Classified Growth Bordeaux On Sale

2005 Pape Clement

Pape Clement

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	98	Drink: 2015 - 2043	$419
Probably the greatest Pape-Clement ever made, the dense purple-colored 2005 (a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits sumptuous notes of smoky scorched earth, graphite, melted licorice, and blackberries. Once past the exquisite perfume, the wine reveals full body, extraordinary concentration, plenty of chocolate, smoke, cassis, and blackberry flavors, and that unmistakable volcanic ash-like earthiness that comes from this appellation. The tannins are slightly sweeter than those found in most northern Medocs, but this is still a backward, large-scaled effort that requires 7-8 years of cellaring. It should last for 30-35 years.

$2,940.00 per case, net bottle $245. Also available in 6 bottle wood case at $1,560.00, net bottle $260

2009 Pape Clement

Pape Clement

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	95	Drink: 2017 - 2047	$400
Although the 2009 Pape Clement may not be as sublime as the 2005 or 2000, but it is very close to those two efforts, and it will be fascinating to compare them (as well as the 2008 and 2010) over the following three decades. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc with a modest 13.5% alcohol, the 2009 reveals considerable structure and tannin along with tell-tale notes of burning embers, scorched earth, graphite, blueberries, blackberries and toasty vanillin, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. This rich, full offering is surprisingly backward. This cuvee should drink well in 5-6 years as one rarely has to wait a decade or more to enjoy Pape Clement. It should age for three decades or more.

$2,196.00 per case, net bottle $183.00

2008 Haut Brion

Haut Brion

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #194 May 2011	Robert Parker	96	Drink: 2011 - 2041	$953
This is profound! 2008 Haut-Brion: The extraordinary 2008 Haut-Brion is a candidate for -wine of the vintage.- Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, it reveals more evolution and complexity in its large-scaled perfume. The dense purple color is followed by a sweet nose of creosote, asphalt, blueberries, black currants and jammy raspberries, sweet tannins, a savory, fleshy mouthfeel and a stunning finish. This incredibly pure, noble wine was produced from one of the estate's smallest crops (only 7,000 cases produced versus the usual 12,000 cases). It should drink well for three decades or more.

6 bottle wood case at $4,296.00 per case, net bottle $716.00

a Mission Haut Brion

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #202 Aug 2012	Robert Parker	98+	Drink: 2020 - 2050	$1577
Another massive effort, the inky/purple-colored 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion is broodingly backward and foreboding. The aromatic profile offers hints of charcoal, freshly laid hot tar, truffles, graphite and black fruits. Full-bodied, powerful, tannic and almost painfully extracted and concentrated with tremendous structure, good acidity and a massive finish, this infant wine is largely unchanged since I first tasted it from bottle. If everything comes together in 10-15 years, this brilliant 2005 should merit a triple digit score. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050+.

$800.00 per bottle

2005 Brane-Cantenac

Brane-Cantenac

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	94	Drink: 2008 - 2028	$160
This is the finest Brane-Cantenac I have tasted in over thirty years. Unusually perfumed and already approachable (atypical for most 2005 Medocs), it reveals a deep plum/purple color as well as a stunningly flamboyant bouquet of smoked herbs, licorice, camphor, black cherries, currants, and notions of plums and blackberries. Elegant with silky tannin and medium body, it is clearly a classic statement on the Margaux appellation. While not a powerhouse, it is beautifully concentrated, stunningly balanced, and surprisingly forward. It could be drunk now after several hours of decanting, but it should age easily for 20+ years.

$1,488.00 per case, net bottle $124.00

2009 Brane-Cantenac

Brane-Cantenac

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	95	Drink: N/A	$129
A spectacular effort from this estate rivaling their 2005, but more flashy/flamboyant, this dark ruby/purple wine has a strikingly intense nose of licorice, flowers, plums and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied, very approachable and silky, this suave, very sexy wine can be drunk early on as well as aged for 20+ years.

$1,188.00 per case, net bottle $99.00

2009 Giscours

Giscours

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	94	Drink: 2012 - 2042	$185
The finest Giscours in my professional career (I said the same thing from barrel), this dense purple wine has a stunning nose of burning embers, charcoal, creme de cassis, new saddle leather and damp, forest floor notes. It is full-bodied, with exceptionally sweet, well-integrated tannins and a multi-dimensional, almost skyscraper-like mid-palate and finish. With its low acidity and remarkable substance and depth, this gorgeous wine should age beautifully for 20-30 years.

$1,200.00 per case, net bottle $85.00

2010 Lascombes

Lascombes

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	96	Drink: 2018 - 2048	-$290
The wine hits all cylinders in 2010. The average alcohol for the bottled wine is 14%. It has a gorgeously sweet nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers, subtle barbecue smoke and charcoal followed by full body, beautiful intensity, great purity, stature and length. The influence of any oak is minimal, despite the fact that 90% new French oak was used. Needless to say, this is an example of modern-styled winemaking at itâ€™s finest, and arguments that such wines will not age well, do not represent their terroir , and are soul-less, are totally groundless. Give it 5 or so years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years. This is one of the great Margaux wines of the vintage.

