Tasting Notes - 2007 Bordeaux En Primeur
(May 2008)
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John's Top Six
Six wines personally selected by myself for their quality across the price spectrum. I have been buying Bordeaux for over forty years and so I hope by now I know what I am talking about! A Pomerol that performed admirably during the tasting and one that is well priced for the appellation. Situated near the village of Catusseau, this property has long been renowned for its elegance and style, qualities shown at their best in 2007. Lots of aromatic cassis and oak on the nose, with a full soft entry on the palate backed up by a good density of cherry fruit, quite concentrated and full but not extracted. Quite a big wine for the vintage and a real success this year. Drink 2011-2018. Price:£169 This property is making terrific strides in quality and we have been delighted with it over the past few vintages. 2007 is pretty impressive and in fact outshone its neighbour Clerc Milon at our tasting. With a huge 22% of Cabernet Franc in the blend, severe selection and lower yields, this is a 2007 with real class. Lovely spicy and intense nose, more concentrated than I remember on the palate, with full rich fruit and a long finish. Some new oak evident, very classy indeed. Drink 2011-2020. Price:£213 I am delighted to recommend Talbot as one of my picks of the vintage. It has always been a good, solid classed growth much loved by UK consumers. However in the past couple of years my friend Jean-Paul Bignon has introduced more severe selection, immeasurably improving the quality of the Grand Vin. The 2007 has good grip, appealing mid-palate density and some solid tannin. Serious and solid. Drink 2012-2022. Price:£259 A hot tip. A second growth that, as it is not tasted and therefore rated by American critics, has meant that it remains very good value compared to others of its rank. I have enjoyed this wine consistently over many years and fully subscribe to its classification, a view reaffirmed by the 2007. A spicy, dense nose with a smoky edge, good and powerful. The palate has very good weight, is chunky with a spicy, dark-fruit flavoured, rich finish. Impressive. Drink 2011-2023. Price:£310 Made like a classed growth, under the auspices of classed growth ownership (Lynch Bages) and of classed growth quality. Yet not of a classed growth price! A good tip for customers wanting lovely claret that won’t break the bank. Tasted with Jean Charles Cazes, and at the Union des Grands Crus tasting, it shone both times. Lovely deep colour, a rich nose of black fruit, excellent density and a chunky, chewy finish, plenty of stuffing and good length. What some would describe as a “no-brainer”! Drink 2011-2020. Price:£160 I like to recommend a good value discovery in this section, and for me this year it was this terrific wine from Lalande de Pomerol. At just £75 per case, this is exceptional for the price. It is owned and made by the Bourotte family (of Clos du Clocher) and tastes to all intents and purposes like good Pomerol. With plenty of Merlot, it is rich and cherried in flavour, with plenty of silky full bodied texture, and a long finish. When delivered, you will have paid less than £10 a bottle for this treat. A must. Drink 2010-2017. Price:£85
The largest and most varied of the great Médoc terroirs, but conversely the most widely recognised. As a rule wines of fragrance and elegance are produced here. The classed growths are consistent in their high quality, and a few other properties are noteworthy too. We have followed this property since the 2004 vintage. It represents very good value for this pricey appellation, and is made with the same rigour and selection as many of the appellations more famous names. With 45% Merlot in the blend and 1/3 new oak, this attractive and fragrant Margaux is classy indeed. Drink 2011-2017. Price:£99 The Sichels have forged such a reputation for this wine that today is considered to be the qualitative equivalent of a classed growth. There seems to be greater body and stuffing in the Angludets of late and 2007 has power and good length. A very good Margaux. Drink 2012-2023. Price:£156 A gloriously restored château owned by the Jelgersma family and run impeccably, like its sister Château Giscours, by Alexander Van Beek. Quality has been on fire here in the last few vintages. It is excellently priced for its quality, and the 2007 has a deep colour, an aromatic raspberry and kirsch nose, and a fat, softly textured palate. Drink 2011-2023. Price:£186 Yes, a second growth at this price. Because it doesn’t make blockbuster styles suited to US journalists, it doesn’t receive rave reviews and therefore investor attention. It does however make typically graceful Margaux and we were impressed by its purity of flavour and intensity. Excellent length and nice intensity. Very good. Drink 2012-2023. Price:£189 Always popular, this wine from Château Palmer is not really a second wine, more a selection from specific vineyard plots. Made from 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is very open and appealing with plenty of round, juicy fruit. Attractive, supple and very fruity. Drink 2011-2020. Price:£255 This second growth has really grown in stature since its change of ownership in 2001. It is much more concentrated and richer than previously. The 