BORDEAUX SUPPLEMENT

REDBORDEAUX

FINE WINE LTD EST. 1975

BORDEAUX 2021 EN PRIMEUR OFFER

A Return To Classicism

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CONTACTS

Alex Cox

Managing Director

alex@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 1295 81 66 36

Julian Chamberlen

Director

julian@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 7771 89 89 83

TomMeade

Sales

tom@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 7595 18 25 46

MalcolmWillatts

Sales

malcolm@farthinghoe.com+44 (0) 7802 63 84 27

Charles Newman

Sales

charles@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 7526 60 35 13

Oli Barton

Buyer

BORDEAUX 2021 ENPRIMEUROFFER Rebecca Adams

OfficeManager

rebecca@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 1295 81 66 34

Amy Hazlewood

Onmaternity leave

Sophie Bartlett

Sales Invoicing

sophie@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 1295 81 66 32

Robyn Potts

Stock Control

robyn@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 1295 81 66 33

Lucy Riley

Administrator

lucy@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 1295 81 66 42

Andrew Pike

Logistics Coordinator

andrew@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 1295 81 66 38

Victoria Robinson

Logistics Administrator victoria@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 1295 816645

Bev Sharples

Accounts

bev@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 1295 81 66 35

Hayley Finch

Company Accountant

hayley@farthinghoe.com +44 (0) 1295 81 66 37

NOTES

PRICING All wines are offered for sale IN BONDUK. All prices in this offer are estimates for the case sizes listed and will be confirmed on release. Please see our Terms and Conditions of Sale at www.farthinghoefinewine.com/ terms-and-conditions.html FORMATS All wines currently listed in bottle format are available in other formats fromhalves to imperials, as well as different case sizes to what is listed. Please contact us to register bottling preferences and/or request pricing.

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GREETINGS from Farthinghoe

BORDEAUX 2021 ENPRIMEUR OFFER

THEWEATHER With nearly ninety years’ experience cumulatively of En Primeur visits, one learns not to draw too many conclusions too early. Spectacular statistics on paper don’t always translate to the wine in the glass and vice versa. However, there were two climatic events last year that had a marked effect on the style, yield and quality of the 2021s. The Bordeaux region suffered a very cold frost on two successive nights in early April, nipping things in the bud (literally) for some estates’ vines, which had already started to push new shoots after a warmMarch. The severity reduced potential volumes by 10% to 20%. Châteaux near the frost-tempering Gironde River experienced virtually no loss, while others in colder spots were significantly more affected. This has no negative effect on quality, just the yields. Secondly, the early to mid-summer was uncharacteristically cool, wet and humid. The diligence, experience and often wealth of individual Château, in reaction to these conditions, explains the qualitative variation in the 2021 Vintage. If not kept in check these conditions encourage the rapid development of mildew across a vineyard, which inhibits the grapes’ maturity and aromatic compound flavours and development: it MUST be controlled! Châteaux had varying degrees of success with their treatments - a handful telling us they suffered no mildew at all on account of regular treatments, in some cases spraying small amounts over 20 times during the growing season. Ten would normally be deemed a lot! Others struggled to dedicate that level of attention and were less successful. Ultimately, one needs manpower andmoney.

TheTeamFarthinghoesales squadwasaugmented by our new buyer, Oli Barton, for four days on our usual whistlestop Bordeaux tour to taste the 2021 Vintage last week. It felt very good to be back in Bordeaux after three years away and, moreover, we were quietly impressed with what we tasted. “A RETURN TOCLASSICISM” It is proper, balanced elegant Claret of the old school, yet with the benefit of modern techniques - good news all round! At their best, the wines are elegant, refreshing and possessing the hallmarks of a cooler vintage - crunchy berries, classic pencil lead and garrigue herbs bringing energy and precision. Most wines are below 13% alcohol and a structure that will allow them to age well. The top winemakers coaxed elegant fruit without over extracting tannins. They favour savoury restraint over richer more fruit-forward vintages like 2009.

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Interestingly, some of our most impressive tastings were with petit châteaux whomwe might have expected to succumb to the conditions; but who, in fact, shone. Most estates are well equipped with tools to avoid frost-damaged and unevenly ripened bunches. Châteaux are using high-end technology when it comes to sorting the harvest: computer-controlled sorting tables and densimetric tanks allow the wine-makers to select only the healthiest and ripest berries. Compared to 30 years ago, much more fruit goes to the Second and Third wines. This boosts the overall quality of the Grand Vin, made exclusively from the creamof the crop. OUR VISIT Our tastings combined twenty or so individual Château visits – always useful to hear their unique experiences of the vintage to build up a picture of the vintage as a whole. We also converged on three or four centralised tastings, which lend themselves to direct comparisons between neighbouring châteaux – very helpful in judging their respective qualities indeed. The dynamic duo Oli and Charlie went back to Bordeaux for a second week for a further round of tastings. Suffice to say, we have a pretty good feel for the vintage! THE COMMUNES We were pleasantly surprised to find the Right Bank performed very strongly this year. Some of our favourite wines came from Pomerol and St. Émilion where the earlier-ripening Merlot was juicy and very fine. The

Cabernet Franc, harvested at the start of October, did incrediblywell and representedamuchhigher percentage in the blends than usual – which we loved. Pessac-Léognan and Graves was probably the best overall performing commune. The few extra degrees given by proximity to the city helped to avoid frost. It was helped again by a good quality Merlot crop which brings flesh and elegance to their wines. We will be recommending many of these estates. On the Left Bank we found more diversity in the wines. Here the Cabernet Sauvignon was picked from 1 – 14 October, one of the later harvests in the past 15 years, completing before the Autumn rains. This warm, dry window provided much neededfinal ripeness. The incredible 60days from veraison to harvest, rather than the usual 40, has brought complexity to this classical vintage. THEWINES Stylistically, there are some clearly defined characteristics we particularly enjoyed. Firstly, the alcohol levels are all hovering around 13% ABV and, like the brilliant 2020 Burgundies, there is a fresh definition in many of the wines, providing an uplifting energy and element of precision. I have loved tasting the 18/19/20 trioof richer, bigger and more sumptuous vintages, but a little nod to the past, more ‘classic’ style of vintage is pretty refreshing and shows us that global warming doesn’t necessarily mean big fruit bombs ad infinitum. Interestingly, at Château Margaux, Thomas told us that the IPT (Total Polyphenol Levels) which measure the quality of tannins in a wine were as high in 2021 as they were in the excellent 2010s. Whilst at some venues we DID taste some over extracted tannins (we won’t name and shame,