$1,848.00 per case , net bottle $154.00

2003 Chateau Margaux

Chateau Margaux

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #164 Apr 2006	Robert Parker	99	Drink: 2011 - 2035	$2004
Am I being too stingy with the 2003 Chateau Margaux? A wine of extraordinary complexity and intensity, it reveals a deep purple color, a style not unlike the 1990 Margaux (possibly even more concentrated), a velvety texture, and notes of spring flowers interwoven with camphor, melted licorice, creme de cassis, and pain grille. Not a blockbuster, it offers extraordinary intensity as well as a surreal delicacy/lightness. There is riveting freshness to this offering, which tips the scales at a lofty (for this estate) 13.5% alcohol, as well as an alluring sweetness and accessibility. It probably will tighten up over the next few years. Nevertheless, it is a profound Chateau Margaux that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of the 1982 and 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2035.

$979.00 per bottle

2004 Palmer

Palmer

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #171 Jun 2007	Robert Parker	94	Drink: 2011 - 2025	$445
This stunning wine is one of the vintageâ€™s great successes. Administrator Thomas Duroux has fashioned a modern day version of Palmerâ€™s brilliant 1966. Displaying a rare combination of power and elegance, this dense purple-colored offering exhibits notes of blackberries, truffles, flowers, incense, and camphor. Long, classic, and medium to full-bodied with stunning texture and richness, this superb effort is a candidate for the finest Margaux of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025+

$3,384.00 per case, net bottle $282.00. Also available in 6 bottle wood case, $1,494.00, net bottle $249.00

2009 Palmer

Palmer

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	97	Drink: 2012 - 2062	$944
One of the all-time great Palmers (along with the 1961, 1966, 1970, 1989, 2000 and 2005), the 2009 Palmer is a blend of 52% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and a whopping 7% Petit Verdot that came in at close to 14% natural alcohol. An opaque blue/black color suggests a wine with thrilling levels of concentration and intensity, and That's exactly what a taster gets. Subtle smoke, incense and Asian spice (soy?) notes interwoven with graphite, blueberry, blackberry and cassis characteristics lead to a full-bodied, phenomenally concentrated, viscous, opulent wine with plenty of sweet tannin. This sensational Palmer reveals even more floral notes than vintages such as 2005 and 2000. It should drink well for 50 years

$4,380.00 per case, net bottle $365.00

2005 Rauzan-Segla (Rausan-Segla)

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	94+	Drink: 2017 - 2030	-$310
One of the most beautiful Rauzan-Seglas made in decades, this blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot and tiny dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot exhibits a gorgeous perfume of spring flowers, subtle mint, black cherries, black currants, licorice, and a hint of new oak. It offers medium to full body, sweet tannins, and a layered mouthfeel that builds incrementally to a sensational finish. Although this beauty is performing well, it remains a decade away from its plateau of maturity. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2030+.

$1,776.00 per case, net bottle $148.00

2010 Rauzan-Segla (Rausan-Segla)

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	95+	Drink: 2018 - 2043	$335
To reiterate, the 2010 Rauzan Segla is like a super-duper version of the 1986. Displaying fabulous density, an inky purple color and a superb nose of forest floor with a hint of menthol as well as loads of creme de cassis, mocha and touches of chocolate and subtle oak, this full-bodied, deep, concentrated wine represents only 45% of the estateâ€™s production. It is certainly not for those who canâ€™t wait a few years for it to round into shape, as I suspect it needs at least 5-8 years of bottle-age, but it should last for half a century or more.

$2,004.00 per case, net bottle $167.00

2009 Siran

Siran

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	90	Drink: 2014 - 2034	$90
Potentially the best Siran I have ever tasted and another unqualified sleeper of the vintage, this dense purple wine displays notes of scorched embers, vanillin, black currants, spring flowers and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, with stunning concentration, purity, texture and length, the 2009 Siran has plenty of tannin lurking beneath its luxurious fruit. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20+ years.

$540.00 per case, net bottle $45.00

2005 Branaire-Ducru

Branaire-Ducru

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Julien, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	95	Drink: 2015 - 2030	$158
As usual, the 2005 Branaire-Ducru is one of the more distinctive wines of St.-Julien. Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux has turned out another classic. While not as opulent or fleshy as the 2003, and it remains to be seen if it will eclipse the 2000, the 2005 is a big, structured, intensely rich effort with raspberry, blueberry, and spring flower garden characteristics, stunning purity, full-bodied power, and good underlying acidity as well as harmony. The hard tannins suggest 8-9 years of cellaring will be beneficial; it should last for three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+.

