Dear <<First Name>>,
We continue our 2018 Bordeaux EP offers with 4 top quality wines with impressive scores, two from the Right Bank with famous winemakers and the others, classified growths from Margaux on the Left Bank.
Château Les Cruzelles is produced by Denis Durantou, a star winemaker from Pomerol and the owner of Chateau L'Eglise Cline, which offers excellent value compared to its stable mate.
Château Moulin Saint-Georges is from the clay and limestone slopes next to Chateau Ausone in St-Emilion and whilst not sharing the same prestigious terroir, is a very good wine at a fraction of the cost.
Château Marquis d'Alesme is a classified 3rd Growth from Margaux and offers great value compared to leading wines in the region.
Château Labegorce is produced by the Perrodo family since 1989 neighbouring Chateau Giscours and continues to improve every year since extensive replanting.
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The Bordeaux 2018 En Primeur begins ... Quickly !
The 2018 vintage will be a mixed bag with a very good spread of excellent wines but as always, only time will truly tell.
The weather for some vintners played a crucial part as April came around, with some experiencing hail in amongst the heavy rains and the potential after affects of mildew was not welcome. The summer was long and warm helping with well formed concentrated berries and healthy yields.
There are a plethora of excellent wines from the right bank, particularly from Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
On the Left bank great wines can be found in most of the appellations, however, St Estephe and Paulliac in particular appear to have made the most consistent and best wines. Our advice would be to carefully select wines that will be predominately for drinking and not necessarily for investment.
A few critics (James Suckling, James Molesworth and Jane Anson) have been quick to analyse and produce some interesting initial reports, perhaps not always agreeing on the levels of quality! For the first time in many years Neal Martin (now at Vinous Media) will not be reviewing Bordeaux EP until later in the year.
Chateau Angelus (JS - 99/100 pts) was very quick off the blocks to become the 1st top flight wine to hit the inboxes last week, opening at £255 per bottle which is down on last year and broadly the same as 2015. This gives a good indication of the pricing levels we can expect in the coming weeks.
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James Suckling
"2018 is an exceptional year for Bordeaux wines... and can be compared in quality to recent excellent years such as 2016 and 2015. I think it could turn out to be an all-time great, similar to 2010, 2009 and 1989 or even such classics as 1982 or 1959."
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Château Marquis d'Alesme (Margaux)
Since the 1855 classification, Marquis d’Alesme contributes in its own special way to the history and reputation of Margaux.
Ever since the eighteenth century, Marquis d’Alesme has made Bordeaux a place of culture and passion. The marquis’ fascination for Chinese art and the long sea voyages of Jean Bekker-Teerlink forged a strong taste for the exotic and the cosmopolitan, while a love of beauty and botany led to the creation of landscaped gardens. Ultimately, Marquis d’Alesme has always been driven by the idea that a great wine is an inspired work of art. Under the watchful eye of a family, this wine full of character brings the Orient and the West together. Dragon scales and moon gates stand alongside columns and arcades in perfect harmony. A sea of vines stretches before us, with the Rising Sun on its horizon. Marquis d’Alesme offers a highly unusual winetasting experience, where the pleasure of the senses vies with aesthetic enjoyment. A dreamlike utopia begins to emerge.
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2018 Château Marquis d'Alesme (3rd Growth)
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot & 5% Cabernet Franc
The 15 hectare Left Bank vineyard of Chateau Marquis d’Alesme is divided into 3 unique terroirs and soils. They have a section of the vineyard with silica and gravel soils situated close to the D2 road.
This shows a marked increase in the amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and new plantings of Cabernet Franc. There is a parcel located next to the chateau that consists of silica and gravel soil and some clay in the terroir that is planted to 100% Merlot. The third section of the vineyard is mostly young vines
On average, the vines are kept at 40 years of age. The plantings are at a vine density of 10,000 vines per hectare. Today, Chateau Marquis d’Alesme focuses on utilizing, self sustaining, vineyard management techniques.