BORDEAUX 2021 ENPRIMEUROFFER

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BORDEAUX 2021 ENPRIMEUR OFFER

but they of course haven’t made it onto our list), most were reasonably well balanced from that perspective. The 2021s are undoubtedly a lighter version of the preceding vintages and some Châteaux could certainly have done with a greater depth of core fruit in the mid/end palate, but our job is to separate the wheat from the chaff, hence our MANY rounds of tasting. We have refined our selections to bring you seventy-five or so wines that we aremore than happy with this vintage. The Wine Advocate recently released their scores, and they tend to corroborate our views, as you’ll see. Naturally, we all have slightly different tastes, but broadly speaking, we’re in agreement, with over 50 wines tasted having a 95 pts or above in the score. THEMARKET In terms of themarket and prices, it’s the same old story. Us consumers will demand a price decrease citing market conditions, the dreadful events in Ukraine and FX pressures (the usual story) whilst the proprietors will demand price increases citing inflationary production costs and the lack of yield (the usual story!), so for any predictions, let’s all stick our fingers in the air and have a guess…

I suspect we’ll see prices around last year’s levels. A Petit Château out yesterday morning was down three percent on last year’s price, but I wouldn’t read too much into that. In terms of the €/£ level, we’re trading flat compared as last year, though usefully the € vs. $ has weakened by nearly 15% over the same period which could play favourably in the Europeans’ pricing strategy to their US$ relatedmarkets. Let the games begin... Alex

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REDBORDEAUX

RED BORDEAUX

“The best wines offer a striking combination of old school classicismwithmodern-day precision.” —ANTONIO GALLONI

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ST. ESTÈPHE Northern-most of the four communes, St. Estèphe distinguishes itself from its Southern neighbour Pauillac with more clay soil beneath its gravel rises as the gravel transported by the Gironde diminishes downstream. These factors contribute to grapes higher in minerality as the roots grow deep in search of water. The Châteaux have performed well here, thriving on the excellent freshness in the wines. There were some very cold spells in spring, but Châteaux avoided the frost. Harvest started late and continued even later as the wineries waited for the grapes to reach perfect ripeness. The Merlot harvest was wrapped up at the end of September and the Cabernet was harvested between 1st and 14th October. Calon Segur and Montrose were our favourites here: Calon have made an incredibly elegant modern and poised wine whereas Montrose is more in a classic style but again blessed by an excellent freshness. The style overall is classic, with lower alcohol levels and bright juicy fruit still with the textbook minerality. St. Estèphe offers excellent chances to pick up great buys.

REDBORDEAUX

LEMARQUISDECALON-SÉGUR 58%Merlot, 42%Cabernet sauvignon. 36Hl/Ha, 17months in oak 30% new barrels. Very pretty ruby colour with a hint of red, an attractive nose of red and black fruit with a good cool mineral note. Bit of plumon this fleshy palate, a charming red fruit note and a hint of flowers. The tannin is very fine giving a light structure. The freshness is goodheremaking for an already quite approachable wine. Elegant and juicy, with that savoury finish which is quite long and ends on a serious dark tannic note. Classy and classic. DRINK: 2026 - 2036 £210 - £250 / 12 BOTTLES WA89-91 CHÂTEAULESORMESDE PEZ, CRUBOURGEOIS EXCEPTIONNEL 40% Cabernet sauvignon, 49% Merlot, 6% Cabernet franc, 5% Petit verdot. 16 months in oak 45% new barrels. Dark ruby with purple rim. A pretty perfumed nose of ripe blackberry fruit. Thepalateshowsmoreripeblackberry, blackcurrant and a bit of blue fruit. The tannin is fine and gives a little grip on the finish. Earthy and mineral, very true to St. Estèphe. The freshness is here, quite tight still so will need time but a good expression of fruit on the mid palate. A LES PAGODESDECOS 60%Merlot, 36%Cabernet sauvignon, 3%Cabernet franc, 1%Petit verdot. 35Hl/Ha, 11 months in barrel with 45% new oak. A very attractive punchy fruit driven nose. Expressive cassis and a hint of rose petal. The palate is red fruit and the tannin is very fine and ripe. The finish has quite a lot of grip from the fine but rather firm tannins. Quite attractive and unique in style with its richer approach. DRINK: 2026 - 2036 £170 - £210 / 6BOTTLES WA90-92 good effort this year. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £110 - £130 / 6BOTTLES WA90-91

CHÂTEAUCALON-SÉGUR, 3ÈMECRU 81% Cabernet sauvignon, 11% Cabernet franc, 7% Merlot, 1% Petit verdot. 36Hl/Ha 43%of harvest used in theGrandVin, 20months in oak 100%newbarrels. An intense nose, with red and black fruit, earthy with some spice notes and a slight floral lift. The fruit on the nose is incredibly ripe. Quitemodern and showy, the palate is also very generous in juicy, fleshy fruit. The tannin is very fine and silky giving a medium body. The freshness level is very good giving a juicy finish that lingers on the red and black fruit. You wouldn’t know that it’s 100% new oak other than the slight tannic grip on the fin. Very good, bright modern and precise. DRINK: 2030 - 2050 £430 - £525 / 6BOTTLES WA95-96+ CHÂTEAUMONTROSE, 2ÈMECRU 62% Cabernet sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6 Cabernet franc, 1% Petit verdot. 38 Hl/Ha, 39% of harvest went into the grand vin. Dark deep colour. A dense Cabernet nose of leafy cassis, graphite, woodsmokewith a hint of blue fruit. The palate is really on the traditional style, lots of dark fruit with a hint of plum. The medium tannin is inky and gives firm structure and graphite notes. The finish has freshness with more very dark fruit and a hint of salinity. High points are a velvety texture and a much lower alcohol level than the last three vintages. A classic style which will please the traditionalists. DRINK: 2030 - 2050 £720 - £850 / 6BOTTLES WA94-96 CHÂTEAUCOSD’ESTOURNEL, 2ÈMECRU 64% Cabernet sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet franc, 2% Petit verdot. 18months inbarrel 55%newoak. 35Hl/Hadown just 10% on last year. A little muted on the nose but some velvety bramble fruit and cool mineral notes coming through. An attractive palate here which has lots of crunchy fruit, fine but grippy tannin giving a velvety mouth feel. A textural finish with cassis, blue fruit and herbs ending with some very firm tannins and wood smoke notes. Chewy tannins to finish. DRINK: 2033 - 2048 £800 - £995 6BOTTLES WA94-95 The 2021 Cos D’Estournel is “medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless palate that’s impressively vibrant and concentrated.” - WILLIAMKELLEY,WINEADVOCATE