2007 is chewy, with a sweet fruit palate, quite full and dense in style for the vintage. Drink 2012-2024. Price: £295 A return to our offer this year for this château, as we thought its 2007 showed particularly well. Stephane Derenoncourt, the guru of St Emilion, makes the wines here and his deft touch is very apparent. Very smooth with supple tannins, yet full of ripe raspberry fruit flavours and an almost creamy texture. It has some grip on the finish, and is seamlessly fruity and long. A very attractive bottle. Drink 2011-2020. Price:£235 Long friends of the Cruse family, Averys has had much success with the second and third wines of this château. This year we are delighted to offer the Grand Vin en primeur. An estate really on the rise, it is rich and deeply coloured. Very fragrant with a good body and structure, this will make a lovely bottle. Drink 2012-2020. Price: £249 The first vintage without Michel Rolland’s consultation, but little has changed in terms of style. Displaying later harvest characteristics, with a deep colour and good extract, this is quite dense for the vintage with coffee and cherry aromas. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£250 We’ve been fans of Brane for the last couple of vintages, as its quality and status belie its relatively modest price compared to other second growths. Very fragrant, with quite a voluptuous, silky textured palate with good structure. A success for the vintage. Drink 2012-2023. Price:£235 Giscours continues its impressive run of form with this 2007. Deep coloured, with aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant, this is quite concentrated for the vintage, full in style and very juicy. Some tannin grip, impressive wine. A property performing very well these days. Drink 2012-2023. Price:£249 This has been a bit of a cult wine in recent vintages. Not much is produced and we are fortunate to receive a good allocation. It is concentrated but not heavy, with powerful fruit flavours dominating the early palate, and quite tannic for the vintage with the structure overlain with solid black fruit. Good wine. Drink 2012-2024. Price:£295 The second wine of Château Margaux, it is commonly considered the qualitative equal of a classed growth in its own right. It contains a third Merlot this year, and the vintage reminds Paul Pontallier of 2004. The high Merlot content makes it very approachable and supple yet it has structure and density too. Drink 2012-2023. Price:£380 One of my favourite Margaux this year, John Kolassa continues to make very good wine, and the château, with its own excellent chef, is the best spot for lunch during the en primeur week! Really lovely poise and elegance in this wine, which harnesses good flavours, good persistence and impressive concentration. Well done. Drink 2012-2024. Price:£360 We felt that Palmer made one of the wines of the vintage in 2004, and this year the results are again impressive. With only 34hls/ha yields, and a large 50% of Merlot in the blend, the nose is very full and flattering and ripe. The palate is deeply flavoured, with plenty of stuffing and good intensity. A pretty good mouthful of wine! Drink 2012-2024. Price:£1175 Château Margaux 1er Cru Classe Paul Pontallier was on fine form when showing the 2007s, just as well as he was being filmed by the BBC for a forthcoming documentary on the château. The harvest was delayed in order to get the 87% of Cabernet in the blend to optimum ripeness. With 100% new oak, very little of it is evident on the palate. Rich intense cassis, very Cabernet, very classy. Drink 2017-2027.
Home to the big hitters of Bordeaux: Lafite, Latour and Mouton. The only commune to possess 3 first growths, it is also home to many other exceptional crus classés that are on top of their game today, such as Pontet Canet, Lynch Bages and Grand Puy Lacoste. Normally firmer and more masculine and long lived than other communes. This property made and run by the same team as Pichon Baron, is ideally situated near Pontet Canet, Lynch Bages and Mouton, and represents rare value in this land of the classed growth. With 45% Merlot in the blend this year, the wine is full and quite structured for the vintage. A success and to be recommended. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£145 A brand new vinification cellar has been installed at Batailley, further proof of the continuing improvements here. We were luck to try 1990, 1959 and 1949 during our visit as ample proof that this classic Pauillac ages well! The 2007 has an almost floral edge to the nose, with a palate more orientated towards fruit than extraction. Solid as always. Drink 2012-2022. Price:£167 This property still remains relatively obscure and therefore a good quality to price ration buy. Winemaking these days is overseen by the glamorous Paz Espejo and has seen some more richness in the wine in the past few vintages. The 2007 has good concentration, some smoky cedar notes and a good fruity palate. A tip for those looking for classed growth quality at wallet friendly prices. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£179 Situated next to Latour and Pichon Lalande, and made by the ebullient Clare Villars, HBL has got some aces up its sleeve! The 2007 is very fragrant, almost chocolatey, on the nose, with quite a tightly wound palate with good concentration for the vintage. