2018 Châteaux Léoville-Barton & Grand Puy-Lacoste

2018 Château Léoville-Barton, St-Julien Grand Cru Classé

Cassis and violets on the nose.  Structured, muscular and weighty on the palate. Very textural, tannins far more powerful but also more refined than anything so far in this flight with lots of mineral character. Restrained and elegant, fruit balanced by savoury notes, great concentration, likely very long-lived and will need some time in bottle before drinking.  RKL.

“The 2018 Léoville-Barton is fabulous. Graphite, gravel, crème de cassis, mint, violet, spice and exotic spices are some of the many notes that infuse this stunningly beautiful unctuous Saint-Julien. In 2018 Léoville-Barton has an extra dimension of volume and resonance, yet it never loses its super-classic mid-weight structure and regal bearing....93-96 points.” Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, May 2019

“Deep garnet-purple in color...simply sings of crushed black cherries, blackcurrant cordial and wild blueberries with touches of violets, dark chocolate, allspice and cardamom with a waft of stewed tea. Full-bodied, rich and decadently fruited in the mouth, the generous fruit has a solid structure of firm, ripe, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and layered.  94-96 points.”   Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (April 2019), April 2019

“....While never the most showy or opulent, this team always fashions a fresh, focused, incredibly age-worthy wine, and the 2018 follows suit, revealing a vivid purple color, notes of crème de cassis, crushed violets, salty minerality, and lead pencil shaving-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and incredibly elegant on the palate, it has building tannins, flawless balance, and integrated acidity, all making for a wine that’s going to demand upwards of a decade of bottle age yet keep for 40 years or more. The tannin quality here is exceptional and this is a wine you won’t regret having in the cellar.  95-97+ points.”  Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, May 2019

"They are just hitting it out of the park at Léoville Barton at the moment, keeping the relaxed and effortless feel of a great St-Julien but loading up on the complexity and concentration that lies behind it. You don't see all the mechanisms, but you know they are there.  This is going to age exceptionally well, but there's a freshness and juiciness to the structure already that suggests it's going to be great fun to drink along the way. It has glass-staining extraction, with plenty of cassis, graphite and liquorice flavours - everything's turned up high...96 points."  Jane Anson, Decanter April 2019

A stunner, showing a great degree of purity, with long flavors of cassis, plum and blackberry preserves, seamlessly integrated with the graphite structure. A very vivid, defined, precise wine.  96-99 points.”  James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, March 2019

£755 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Grand Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac Grand Cru Classé

Lots of perfumed violets and delicate spice on the nose, dark cassis fruit and fresh acidity.  Very focused on the palate, with the intense, firm tannins giving way to fruit on the finish.  Plenty of evidence of elegance and freshness, GPL seems to be moving towards a more restrained style, based on the evidence of this year.  RKL

"This is a deep and beautiful 2018 with blackcurrant, wet-earth and fresh-tobacco undertones. Full-bodied, tight and polished. Gorgeous finish. The tannins kick in at the end. Fine texture. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com

"Another success from Grand-Puy-Lacoste – it’s bright and full of juice, prioritising vibrancy over power. As such, it has a touch less Pauillac typicity than in the absolutely brilliant 2016 vintage at this estate, although as it unfurls through the palate you do get the menthol, cassis and smoked cedar that is just such a beautiful sign of ripe Cabernet up in this corner of the world. They were extremely careful with extraction because of the high alcohols, so grapes underwent the shortest maceration to date with no pumping over just an infusion during the extraction process.  Drinking Window 2026-2040. 95 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine

"A wine of precision, energy and nuance, the 2018 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fabulous. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet red berry fruit grace this exquisite, nuanced Pauillac. Medium in body, understated and classy, Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of the highlights of the year. In a word: impeccable. The 2018 is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot from yields of 40 hectoliters per hectare. 93-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com

£670 per dozen bottles in bond

Château Pavie-Macquin 2018, Saint-Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classé