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PAUILLAC Home to three of the five First Growths, Pauillac has supreme breeding and produces majestic Claret; it is always distinctive and powerful in style. The wines often have “graphite” or “pencil-lead” notes from the area’s deep gravel soils, also often discernible is the salty twang from the nearby Gironde – Pedesclaux has both these attributes in spades. Pauillac is home toperennial favourites: the superstars of Lafite andMouton, the twinned “Super Seconds” of Château Pichon Baron and Château Pichon Lalande, and the fabulous fifth growths including Châteaux Lynch-Bages, Pontet-Canet, Grand-Puy-Lacoste, and D’Armailhac. This year the river’s proximity to these estates staved off the frost. There was rain in the spring and during the first half of summer but the ripeness was achieved thanks to a hot spell in September. Grape analysis showed levels pointing to ‘90s vintages: low potential alcohol and high acid levels making this a “classic” offering in the true sense. There are plenty of good wines here and the quality terroir of these classed growths really shines through.

REDBORDEAUX

CHÂTEAUPÉDESCLAUX, 5ÈMECRU 64%Cabernet sauvignon, 27%Merlot, 6%Cabernet franc, 3%Petit verdot. 16 months in barrel, 60% new oak. Good red fruit note on nose with some blackcurrant and plum, maybe a hint medicinal with herbs and a slight floral lift. Very generous and showy. Savoury on palate with a big umami note, then red fruit and fine ripe tannin. The palate has decent freshness and vibrancy. The fruit has a real lift and the tannin is plentiful. The finish is on the earthy side, tannin and freshness. Good effort, could be one of the good value CHÂTEAUBATAILLEY, 5ÈMECRU “The 2021 Batailley shows promise, exhibiting aromas of cassis, plums, licorice, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and dark chocolate, followedbyamediumto full-bodied, layeredand charming palate built around ripe, powdery tannins. Supple and giving, it will offer a broad drinking window.” -WILLIAMKELLEY,WINEADVOCATE DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £320 - £375 / 12 BOTTLES WA90-92 CHÂTEAUD’ARMAILHAC, 5ÈMECRU 63% Cabernet sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet franc, 2% Petit verdot. Bright ruby colour, red and black berry fruit on nose with herbal lift. The palate is fresh and full of red fruit. This is a juicy drinking wine with good ripe fruit on the flashy, modern palate. The tannin is very fine giving a medium body and the oak influence is quite restrained. The finish is punchy with more red fruit, a slight volatile acidity at the end. DRINK: 2027 - 2039 £180 - £225 / 6BOTTLES WA91-93 CHÂTEAUHAUT-BATAILLEY, 5ÈMECRU 70% Cabernet sauvignon, 30 Merlot. 16 months in barrel, 60% new oak. The nose shows plenty of dark cassis fruit and newoak. The palate hasmore ripe cassis and a bit of plum. Quite full bodied, the tannin is rather grippy. The finish is a little stalky and shows lots of coconut and smoke from the oak, it ends with a real grip from the firm tannin. Not themost elegant offering this year, but the fruit should see this through. DRINK: 2030 - 2048 £220 - £265 / 6BOTTLES WA90-93 buys of the vintage. DRINK: 2028 - 2042 £290 - £350 / 12 BOTTLES WA89-90

CHÂTEAUGRAND-PUY-LACOSTE, 5ÈMECRU 76% Cabernet sauvignon, 24% Merlot. 16 months in barrel with 60% new oak. A slightly restrained nose but which shows pretty red and black fruit and some wood smoke. Elegant and fresh. The palate is crunchy with red fruit and blackberry. It is very generous and fleshy and has a nice sweet spice note and a classy bit of new oak on the well-rounded finish. Well-structured and with plenty of freshness, this is a great wine and it should really deliver at this price level. DRINK: 2032 - 2044 £275 - £335 / 6BOTTLES WA92-94+ CHÂTEAUDUHART-MILON, 4ÈMECRU 81% Cabernet sauvignon, 19% Merlot. This is muted at first and graphite-driven - typical of the vintage and reflecting the high Cabernet percentage. The palate has plenty of intense dark berry fruit and a lithe minerality leading to pleasing bitterness such is the intensity. The tannin is fine with good grip providing a decent structure. The finish, like its cousin Lafite, is where the wine shows its mettle. This is long and intense and displays the excellent core and future longevity here. DRINK: 2029 - 2040 £310 - £385 / 6BOTTLES WA91-93+ CHÂTEAUCLERCMILON, 5ÈMECRU 59% Carbernet sauvignon, 38 Merlot, 10% Cabernet franc, 1.5% Carmenere, 1.5% Petit Verdot. A complex nose of dusty blackberry fruit, red berries, oak smoke, a lick of varnish and some serious Cabernet notes. The palate is modern and fleshy, generous in fruit with a nice lick of sweet spice on the finish. The tannin is fine giving medium body, but thefinish is a touchhot and volatile. Aflashywine toplease fans of amoremodern style. DRINK: 2029 - 2040 £310 -£385 / 6BOTTLES WA92-94 The 2021ClercMilon is “a success ... a compelling, characterful wine that transcends the vintage.” - WILLIAM KELLEY, WINE ADVOCATE