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£180 Since concentrating solely on Grand Puy Lacoste and Haut Batailley and leaving Durcru to his brother, Xavier Borie’s wines seem to have improved. They somehow seem more polished. The 2007 is a pretty wine in the style of the vintage, with creamy supple black fruit, nice and gentle. Fruity and attractive and perfect for early drinking. Drink 2011-2019. Price:£195 See Our Recommendations This property, owned by the Rothschilds of Lafite and actually bordering Lafite itself and Mouton, has really improved since heavy investments were made from 2002 to improve what was already good quality. With 74% Cabernet, this is quite fresh on the palate, with plenty of cherry and raspberry fruit. Not hugely concentrated but very well made, in the style of 2007. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£250 Next to Duhart, also owned by Rothschilds, but those of Mouton this time! Now that the new team has found its feet (Mouton itself was superb in 2006), the wines across the board (Armailhac, Clerc Milon and Mouton) are now lovely. This wine is firmer than Armailhac, with new oak more evident, slightly more backward and more classically constructed Pauillac. Drink 2012-2022. Price:£250 The second wine of Lafite and these days highly sought after in its own right as it is extremely popular in Asian markets. 45% Merlot in the blend whereas the Grand Vin contains only 15%. This has led to quite a fleshy palate. A good introduction to Lafite’s style. Drink 2011-2019. Price:£595 This is the first time we have offered this wine en primeur, as we believe it was one of the best surprises this vintage. The smoky, cedary bouquet and the rich, ripe and well constructed palate had some of the team rating this as the best second wine of all the first growths. Impressive from Philippe Dhalluin’s team. Drink 2011-2020. Price:£480 Xavier Borie is always a charming host and this year was no different, even though an oversight meant that we had no appointment! GPL is always classicly made Pauillac. The nose is perfumed with cherry and raspberry, the palate remarkably silky in texture, very juicy and soft. A real pleasure to drink relatively young. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£320 Although not widely publicised, the vineyard here is now run on biodynamic principles. This property’s quality over the last few vintages has really soared and it is now the clever claret drinker’s choice for top quality. It is denser in 2007 than many of its peers, with darker fruit notes and liquorice. More volume, power and weight than most Pauillacs tasted. Very good. Drink 2012-2025. Price:£450 This year the usual suspects, those properties with the most attention to detail and means to undertake the massive work involved, have made the best wines. It is no surprise therefore to see Lynch Bages producing one of the best wines in Pauillac. 70% new oak, the style is spicy, cedary, and full of flavour. It has the classic cassis and cedar signature. Good length for the vintage, a success. Drink 2012-2022. Price:£405 The highly sought after second wine of Latour. The Grand Vin is made solely from the vineyard around the tower (L’Enclos) and this wine is made from a patch of vines on the other side of the D2. This has the usual sandalwood spice nose, very aromatic. Less dense than usual and more approachable, it contains a large proportion of Merlot (41%) whereas the Grand Vin is nearly all Cabernet (91%). Drink 2011-2020. Price:£599 The pride and joy of the Axa group (Pibran, Suduiraut, Quinta do Noval, Diznoko and Belles Eaux), Baron has been producing top notch second growth claret under the stewardship of Christian Seely. Always quite closed at this early stage, the 2007 was similarly tight and unyielding with quite a tannic structure. Will soften with barrel ageing. Drink 2012-2022. Price:£520 The first vintage under new owners Roederer champagne although the winemaking team has not changed. The 2007 is a very refined wine, quite tight at first but with plenty of spice and density, almost smelling like its neighbour towards the river! The palate is mid weight but certainly a success for the vintage. Well done. Drink 2012-2023. Price:£595 Château Lafite, 1er Grand Cru Classe 84% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend this year. As befits a wine of this calibre, the first sniff reveals little. Yet patience is rewarded as the cedary bouquet unfurls. The palate has that Lafite grace and power too. Closed yet classy, with the breed you expect of Lafite. Drink 2014-2027.
Château Mouton Rothschild, 1er Cru Classe Candidate for best Médoc first growth of the vintage. Severe selection, quite low yield, and sympathetic winemaking (less extraction) have made for a very opulent, polished and complex wine. A really impressive and exotic nose is followed by a rich and full palate of spice and cassis and coffee. Very fine tannins, good length. Bravo. Drink 2014-2027. Château Latour, 1er Cru Classe The surprise here is the 15% of the blend that is press wine, whereas usually only 6-8% is added. This indicates that the wine was naturally less structured than most years, and therefore extra richness and strength have been added via this blending. It will still be, in Latour terms, approachable relatively young. Drink 2014-2027.