$1,380.00 per case, net bottle $115.00

2009 Branaire-Ducru

Branaire-Ducru

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Julien, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	96	Drink: 2017 - 2035	$195
Haut couture becomes a wine! This dense purple wine has the tell-tale notes of flowers and pencil shavings, and its broad aromatics are intense and totally captivating. Powerful, rich, and full, but less tannic than the 2005 and more opulent, this is a dazzling Branaire to drink between 2017-2035.

$1,260.00 per case, net bottle $105.00

2010 Branaire-Ducru

Branaire-Ducru

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Julien, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	94	Drink: 2017 - 2047	$195
This wine is more backward than I would have normally expected, but nevertheless, it is very impressive. The 2010 Branaire-Ducru displays an inky bluish purple color and loads of mulberry, raspberry, black currant, graphite and floral notes in its intense aromatics. Medium to full-bodied , with sensational ripeness, purity, texture and length, the tannins are slightly more prominent than I remember from barrel, but they are sweet and ripe (as opposed to astringent and bitter). This beautiful wine needs 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep 25-30 years.

$1,260.00 per case, net bottle $105.00

010 Beychevelle

Beychevelle

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Julien, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	94	Drink: N/A	$235
Showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it was also impressive, but not quite at this level, the 2010 Beychevelle displays sweet black currant, black cherry, foresty notes, medium to full-bodied texture with impressive purity and moderately high tannins (although theyâ€™ve softened considerably during the wineâ€™s upbringing in barrel). Layered and rich for a Beychevelle, this wine should easily withstand three decades of cellaring. I would give it another 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is a fabulous effort from the first chateau one sees upon entering the appellation of St.-Julien.

$1,500.00 per case, net bottle $125.00

009 Gruaud Larose

Gruaud Larose

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Julien, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	95	Drink: 2020 - 2045	$165
As I wrote in my barrel tasting note, the 2009 appears to be the finest Gruaud Larose since their 1990. Some of my concerns about too much brett in previous vintages are long gone as the purity of the 2009 jumps out. Copious notes of sagebrush, cedar, cigar box, licorice, incense, blackberries and lead pencil shavings suggest a big Pauillac rather than a St.-Julien. Broad, rich and full-bodied with good balance and abundant, but sweet, well-integrated tannin, this big, masculine Gruaud Larose reveals remarkable finesse, richness, extract, density and a cascade of fruit that nearly hides the lofty tannins. This beauty should be at its best between 2020-2045.

$1,380.00 per case, net bottle $115.00

2009 Leoville-Las Cases

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Julien, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	98+	Drink: N/A	$984
The 2009 Leoville Las Cases may be the most open-knit and forward Las Cases I have tasted to date. Analytically, it is high in tannin and the alcohol is 13.8%, nearly a record at this estate. This blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc was showing brilliantly at the 2009 tasting I did in Hong Kong and at a later tasting. It boasts an inky/purple color, monumental concentration and lots of sweet, jammy black currant, black cherry and kirsch fruit intermixed with crushed rock and mineral notes. As always, proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon has built a massive wine with exceptional precision, unbelievable purity and aging potential of 40-50 years. I was surprised by the lusciousness of this cuvee on several occasions, and how much more forward it is given the fact that Las Cases can often be forebodingly backward and in need of 10-15 years of cellaring (at age 30, the 1982 is still a baby in terms of development!). The super-concentrated 2009 needs another 5-7 years before additional nuances emerge. This is a brilliant, full-throttle St.-Julien.

$4,980.00 per case, net bottle $415.00

2009 Leoville-Poyferre

Leoville-Poyferre

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Julien, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	100	Drink: 2018 - 2040	$655
One of the more flamboyant and sumptuous wines of the vintage, this inky/purple-colored St.-Julien reveals thrilling levels of opulence, richness and aromatic pleasures. A soaring bouquet of creme de cassis, charcoal, graphite and spring flowers is followed by a super-concentrated wine with silky tannins, stunning amounts of glycerin, a voluptuous, multilayered mouthfeel and nearly 14% natural alcohol. Displaying fabulous definition for such a big, plump, massive, concentrated effort, I suspect the tannin levels are high even though they are largely concealed by lavish amounts of fruit, glycerin and extract. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.

$3,600.00 per case, net bottle $300.00

2010 Leoville-Poyferre

Leoville-Poyferre

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Julien, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	98+	Drink: 2013 - 2043	$395
The wine out distances both Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Barton, but all three of them are compelling efforts. Full-bodied, dense purple in color, with floral notes intermixed with blackberries, cassis, graphite and spring flowers, this full-bodied, legendary effort is long and opulent, with wonderfully abundant yet sweet tannin, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and a thrilling, nearly one-minute finish. This spectacular effort from Poyferre that should drink well for 30+ years.

