Dear <<First Name>>,
Bordeaux 2019 En Primeur .. The show must go on !
We continue our 2019 EP offers with thankfully a slightly quieter day, including two great classified growth wines from Pauillac on the left bank and two gems from the right bank of the Gironde river.
With the release of the Mouton Rothschild stable of wines and the immediate sellout of Château Mouton Rothschild (30% lower than 2018) in less than 1 hour, those clients looking for a taste of Pauillac royalty need look no further than the 4th growth Château Clerc Milon. With a 15% reduction in the price on 2018 and a glowing 95 pts from Decanter, this looks to be a sensible buy.
The 5th growth estate of Château Croizet-Bages is certainly less well known than its famous neighbours but for fans of Pauillac who know where to look for value in an expensive region, they will know this wine well. Mr Suckling certainly thinks "it is one of the best in a long time" with 93-94 pts and 21.5% below the release price in 2018
Château Fleur Cardinale is another 'under the radar' wine from the right bank appellation of Saint-Emilion, a consistently good value Grand Cru Classe that James Suckling has again re-enforced the quality in 2019 with a score of 96-97 pts!
This is 2 pts more than 2018 and benefiting from a 20% reduction in price.
Pomerol is the smallest appellation in Bordeaux, therefore releases are far and few between and must be celebrated. Château Gazin is a 5th generation family run estate and quality had been noticeably up in the lat 10 years. With a score of 95-96 pts from James Suckling for 2019 and another 20% reduction on 2018, this looks like a great buy for Pomerol devotees.
We still have access to limited stocks of Château Palmer (£166.50 per btle) which is a solid buy at 30% less than the 2018 release price. More importantly, after an absence last year, the terrific Alter Ego de Palmer is a great value wine at £45 per btle and a must buy for any Margaux lovers!
|
|
The 2019 vintage and resulting En Primeur campaign will be remembered long into the history of these illustrious proceedings, with nature clearly giving something back to help heal some of the wounds. Starting more than 4 weeks late, we expect this to be a short and concentrated campaign.
The weather was particularly wet during the winter of 2018 but this was a saving grace as the long warm, dry summer came round quickly. The heat was fierce for a few short spells but the flowering was well established early on and the berries (fruit set) in a good place to compensate. A pleasant autumn, with the odd shower during harvest had already got some talking of the great potential, with well formed concentrated berries, with good acidity and healthy yields.
The term 'great vintage' is not used lightly in Bordeaux and certainly initial reports are of a very high quality, with comparisons to 2009, 2015 and 2016 previously earmarked as the best this century. Pricing is a key factor of any En Primeur campaign and expectations are it will much lower than 2018, due to current global crisis.
There has not been any of the traditional April trips to the Chateaux for day long tastings and lavish dinners, instead during these difficult times, pallets of samples have been arriving on the doorsteps of critics all over the world. Those that follow social media closely will have seen snippets of enthusiastic commentary as each appellation is meticulously poured, tasted and written up. Most have yet to publish any meaningful reports and accompanying notes but the signs are more than positive, if not glowing.
|
|
James Suckling
"2019 is an exceptional year for Bordeaux wines... Some say 2019 is close to the excellent 2016 vintage but with perhaps slightly less tannin concentration. They all agree that the quality is very close to 2018, 2016 and 2015."
|
|
|
With Château Pontet-Canet (98-100 pts - Wine Advocate), a powerhouse of modern day Bordeaux, selling out in Bordeaux over a weekend at £61 per btle (IB) this seems to have defined the 2019 vintage!
This level of pricing has rarely been seen in the last 15 years and was lower than the 2013 release price, which was certainly one of the poorest vintages in recent memory. This gives hope that possibly one the best quality vintages in the 21st century will unusually be one of the best value.
A vintage for buyers and drinkers alike!
We have also seen a new release from Château Latour (96+ pts Wine Advocate) this week, the first since they decided to no longer participate in the traditional En Primeur process in 2011, opting to release wine when the Chateau felt it was ready. At a release price of £2,100 for 6 bottles this also represents the cheapest vintage of the previous 10 years.
|
|
Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate)
"I have just begun receiving barrel samples of the 2019s and have so far been very impressed about how they have showed"
|
|
|
|
Château Clerc Milon (Pauillac)
In the 18th century, Château Clerc Milon formed part of the vast estates of the seigneury of Lafite. Sold as a “national asset” in the Revolution, it was acquired then by the Clerc family, which joined its name to that of Milon, the Pauillac hamlet where the estate is located. The rank of Fifth Growth bestowed on it in the famous 1855 Classification is evidence of its standing, even then, among the elite Médoc châteaux. The vineyard at the time covered some 30 hectares (75 acres).