As a proportion of its surface area, this appellation just south of Pauillac contains the biggest concentration of classed growth vineyards, and for many produces the most consistently excellent wines across the appellation. Consistency again of quality was evident in 2007. We’ve been following this property for years – it’s as good as many a more expensive classed growth. The good news is the 2007 is delicious. Classic St Julien, savoury smoky cedar nose, cassis and grace on the palate, lots of fruit and well balanced. A very good bottle of wine. Drink 2011-2018. Price:£183 Repeatedly surprises very qualified tasters at blind tastings, often being mistaken for fancier and pricier neighbours. Unqualified St Julien style and 2007 is in the same vein. Smoky, almost warm meaty nose showing ripeness and density. The palate is juicy and rich and velvety, lovely tannins, plenty of stuffing. Will be good, very nice. Recommended. Drink 2011-2022. Price:£250 See Our Recommendations There is no denying that this famous yet under-achieving property has pulled its socks up over the last few years. Once thin and weedy, it now has more stuffing. The 2007 is elegant and pretty, with plenty of kirsch and black fruit. The palate is charming and very fruity. Drink 2011-2022. Price:£276 Virtually a separate wine in its own right, Clos du Marquis is made from the part of the Léoville Las Cases vineyard that lies on the west side of the D2 road towards Talbot. Lovely juicy attractive nose of cassis with a touch of cedar, the palate is very soft, lifted, quite intense but above all very fruity with very soft tannins. 35% Merlot and 12% of press wine to add structure. Drink 2011-2022. Price:£225 Opposite Beychevelle, this property has emerged in recent times as a pretty good bet for quality claret. The 2007 has a quite distinct raspberry red fruit flavour overlain with evident new oak. A more elegant charming style to enjoy young. Drink 2011-2019. Price:£265 Whilst the world and his wife cannot get enough Léoville Barton, Cinderella Langoa is often left waiting in the wings, and we can’t for the life of us understand why. Langoa in 2007 is a lovely wine again with a nice intensity of blackberry aroma and cedar. The palate has good volume and weight, well integrated silky tannins and good length. Snap it up! Drink 2012-2020. Price:£290 This excellent estate always tastes somehow more modern, more oaky, more flamboyant en primeur than its neighbours. The 2007 is one of the rarer wines in the appellation to have a roasted liquorice styled nose and a palate that is polished, plush, smooth, very ripe with some new oak. There is some tannin on the finish but fans will not be disappointed. Drink 2012-2023. Price:£355 As ever, reserved, reticent yet powerful at this young stage (the 2006 tasted at the château was excellent, by the way). It is the classic claret for ageing, and the 2007 is one of the bigger, more solid and dense of the vintage. As ever, one to snap up. Drink 2014-2027. Price:£395 Château Ducru Beaucaillou For many tasters this is a success in 2007. Bruno Borie plucked his vines of all their leaves in August in order to get as much sun on the grapes as possible. It is made up of 90% Cabernet and will actually have more new oak (90%) this year than normal due to the very high proportion of Cabernet. The colour is very deep, the nose quite exotic with new oak and cedar. The palate is full, but polished, with no hard edges, almost silky in texture but with good concentration. Well done. Drink 2012-2023. Price:TBC Château Leoville Las Cases Frequently approaching 1er Cru quality and the leader in St Julien with its vineyard situated next to Pichon Lalande and Latour. Usually massive and impenetrable, the 2007 sample was a charming epitome of the vintage – really attractive and open but not light – it has very good concentration, with softer tannins than in the past. Very good aromatic and flavour intensity, full and dense and on this evidence up there with some of the first growths in terms of pure quality. Drink 2014-2027. Price:TBC
Just north of Pauillac, traditionally firm and solid wines as the vines here ripen later than further south. However today the wines are less hard and more suave due to improved vineyard techniques and a higher percentage of Merlot. Home to such legendary names as Cos d’Estournel, Montrose and Calon Segur. A wine from Borie Manoux, like Batailley or Trottevieille, under the consulting eye of guru Denis Dubourdieu. Good value early drinking claret from this well respected Cru Bourgeois. Very supple, easy going, approachable with medium concentration. Drink 2010-2015. Price:£105 See Our Recommendations A very graceful style of wine from this renowned 3ème Cru in 2007. The second vintage under the stewardship of a former Château Margaux winemaker, 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 80% new oak in the final blend. There is 25% less Grand Vin than in 2006 due to lower yields and greater selection. Forward cedar and oak nose, with very pure fruit flavours on the palate and supple tannins. Drink 2012-2022. Price:£320 The second vintage under the stewardship of former Haut Brion winemaker Jean Bernard Delmas, who seems to have got to grips with the terroir here. Curiously the yields here were higher than in 2006. The result is quite an approachable Montrose with plenty of classic Médoc aromas on the nose, and a full, supple and round palate with integrated tannins. Drink 2013-2023. Price:£460 The star of the appellation and one of the best wines in the Médoc in 2007. From very small yields of 34 hls/ha (down 26% on 2006!), evidently a draconian selection has played its part in the excellent quality here. One of the denser, more concentrated and complete wines of the vintage, with very good concentration and length. Impressive. Bravo. Drink 2013-2025. Price:£660 As more and more ambitious properties in humbler areas use Grand Cru vineyard and winemaking methods to improve their quality, there are some excellent values to be found in more outlying regions. The Médoc is home to many impress Crus Bourgeois, whilst the best of Blaye gives St Emilion a very good run for its money. To follow, not yet tasted. Price: £73