"This is just so good. Not overly big, it has nuance, sapidity and grace, with space between the lines. It's not sacrificing its concentration but it gives you a chance to get onboard and accompany it along the way. I love the quality of the brambled blackberry and loganberry fruit here, and the touch of austerity that gives a welcome note of bitter chocolate to the finish. It has great tannic grip and there's no question that this will age well, but it's also extremely drinkable now. Tasted several times, and each occasion blew me away. My favourite vintage to date from this property.  98 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine

"From a cooler, pure limestone terroir just over the hill from Château Pavie, the 2018 Château Pavie Macquin offers an incredible assortment of red and black fruits, cedary spice, white truffle, graphite, and beautiful minerality. Showing the cooler, complex, concentrated style of the vineyard, it's full-bodied and powerful on the palate, with no shortage of extract or tannins....I think this estate has been underrated in the market and it can still be found for reasonable prices. It ages beautifully and I doubt you could have too much in the cellar. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com

£630 per dozen bottles in bond (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)

2018 Château Angludet, Margaux Cru Bourgeois

"Deepest cherry red. Smells of tiny black berries, expressive and slightly floral. Smooth and rounded on the palate and just the right amount of freshness so that the tannins are not sharpened. Spicy, smooth finish. 13.5%. Drink 2025-2035. 16.5 points" jancisrobinson.com (JH)

"There was no Angludet last year because of frost, so it's good to see it back in 2018. It's making a sterling return, even if in smaller quantities from a yield of just 10hl/ha. It's wonderfully fragrant with touches of florality and beautiful ripeness to the brambly fruits. The palate has a lovely texture, where you feel the alcohol is generous but not overpowering. It's a brilliant wine, reminiscent of the excellent 2015 and possibly even better. It's one of my picks of the vintage in terms of its value to quality ratio, and you won't have to wait too long to drink it. Aged in cement vats, with malo in barrel for the Petit Verdot. 33% new oak. Drinking Window 2025-2038. 93 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine

£156 per case of six bottles in bond (LAST FEW CASES)

2018 Château Beauséjour-Bécot, Saint Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé

Fragrant and floral at first, with intense cherry and blackberry fruits and some spices, confirmed on the palate with blackberry confit and a lovely texture.  Very fine tannins and amazingly open and approachable given the obviously powerful structure.  RKL

"Tasted on two separate occasions, the 2018 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is a brilliant wine...that comes from a magical terroir on the upper plateau, just outside of Saint-Émilion. This is pure limestone soils, and the wine shows it with its fresh, vibrant style as well as incredibly minerality. Vivid cassis, graphite, white flowers, and spice characteristics all flow to a medium to full-bodied, pure, incredibly elegant wine that shows the new style of this estate beautifully. It’s not for those seeking overt power and opulence, but it builds incrementally on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins and a great finish. It’s as classy as it gets. Give bottles 4-6 years of bottle age, and it will keep for 2-3 decades. 95-97 points" Jebdunnuck.com

"Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with bold, expressive notions of stewed plums, blackberry pie and Black Forest cake with nuances of menthol, mocha, molten licorice and wild sage plus a waft of lavender. Full-bodied, the palate is laden with latent energy, offering slow-releasing glimpses at dark, seductive berry preserves layers and vibrant earthy accents, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. 95-97 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com

£552 per dozen bottles in bond (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)

2018 Château Beaumont, Cru Bourgeois Haut Médoc

45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot.  Very intense, open and approachable on the nose with gentle new oak aromas and red and blackcurrant fruits.  Very fine, velvet tannins which frame the deep, blackcurrant and plum fruits on the palate.  Possibly the much vaunted quality of the Merlot in this vintage is super-charging the blend this year, but still balanced by the assertive tannins.  So balanced and lively, a delight to taste. RKL

"Firm, deep and well extracted, this is a rich purple colour with sweet blackberry fruits on the nose along with some gentle spicing. It's an elegant and extremely classic Médoc wine. The tannins are already smooth and starting to integrate with the fruits. The quality bodes well for the medium-priced wines in this vintage. One of the value picks of the Médoc. Drinking Window 2023 - 2035.  91 points." Jane Anson, Decanter April 2019. 