The wine long maintained a very good reputation. But sales and successions reduced the original estate and its upkeep was neglected. Very run-down, by the 1960s it had shrunk to only 15 hectares (37 acres), the rest being dispersed in hundreds of parcels, with almost as many deeds of title.
|
|
Lisa Perrotti-Brown (92-94+ pts)
"The blend this year was harvested from the 19th of September to the 9th of October. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Clerc Milon starts out a little closed and broody, offering notes of tar, chargrill, tapenade and Marmite toast over an emerging core of stewed plums, black cherries and kirsch with a touch of garrigue. The medium-bodied palate delivers loads of freshness with crunchy black fruits and a lively line, backed up by grainy tannins, finishing long and savory."
|
|
|
|
2019 Château Clerc Milon (4th Growth)
72% Cab Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 4% Cab Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Château Clerc Milon, acquired by Baron Philippe in 1970, has a 41-hectare (99-acre) vineyard located between two prestigious First Growths, Mouton and Lafite.
Clerc Milon was entirely redesigned and rebuilt in 2011. The vat house with its gravity-fed stainless steel vats, the surprising half-underground, colonnaded barrel hall and the light, airy reception rooms are housed in a building shaped like a temple and clad in ipe wood, its façade and vast terrace overlooking the vines.
£312.00 per 6 x 750ml (IB)
£317.00 per 3 x 1500ml (IB)
"The wine has the highest levels of Cabernet Sauvignon since the 1980s, and even on the nose you can feel its impact in terms of the depth of tight black fruit. Extremely good quality with fine tannins that build, build, build over the palate, and grip on, forcing you to slow down and pay attention. Beautiful spice with menthol, slate, pencil lead, blackberry and blackcurrant. An exciting wine with real energy and forward motion, helped to withstand the summer heat by its position by the river, and the fact that the average age of the vines at Clerc Milon is almost 50 years. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Jean Emmanuel Danjoy's last outing doing the full vintage at Clerc Milon before he heads over to Mouton as technical director."
Jane Anson (Decanter) - 95 pts
|
|
|
2019 Château Croizet-Bages (5th Growth)
66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot
During the first half of the 18th century, the Croizet brothers, purchased several small parcels of Bordeaux wine vineyards to put together their own estate. Following the custom of the day, they names the estate using their name and the area where the property was located and came up with Chateau Croizet Bages. In 1853, Julien Calve bought the Bordeaux wine chateau. After the first world war, an American, Jean-Baptiste Monnot, obtained Chateau Croizet Bages and kept the Left Bank property until 1942, when it was bought by Paul Quie.
Today, the Quie family also owns Chateau Rauzan-Gassies and Chateau Bel Orme Tronquoy de Lalande, a Cru Bourgeois estate. The Quie family began a massive renovation of the estate, wine making facilities and vineyards in 2013. The 30 hectare Medoc vineyard of Croizet Bages has a terroir of gravel and sand soil on the Bages plateau.
£142.50 per 6 x 750ml (IB)
£147.50 per 3 x 1500ml (IB)
"Lots of blueberry, chocolate and burnt-orange character. It's full-bodied and tannic. Intense and muscular. One of the best in a long time"
James Suckling (93-94 pts)
|
|
|
2019 Château Fleur Cardinale (Saint-Emilion)
76% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
This property is family-owned: the Decoster bought it in 2001 to live there as they had a real passion for the wines of the region. The vines of Fleur Cardinale are planted in the eastern area of the AOC, on one of the highest part, known to be the coldest. The direct neighbor is Valandraud, 1er Grand Cru Classé.
The wines produced there are intense and fresh. They can be compare to the wines produced on the Saint-Emilion plateau, the terroir is very similar.
£145.50 per 6 x 750ml (IB)
£150.50 per 3 x 1500ml (IB)
"This is a wine that has a broad brush of tannins that give energy and subtle texture to the palate. Beautiful blue fruit and terracotta. Really fine-grained tannins. Beautiful, sweet fruit at the finish.
One of the best I have had from here. Really want to drink it!"
James Suckling (95-96 pts)
|
|
|
2019 Château Gazin (Pomerol)
90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
The vineyards of Pomerol gradually developed between the 12th century and the French Revolution under the aegis of the knights of Saint-Jean of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta.
Château GAZIN, which was a hamlet in the 18th century, is probably located on the site of the “Hospital of Pomeyrols”, built by the knights to receive pilgrims on the Santiago de Compostela route.
It's at the beginning of the 20th century that Louis Soualle, great-grandfather of the current owners, acquired Château GAZIN, the management of which his descendants now provide all their care. The descendants of Louis Soualle represent the 5th generation of vineyard owners both on the paternal and maternal side.
£315.00 per 6 x 750ml (IB)
£320.00 per 3 x 1500ml (IB)
"A tight, focused red with blackberry and blueberry character, as well as chocolate. It's full and compact with soft, silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Harmonious"
James Suckling (95-96 pts)
|
|
|
All prices are 'In Bond' and exclude, duty, VAT & delivery and subject to availabilty and confirmation
|
|
The wines above are subject to strict allocation on a first come first serve basis, confirmation and remaining unsold.
Different formats are available for most wines (375ml to 15L) at a small additional bottling cost.
Delivery is expected to commence in spring 2022.
|
|
|
|
|