Winemaker at Beychevelle, Philippe Blanc, oversees the winemaking at this ever popular property. The price has hardly fluctuated in the last 6 vintages and consequently Beaumont still remains a solid and attractive buy for good quality drinking claret. Drink 2010-2015. Price: £70 An excellent value property under the ownership of Bernard Magrez (Pape Clement, Fombrauge, Tour Carnet), we felt that this wine was the pick of the range for quality and value this year. Lots of cherry fruit on the nose, ripe, soft, some new oak, supple and round palate with no hard edges, will make a really pleasurable bottle. Drink 2010-2015. Price:£110 Christophe Reboul Salze’s wine really is excellent value in the wider context of Bordeaux. Made by Stephane Derenoncourt. Severe selection in the vineyard (only 36 hls/ha) and 15% tank bleeding have meant that the 2007 here is a success. Very floral Merlot nose, gentle and pretty palate, soft, round, very attractive and soft. Drink 2010-2015. Price:£85 As always producing wines of classed growth quality, the 2007 is in a similar style to many wines of the vintage. Soft, finely balanced tannins, gentle fruit not over-done, with a soft and fruity finish. No surprises here. Drink 2012-2019. Price:£155 This was one of our hits of the vintage in value terms. This classed growth is often overlooked because of its perceived lowly Haut Médoc status, but is making very tasty wines. Full, fruity, well managed tannins, good length, polished and well made, this will be a very pleasurable bottle. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£155
SAINT EMILION and FRONSAC The heart of what is known as the Right Bank (the Médoc being the left). Merlot here rules, and properties are on average only 5 hectares (2500 cases produced) whilst a Médoc property will typically be ten times bigger. St Emilion is a beautiful village with a worldwide reputation for its wines. Fronsac wines, once more highly reputed than its neighbour, are resurgent. A popular wine and one of the leaders of the Fronsac appellation situated to the west of Libourne and Pomerol across the Dordogne. A lovely château and the subject of much investment from James Gregoire. Well priced, Merlot dominated claret with gentle cherry and blackberry flavours. Drink 2010-2016. Price:£87 Canny claret buyers should take note – this wine is made by Alain Vauthier and his daughter, the team behind stellar Ausone and fantastic Moulin St Georges, some of the best wines in the area. Fonbel is on sandier soil so more approachable younger. Top pedigree, creamy black fruit, balanced, floral Merlot. Drink 2010-2015. Price: £89 This wine has become a firm Averys favourite and for good reason. Very good quality St Emilion that, all in including duty and vat, is less than £10 a bottle delivered. Overseen by the Moueix team, we enjoyed the 2007’s overt fruitiness, full flavoured palate and rounded tannins. A good deal at this price. Drink 2010-2015. Price:£84 Another Averys favourite, reaffirmed by the lovely bottle of 2001 that we enjoyed over lunch (on Sunday, a non-working day!). Made by Stephane Derenoncourt from a vineyard situated on the western side of St Emilion towards Libourne. 75% Merlot, 40% new oak, this is supple, juicy modern claret with plenty of fruit and a sleek texture. Very appetising! Drink 2010-2015. Price:£89 Château Armens, Grand Cru Run by Alexandre de Malet Roquefort, who also owns the famous La Gaffeliere and Tertre Daugay properties. No expense is spared at Armens, overseen by leading right bank winemaker Stephane Derenoncourt. Severe selection and careful winemaking have produced a St Emilion of good length, nice concentration for the vintage, with a touch of new oak. Very approachable. Drink 2011-2017. Price:TBC One of the finest situated terroirs in St Emilion. A prime candidate for upgrading to Cru Classé status in the next classification. Yields have been reduced here and the wine is more concentrated and richer than in the past. Supple black fruit, a pleasant roundness and that plum and chocolate flavour so typical of good St Emilion. Drink 2011-2017. Price:£129 One of St Emilion’s jewels, a beautifully situated property just to the north of the village. Formerly run with panache by Francois De Ligneris, this is the second vintage for the charming Claire Thomas-Chenard of neighbouring Larmande. Quite a dense style of wine, but not over-extracted, full bodied with good length. Drink 2011-2018. Price:£175 Le Petit Cheval Pierre Lurton has made a candidate for wine of the vintage in Cheval Blanc. The second wine is also excellent and extremely aromatic as it contains 70% Cabernet Franc. It is aged in 100% new oak but you hardly notice it on tasting. This is really suave, rich and dense. Very impressive. Drink 2011-2019. Price:TBC One of the leading classed growths, and consistently for over 20 years. This is always a very charming and fragrant wine that has good staying power too. The 2007 has a creaminess to it on the nose, good intensity, a long finish and a charmingly sweet red fruit flavoured palate Ripe. Drink 2011-2018. Price:£380 The humble Grand Cru designation disguises the fact that this is owned and made by Alain Vauthier of Ausone, of the Bordeaux’s most thrilling wines. The vineyard is opposite too! This received 100% new oak and you hardly notice it, such is the flavour and density of the wine itself. Sweet cherries on the palate, very seductive. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£220 We believe strongly in the trio of Armens, Tertre Daugay and La Gaffeliere, 1er Grand Cru Classé. Alexandre de Malet and Stephane Derenoncourt are starting to fulfil this wonderful vineyard’s potential. Deep purple, lots of purity of fruit, long and graceful. Delicious. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£289 Matthieu Cuvelier has made some lovely wines at this historic, centrally situated property in recent years. No expense is spared in achieving the best he can, and 2007 is denser and smokier than some, with kirsch and coffee aromas. Very fruity yet fresh too, no heaviness, a success. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£300 Recently promoted to 1er Cru status, this vineyard is run biodynamically and the wines made with adroit skill by Nicolas Thienpont. This is really in demand these days and the allocation sells quickly. Lovely density to the 2007, more muscular than some, full and impressive. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£320 Another 1er Cru unstinting in its efforts to achieve the best possible. Under the stewardship of John Kolassa (Rauzan Segla) this wine is making great strides and was one of the most complete of St Emilion’s in 2007. Forward, full with some nice ripeness and concentration, good length, solid and impressive. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£375 Philippe Casteja’s 1er Cru in St Emilion, enjoying a run of successful vintages under the watchful eye of Denis Dubourdieu. The nose is very fruity with nice black cherry and blackberry fruit. The palate has elegance, not the richest but full of flavour and will make a delicious early drinking bottle. Drink 2011-2017. Price:£349 A real success this year, the late autumn sun really benefiting the high percentage of Cabernet at this estate. We found the nose aromatic and complex, intense but not overpowering. The palate was very long and well made. Very good. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£500 A hot favourite at the moment, this is highly in demand around the world and so our allocation, like that of Pavie Macquin, sells out fast. Situated near Pavie, this bears the hallmark of Stephane Derenoncourt’s winemaking – elegance, flavour and length. A very good bottle with plenty of persistence of flavour, graceful. Drink 2011-2017. Price:£265 Appropriately the wine of choice of James Bond in the film Casino Royale, in 2007! Has been on fire for well over 17 years and is one of the appellation’s leading wines. It is very powerful as usual but there is more finesse these days and less new oak. Rich and full and one of the vintage’s more concentrated styles. Drink 2012-2021. Price:£1050 Château Cheval Blanc One of the wines of the vintage. With drastic selection, only 33% of the property’s production made it into the Grand Vin. 55% Cabernet Franc, 100% new oak, really lovely depth, power and length with that haunting Cheval Blanc bouquet. Great wine. Drink 2012-2022. Price:TBC Château Ausone Please contact us if you are interested in this wine. Once again it is one of the best wines of the vintage in Bordeaux, but our volumes are tiny. Price: 6 x 75cl £2600
POMEROL and LALANDE DE POMEROL
The tiny appellation of Pomerol is home to some of the world’s most expensive and sought after wines (Petrus, La Fleur, Le Pin). The style here is of seductive and powerful Merlot, more velvety than St Emilion and very hedonistic. Always amongst the first of the Bordeaux appellations to be harvested as it ripens first. Lalande is its satellite appellation, made on cooler soils, and the best are very good wines. Paul Goldschmidt is making huge efforts in improving quality here and the 2007 is a very charming wine that has plenty of mid-palate fruit, some new oak, lots of flavour and good length. Well done and as always very good value in the context of the market. Drink 2010-2016. Price:£79 Always a good bet for those enjoying good quality Pomerol without the stratospheric price. Towards Libourne on sandier soils, the fruity, approachable style of Clos Rene is to the fore in 2007. Creamy cherry on the nose, supple, fruity, touch of black fruit, soft texture and gentle tannins. A very attractive medium term wine. Drink 2011-2017. Price:£150 Now under the stewardship of the famed Moueix dynasty (Petrus, Trotanoy, Hosannah etc) the quality is really rather good at Plince now. Of typical Pomerol style, this wine shows the chocolatey, velvety styled palate that is so unique. Black fruit compote, quite structured, a very good bottle and more dense and powerful than some this vintage. Drink 2012-2019. Price:£174 Jean Baptiste Bourotte and his father are producing nice wines at this Averys favourite property that is well situated in Catusseau, next to Beauregard. It is powerful, a touch of new oak on the nose, has very good depth and richness on the palate with a typical creamy Pomerol finish. Well done. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£190 This is a new wine to us but we rather fell for it during our tastings. Previously distributed by the Moueix team, it came back to the Chasseuil family in 2000. It is ideally situated near Eglise Clinet and Clinet in the heart of the appellation. We found the wine rich, chocolately, concentrated and beguiling. A classic and fine Pomerol. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£276 Distributed by the Moueix company and under the ownership of the talented and charming Dominique Vayron, this vineyard is situated next to Trotanoy. Dominique makes solid, dense Pomerol (you wouldn’t think it to look at her) that ages beautifully. Full, juicy, smoky, chewy and structured. Well built. