BORDEAUX SUPPLEMENT

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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