$2,328.00 per case, net bottle $194.00

2010 Talbot

Talbot

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Julien, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	94	Drink: 2013 - 2038	$175
One of the best Talbots over recent years, and possibly the best since the 1986 and 1982, this sexy juggernaut of a wine struts forth with an opaque plum/ruby/purple color and terrific notes of creme de cassis, licorice, roasted herbs and smoky barbecue. It is a brilliant effort, with full body, wonderful fruit, a savory, expansive mouthfeel, sensational texture and a long finish, but no hardness or astringency. This is a fabulous Talbot to drink over the next 20-25 years

$1,032.00 per case, net bottle $86.00

2010 Duhart-Milon-Rothschild

Duhart-Milon-Rothschild

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	96	Drink: 2013 - 2043	$310
Dense purple, with classic notes of cedar and lead pencil shavings as well as gobs of back currants and licorice, the wine has a full-bodied mouthfeel with fabulous precision and density. It also possesses a long, silky finish with moderately high tannins, but they are ripe and well-integrated. The wood is clearly pushed to the background in this dense, full-bodied Pauillac, which should drink beautifully for 30+ years. If you canâ€™t afford Lafite-Rothschild (few can)or even their second wine, Carruades de Lafite, you still have Duhart Milon, which has become a profound wine over the last 5-7 years due to the extensive amount of attention and investment the Rothschilds have pumped into this estate. This blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot is fabulous, a dead ringer for Lafite in a great vintage. (It is probably better than many of the Lafites of the 1960s and 1970s, and even some of the vintages in the 1980s.)

$1,740.00 per case. net bottle $145.00

2010 Grand-Puy-Ducasse

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	92	Drink: N/A	$120
This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot is an up-front, seductively styled Pauillac (one of the more forward and evolved wines from this appellation in 2010). Deep purple, with exceptionally subtle texture and oodles of cassis fruit as well as hints of mocha and white chocolate, it is an elegant wine, but the overall impression is one of considerable flesh, fat and succulence. It will be hard to resist now, but can be cellared for another 15+ years.

$816.00 per case, net bottle $68.00

2009 Haut Bages Liberal

Haut Bages Liberal

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	92	Drink: 2012 - 2037	$130
Probably the finest Haut-Bages Liberal since the 1982, this beautifully rich wine has an inky purple color, a big, sweet kiss of creme de cassis, incense, some background spicy oak and forest floor. Its gorgeous fruit, full-bodied opulence, impressive purity, expansive texture and broad, savory finish make for a terrific wine to drink over the next 25+ years.

$744.00 per case, net bottle $62.00

2010 Haut Bages Liberal

Haut Bages Liberal

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	92	Drink: 2015 - 2035	$120
One of the best efforts from this estate since the 1982, this wine remains fairly priced. It exhibits ripe blue and black fruits, a dense plum/purple color, good acidity buttressing a remarkably rich, fleshy, sumptuous texture, and oodles of smoky black currant and blueberry fruit. Ripe, heady and rich, this wine will probably benefit from 2-5 years of cellaring despite its precociousness and keep for two decades.

$720.00 per case, net bottle $60.00

1995 Latour

Latour
A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

In Asia #1112 Nov 2012	Lisa Perrotti-Brown	96	Drink: N/A	$1640
Deep garnet-brick in color, the nose is well developed, displaying dried berry, leather, vanilla pod and anise notes with a faint whiff of potpourri. The palate is wonderfully fleshy and opulent with velvety, approachable tannins and a long finish.

$10,620.00 per case, net bottle $885.00

2005 Latour

Latour

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

In Asia #1112 Nov 2012	Lisa Perrotti-Brown	98	Drink: N/A	$3127
Deep garnet colored, the 2005 Latour presents a wonderful combination of pure cassis, violet and toast notes with nuances of black olives, loam and pencil shavings. The palate offers wonderful richness, balance and seamless, going very long and layered in the finish.

$17,568.00 per case, net bottle $1,464.00

2009 Lynch Bages

Lynch Bages

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	98	Drink: 2012 - 2042	$460
Performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel, this appears to be the finest Lynch Bages since the 2000, 1990 and 1989. According to the chateau, the 2009 has the highest level of polyphenols ever measured as well as high alcohol (nearly 13.5%). A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest largely Merlot with touches of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it is an expressive, voluptuously textured effort with unctuosity and powerful, juicy, succulent blackberry and black currant flavors, low acids, a layered, massive mouthfeel, but no sense of heaviness or fatigue. This exquisite Lynch Bages should drink well for 30+ years.