£105 per dozen bottles; £120 per 6 magnums in bond

2018 Château Beychevelle, St-Julien Grand Cru Classé

Really opulent black fruits but also some fine herb and crushed rock minerality on the nose.  Very fine chalky tannins, leading to intense, succulent blackcurrant and cherry fruits.  Exceptionally long with a good balance of freshness and concentration. RKL

"The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Beychevelle wafts sensuously from the glass with fragrant Black Forest cake, potpourri, star anise and black tea scents over a core of black raspberries, warm blackcurrants and kirsch with touches of fallen leaves and lavender. Full-bodied and packed with fragrant red and black fruit layers, it has a firm, velvety texture and fantastic freshness lifting the very long, perfumed finish. Beautiful! ...94-96+ points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com

"This ultra-pure, refined, gorgeously layered Beychevelle offers terrific notes of black cherries, blackberries, cassis, violets, and damp earth. Deep, concentrated, and layered on the palate, it has a thrilling sense of purity and elegance as well as building structure. ...Hats off to director Romain Ducolomb for another brilliant wine that I suspect will surpass both the 2015 and 2016! 95-97+ points" Jebdunnuck.com

£718 per dozen bottles in bond (LAST FEW CASES)

2018 Château Branaire Ducru, Grand Cru Classé St-Julien

Classic Branaire on the nose and typically tightly-furled at this stage; however, pretty, supple fruit on entry, red fruits and wonderful balance. Plenty of tannins appear mid-palate but these are more than matched by the depth of rich, dark fruit. Very fine, great length. RKL

"This is a fantastic Branaire with deep and dark fruit, such as blackberries and blackcurrants. Lots of raspberries, too. Full-bodied with firm and creamy tannins and a super long finish. We will see if it’s better than 2016, but on its way. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com

£462 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Capbern, St Estèphe Cru Bourgeois

Wonderful intensity on the nose with red and black fruit, broad and ripe on the palate. Fresh acidity, very fine tannins and a long finish. RKL

"62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. pH 3.75, 60% new oak. Barrel sample. Deepest purple. Dark and stony, lovely slaty nose. Firm, chalky, dense and still with lovely freshness. Not the same richness as the 2009 but with great purity and definition. More serious, less seduction. Long and great structure. So pure in its dark cassis fruit. Cool with a touch of liquorice on the finish. 14.6%. Drink 2023-2029. 17 points" jancisrobinson.com (JH)

"Deep purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with vibrant scents of black raspberries, kirsch and fresh blackcurrants with nuances of cedar chest, pencil lead and forest floor plus a waft of lavender. Full-bodied, rich and packed with juicy fruit, it has a firm line of grainy tannins and loads of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift. 91-93 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com

" A fresh and firm Capbern with lots of dark berries, chocolate and hints of hazelnuts. Medium to full body and dense, lightly chewy tannins. Mineral undertone. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com

£190 per dozen bottles in bond (LAST FEW CASES)

2018 Château La Chenade, Lalande de Pomerol

Seemingly riper on the nose with lovely, leafy Cab Franc notes in evidence. Sweeter on entry than the Saintayme with delicious red fruit flavours combining with the darker, plummy fruits. Elegant and very long. RKL

"This is super fresh and juicy - an easy wine to recommend. It’s full of well-ripened autumnal fruits and is in fact pretty concentrated in terms of flavours – a wine that shows just how fully the grapes ripened on gravel soils in 2018 and yet maintains its floral aromatics and sense of easy elegance. 30% new oak was used. A yield of 40hl/ha. Drinking Window 2024-2038. 92 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine

"This is really delicious and fresh with lovely dark berries and purity at the same time. Medium body, fine tannins and a lovely finish. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com

£145 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac Cru Classé

Unexpectedly supple with baked fruits, spices and complex floral notes on the nose leading to very fine fruit purity on the palate which asserts itself over the tannins.  Plenty of power but the overall impression is of elegance.  A prime example of the 18s being both forward and for long ageing, a great surprise and a great success.  RKL