£189.00 per 6 x 750ml (IB)
(Wine Advocate 94-96 pts and Wine Spectator 93-96 pts)
"With 14.5% alcohol it is to be aged 18 months in 65% new and 35% two-year-old barrels. Deep purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with bold, expressive black cherries, warm plums, crème de cassis and red roses scents with touches of baking spices, potpourri and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and opulent, it completely fills the palate with hedonic black fruit preserves and spices, framed by firm, velvety tannins and finishing with fantastic length" (WA)
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2018 Château Labégorce (Margaux)
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc & 3% Petit Verdot
The Chateau of Labegorce was constructed in 1821 and passed through a myriad of owners before it was most recently bought by the Perrodo family in 1989. Hubert Perrodo fell in love with Bordeaux and especially the Margaux appellation.
While wine held a big interest for Hubert Perrodo, his real interest in Bordeaux came after spending time in the appellation enjoying polo matches that were held at neighboring Chateau Giscours.
Hubert Perrodo set out with the goal to reunite all three vineyards of the original Labegorce estate. He purchased L’Abbe Grosse de Grosse in 2002. However, Hubert Perrodo was only able to buy the chateau and some land. The vineyards were sold to Chateau Margaux. He completed the final piece of the puzzle when he bought Labegorce Zede in 2005.
All three vineyards were once again merged into one large vineyard.
£127.50 per 6 x 750ml (IB)
(Wine Enthusiast 93-95 pts and Wine Spectator 92-95 pts)
"Now 65 hectares and remains situated on the plateau just north of the town of Margaux, across the road from Lascombes. Density now approaches 10,000 vines per hectare with an average age in 2018 of 29 years. Aging is in 40% new and 60% one-year-old barrels. Deep purple-black colored, the 2018 Labégorce is a little subdued by cedar to begin, giving way to a core of plum preserves, Black Forest cake and Indian spices with wafts of garrigue and lavender. Full, concentrated and laden with black fruit preserves, it has an approachable frame of firm, rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a peppery note." (WA)
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2018 Château Moulin Saint-Georges (St-Emilion)
70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Moulin Saint Georges has a long history in the Saint Emilion appellation. However, the modern era for the estate starts in 1921 when it was purchased by the Vauthier family.
The Vauthier family were already well-established in the region, as they are the owners of Chateau Ausone and the same team make Moulin St-Georges. The vineyard is divided into 2 main sections. The larger portion is on the flats, not far from Ausone. They have a smaller section of vines close to Chateau Pavie Macquin and Chateau La Clotte, another property owned by the Vauthier family.
£147.00 per 6 x 750ml (IB)
(Wine Advocate 92-94 pts and Wine Enthusiast 91-93 pts)
"Blended of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Moulin Saint-Georges is deep purple-black colored and opens slowly to display notions of sautéed herbs, menthol and pencil shavings over a core of chocolate-covered cherries, baked plums and cedar plus a waft of potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is elegantly played with lively, juicy fruit framed by plush tannins and finishes with a floral skip in its step" (WA)
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2018 Château Les Cruzelles (Pomerol)
80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc
Chateau Les Cruzelles is owned by Denis Durantou, who purchased Chateau Les Cruzelles in 2000, is better known for owning one of the top estates in Pomerol - Chateau L’Eglise Clinet. Located in the commune of Neac, not far from his Pomerol estate, the terroir of Chateau Les Cruzelles shares some similarities in terroir with his Pomerol chateau, due to its rich, clay and gravel soil. However, the soils for Les Cruzelles have more gravel with less clay than you find at Chateau L’Eglise Clinet.
The 10 hectare vineyard is planted to 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. The terroir is clay and gravel soil. For the vinification of Chateau Les Cruzelles, the wine is fermented in tank and is aged in 50%, new, French oak barrels.
£102.00 per 6 x 750ml (IB)
(Wine Advocate 91-93 pts)
"The 2018 Les Cruzelles is blended of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc with 40% new oak and 14.5% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it features slightly reduced notions of asphalt and tires over a core of warm red and black plums, blackberry pie and boysenberries with hints of fruitcake, incense and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and packed with perfumed black fruit, it has a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long." (WA)
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All prices are 'In Bond' and exclude, duty, VAT & delivery and subject to availabilty and confirmation
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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 an additional cost.
Delivery is expected to commence in spring 2021.
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