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CHÂTEAUPONTETCANET, 5ÈMECRU 58% Cabernet sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 6% Petit verdot, 4% Cabernet franc. 35% matured in concrete amphoras the rest in oak 50% of which is new. A ripe generous nose, very fine and opulent in a style that we like very much, with pure cassis and a bit of bramble fruit. Cool, fresh elegant and precise. The palate is modern and full of fruit. The tannin is fine, ripe but quite grippy so still quite serious. The finish has some good freshness and a slight floral lift. Very good, rich with a decent amount of tannin to back it up. A modern style that definitely delivers. DRINK: 2032 - 2048 £400 - £480 / 6BOTTLES WA91-93 CHÂTEAULYNCH-BAGES, 5ÈMECRU 67% Cabernet sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3 Cabernet franc, 5% Petit verdot. 18 months in barrel, 75% new oak. A dark ruby colour, opaque. On the nose there is a good pure Cabernet expression with some flowers and a dollop of plum from theMerlot. Generous cedar andwoodsmoke fromthe oak, very rich and powerful true to Pauillac. The palate follows suit with lots of leafy and rich dark fruit, some red fruit notes and plenty of tannin here, well worked but quite grippy on long finish and mineral finish. This wine will take a long time to be ready to drink, but it is well made, concentrated and intense. DRINK: 2032 - 2050 £485 - £575 / 6BOTTLES WA93-95 CHÂTEAUPICHON-LONGUEVILLE BARON, 2ÈME CRU 88% Cabernet sauvignon, 12% Merlot. 18 months in barrel, 70% new oak which is less than in usual vintages. Quite a serious nose with attractive pure and ripe cassis fruit, blackberry and graphite. In contrast the palate is full of red berry fruit, not quite as serious as their neighbour Lalande this year. The nose is quite classic, but the palate is muchmore generous with quite a noticeable freshness. A bit of tannic grip on the finish showing structure but the overall style is of an approachable wine which is all about the fruit. DRINK: 2028 - 2046 £630 - £750 / 6BOTTLES WA94-96+ CHÂTEAUPICHON-LONGUEVILLE LALANDE, 2ÈME CRU 88% Cabernet sauvignon, 10% Cabernet franc, 2% Merlot – 70% newoakup to 18months inbarrel, tobe confirmedas theymonitor its evolution. A big classic note of pencil lead and shavings on the nose. A Cabernet big boy! Dark and dusty, with some real spice coming through and an elegant floral note from the Cabernet franc. Very attractive in its traditional style. They like to make a style which starts quite cool and closed, not too showy, but where the fruit really comes through in the glass with a bit of air contact. Very elegant and fine. Palate is cool and classic. The tannin is very fine and dark giving an elegant structure. Classy, inky, dense and concentrated with a little spice and red fruit on the long finish. Complex and fresh, a real keeper. One of the top wines of the left bank. DRINK: 2032 - 2048 £765 - £895 / 6BOTTLES WA94-95+

LE PETITMOUTONDEMOUTONROTHSCHILD 77% Cabernet sauvignon, 19.5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet franc, 0.5% Petit verdot. A pretty and aromatic nose aromatic mainly on the red fruit red fruit but with some serious Cabernet notes. The palate is very open and intense, with crunchy berry fruit, cassis, cedar and bramble. The tannins are very fine giving a medium body and the finish fruit driven and fresh. DRINK: 2026 - 2036 £910 - £1,075 / 6BOTTLES WA89-91 CARRUADESDE LAFITE 55% Cabernet sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet franc, 4% Petit verdot. A slightly reserved nose of dark berries, pencil lead and savoury notes. The palate is classy, cool and dark, packed full of fruit. The tannin is fine and ripe and the finish has an earthy note with decent freshness coming through. Classy, well worked, showy andmodern. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £950 - £1,150 / 6BOTTLES WA90-92 CHÂTEAUMOUTON-ROTHSCHILD, 1ERCRU 89% Cabernet sauvignon, 10%Merlot, 1% Cabernet franc. A ripe but serious nose of cassis and blackberry fruit. Quite juicy on the palate but with a serious very fine tannin. Very Pauillac, the power is there. The finish is long and on the fruit. Lots of potential to develop complexity. Pretty and well made. There is a slight mineral note on the finish and a good level of freshness which keeps it all together. DRINK: 2032 - 2050 £2,300 - £2,750 / 6BOTTLES WA95-96 CHÂTEAULAFITE-ROTHSCHILD, 1ERCRU 96% Cabernet sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. Lots of classy cassis fruit and a serious, herbal menthol note on the nose. A bit austere and savoury. The palate is packed with serious Cabernet fruit, very dark and rich with a slight mocha note on the finish. Tannin is serious and substantial but well worked. Good freshness on finish. A very well made and serious wine in a dark, savoury style. DRINK: 2032 - 2050 £2,600 - £3,200 / 6BOTTLES WA95-97 The 2021 Lafite-Rothschild is “a brilliant wine that shares some similarities with the formidable 1996 ... likely to prove almost immortal.” -WILLIAMKELLEY,WINEADVOCATE

REDBORDEAUX

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ST. JULIEN Sandwiched between Pauillac and Margaux, St. Julien combines the power and majesty of Pauillac with the aromatic sensuality of Margaux. It has the greatest number of classed growths within its boundaries, despite being the smallest Left Bank commune. This was a textbook vintage consistent from top to bottom producing classical, fresh and elegant wines with charm and elegance. The Merlot was fully harvested by the end of September. The quality was good but the yields are down due to lots of green harvest work in the vineyard. The Cabernet sauvignon was harvested from the 1st to the 8th of October avoiding the late arriving forecasted rain, to everyone’s relief. The ripe berries have quite thin skins this year so gentle but thorough extraction was crucial. The results are consistently very good, fresh and well-measured wines. St. Julien is awash with celebrated Châteaux including the Léoville trio of Las Cases, Poyferré, and Barton. Ducru-Beaucaillou was impeccable, Gruaud-Larose and Beychevelle all hugely enjoyable. Branaire-Ducru and Talbot, both fourth growths, represent the St Julien excellence: subtlety, tradition and balance with great character. The 2021 vintage is a return to classicismafter 3 hot years andwill yieldwines which offer a lot of pleasure in a style which is oftenmissed these days.

REDBORDEAUX

CHÂTEAUGLORIA 61% Cabernet sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 14% Petit verdot, 6% Cabernet franc. A cool nose with some attractive red and black fruit, pencil lead and bit of new oak peeping through. Quite fragrant and inviting. The palate has flesh, lots of dark cassis and bramble fruit and good energy. Vibrant acidity keeps everything in balance. The tannin is fine but grippy giving good structure. Should be a real crowd pleaser. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £150 - £175 / 6BOTTLES WA90-92 CHÂTEAULANGOA-BARTON, 3ÈMECRU 61%Cabernet sauvignon, 36%Merlot, 3Cabernet franc. The first vintage from their newly built winery. A bit more lifted than its older brother Léoville, with red fruit, a touch of blueberry and a lick of spice. The palate is quite ripe and fleshy, with fine firm tannins giving a good mouth feel. Reasonably light on its feet, the finish has a nice freshness whichmakes it quite drinkable. Generous and well made, a good serious early(er) drinker. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £325 - £395 / 12 BOTTLES WA92-94 CHÂTEAUBRANAIRE-DUCRU, 4ÈMECRU 66% Cabernet sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 6% Petit verdot, 6% Cabernet franc. Lovely, open, elegant nose with nice ripe fruit, good bramble and blackberry with a touch of violet. Ripe and inviting. Good ripe tannin that gives a firm mouthfeel; more fleshy fruit here with a liquorice spice. The finish is dark and inky then the freshness just keeps it in check with an appealing saline note at the end. Well