"Very generous and dense with layers of gorgeous blackberries and blueberries. Full-bodied and so layered with fantastic tannin backbone at the same time. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com

"The progression of this property continues to be evident in the glass with a beautiful classicism, full of life and layers comprising dark spice and touches of black pepper against blueberry and cool fruits, pumped up by black chocolate and liquorice. It’s confident and clearly has a fierce quality to the tannins giving a long life ahead of it. The harvest started on September 17, one week later than Mouton because of its cooler terroir, with the blend completed by 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmanère.... Drinking Window 2026-2040. 96 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine

£730 per dozen bottles in bond (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)

2018 Château Duhart-Milon, Pauillac Cru Classé

Mineral and graphite (pencil lead) on the nose with sweet black fruits, tea and earth notes too.  Supple on the palate, black fruits and super-fine tannins, perfectly balanced, absolutely superb. RKL

"Black core with barely a rim. So wonderfully scented, like the Clerc Milon. Blackcurrant tea, pure cassis, almost floral, but so pretty. Firm and dry but super-refined on the palate, dry tannic finesse. Finely balanced for the long term. Dark and savoury and full of such refined elegance and dark finesse. A beauty. 17.5 points." (JH) Jancisrobinson.com April 2019

“The 2018 Duhart-Milon is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, with the Cabernet Sauvignon harvested September 25 to October 4 and the Merlot harvested September 17-25, and it has 14% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with exuberant notes of Black Forest cake, plum preserves and crème de cassis with hints of spice cake, woodsmoke, potpourri and eucalyptus. Full-bodied, rich and laden with layers of black fruit preserves and spices, it has a velvety texture and just enough freshness, finishing long. Very impressive--the densest, most opulent Duhart I have tasted! 93-95 points.”  Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, April 2019

“Beautiful black currants, smoked earth, chocolate, and damp earth notes flow to a medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant Duhart-Milon that has ultra-fine tannins, a weightless texture, terrific balance, and a great finish. Seemingly all about finesse and elegance, it builds nicely on the palate and has a great finish. It should match or exceed the brilliant 2009.  94-96 points."  Jeb Dunnuck, May 2019

“This is a very powerful Duhart with blackcurrant and blackberry character. Lots of graphite and black tea. Full-bodied and muscular with lots of formed muscles and great length. Could be best ever?  95-96 points.”  James Suckling, April 2019

£650 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Enclos Tourmaline, Pomerol

"Wow. The purity of fruit in this wine is stupendous with crushed raspberries and blackberries. Full-bodied, very layered and gorgeous with superbly fine yet forceful tannins and a driven finish. A triumph. Pure-merlot magic here.  97-98 points."  James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2019

"From a miniscule one-hectare parcel right across from Clinet, on the upper plateau of Pomerol, the 2018 Enclos Tourmaline is a blockbuster in the making, and I suspect it’s going to give the 2016 a run for its money. Checking in as a 100% Merlot raised in new oak, which hit 14.7% natural alcohol, this inky color blockbuster boasts a massive bouquet of black fruits, smoke herbs, chocolate, and damp earth. It shows a more floral edge with time in the glass and it’s full-bodied, concentrated, and plush on the palate, with sweet tannins. It’s certainly one of the sexiest wines in this terrific vintage. Hats off to vineyard manager and winemaker Jérôme Aguirre as well as consultant Michel Rolland for another brilliant wine in the making. Tasted twice.  96-99 points."  jebdunnuck.com

£309 per case of 3 bottles in bond (LAST FEW CASES)

2018 Château Gloria, St-Julien

Mid-way between the concentrated expression of Leoville-Poyferre and the austerity of Talbot. Very finely balanced, with fine chalky tannins, hedgerow fruits with no hint of over-extraction, perfectly judged in 2018 by the look of this cask sample.  RKL

"Gloria is fast becoming one of the most exciting insider wines of the entire Bordeaux region, and that rare species of a non-classified St-Julien. The fruit here is brambly, textured and autumnal, and again the alcohol seems generous but balanced, with plenty of St-Julien finesse. It has a feeling of not needing to go too far to convince anyone. This is some austerity here but there's a bounce to the tannins through the mid-palate, while the alcohol is clearly there but not dominant, helped I would expect by relatively generous yields of 46hl/ha. Very good quality.  Drinking Window 2027 - 2040.  93 points."  Jane Anson, Decanter April 2019.