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£199 Philippe Casteja’s Pomerol property (he also owns Batailley, Trottevieille and Lynch Moussas, amongst others!). A pretty solid effort all round in 2007, with plenty of plum and cherry fruit, some new oak, supple plummy fruit, ripe and soft. Drink 2012-2017. Price:£183 Run by Axa, also owners of Pibran and Pichon Baron. This is a success this vintage, with more concentration and density than some of its peers. Rich, quite powerful but not over-extracted, this has good weight and a long, juicy finish. Well done. Drink 2012-2019. Price:£269 This was one of our favourite wines in 2006. The 2007 is creditable and will not disappoint those who enjoy this château’s style. The nose is quite powerful, the palate quite structured and solid at the moment with a minty edge. Drink 2012-2018. Price:£320 A new wine to us this year, we fell in love at first taste with this lovely second wine from Evangile (belonging to the Rothschilds of Lafite). It was so gorgeously fruity and delicious and seductive, a hedonists wine. Lovely and juicy from 100% Merlot, it is exotic and irresistible already! Lovely. Drink 2011-2016. Price:£179 Christian Moueix’s residence and a Pomerol of very fine quality, subject to severe selection in 2007. Volumes of Grand Vin are down by a third due to draconian selection and so we have a tiny quantity only. A great Pomerol in the vintage, muscular, taut and ripe. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£340 per 6 bottle case We were impressed by this once again. A château ideally situated next to Vieux Château Certan with some of the best placed vineyards in the whole of Bordeaux. A big, rich, scented and seductive Pomerol, the 2007 does not disappoint with roasted smoky aromas and a coffeed, dense, powerful, sweet palate and good length. Chunky and rich and very long. Bravo. Drink 2012-2022. Price:£560 Highly sought after, very rare, we have tiny amounts. Over the road from Petrus, made and run by the same team. Less dense, more elegant and feminine than its famous neighbour, a profound Pomerol of great reputation. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£288 per 6 bottle case One of the great names of Pomerol and of Bordeaux as a whole. Situated near Cheval Blanc and Evangile, this corner of Bordeaux has done very well in 2007. It has a tightly coiled cassis nose and the palate is graceful yet powerful, more elegant and feminine than some vintages of this wine. Drink 2012-2020. Price:TBC Alexandre Thienpont looks like a university professor, earnest and intellectual amongst his barrels. It took an incredible 135 days for the grapes to ripen from flowering (usually 110) and Alexandre feels that his Cabernet Franc made all the difference this year. Lowish alcohol of 12.6%, this is in a lighter, more elegant register than some vintages of VCC. Very polished and pretty. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£620 Very expensive and very, very good! The Pomerol oupost of the Lafite dynasty, this is top Pomerol and we were enchanted. It feels really complete, with lovely density, that chocolatey velvet texture of the very best of Pomerols, good length and tons of appealing fruit. Really very impressive. Drink 2012-2022. Price:£846
Created only 20 years ago, this is the qualitative heart of the Graves region. The only top commune to produce both red and white classed growth wines, the quality produced here today is exceptional. With Haut Brion as its standard bearer, there are many classed growths of note. This will be a new name to many of you, but is in fact the new name for Haut Brion’s second wine (formerly known as Bahans). It will be bottled in the iconic shaped bottle, as per the Grand Vin. Lots of Merlot here (51%), a good smoky meaty nose, very soft and supple and an attractive early drinking style. Drink 2012-2015. Price:£420 This has become a popular wine amongst Averys customers as it affords a taste of fine Pessac at a good value price. Its pedigree is undisputed, coming from the same stable as Batailley and Trottevieille, made under the watchful eye of Graves specialist Denis Dubourdieu. Nice spicy nose, with that Graves earthiness, the palate is soft and gentle and will be pleasantly approachable young. Drink 2010-2015. Price:£79 A tip for those seeking affordable classed growth claret. The Bonnie family have invested huge sums here and the wines are really very polished and classy in 2007, both red and white. Sweet new oak, raspberry and cherry with good concentration on the chewy and full palate. Bigger than most. Drink 2012-2017. Price:£219 Olivier Bernard’s wine is always one of the leaders of the appellation, and we enjoyed a magnificent 1948 whilst in Bordeaux. Olivier is one of the region’s most dynamic men and the 2007 reflects his commitment to quality. Richer cassis nose, fuller and more complex than most in the appellation, a step up in density and structure. Drink 2012-2019. Price:£250 The Cathiards are ambassadors for their region, both in their unstinting efforts to promote their wine, and in the quality they produce. The 2007 is open on the nose with notes of cherry and cassis, whilst the palate is sweetly flavoured, round and full with integrated tannins. Drink 2012-2019. Price:£320 The cellars here are something to behold – wooden fermenters, four sorting tables and all the latest winemaking equipment. In 2007 enormous efforts went into the vineyard to ensure only the ripe berries were harvested. As always very deep in colour, it has a toasty, roasted dark fruit and chocolate aroma. The palate is big, quite closed, tannic and chewy, one of the more robust wines of the vintage. Drink 2012-2022. Price:£720 Sister to the great Haut Brion, the two vie with each other each year to see which produces the best wine in the appellation. Both have the same proportion of Merlot this year (43%), the main difference being that Haut Brion contains 4% more Cabernet Franc than La Mission. Tight graphite/pencil nose, then some very soft fruit on the attack, quite structured. Good density, good quality for the vintage. Drink 2013-2022. Price:£2050 An intriguing and wonderful property that makes the most individual of first growths. For many commentators this was one of the wines of the vintage. Big, meaty, smoky nose, the palate has good density and is richer than La Mission, masculine and smoky but with a sweet fruit edge from the Merlot. Good length, well balanced, impressive. Drink 2013-2027. Price:12 x 75cl £2460