CHÂTEAUBEYCHEVELLE, 4ÈMECRU 57% Cabernet, 38% Merlot, 3% Petit verdot, 2% Cabernet franc. Nice open oak-driven nosewith ripe red berry fruit. Quite sappy, the mid palate as concentrated red and black fruit and the tannin is fine and grippy. Serious and elegant, a lot of oak here. A big wine, lots of body. Will please those looking for a big, bold keeper. DRINK: 2029 - 2042 £320 - £395 / 6BOTTLES WA91-94 CHÂTEAUGRUAUD-LAROSE, 2ÈMECRU 84% Cabernet sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 4% Cabernet franc – 100% new oak, low toast. Crunchy black and blue fruit on nose, with a cool mineral note coming through. Juicy palate, the fruit is ripe and generous and lingers on the long finish with a good freshness. They have worked hard to keep freshness and fruit character without masking it with harsh extraction or the new oak. The tannin is very fine but there is a solid, mouth coating grip on the finish, which makes it just serious enough. A very well measured wine which punches above its weight. DRINK: 2028 - 2046 £650 - £775 / 12 BOTTLES WA94-95+ CHÂTEAULÉOVILLE-BARTON, 2ÈMECRU 84% Cabernet sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 3% Cabernet franc. Very dark colour, almost opaque with a purple rim. A serious Cabernet driven nose of cassis and herbs with a bit of wood smoke. Really dark fruit with a good ripeness and herbs with a hint of menthol. Very classy and elegant. The palate is full of fruit. Full bodied and grippy but in a good aging potential way, the fin has just enough freshness to keep it all together with a gentle smoke and spice note. A bold classic. DRINK: 2032 - 2048 £330 - £410 / 6BOTTLES WA93-95 The 2021 Léoville-Barton is “a terrific success.” - WILLIAM KELLEY,WINEADVOCATE

made and rewarding. DRINK: 2030 - 2046

£165 - £210 / 6BOTTLES

WA93-94+

The 2021 Branaire-Ducru “is a beautiful wine that numbers among the vintage’s real successes.” - WILLIAM KELLEY, WINE ADVOCATE

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REDBORDEAUX

CHÂTEAULÉOVILLE-POYFERRÉ, 2ÈMECRU 60% Cabernet sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet franc, 5% Petit verdot. 80% new oak from 15 different coopers. Attractive, ripe and perfumed nose with a bit of cedar from the new oak. Inviting and classy. The palate is intense with lots of dark cassis and bramble fruit. Soft and unctuous. The tannin is very fine but the structure is bold here thanks to the gentle but long extraction. The finish is long and inky with an excellent freshness. True to the classic style of St. Julien this year. DRINK: 2032 - 2046 £395 - £475 / 6BOTTLES WA93-94+ CHÂTEAUDUCRU-BEAUCAILLOU, 2ÈMECRU 98% Cabernet, 2% Merlot. 100% new oak for 18 months in barrel. An exuberant nose of bright dark berry fruit and bramble. Hints of herb, goodmineral note. Palate is dark and dense and the fruit is incredibly concentrated. The finish is packed with dark fine tannin the freshness just shines through with plenty of smoke and spice. A big, bold wine which should keep well and reward on the long term. DRINK: 2032 - 2052 £865 - £1,075 / 6BOTTLES WA94-96

CHÂTEAULÉOVILLE-LASCASES, 2ÈMECRU 80% Cabernet sauvignon, 15% Cabernet franc, 5% Merlot. 85% new oak. A generous ripe nose, with plenty of dark fruit. Crunchy leafy cassis. Cedar, wood smoke and lots of graphite. The palate has lots of juicy dark fruit, which stands up well to the tannic structure. The tannin itself is very fine and inky which makes for quite an elegant mouthfeel. The finish is long with good classic freshness. Serious elegance and finesse. DRINK: 2032 - 2048 £1,075 - £1,295 / 6BOTTLES WA95-97 The 2021 Léoville-Las Cases “exemplifies how a great terroir, exigent agronomy and meticulous winemaking can deliver greatness even in a less propitious vintage.” -WILLIAMKELLEY, WINEADVOCATE

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MARGAUX Themost southerly of theMédoc communeswith lighter, well-drained soils, one oftenfindswines herewith wonderful aromatics and silky tannins – and less Cabernet sauvignon dominance. Often the wines can be drunk aheadof its northernneighbours. ChâteauMargaux sits at the pinnacle of the appellation, a stunning property that of course turns out absolutely spectacular wine. Palmer, Rauzan-Ségla and D’Issan are all worthy of a spot in your cellar. In 2021, the season started early with flowering and the growing season was unusually long. 60days fromVeraison toharvest as opposed to the usual 40daus, finishing on 14thOctober. To avoid mildew in the early summer, bunches were green-harvested to allow aeration, ensuring smaller yields, but superb quality. The September warmth finally arrived allowing the Cabernets to ripen fully before harvest. The strong quality of the Merlot crop is noticeable in most wines bringing a great elegance and purity. The best-known properties – as always! - have thrived; their vines working hard but ultimately producing superb wines.

REDBORDEAUX

CHÂTEAUANGLUDET, CRUBOURGEOIS SUPERIEUR 53%Cabernet sauvignon, 24%Merlot, 23% Petit verdot. 50% aged in amphora. Very fine nose, really dense with lots of ripe fruit. Elegant Cabernet is matched with deep bramble and spice from the high percentage of Petit verdot. Plenty of pure fruit on the palate with notes of crunchy blackberries, red fruit, sweet spices, and a savoury finish. The tannin is very fine thanks to the amphora aging. Really delicious, elegant and mouth-watering. A serious contender, excellent value to be had here. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £125 - £150 / 6BOTTLES WA87-88 CHÂTEAUGISCOURS, 3ÈMECRU “The 2021 Giscours is immensely promising and shows just how far this important estate has come in the last fewyears. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis, dark berries, cigar wrapper, violets, sweet forest floor and burning embers, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with terrific depth at the core, ripe tannins, lively acids and a long, penetrating finish. With wines like this, we’re back to a level of quality that Giscours hasn’t routinely attained since the 1970s! The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot; and even if by the standards of the last decade, that isn’t a particularly elevated percentage of Cabernet, this is nonetheless a very Cabernet-drivenwine in style. Tasted six times.” -WILLIAMKELLEY,WINEADVOCATE DRINK: 2028 - 2046 £225 - £280 / 6BOTTLES WA93-95 CHÂTEAUD’ISSAN, 3ÈMECRU 55%Cabernet sauvignon, 39%Merlot, 3%Cabernet franc, 2%Petit verdot, 1%Malbec. Thenose is elegant and fresh, somebright raspberry, cherry and blackberry fruit. A touch mineral. On the palate it has lots of pure ripe fruit, the freshness is here and the finish ends on some serious savoury tannins. Good concentration of fruit overall. A serious offering, will age well especially when the tannins soften up. Very petty elegant fruit. Good stuff. DRINK: 2030 - 2046 £225 - £285 / 6BOTTLES WA90-93