"The 2018 Gloria is deep garnet-purple colored and gives up expressive notions of warm red and black currants, black cherries and boysenberries with hints of spice cake, cedar chest, pencil lead and menthol. Full-bodied with a firm texture of ripe, grainy tannins, it has a lively line cutting through the dense, savory layers, finishing on a lingering spicy note. The blend is currently 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated aging is for 14 months in oak barriques, 40% new.  92-94 points."  Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate April 2019

£347 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Les Gravières, St Emilion Grand Cru

"A sleeper in this vintage, the 2018 Les Gravières (100% Merlot) is a very pretty and expressive Saint-Émilion. Freshly cut flowers, rose petal, mint and sweet red berry fruit are beautifully lifted in this very understated Saint-Émilion. Medium in body, refined and supremely gracious, the 2018 has a lot to offer. This is such a gorgeous wine. 91-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com

"This estate hit a home run in the vintage. Their 2018 Château Les Gravières (100% Merlot) reveals a saturated purple color as well as a massive bouquet of crème de cassis, black raspberries, lead pencil shavings, and flowery incense. Inky colored, full-bodied, incredibly pure, and layered on the palate, it has polished tannins and delivers a rare mix of elegance and hedonism. It’s a serious Merlot to drink over the coming 15 years, if not longer. Tasted twice. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com

"Made from 100% Merlot, the 2018 Les Gravieres is deep garnet-purple and rocks up with gregarious blueberry pie, chocolate-covered cherries and plum preserves scents with nuances of violets, spice cake and mocha. Big, full and decadently fruited, it has a firm frame of super ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and layered. 94-96 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com

£165 per dozen bottles in bond (VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY)

2018 Château Haut-Bages Libéral, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac

Tremendous intensity, quite hard on initial tasting but returning to it the depth of fruit becomes apparent, hedgerow freshness to the fruit suggesting another property which has succeeded in making a fresh, lively wine in this vintage.  RKL.

"A fantastic wine with lovely depth of ripe fruit and transparency and beauty. Full bodied. Succulent and rich tannins to the gorgeous fruit. From biodynamically grown grapes.  96-97 points." James Suckling, jamessuckling.com April 2019

£365 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Haut Batailley, Pauillac 5ème Cru Classé

Intense black cherry and cassis on the nose, open and generous, with some cocoa bean notes too.  Beautifully supple tannins, immediately likeable, some mineral in evidence notes too. RKL

“...deep purple-black in color and takes some coaxing to reveal profound notes of dark chocolate, crème de cassis, blueberry pie and anise with waves of raspberry pie, lavender and Indian spices. Full, very tightly would and jam-packed with layers of crunchy black and blue fruits, it has a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long with a mineral hint coming through. 92-94 points.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, April 2019

“It's an attractive, elegantly styled wine that has lots of juicy Merlot notes of black cherries, graphite, scorched earth, and spice. Rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and with terrific purity on the palate, this brilliant Pauillac is going to be approachable in just a few years and will evolve gracefully...My money is on it being one of the best to date from this estate.   93-95+ points.”  Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, May 2019

£520 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Lafon-Rochet, St-Estèphe Cru Classé

Lots of freshness, energy and life here.  Supple and forward, the blackcurrant and cassis fruit is very accessible, but under-pinned by a great structure. RKL

"I presume Basile Tesseron is feeling pretty relieved that he decided not to continue with organics in February 2018, as the ability to be more flexible with treatments proved pretty important during the rest of the season. The result is very good, full of juice and life, with crunchy blackberry and cassis fruits that are up there in expression with the 2016. It has clear quality, but is also pretty austere, with good slate minerality and touches of hedgerow. It feels like a wine with good life ahead and something to say. 4% Cabernet Franc makes up the blend. Harvested 24 September to 11 October. 3.7pH. Drinking Window 2026 - 2038. 94 points." Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2019