$2,940.00 per case, net bottle $245.00

2010 Lynch Bages

Lynch Bages

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	96	Drink: 2018 - 2048	$445
The 2010 Lynch Bages is an absolutely brilliant wine, and somewhat reminiscent at this stage in its development of the profound 1989. Jean-Charles Cazes, who took over for his father a number of years ago, has produced a magnificent wine with the classic creme de cassis note intermixed with smoke, graphite and spring flowers. It is a massive Lynch Bages, full-bodied and very 1989-ish, with notable power, loads of tannin, and extraordinary concentration and precision. This is not a Lynch Bages to drink in its exuberant youth, but one to hold on to for 5-6 years and drink over the following three decades.

$199.00 per bottle

2005 Mouton-Rothschild

Mouton-Rothschild

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	96	Drink: 2018 - 2040	$1949
The 2005 Mouton Rothschild will have to take a back seat to the prodigious 2006, but administrator Philippe Dalhuin deserves considerable credit for pushing Mouton to higher quality levels over recent years. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot, the dark purple-hued 2005 exhibits a restrained but promising nose of cedar, tobacco leaf, creme de cassis, and toasty oak. Full-bodied, tannic, and extremely backward, with the vintageâ€™s tell-tale acidity, it appears to be even more closed in the bottle than it was from barrel. It does possess a long finish and multilayered mouthfeel. This is an undeniably outstanding, yet restrained, shy wine for a Mouton Rothschild. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040+

$8,388.00 per case, net bottle $699.00

2006 Mouton-Rothschild

Mouton-Rothschild

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #181 Feb 2009	Robert Parker	98+	Drink: 2020 - 2060	$1654
A sensational effort, the 2006 Mouton Rothschild exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a classic Mouton perfume of creme de cassis, flowers, blueberries, and only a hint of oak. Dalhuin told me that in whisky barrel-tasting vintages such as 1989 and 1990, Mouton was aged in heavily-toasted barrels, and they have backed off to a much lighter toast for the barrelsâ€™ interior. I think this has worked fabulously well with the cassis quality fruit they get from their Cabernet Sauvignon. The full-bodied, powerful 2006 possesses extraordinary purity and clarity. A large-scaled, massive Mouton Rothschild that ranks as one of the top four or five wines of the vintage, it may turn out to be the longest-lived wine of the vintage by a landslide. The label will undoubtedly be controversial as a relative of Sigmund Freud, Lucian Freud, has painted a rather comical Zebra staring aimlessly at what appears to be a palm tree in the middle of a stark courtyard. I suppose a psychiatrist could figure out the relationship between that artwork and wine, but I couldnâ€™t see one. This utterly profound Mouton will need to sleep for 15+ years before it will reveal any secondary nuances, but it is a packed and stacked first-growth Pauillac of enormous potential. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2060+.

6 bottle wood case at $4,980.00, net bottle $830.00

2003 Pontet-Canet

Pontet-Canet

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #164 Apr 2006	Robert Parker	95	Drink: 2010 - 2035	$310
One cannot say enough about the labors of proprietor Alfred Tesseron, who has personally overseen the dramatic increase in quality of the wines at Pontet-Canet which started in a significant manner with 1994. This is a classic Pauillac-styled wine (meaning oodles of cassis flavors), as one might expect from a vineyard on the plateau of Pauillac, across the street from Mouton-Rothschild.

$2,244.00 per case, net bottle $187.00

2005 Pontet-Canet

Pontet-Canet

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	96+	Drink: 2017 - 2040	-$400
The work that Alfred Tesseron and his winemaking team have done at this estate since 1994 is remarkable. At this fabulous terroir just south of Mouton-Rothschild, Tesseron has made major investments, and instituted incredibly severe selections in both the vineyard and winery. The result is a succession of extraordinary wines. It is difficult to know whether the 2005 Pontet-Canet will ultimately eclipse the hedonism and density of the flamboyant 2003, but it is unquestionably a stunning effort. Inky/black-colored with a classic Pauillac perfume of licorice, black currant liqueur, graphite, cedar, and spice box, it is full-bodied, with magnificent concentration, formidable tannins, and an Arnold Schwartzenegger-like structure (when he was 25 years younger). This backward, formidably endowed 2005 will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040.

$3,000.00 per case, net bottle $250.00

2008 Pontet-Canet

Pontet-Canet

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #194 May 2011	Robert Parker	96	Drink: 2016 - 2046	$260
A candidate for the â€œwine of the vintage,â€ Pontet Canetâ€™s 2008 boasts an opaque purple color as well as copious aromas of sweet blueberries, blackberries and black currant fruit intertwined with lead pencil shavings, subtle barbecue smoke and a hint of forest floor. Full-bodied, with fabulous richness, texture and tremendous freshness, this first-growth-like effort is more developed than the uber-powerful 2010. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following three decades. Bravo!

