cast-iron pan. Wow. I LOVE this energy on the elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate. The red and black fruit layers practically dance, intermingled with grainy (Cabernet-like) tannins and tons of freshness. It has a satisfyingly long, fragrant finish. Truly impressive!" WA
"Cinnamon and spice box with pulped raspberry fruits on the nose, this has the restrained exuberance of Montlandrie in spades, where the ripe fruits are balanced step by step with fresh acidities and lip-smacking salinity that speaks to the limestone soils of this estate. Cabernet Sauvignon adds a savoury touch" Decanter
" It has a well-defined, very focused and compelling bouquet with intense cranberry and raspberry scents laced with cedar and sous-bois. The palate is exquisite: built around a core of finely chiseled tannins, a mélange of black and red fruit with hints of liquorice and subtle briny notes on the persistent finish. This is outstanding." NM
So what’s the catch?
Well, if you want to call it that… the “catch” is these are Futures. Payment is due in July, but the wines don’t arrive till Fall 2022. The tradeoff is lower prices than we will see when the wines arrive. Additionally, with the current state of affairs worldwide, prices for the 2019s are 20-40% lower than those for 2018. With equally good reviews, I have no doubt the prices for these will rise dramatically in the next two years as the world gets back to normal. The 2015 Siran, for example, has an average price of $50 online, and that wine wasn't rated as highly! These prices are net of current taxes and tariffs. If there are future tariffs, all tariffs will be passed along at face value to the consumer – meaning neither the importer, distributor nor I will add any markup to them. Currently, there is every expectation that there will be no tariffs when these wines arrive. |
