Bordeaux

Renowned for Semillon cultivated on gravel, aromas of white peach and pear and a hint of smoke define this Rahoul 2016. Cultivated on clay over a limestone subsoil in certain parcels on the estate, appealing Sauvignon blanc lends lingering aromas offering mineral character, freshness and length. This is a successful blend, largely due to rigorously monitored harvesting dates, which lend round, fresh character and length to this superb white wine terroir.

{***}
{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}White{color}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]James Suckling:: 92/100
[]Vinous Media:: 89/100 
[]Jancis Robinson:: 16/20
[]Robert Parker:: 89/100
{ratings}
{***}

70% Sauvignon, 30% Sémillon second wine of the famed Domaine de Chevalier, it is the selection of barrels which give this wine its richness and depth. Complex nose of lychee, lime flowers and white peaches the wine draws one in. The palate has great purity and length with a zingy acidity. Open to appreciation from a young age, Esprit is a wine of great elegance. Serve chilled. Perfect with seafood – also partners a leek tarte or crab mousse.

{***}
{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}White{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}
{***}

Deep and concentrated in appearance. Intense notes of black cherries, ripe fruits and spice define the wine on the bouquet. Generous on the attack, the silky wine coats the palate and reveals good structure. Delicately integrated oak, accompanies the savoury, lingering finish of this impressive, concentrated and fleshy Pey La Tour Réserve.

{***}
{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-improve{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{ratings}
[]James Suckling:: 92/100
[]Jancis Robinson:: 16/20
[]Robert Parker:: 88/100
{ratings}{***}

The 2013 G Acte 5 was pure joy from barrel and it does not let you down now in bottle. Here we have a lovely nose of red brambly fruit, red cherries and just a touch of vanilla. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, tensile tannin, tart red fruit with touches of chalk, just a little toughness on the finish but that should soften with another 12-18 months in bottle. Very fine, especially considering the vintage.

{***}
{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 90/100
{ratings}
{***}

Lustrous crimson. Sweet start; very charming. Perfumed. A real flirt and with very bright fruit.

{***}{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-improve{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2012{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Robert Parker:: 87/100
[]James Suckling:: 87-88/100
[]Jancis Robinson:: 16/20
{ratings}{***}

Very dark purple and lustrous. Certainly looks very appealing. Succulent fruit with a streak of iodine. Very polished and worked. Fine tannins on the finish. Just goes a little dead on the end. Hint of bitterness.

{***}{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-improve{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2012{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Wine Spectator:: 87-90/100                                                                                                                                                []Jancis Robinson:: 16/20 
[]Decanter:: 16.25/20
{ratings}{***}

This St.-Estèphe wine from the 2011 vintage has some freshly crushed cherry and damson plum notes, along with a lightly chalky frame on the finish, but it's a bit shy on stuffing and length in the end.

{***}{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-improve{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Wine Spectator:: 85-88/100                                                                                                                                                                                                                           []Decanter:: 16/20
{ratings}{***}

Deep in colour and tinged with garnet. Fruity aromas, enhanced by smoky nuances typical of these gravel soils, are echoed on the generous palate, with its full tannic structure. Good balance lasts through to the lovely finish.

{***}
{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2013{vintage}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]Wine Advocate::86-88/100                                                                                                                                                            []Tim Atkin::90/100
[]Robert Parker::86-88/100
{ratings}
{***}

Journalists and merchants are sometimes quick to generalise and tend to group wines under the banner of a vintage. Bordeaux, however, is a big place, composed of 57 appellations – driving from one side to another can take up to two hours. These generalisations therefore don’t reflect the unique site of the region’s 7,500 châteaux accurately. There is no denying that 2007 was a difficult vintage, but there are plenty of wines that were overlooked en primeur and are just starting to unveil their true potential. Ch. Pontet-Canet is one of these and the wine is now at its best, combining velvety fruit with an underlying maturity. It is just turning a corner and will provide delicious drinking now and over the next five years – and at a fraction of the price of a “big” vintage.

It is a heresy severe enough to get you excommunicated, but in our view Ch. Pontet-Canet is as good as the First Growths in 2007. Working the vineyards according to organic and even biodynamic principles, dryly humorous owner Alfred Tesseron has produced a 2007 with lovely pure black fruit, ripe but present tannins, a mouth-watering finish and arguably the finest quality fruit in the vintage: silky, luscious, blackberries and plums with oodles of minerals, coffee, cedar and tobacco. Since the outstanding 2004, Ch. Pontet-Canet has been a must-have wine every year; in 2007 this is truer than ever.

{***}
{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2007{vintage}
{ratings}
[]BBR:: 17.5/20[]The Wine Advocate:: 91/100          []Jancis Robinson:: 15.5/20   
{ratings}  {***}

Named after a `bataille' that was fought here between the French and English (who else) 600 years ago, Batailley has once again lived up to its reputation of offering good value, early drinking, quintessential Pauillac. Made from 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, its toasty, ripe plum and cedar nose leads on to a palate with vivid cassis and raspberry fruit, creamy vanilla oak and a lovely long finish. Tried, trusted and adored, Batailley has produced another sterling effort in 2007.

{***}
{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2007{vintage}
{ratings}
[]BBR:: 14.5/20                                                                                           []The Wine Advocate:: 89/100                                                                           []Jancis Robinson:: 17/20   
{ratings}
{***}

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Malartic-Lagravière has a well-defined bouquet with blackberry, blueberry and violet scents. I appreciate the control and precision on display here. The palate does not quite match the quality of the nose, although it still offers pleasure: blackberry and subtle spicy notes, quite steely in the mouth with a vivid but linear, black cherry and boysenberry finish. With time, hints of pencil lead evolve in the glass and become more prominent on the finish. Drink now and over the next decade. Drinking window: 2016-2026

{***}{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}laying-down{maturity}
{maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2006{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Wine Advocate:: 90/100
{ratings}{***}

Deriving its name from a battle fought here between the British and French six centuries ago, this popular wine has not disappointed its legion of fans in 2003. The wonderfully ripe Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) is softened by 28% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. A rich, fruity nose is followed by a palate with Batailley's characteristic weight and reassuringly dense, textured red and black fruit, creamy oak and a very long finish. Excellent value, as always.

{***}
{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2003{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Wine Advocate:: 91/100 
{ratings} {***}

The 1998 Calon-Ségur, blended of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, is deep garnet-purple in color with just a touch of brick and a very earthy/meaty nose with notions of new leather, smoked game, truffles, dusty soil, iron ore and mossy bark over a core of crème de cassis, preserved plums, spice cake and unsmoked cigars plus a waft of incense. The palate is medium-bodied and packed with spicy and earthy layers with velvety tannins, seamless freshness and great length. Give it 10 to 15+ more years.

{***}
{region}Bordeaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}1998{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Wine Advocate:: 93/100 
{ratings}
{***}