$1,872.00 per case. net bottle $156.00

2010 Pontet-Canet

Pontet-Canet

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	100	Drink: N/A	$500
An absolutely amazing wine, from grapes harvested between the end of September and October 17, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot has close to 15% natural alcohol. It comes from one of the few biodynamic vineyards in Bordeaux, but you are likely to see many more, given the success that Tesseron seems to be having at all levels, both in his vineyards and in his fermentation/winemaking. An astounding, compelling wine with the classic Pauillac nose more often associated with its cross-street neighbor, Mouton-Rothschild, creme de cassis, there are also some violets and other assorted floral notes. The wine has off-the-charts massiveness and intensity but never comes across as heavy, overbearing or astringent. The freshness, laser-like precision, and full-bodied, massive richness and extract are simply remarkable to behold and experience. It is very easy, to become jaded tasting such great wines from a great vintage, but it is really a privilege to taste something as amazing as this. Unfortunately, it needs a good decade of cellaring, and thatâ€™s assuming it doesnâ€™t close down over the next few years. This is a 50- to 75-year wine from one of the half-dozen or so most compulsive and obsessive proprietors in all of Bordeaux. Is there anything that proprietor Alfred Tesseron is not doing right? Talk about an estate that is on top of its game! Pontet-Canetâ€™s 2010 is a more structured, tannic and restrained version of their most recent perfect wine, the 2009. Kudos to Pontet-Canet!

$450.00 per magnum

003 Cos d'Estournel

Cos d'Estournel

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #164 Apr 2006	Robert Parker	98	Drink: 2006 - 2036	$442
The prodigious, fantastic 2003 Cos dâ€™Estournel is a candidate for â€œwine of the vintage.â€ A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon (unusually high for this chateau), 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 17,500 cases were produced from low yields. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a compelling perfume of black fruits, subtle smoke, pain grille, incense, and flowers. With extraordinary richness, full body, and remarkable freshness, elegance, and persistence, this is one of the finest wines ever made by this estate. The good news is that it will be drinkable at a young age yet evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier.

$360.00 per bottle

2005 Cos d'Estournel

Cos d'Estournel

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	98	Drink: 2017 - 2040	$557
While I am not convinced the 2005 Cos dâ€™Estournel will eclipse the compelling 2003 Cos, it is unquestionably another superb classic from proprietor Michel Reybier and his brilliant winemaker, Jean-Guillaume Prats. Made from an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) and the balance mostly Merlot with a tiny dollop of Cabernet Franc, this superb effort requires plenty of time in the bottle. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a glorious perfume of licorice, Asian spices, creme de cassis, blackberries, and toasty oak. This full-bodied St.-Estephe is exceptionally powerful, pure, and dense with a layered mid-palate that builds like a skyscraper. While there are massive tannins, they are remarkably velvety and well-integrated in this big, backstrapping effort that should enjoy an unusually long life. Forget it for 8-10 years, and drink it between 2017-2040.

$4,660.00 per case, net bottle $305.00

2009 Cos d'Estournel

Cos d'Estournel

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	100	Drink: 2022 - 2072	$1004
One of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted, the monumental 2009 Cos dâ€™Estournel has lived up to its pre-bottling potential. A remarkable effort from winemaking guru Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot (33%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (2%) was cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare. It boasts an inky/black/purple color along with an extraordinary bouquet of white flowers interwoven with blackberry and blueberry liqueur, incense, charcoal and graphite. The wine hits the palate with extraordinary purity, balance and intensity as well as perfect equilibrium, and a seamless integration of tannin, acidity, wood and alcohol. An iconic wine as well as a remarkable achievement, it is the greatest Cos dâ€™Estournel ever produced. It is approachable enough at present that one could appreciate it with several hours of decanting, but it will not hit its prime for a decade, and should age effortlessly for a half century.

$6,825.00 per case, net bottle $6,540.00 per case, net bottle $545.00

2010 Cos d'Estournel

Cos d'Estournel

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	97+	Drink: 2018 - 2048	$769
The 2010 is a more structured, restrained, less flamboyant version of the 2009. A final blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that hit 14.5% natural alcohol, this wine (which represents only 55% of the estate's production) is full-bodied, classic and built along the lines of the 2000 (although that wine was made before Reybier acquired the estate and upgraded quality significantly). This wine exhibits beautifully pure notes of creme de cassis, blueberry liqueur, pen ink, graphite and hints of toast and vanillin. The wine is full and rich, and although aged in 80% new oak, the wood is a subtle background component. This beauty will take longer to round into shape than the dramatic and compelling 2009. Forget it for 5-8 years, and drink it over the following three-plus decades.

$4,80.00 per case, net bottle $340.00

2009 Meyney

Meyney

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	92	Drink: N/A	$90
I clearly underrated this wine from barrel. The finest wine made at this estate since 1982, this opaque black wine is a sleeper of the vintage, with oodles of blackberry fruit interwoven with hints of charcoal, forest floor, licorice and damp earth. Deep, rich, chewy, full-bodied and opulent, this is a fabulous Meyney that, because of its low acidity and very ripe tannin, can be drunk in 3-4 years or cellared for two decades. Bravo!