CHÂTEAUBRANE-CANTENAC, 2ÈMECRU 55% Cabernet sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet franc, 0.5% Carmenere, 0.5% Petit verdot. A lovely, sweet and aromatic nose full of floral notes and vibrant red fruit and plum. The palate seems light thanks to its good levels of acidity but don’t be fooled, it has a good body, plenty of fruit on the mid palate and the tannins are grippy providing excellent structure. Another elegant Margaux true to the classic style. Very approachable and well balanced. DRINK: 2032 - 2048 £270 - £335 / 6BOTTLES WA93-95 ALTEREGODE PALMER 60%Cabernet sauvignon, 32%Merlot, 8%Petit verdot. 20months in barrel, 20% new oak. A perfumed, lifted nose with some good crunchy fruit. The palate is very silky and refined. The mid palate is packed with pure cassis fruit, some dark smoke notes. The tannin has a big grip giving a full body kept in check by a god level of freshness. The finish is long with lots of Cabernet notes and a good level of spice. DRINK: 2030 - 2042 £275 -£340 / 6BOTTLES WA91-93 CHÂTEAURAUZAN-SÉGLA, 2ÈMECRU 62%Cabernet sauvignon, 36%Merlot, 1%Petit verdot, 1%Cabernet franc. Dark inky nose, not very typical to appellation this year but this is a well-made wine with good quality fruit. Red berries, black and blue fruit show through on the palate with a hint of smoke. Palate has some flesh. The tannin is very fine and grippy, quite serious. Good chalky mineral finish. Quite elegant and serious. DRINK: 2032 - 2046 £360 - £450 / 6BOTTLES WA93-95 PAVILLONROUGEDUCHÂTEAU 73%Cabernet sauvignon, 18%Merlot,5%Petitverdot,4%Cabernet franc. Lovely dark ruby colour, inky. A very dark brooding nose, dusty, with pure cool fruit, mineral, graphite and an attractive floral note. Pure Margaux appellation expression. The tannin is velvety and the finish is fresh and cool, quite restrained with a slight herbal twist. Very fine, textural and elegant. DRINK: 2028 - 2042 £750 - £895 / 6BOTTLES WA91-93

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REDBORDEAUX

CHÂTEAUPALMER, 3ÈMECRU 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet sauvignon, 3 Petit verdot. 20 months in barrel, 60% new oak. A super refined, Merlot dominated nose of cool plummy fruit, flowers, smoke and savoury herbs.Denseandsilkyon thepalate, lots of plush fruitwith a savoury bitter chocolate note. The tannin is very fine but grippy and gives a mineral note on the slightly saline and very freshfinish. All verywell balanced andwell executed. Very classy and extremely elegant. A favourite across the team. DRINK: 2032 - 2048 £1,290 - £1,595 / 6BOTTLES WA95-97 The 2021 Palmer is “one of the truly epic wines of the year... There’s tremendous richness and sheer extract here... a compellingmix of opulence and energy.” -ANTONIOGALLONI, VINOUS

CHÂTEAUMARGAUX, 1ERCRU 87% Cabernet sauvignon, 8%Merlot, 3% Cabernet franc, 2% Petit verdot. Opulent, fresh and elegant. Crunchy inviting fruit on the nose. A touch of blue fruit, very pleasing flowers and herbs creep through the pure, ripe blackberry and cassis fruit with wood smoke, hint of sweet spice. Dainty, fresh and elegant. The palate is full of elegance, powerful pure juice is balanced with an excellent freshness, maybe the key to the identity of this vintage. The finish has ripe savoury fine tannins with a little grip. Effortless and delicious. Gentlymineral on the freshfinish. A great wine. DRINK: 2032 - 2052 £1,290 - £1,595 / 6BOTTLES WA95-97+ The 2021 Margaux is “clearly one of the finest wines of the vintage...it is a timeless classic” - WILLIAM KELLEY, WINE ADVOCATE

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REDBORDEAUX

THEMÉDOC ANDCÔTE DE FRANCS The Médoc, of course, refers to the overall region, stretching to the northwest from the city of Bordeaux to the marshes along the estuary, encompassing most of the famous communes. Outside of these communes, the wines take on two regional appellations. The northern region the Bas-Médoc, or, simply, Médoc, tends to consist of low-lying sandy-soiled vineyards some of which reclaimed from marshland by the Dutch in the 1600s. Closer to Bordeaux, and on the higher ground, wines from the Haut-Médoc tend to be better regarded, but excellent wines come from both. Especially our hidden gem Les Ormes Sorbet, north of St. Estèphe. These appellations are regularly reviewed so the Châteaux need to earn their gongs. There is really good value to be found here and some serious wines. Other satellite appellations such as the Côte de Francs can also offer excellent value for more fruit-forward and easy drinking wines. We picked out a handful of favourites from tasting this year which we really believe offer incredible value for money.

CHÂTEAUPUYGUERAUD 63% Merlot, 30% Cabernet franc, 7% Malbec. Red and black fruit on nose with a lovely cherry note. A restrained and cool style. The palate shows more sweet red and bramble fruit with firm grippy tannins giving a solid structure all the way through to the finish. Solid and serious. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £105 - £120 / 12 BOTTLES WA88-90 CHÂTEAUSÉNÉJAC, CRUBOURGEOIS 54% Cabernet sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 10% Cabernet franc, 4% Petit verdot. An attractive brambly, velvety nose. Classic pencil lead comes through the dark fruit. The palate is laced with dark fruit. This is elegant and has an excellent freshness. The palate is juicy and focused on the fruit. Well-structured, classic, this finish is fine and fresh. Very