A wine of lovely finesse the 2018 Lafon-Rochet offers a striking combination of fruit density and nuance, all in an understated style that is quite appealing. Dark cherry, sweet tobacco, menthol, dried flowers and mint all run through this silky, supple Saint-Estèphe. As always, Lafon-Rochet is one of the more laid back, elegant wines of the appellation. Even so, the 2018 has lovely mid-palate sweetness and silky tannins, both of which add to its considerable appeal. The blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Yields were a healthy 50 hectoliters per hectare, higher than the average, which is closer to 42-45.  92-95 points."  Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, May 2019

£384 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Lagrange, St Julien Grand Cru Classé

Dense on the nose but the dark black cassis fruit is evident, in massive concentration without giving the impression of being over-extracted.   Lots of spicy intensity on the palate too, whilst still being balanced.  A bit of a bruiser...in a good way.  Given time this should be a very impressive Lagrange indeed.  RKL

"The 2018 Lagrange is off the charts. Bold, plush and beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2018 possesses tremendous richness and textural intensity. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, espresso, mint and licorice build in a racy, sumptuous Lagrange loaded with personality. The 2018 is one of the best recent vintages I have tasted. Tasted two times. 92-95 points."  Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com April

"This rivals the 2016 for sure, although the sense of gravity is perhaps just a little less effortless as it was in that incredible vintage.  It's closed in and tight on the nose with slightly reductive notes, but it opens up after a few minutes to reveal another good quality St-Julien. A serious wine, it has well structured walls and a moat around the cassis fruit. It's not quite at the level of 2010 but is halfway there, making you stop and think before its gentle power takes over.  Drinking Window 2027 - 2040.  94 points."  Jane Anson, Decanter April 2019.

£420 per case of 12 bottles in bond

2018 Château Larcis Ducasse, Saint Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé

"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Larcis Ducasse features wonderfully expressive scents of baked black and red plums, kirsch, rose hip tea and cigar box with hints of pencil shavings, baked redcurrants and truffles plus a waft of licorice. Full-bodied and beautifully nuanced on the palate, it has layer upon layer of red and black fruit preserves with beautiful, velvety tannins and loads of freshness, finishing long and perfumed. 96-98 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com

"This is very structured and powerful with bright and electric acidity and fine-grained yet muscular tannins. Full-bodied yet compact and focused. Greatly formed. Flexing. Thoughtful. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com

£594 per dozen bottles in bond (LAST FEW CASES)

2018 Château Laroque, St-Émilion, Grand Cru Classé

"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Laroque is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal fragrant black cherries, wild blueberries and blackberry preserves scents with hints of crushed rocks, underbrush and violets plus a waft of Marmite toast. Full-bodied and jam-packed with bright, crunchy black and blue fruits, it has a firm line of ripe, fine-grained tannins and loads of freshness, finishing very long and layered. Impressive! Being aged in oak barriques, 50% new, the blend is 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. 95-97 points." Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com

£210 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Lilian Ladouys, Cru Bourgeois St-Estèphe

Soft and mouthfilling on entry, full-bodied with lip-smacking dark fruit and a long, fresh finish. This has the potential to be extremely good value for money. RKL

"A perennial over-achiever, the 2018 Château Lilian Ladouys doesn’t disappoint and offers classic notes of black and blue fruits, damp earth, violets, and a touch of minerality. Made from 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot aging in 35% new French oak, this medium to full-bodied 2018 has beautiful purity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s going to be a brilliant value. 91-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com

"Very pretty blueberries and light wet earth with minerals and lavender. Medium to full body and firm tannins. Lots of of stone character. This has almost 60 per cent cabernet sauvignon in the blend now (50 per cent more), which gives it real line and length. Racy. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com

£180 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Marquis de Calon, St-Estèphe 2nd wine Calon Ségur

53% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright, bright raspberry and plum fruit aromas on the nose, but with unexpected structure and fine tannins on the palate.  The nose is a promise of things to come on the palate, a brilliant second wine.   RKL

"Deep purple-black in color, it gives up opulent scents of Indian spices, menthol and plum preserves with a core of crème de cassis, baked cherries and raspberry pie plus a hint of sandalwood. Big, rich, full-bodied and voluptuously fruited in the mouth, it has bags of black fruit preserves and exotic spices with a firm, plush frame, finishing long with a minty lift. Definitely one for the hedonists! 92-94 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com

"Another second wine from this brilliant vintage that tastes more like a grand vin, the 2018 Le Marquis de Calon Segur offers a full-bodied, ripe, incredibly sexy profile that carries terrific amounts of currants, plums, graphite, and leafy herb-like aromas and flavors...a head turner that’s going to drink spectacularly well right out of the gate. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com

£237 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Meyney, Cru Bourgeois St-Estèphe

This has the power of recent vintages but with an added meaty, savoury character, serious in intent.  No lack of freshness, plenty of energy and some mineral notes, with very fine tannic structure.  RKL

"It's clear that this is hugely concentrated, as is the Montrose right next door, but there's also beautiful juice and freshness underneath the black fruits and the powerful grip. Tannins, acidity and fruit: it's all there. This is great quality and should be long-lived, with a rich palate, evenly balanced and austere in all the right places. Another good vintage at this increasingly impressive property. Drinking Window 2024-2040. 94 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine

"A very dense yet tight and focused red with blackcurrants, blackberries and hints of spices and walnuts. Full-bodied, very compact and long. Intense finish. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com

£244 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Ormes de Pez, Cru Bourgeois St-Estèphe

Cabernet Sauvignon 41% Merlot 50% Petit Verdot 2% and Cabernet Franc 7%. Bramble fruit on the nose and palate, with the power here coming from a very fine structure, rather than any over-concentration.  Savoury, herb and black tea notes on the nose too, then deep black fruits at the core on the palate, will develop beautifully.  RKL

"This has the luxurious kick of the Lynch Bages stable and is brilliant value for this level of quality. It seems to manage this every vintage and is just such a brilliant drinking wine. 2018 is another excellent year here, with deep fruitfulness of brambled hedgerow alongside liquorice and woodsmoke. It has a polyphenol index of 84IPT, so this is full of tannins but they don't feel overpowering. Tasted several times and always striking. Drinking Window 2024 - 2036.  93 points."  Jane Anson, Decanter, April 2019.

"This is very dense and lively with blueberry and blackberry character. Lots of purple fruit at the end. Full body and powerful tannins. Spicy undertones with hints of black tea.  93-94 points." James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com, April 2019

£250 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Pavie Decesse, Saint Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé

Hugely intense but very fresh on the palate, rich and very ripe but with great balance and controlled tannins.  Limestone freshness on the finish giving length and reinforcing the impression of energy, remarkable against such concentration.  RKL

"Grapes for this wine come from the plateau and were harvested October 3 with yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare. Composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc with a pH of 3.57 and 14.52% alcohol, the 2018 Pavie Decesse is deep purple-black in color and strides confidently out of the glass with a very serious nose of crushed blackberries, warm black plums, mulberries and cassis plus touches of camphor, lavender, black olives and crushed rocks with a waft of woodsmoke. Full-bodied and laden with taut, muscular black fruit and loads of mineral accents, it has a firm structure of super ripe, finely grained tannins and amazing freshness, finishing very long and very layered. 96-98 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com

"Powerful young red with blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, very strong and concentrated with great length and minerality at the end. Finesse with power. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com

"All from the upper plateau and incredible limestone soils, the 2018 Château Pavie Decesse is a crazy good wine that's going to flirt with perfection. Black raspberries, cassis, crushed stone, exotic flowers, and an incredible salinity all give way to a full-bodied, concentrated yet elegant wine that just glides over the palate. Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it’s going to require 4-6 years of bottle age, but it’s one of the great wines of the vintage. 97-100 points" Jebdunnuck.com