$528.00 per case, net bottle $44.00

2010 Meyney

Meyney

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	90	Drink: 2013 - 2028	$85
It is good to see this well-situated estate in St.-Estephe get back on track. The 2010 has loads of beef blood, charcuterie and smoked game along with black currant fruit. Some underlying graphite notes are also present in this full-bodied, meaty, fleshy wine, which has outstanding concentration and the potential to last for 15 or more years. It is a major sleeper of the vintage

$528.00 per case, net bottle $44.00

2005 Montrose

Montrose

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	95	Drink: 2020 - 2040	$350
The 2005 Montrose is an exceptionally tannic, broodingly backward offering displaying a dense ruby/purple color along with a provocative perfume of crushed rocks, flowers, cassis, black raspberries, and blueberries. It continues to add weight and richness, good traits considering the substantial, forbiddingly high tannin levels and zesty acidity. If you are over the age of fifty, this backward, powerful wine will probably be more enjoyable to your descendants. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040+

$2,340.00 per case, net bottle $195.00

2008 Montrose

Montrose

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #194 May 2011	Robert Parker	95	Drink: 2016 - 2036	$260
One of the superstars of the vintage, this classic Montrose is not as showy or opulent as the 2010, 2009 or 2003, but it offers a dense purple color followed by gorgeously sweet black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with loamy, earthy, forest floor notes, a floral component and a long, full-bodied finish. The 2008 was fashioned from yields of 44 hectoliters per hectare which is slightly less than the 2010's 45 hectoliters per hectare. Forget it for 5-8 years and drink it over the following 20+.

6 bottle wood case at $870.00 per case, net bottle $145.00

2010 Rol Valentin

Rol Valentin

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013	Robert Parker	92	Drink: 2013 - 2028	$53
A strong showing from this blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that hit 14.7% natural alcohol, the 2010 Rol Valentin exhibits oodles of sweet black currant and black raspberry fruit along with some toasty oak and a note of charcoal embers in a full-bodied, opulent, showy, even flamboyant style that seems to beg comparison to 2009. This wine should drink beautifully for 10-15 years.

$540.00 per case, net bottle $45.00

2005 Bellefont Belcier

Bellefont Belcier

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	94	Drink: 2012 - 2030	$100
A marvelous sleeper of the vintage from Dominique Hebrard, this 2005 exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, a smoky, blackberry liqueur-filled nose with hints of licorice, earth, and truffles, full body, powerful flavors, and dramatic, but sweet tannin. Moreover, this beauty is still available at a realistic price. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030.

$792.00 per case, net bottle $66.00

2006 Cheval Blanc

Cheval Blanc

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #181 Feb 2009	Robert Parker	95	Drink: 2012 - 2030	$1250
The brilliant 2006 Cheval Blanc performed better from bottle than from barrel. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot grown in a superb vineyard site facing La Conseillante and lâ€™Evangile at the very edge of the sandy, gravelly soils of St.-Emilion, it boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet perfume of menthol, charcoal, boysenberries, black currants, and hints of cocoa and caramel. Lush, textured, and opulent with superb purity, medium to full body, savory flavors, and sweet, sexy tannins, this stunning Cheval Blanc may be even better than the 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030.

$9,000.00,per case, net bottle $750.00

2009 Faugeres

Faugeres

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	93	Drink: 2012 - 2032	$65
Far more accessible is the 2009 Faugeres. Again, cropped at a low 18 hectoliters per hectare, but a different blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine boasts 14.5% natural alcohol, and both Stefan von Neipperg and Michel Rolland confer on the consulting. Full-bodied and dark ruby/purple, with a nose of graphite, pen ink, blueberries and black raspberries, the wine is deep, dense and pure, with a broad, savory texture and a long finish with no astringency. Drink this beauty over the next 15-20 years.

$564.00 per case, net bottle $47.00

2009 Fombrauge

Fombrauge

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	92	Drink: 2015 - 2035	$30-$90 (45)
The 2009 Fombrauge has the potential to be the finest wine ever made at this property. Michel Rolland is the consulting oenologist in the vineyard, which sits in the southern sector of St.-Emilion known as St.-Christophe des Bardes. It was picked very late in 2009, and the result is a powerhouse wine with an inky blue/purple color and the smell of pen ink, acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries and cassis. The wine hit 15% natural alcohol, which gives it lots of glycerin as well as a full-bodied intensity, while the low yields of 27 hectoliters per hectare have provided a striking level of concentration and length. This is very serious wine from an estate that is on the upswing. It should benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for two decades.