CHÂTEAUMAUVESINBARTON 46% Merlot, 36% Cabernet sauvignon, 16% Cabernet franc, 2% Petit verdot. The nose is cool, full of juicy fruit fromthe high percentage of Merlot in the blend. The medium bodied palate is quite lean with crunchy fruit notes backed up by a fine tannin which bring weight to the lifted finish. There is salinity here and a light smoke note from a well measured use of oak aging. Quietly impressive. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £120 - £140 / 12 BOTTLES CHÂTEAUCANTEMERLE, 5ÈMECRU 64% Cabernet sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet franc, 4% Petit verdot. A generous sweet, lifted, red fruit nose with some Cabernet-driven dark fruit. The palate is elegant with more red fruit and hint of violet. The grippy tannin delivers medium weight. Very traditional although quite punchy. The finish is dark and inky. Cool and classic. DRINK: 2028 - 2040 £200 - £240 / 12 BOTTLES WA90-91 The 2021 Cantemerle is “a very strong effort ... charming... a generous core of fruit” -WILLIAMKELLEY,WINEADVOCATE

drinkable as always. DRINK: 2026 - 2038

£115 - £135 / 12 BOTTLES

WA88-90

The 2021 Sénéjac is “a fine effort ... supple tannins and charming, open personality ... Talbot’s Jean-Michel Laporte is the winemaker.” -WILLIAMKELLEY,WINEADVOCATE

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REDBORDEAUX

“The top properties turned out gorgeous, classically built wines that will absolutely thrill readers who appreciate freshness and energy. Restrained alcohols andmid-weight structures will remind readers of Bordeaux pre-2000s.” —ANTONIO GALLONI

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PESSAC-LÉOGNANANDGRAVES Pessac-Léognan is themost important appellationwithin the Graves district, which takes its name from the gravel soil which, coupledwith the pine forests, serve to create a distinctive and distinguished offering. The early ripening terroir was a huge benefit during 2021, fully ripe grapes were harvested before the October rain. The clay found in Pessac is particularly good for Merlot so a higher percentage is found in the blends, there is also limestone soil which bring extra freshness and elegance to the wines. Proximity to Bordeaux itself - and surrounded by its suburbs - means it enjoys the warmest micro-climate of the communes; as always harvesting began earliest here. Alongside the Haut-Brion family, one also finds the celebrated Cru Classé wines of Château Pape-Clément, Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Château Haut-Bailly, and Domaine de Chevalier. The most celebrated Châteaux of the region, including Domaine de Chevalier and La Mission Haut-Brion, also producemuch-admired dry whitewines, which you canfind at the end of the list. Wewere impressedwith the quality of thesewines this year thanks to their high acidity and intense flavours. Despite all these famous estates Pessac canbe amixedbag –which iswherewe come in toadvise! The lesserChâteaux here performed exceptionally well in 2021.

REDBORDEAUX

CHÂTEAUOLIVIER, GRANDCRUCLASSÉ 58%Merlot, 40% Cabernet sauvignon, 2% Petit verdot. The nose is generous in fresh fruit. The palate is quite savoury with sweet blackberry fruit and liquorice. Quite pure, simple and savoury on this finish. The tannin is fine and grippy.

DOMAINEDECHEVALIER, GRANDCRUCLASSÉ 63% Cabernet sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit verdot, 2% Cabernet franc. A bold nose of flowers, new oak and black plum and red fruit, very much in Olivier Barnard’s style. Some good herbal notes on the nose of thyme and mint. Cool pure cassis on the palate with a bit of raspberry, the tannin is fine dark and very grippy. Good and generous. Well-made but will need time. DRINK: 2028 - 2042 £265 - £320 / 6BOTTLES WA93-95 LACHAPELLEDEMISSIONHAUT-BRION 51.3% Merlot, 45.2% Cabernet sauvignon, 3.5 Cabernet franc. 27% new oak. Dark inky nose, quite cool and restrained with lots of cassis. Crunchy cool and chalky, the palate has some bright red, blue and black fruit. The tannin is very fine and abundant giving a big structure, the freshness is here but the whole is a little restrained (a bit like Cheval Blanc). Some good ripe fruit on the finishwhich ismarked by dark tannin and savoury notes. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £330 - £400 / 6BOTTLES WA90-92 CHÂTEAULESCARMESHAUT-BRION “A brilliant and intensely individual wine, the 2021 Les Carmes Haut-Brion shows immense potential. Wafting from the glass with aromas of rich berries and plums mingled with notions of raw cocoa, loamy soil, rose petals, burnt sage and vine smoke, it’s medium to full-bodied, vibrant and seamless, with a deep, dynamic core of fruit and a long, penetrating finish. Transcending the limitations of the vintage, it wouldn’t surprise me were this wine ultimately to surpass the 2019 and 2020 in quality. It’s a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot that’smaturing in 70%newoak and the rest in 15-hectoliter foudres. Tasted twice.” -WILLIAMKELLEY,WINEADVOCATE DRINK: 2028 - 2046 £440 - £525 / 6BOTTLES WA94-97

A cool easy drinker. DRINK: 2024 - 2036

£210 - £250 / 12 BOTTLES

WA87-88

CHÂTEAULATOUR-MARTILLAC, CRUCLASSÉ 60% Cabernet sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit verdot. A pretty floral nose, rich with plum and blackcurrant fruit. The palate is fleshy but there is some serious grip on the finish from the fine but ripe tannins. Good, elegant, sweet fruit on the dense mid-palate finishes saline with a menthol lift. A serious option offering very good value. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £225 - £285 / 12 BOTTLES HAUT-BAILLY II 65%Merlot, 35%Cabernet sauvignon. The nose here is punchy with pure ripe red fruit. Cool and mineral with graphite notes. Quite serious. The palate is rich and rounded, some lovely ripe fruit on the mid palate, herbs and oak smoke follow on the medium long finish. The tannin is well worked and silky with not too much grip. Lots of good acidity here and good body and flashy fruit and oak notes on the finish. Very well made. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £150 - £180 / 6BOTTLES WA89-91 CHÂTEAUMALARTIC-LAGRAVIERE, CRUCLASSÉ 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet sauvignon, 2.5% Petit verdot, 0.5% Cabernet franc. A slightly volatile nose full of dark Cabernet fruit with some red berries. The palate is quite fleshy but the structure here is big. Good concentration, chewy in thefinishwithfirmandfinedark tannins, good freshness. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £155 - £195 / 6BOTTLES WA90-92

“[The best 2021s] evoke the 1996 vintage….the vintage’s very best wines largely transcend them. But what is clear is that, were the 2021s transposed to the decade of the 1990s, they would be considered the product of a superb vintage.” –WINEADVOCATE