NB all wines available in cases of 12 bottles or 24 half bottles. Great Sauternes is inimitable in the world. A gloriously natural, unfortified sweet wine that is very difficult to make, it is produced in tiny quantities from berries affected by noble rot that are picked in several different sweeps through the vineyard. Costly to produce, unfairly out of fashion, one of the great wines of the world. A real treat. Good value and lovely quality as in all the 2007s. Tropical fruit on the nose; mango and pineapple. The palate has lovely sweetness but is not too heavy, with crisp supporting acidity and lovely length. A real pleasure. Drink 2011-2017. Price:£150 A delicious effort in 2007. This Barsac property has made quite a racy style that blends sweet richness with a crispness that is very appetising. Lively nose of citrus and pineapple. The palate is not the sweetest but has really refreshing zip and grace and lovely persistence. It nevertheless has 150g of residual sweetness which analytically is quite high, so just shows how harmonious this is. Drink 2012-2020. Price:£210 Half Bottles (24 x 37.5cl): £220 This has been a favourite for a few years, and because it is so little known, represents top value. Jancis Robinson MW marks this 19-/20, and we loved it too. Lovely herbal, lime and citrus, blossom and pineapple nose. The palate is really rich, intense, lovely botrytis flavours, really weighty yet with excellent acidity. Really impressive. Drink 2012-2030. Price:£285 By no means the sweetest of most powerful of the Sauternes, yet with lovely balance and freshness. Honeyed and floral on the nose, the palate is beautifully fresh, with explosive fruit flavours and a finish that just goes on and on. Barley sugar and balance. Very good. Drink 2012-2025. Price:£312 Wow. Very, very rich and sweet but the lovely acidity and freshness makes it perfectly balanced. Honeyed, complex nose with lots of grapefruit aroma. The palate is very weighty and sweet, juicy, dense, honeyed and very long. For those who love their Sauternes unctuous! Drink 2012-2029. Price:£516 Half Bottles (24 x 37.5cl): £526 Château Climens Held by many commentators to be just behind Yquem in terms of quality. The final blend is never ready at this stage so one has to imagine what the components will come together to form. However in such a good year for Sauternes, this will be one of the leaders of the pack. Price:TBC Château d’Yquem We have a very small quantity of this king of sweet wines available so early ordering is recommended. Price:TBC The overcast conditions in the summer actually aided the production of whites in Bordeaux. Ripening was slow, acidities remained fresh and crisp, and the long ripening period allowed for very good aroma and flavour development. With widespread use of new oak in varying proportions, these wines have the creaminess of Burgundy but based on Sauvignon and Semillon, are often more vivacious and fresher. Le Pavillon Blanc de Château Margaux A truly exceptional Pavillon Blanc this year. From a patch of vines situated further in land from Margaux and therefore susceptible to frost, the yields for this 100% Sauvignon wine were tiny this year. With 100% new oak, you hardly notice it at all. It is beautifully fragrant, racy, rich, sleek, with 15% alcohol but wonderfully fresh. Extremely impressive, taut yet rich. Drink 2010-2017. Price:TBC Truly lovely white Graves. Sweet new oak, citrus and pineapple on the nose. Aromatic and rich. The palate is very attractive, creamy and rich with great concentration and lovely banana and pineapple flavours. Long, creamy, and impressive. Weighty yet fresh because of that lovely 2007 acidity. Drink 2010-2017. Price: 6 x 75cl £645 A lovely Pessac blanc and very good value. Lots of Sauvignon here so citrusy and fresh, pineapply and zingy with some new oak. The palate is lovely and crisp and lively with some creamy new oak in the middle, good length. A really lovely value white. Drink 2009-2011. Price:£79 Château Villa Bel Air A new wine to us but one with excellent pedigree. This is owned and made by the Cazes family of Lynch Bages and represents very good value for money. Again lots of Sauvignon in the blend, so a grassy gooseberry edge to the nose is there with some new oak. Crisp, lifted, nicely harmonious palate with good fruit richness and some new wood. Drink 2009-2011. Price:TBC A lovely wine from the Cathiards this year and we sell out quickly each year due to the small amount of wine produced so hurry! Tight Sauvignon nose, excellent weight and lovely creamy oak, well judged, balanced and long. Rich yet fresh. Drink 2010-2015. Price:£490 Another wine in high demand with such tiny amounts made. Pale green in colour, with a nose of creamy new oak and good fruit concentration. The palate has lovely poise and balance between acidity and citrus and cream fruit. Good power and very complex. Drink 2011-2015. Price:£620
Delivery Summer 2010.
Prices are for the wine cost only lying in bond Nailsea. On receipt of the wine into the UK, duty, VAT and delivery will be payable. |
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