$456.00 per case, net bottle $38.00

2000 Clos Fourtet

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #189 Jun 2010	Robert Parker	93	Drink: 2010 - 2020	$202
The first offering in what turned out to be a remarkable decade for this property, the 2000 Clos Fourtet was the finest wine produced here in many years, but it was subsequently eclipsed by the 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2009. The dense plum/purple-tinged 2000 exhibits notes of wet rocks, camphor, blackberries, and cassis. Full-bodied with tremendous density, it appears to have shed much of its tannin, and is through its adolescent stage. It should continue to evolve effortlessly for another decade.

$1,260.00 per case, net bottle $105.00

2000 Troplong-Mondot

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #189 Jun 2010	Robert Parker	96	Drink: 2014 - 2034	$366
Extremely young with an unbelievable deep purple color, the 2000 Troplong Mondot has hardly budged since I tasted it in 2003. Two recent tastings confirmed that this is the greatest Troplong Mondot between their profound 1990 and more recent vintages such as 2005, 2008, and 2009. Copious chocolate, graphite, blackberry, blueberry, cassis, and ink characteristics are present in this full-bodied, powerful, massive St.-Emilion. While the tannins are noticeable, they are better integrated than they were seven years ago, and the fruit, extract, and richness clearly outweigh the wineâ€™s structure. This 2000 will benefit from another 4-5 years of cellaring (longer than I originally predicted), and has at least two decades of drinkability ahead of it.

$2,496.00 per case, net bottle $208.00

2005 Troplong-Mondot

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	99	Drink: 2018 - 2050	$570
This estate was justifiably elevated to a Premier Grand Cru Classe in the new St.-Emilion classification thanks to the exceptional efforts of proprietress Christine Valette over the last two decades. The 2005 is one of the monumental wines of the vintage, and may eclipse their prodigious 1990. Inky/blue/purple-colored with an exceptional bouquet of Asian spices, blueberries, blackberries, truffles, cold steel, graphite, and charcoal, it hits the palate with exceptional purity, laser-like precision, a compellingly concentrated, multilayered mouthfeel, a broad, savory texture, terrific acidity, and substantial, but sweet tannins. It lives up to everything it revealed in barrel, and appears set to live for a half century or more. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050.

$3,456.00 per case, net bottle $288.00

2008 Troplong-Mondot

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #194 May 2011	Robert Parker	96	Drink: 2013 - 2033	$216
A wine of the vintage candidate in 2008, Troplong Mondotâ€™s offering was produced from yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare and achieved 14.5% natural alcohol. A classic blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it offers copious quantities of blue and black fruits, a full-bodied opulence, sweet tannin and a fabulous texture as well as finish. Already drinking beautifully, it will be even better in 2-5 years and should last for 20 years. A great effort for the vintage, it couldnâ€™t happen to a more deserving proprietor, Christine Valette. Bravo!

$1,584.00 per case, net bottle $132.00

2009 Troplong-Mondot

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

St Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #199 Feb 2012	Robert Parker	99	Drink: 2022 - 2052	$445
It boasts an inky/purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of mocha, chocolate, blackberry and cassis fruit, an unctuous texture, a full-bodied, viscous mouthfeel and a skyscraper-like, multilayered finish. This spectacular wine is nearly overwhelming in its richness, thickness and intensity. Once all its baby fat falls away, the terroir characteristics and additional nuances will emerge. This blockbuster, fabulous Troplong Mondot will benefit from 10-15 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. It is not shy either, bouncing over the palate with 15.5% natural alcohol. The 2009 Troplong Mondot will provide plenty of competition for the 2010, 2005 and 2000. It comes closest in style to the prodigious 1990 that proprietress Christine Valette produced 22 years ago. A phenomenal effort, it unquestionably justifies its relatively new Premier Grand Cru St.-Emilion status. Readers should keep in mind that the 1990, which probably has lower acidity and not the level of concentration found in the 2009, is drinking incredibly well at age 22 and reveals no signs of falling apart

$2,688.00 per case, net bottle $224.00

2005 Bon Pasteur

A Bordeaux Blend Dry Red Table wine from

Pomerol, Bordeaux, France

Wine Advocate #176 Apr 2008	Robert Parker	94	Drink: 2011 - 2038	$145
A superb effort from proprietors Dany and Michel Rolland, the 2005 Bon Pasteur is the antithesis of the kind of wine Rollandâ€™s critics claim he makes (which they ignorantly suggest are over-oaked, over-extracted, and over-the-top). Nothing could be further from the truth. Rolland, a brilliant oenologist, has done more than any other person alive today for the quality of Bordeaux. His 2005 Bon Pasteur is an elegant, subtle, deep ruby/purple-colored wine offering hints of graphite, sweet mocha, black cherries, and berries that build incrementally in the mouth, ending in a cascade of full-bodied, concentrated fruit with good acidity, beautiful tannin, and stunning precision as well as length. The tannin structure suggests 3-5 years of cellaring is warranted, but based on past examples (even the opulent 1982, which is still going strong), the 2005 should age for 25-30 years.

$1,440.00 per case, net bottle $120.00

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