£540 per case of 6 bottles in bond (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)

2018 Château Potensac, Médoc

"Dense on the nose and palate, some cedary oak notes, with a very fine tannic structure hinting at the old austere style of Potensac, but complimented by lots of bright damson plum fruits, presumably from the increasing proportion of Merlot in the blend. Has the structure to age but that fruit will likely make it accessible quite early too.  RKL

"The excellence of this lies in the quality of the tannins, which are so polished and refined. Compact and tight. Medium-bodied. Very, very long. Beauty already. 93-94 points."  James Suckling, jamessuckling.com April 2019

£216 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Rouget, Pomerol

“Deeply colored, the 2018 Château Rouget is another impressive Pomerol, which is a region loaded with impressive wines in 2018. Cassis, black raspberries, white chocolate, and a touch of spicy wood all flow to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully layered, expansive 2018 that has top-notch mid-palate depth, notable purity of fruit, and silky tannins. Give bottles 2-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 10-15.  91-93 points.”  Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, May 2019

“The 2018 Rouget is plush, flamboyant and exotically beautiful. Super ripe black cherry, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves are all amped up. Sumptuous fruit and silky, polished tannins add to its considerable appeal. Although not especially subtle, Rouget is very beautiful in 2018. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy big, rich wines. This full-throttle Pomerol is a real star in 2018. Tasted three times.   91-94 points.”   Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, May 2019

“This young wine really sings with a level of purity and precision that I’ve never seen from here. Medium to full body, ultra fine tannins and beautiful red-berry and floral character at the end. 96-97 points.”  James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2019

£420 per case of 12 bottles in bond

2018 Château Saintayme, St-Emilion Grand Cru

After a beautifully pure Merlot nose the palate is structured and ripe but quite austere at the moment. Long on the finish and medium-bodied, this should be an elegant and very fine iteration of this super-value St Emilion. RKL

"Vibrant ruby in colour, this is a touch austere right now, subdued but rippling with potential. The plump and glossy fruits are good quality and the palate is well structured, with clear lift on the finish. It may be holding back right now but it has a long life ahead. 30% new oak. Harvested between 29 September and 9 October. 3.7pH. Drinking Window 2025-2038. 91 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine

"This is very perfumed with a firm and solid, stony tannin structure. Lovely, linear line through this. Full and tight at the same time. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com

£135 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Saint-Pierre, St-Julien Cru Classé

Intense dark black fruits on the nose and palate, open and enjoyable, evidently the fruit extraction has been carefully controlled. Powerful structure, this vintage makes St Pierre one to watch in future years.  RKL

"A St-Julien name that I can't recommend highly enough, Château Saint-Pierre 2018 is extremely architectural in feel, a beautiful, confident, masculine, muscled wine with vertical walls - although it's interesting to note it has slightly lower alcohol than some other St-Juliens. It's intense in its black fruit and charcoal character, rippling with tannins. I am full of admiration for this impressive wine that demands your attention.  Drinking Window 2027 - 2040.  95 points."  Jane Anson, Decanter April 2019

£506 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Médoc

"A beautiful rich damson colour, this is powerful, intense, classic Sociando - and for me it's even better than the 2016. It has good tannins, and lots of them, with a core of plum, damson and cassis with a side of fresh herbs, liquorice and subtle spice. It shows great persistency. A wine to look out for.  Drinking Window 2024 - 2038.  94 points."  Jane Anson, Decanter.com April 2019.

"There is fantastic purity of black fruit with blackberries and ripe raspberries. Floral and bright. Full-bodied, compact palate with super polished tannins. Really fantastic.  94-95 points."  James Suckling, jamessuckling.com April 2019.

£300 per dozen bottles in bond

2018 Château Tour St Christophe, St-Emilion Grand Cru

"Blueberry and blackberry character with hints of white pepper and chalk. Salty, too. Full-bodied, tight and polished with fantastic texture and length. Very closed and tight with gorgeous tannin quality.  96-97 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2019

£260 per 12 bottles in bond