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REDBORDEAUX

CHÂTEAUHAUT-BAILLY, CRUCLASSÉ 65% Cabernet sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Petit verdot, 3% Cabernet franc. 50% new oak. A pretty, dark ruby colour. The nose is a little restrained but with an attractive floral lift. The palate is full of juicy fruit, loganberry, raspberry, blackcurrant. The fine tannins give good structure, and the freshness is definitely here. All in good balance. Good concentration. The finish is long and ends on the fruit, the oak iswellmeasuredhereandgives aclassicpencil shaving note. A serious wine well made and not over-done. One of CHÂTEAUSMITH-HAUT-LAFITTE, CRUCLASSÉ 63% Cabernet sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet franc, 1% Petit verdot. An attractive crunchy nose thanks to more cabernet in the blend this year (usually around 58%). They worked on very gentle extraction this vintage, with a very small amount of pumping over,much less thanmost years giving elegant dark fruit, bramble and hints of blueberry. A good gravelly note. The palate is generous in serious fruit with some savoury umami notes, the tannin is very fine and the finish is fresh and long, with dark smoke and gentle herbal notes from the Cabernets. A crunchy modern style. The oak is well measured to make it just serious enough. DRINK: 2028 - 2046 £525 - £625 / 6BOTTLES WA93-95 CHÂTEAULECLARENCEHAUT-BRION 70.4%Merlot, 18.2 Cabernet sauvignon, 11.4 Cabernet franc. 28% newoak. Quite a classicmutednose,witha cool coreof dark fruit and pencil shavings. Some bright red fruit peeping through. The palate is fleshy and more on the red fruit but still with some cassis, cedar and a chalky minerality. Here the tannin is very fine and the freshness makes for a mouth-watering finish. A cool classic. DRINK: 2028 - 2042 £660 - £750 / 6BOTTLES WA91-93 The 2021 Le Clarence is “one of the finest second wines in this vintage...does bear more than a passing resemblance to the grand vin.” -WILLIAMKELLEY,WINEADVOCATE our favourites this year. DRINK: 2030 - 2048 £525 - £625 / 6BOTTLES WA94-95+

CHÂTEAULAMISSIONHAUT-BRION, CRUCLASSÉ 47.9% Merlot, 45.8% Cabernet sauvignon, 6.3% Cabernet franc. 73% new oak. Flashy bright blackberry fruit, graphite, woodsmoke and a hint of spice on the slightlymuted nose. A slow burner, the palate slowly reveals more dark fruit, the fruit character is very pure. The palate is quite savoury, but then moves to fine tannins which provide a decent grip. The finish has plenty of freshness lifting up the fruit but then moves to the tannin and new oak. Quite a bit of chew on the finish. Ambitious but should keep well. DRINK: 2030 - 2046 £1,395 - £1,695 / 6BOTTLES WA94-96 CHÂTEAUHAUT-BRION, 1ERCRU 50.3% Merlot, 38% Cabernet sauvignon, 11.7% Cabernet franc. 73% new oak. A dark core of fruit pokes its head out of the glass. This comes across as very classy with the bramble, dark berries, some cherry and new oak spice with cedar and liquorice. Warm and inviting. There is a fine mineral noteaswell asahintofhedgerow.Thepalate is surprisingly fleshy, the tannins here are fine but still provide a decent grip. Thefinishmoves to the regional styleof red fruitwith lots of oak, tobacco and spice and the freshness is there at the end with gentle mineral notes. Ambitious, well-made and very classy. Our favourite of the 1st Growths! DRINK: 2032 - 2052 £2,350 - £2,825 / 6BOTTLES WA96-98 The 2021 Haut-Brion is “a candidate for the title of wine of the vintage ... this is one of the real high points of 2021” - WILLIAM KELLEY,WINEADVOCATE

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REDBORDEAUX

POMEROL ANDCASTILLON Pomerol is unique: there’s no formal classification here. It is a pure meritocracy, and production is tiny by comparison to the Médoc. Petrus, in a typical vintage, may produce only 4,000 cases vs Château Lafite, which will be closer to 18,000! Thus, there is a certain exclusivity attached to the region. Whilst some wines are nearly impossible to attain, there are many which bear all the hallmarks of this wonderful appellation which will bring huge pleasure on your table. Merlot is king here, giving opulence and warmth, with gorgeous, smoky elements and a luxurious feeling. Equally Cabernet Franc plays a big part in celebrated wines such as Vieux ChâteauCertan, offering balance toMerlot’s opulence, enticing aromas andwonderful complexity. This year the Cabernet franc forms an unusually high percentage of the blend bringing cool fruit - a complexity which we really enjoyed. It was remarkable. Similar to Pessac, clay/limestone terroir gave opportunities, storing water from the winter rains. The higher proportion of Merlot meant that a lot of harvesting was achieved by the end of September. The final Cabernet franc grapes were picked on 8th October. The classic freshness in 2021, with the additional Cabernet franc, really does these wines justice and some of our top picks this year are from Pomerol; such as Vieux Château Certain, La Conseillante and Eglise Clinet.

CHÂTEAULACHENADE 100%Merlot. 30% new oak. An overtly dark smoky nose here with a bit of mustiness. Some violet and mineral notes. The palate is plummy, round and fleshy. The finish is very Pomerol with that dark plummy fruit and cool mineral notes. Medium tannins which are very grippy. DRINK: 2024 - 2034 £75 - £85 / 6BOTTLES WA89-90 CHÂTEAUMONTLANDRIE 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet franc, 5% Cabernet sauvignon. 50% newoak. Sporting an intense nosewithplenty of black fruit and lots of spice, smoke and new oak. With a very nice blackcurrant core, the palate is surprisingly fleshy, with lots of violet. Here the tannin is firm and rounded. The finish is savoury with a mineral tannin grip. The violet note on the palate is really prominent, the acid is very fresh on the finish. A charming Castillon which we liked a lot. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £85 - £100 / 6BOTTLES WA90-92

CLOSRENÉ 70%Merlot, 20%Cabernet franc, 10%Malbec. A classic Pomerol nose of black plum, chalk, smoke andmineral notes. Good concentration, and very juicy on the palate. Good typicity. The tannins are fine and grippy. The finish has a good amount of freshness and is long with dark fruit flavours culminating in a cool mineral character. Good value and classic in style. This has always beena favourite of ours and this year it plays very well to the classic vintage. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £120 - £140 / 6BOTTLES LAPETITE EGLISE 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet franc. 60% new oak. Inky bramble fruit on the nose which is concentrated and rich. Very pure blackberry fruit here withmineral and smoke notes. Elegant and attractive the palate, hasmore generous berry fruit and some red fruit, herbs and a hint of menthol. The finish starts floral and then moves to savoury. The tannin is plushandfine, withbit of griponfinish. The freshness is here, which really lifts the floral note. Ripe and generous. DRINK: 2026 - 2038 £380 - £450 / 6BOTTLES WA89-91

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