As the latest En Primeur campaign draws to a close, we have highlighted our our favourite wines from rising stars and cellar fillers, to long-term drinkers as well as investment grade wines. Please click on each wine for further information, including full tasting notes and scores, as well as the option to purchase a case or two for the cellar.
Wine Critic key:
JS - James Suckling
JR - Jancis Robinson MW
NM - Neal Martin (Vinous)
AG - Antonio Galloni (Vinous)
JA - Jane Anson (Decanter)
LPB - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (Wine Advocate)
RECOMMENDED WHITE
Clos des Lunes d’Argent 2020 | £50 IB (6x75cl)
Under the same ownership as Domaine de Chevalier with a vineyard that neighbours the iconic Château d’Yquem. An excellent dry white made by Olivier Bernard from 70% Semilion and 30% Sauvignon. 92-93 JS.
STAR BUY SAUTERNE
Château Doisy-Daëne, Sauternes 2020 | £144 IB (6x75cl)
If we had to choose just one Sauternes from 2020 then this is it... exceptional! 95-97 NM / 96 JA.
CELLAR FILLERS
Château Beaumont, Médoc 2020 | £103.30 IB (12x75cl)
Probably one of the best barrels samples we've ever tasted – superb.
Château Caronne Ste Gemme, Médoc 2020 | £108 IB (12x75cl)
Top performing Cru Bourgeois, and a firm customer favourite.
Château Cissac, Médoc 2020 | £102 IB (12x75cl)
Always a good buy, especially in vintages like 2020 – easily worth £20+ when fully mature.
RISING STARS
Château Lilian Ladouys, St Estèphe 2020 | £148 IB (12x75cl)
Under the same ownership as Château d’Issan (Margaux) and Château Pédesclaux (Pauillac) - a steal at this price.
Château Meyney, St Estèphe 2020 | £240 IB (12x75cl)
A hidden gem that is often mistaken for it’s neighbour, Château Montrose, in recent blind tastings.
Château Corbin, St Émilion Grand Cru 2020 | £137.50 IB (6x75cl)
One of our finds of the campaign. It's like a mini Château Canon... a glorious wine that we tasted it against Château Canon itself; less fire power, yet still on target!
Château Labégorce, Margaux 2020 | £230 IB (12x75cl)
The estate has undergone serious investment and development since 2010 - stunning value.
Château Cantenac Brown, Margaux 2020 | £412 IB (12x75cl)
A property on the "fast track" to stardom.
Château d’Issan, Margaux 2020 | £254 IB (6x75cl)
Incredible finesse and purity - we believe one of the best in the appellation!
Château Haut-Bages Liberal, Pauillac 2020 | £318 IB (12x75cl)
Quality has increased greatly over the last couple of years and is our smart buy Pauillac - everyone we have spoken to in Bordeaux says it's brilliant!
Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac Leognan 2020 | £225 IB (12x75cl)
Outstanding second wine from Smith Haut Lafitte, beating many properties' Grand Vin.
Château Rouget, Pomerol 2020 | £390 IB (12x75cl)
Personally, I buy this every year for the cellar - superb value Pomerol at this price.
MÉDOC /MOULIS-EN-MÉDOC
Château La Lagune, Médoc 2020 | £310 IB (12x75cl)
Traditional Claret from this Classified 3rd Growth estate. 93-94 JS / 92-94 LPB .
Château Chasse Spleen, Moulis 2020 | £235 IB (12x75cl)
Best since 2016 and back to top form like during the 1980s. 94-95 JS.
Château Cantemerle, Médoc 2020 | £210 IB (12x75cl)
A serious Cantemerle – simply outstanding. 93-94 JS
Château Sociando-Mallet, Médoc 2020 | £275 IB (12x75cl)
An estate is known for producing Classified Growth quality wine at a fraction of the price. 93-94 JS / 92-94 NM.
Château Potensac, Médoc 2020 | £195 IB (12x75cl)
One of the leading estates in the Médoc that is under the same ownership as Château Léoville Las Cases. 90-92 NM.
ST. ESTÈPHE
Château Lafon-Rochet, St. Estèphe 2020 | £325 IB (12x75cl)
Impressive investment in recent years, both in the vineyard and cellar, has allowed Basile Tesseron to craft of the finest wines in the estate's history. Serious stuff and neighbour to Château Cos d’Estournel. 93-94 JS.
Château Beau-Site, St. Estèphe 2020 | £162 IB (12x75cl)
A real bargain and easily worth £30+ per bottle. Owned by the Castéja Family (Château Batailley, Pauillac). 91-92 JS.
Château Les Ormes de Pez, St. Estèphe 2020 | £225 IB (12x75cl)
We call it the "baby brother" of Château Lynch Bages as its also owned by the Cazes family and its been a constant customer favourite in recent years. 93 JA.
Château Phélan-Ségur, St. Estèphe 2020 | £368 IB (12x75cl)
Our HOT TIP to be the next Château Calon Ségur (£900 IB per case). OUTSTANDING. 95-96 JS.
Marquis de Calon Ségur, St. Estèphe 2020 | £230 IB (12x75cl)
Second wine from Château Calon Ségur - always a smart buy.
PAUILLAC
Château Batailley, Pauillac 2020 | £337 IB (12x75cl)
Without a doubt one of the most classic Pauillac estates, you'd be simply hard-pushed to find better value for money from a Classified Growth property! 93-95 NM.
Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac 2020 | £318 IB (12x75cl)
We've been following this estate for 15 years and believe it's always one of Pauillac's best buys. Well-situated near Châteaux Pontet-Canet and Mouton Rothschild. 95-96 JS.
Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac 2020 | £396 IB (12x75cl)
A classic, yet charming Pauillac from the Mouton Rothschild stable. Serious stuff. 93-94 JS.
Château Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac 2020 | £608 (12x75cl)
Benchmark Pauillac that produces excellent wines at a fraction of the price of its more well-known neighbours Châteaux Pontet-Canet and Lynch Bages. 96-97 JS / 95-97 NM.
Lacoste-Borie, Pauillac 2020 | £224 IB (12x75cl)
Second wine of Château Grand Puy Lacoste and our "go to" entry level Pauillac.
Château Duhart Milon, Pauillac 2020 | £684 IB (12x75cl)
Château Lafite stable wine. One of the best vintages that I have tasted from the barrel. 95-96 JS.
ST. JULIEN
Chateau Branaire-Ducru, St. Julien 2020 | £186 IB (6x75cl)
Located next door to Beychevelle in the heart of St. Julien, its an estate that somewhat flies under the radar and we believe offers excellent value for money (in similar manner as Château Batailley in Pauillac.) 92-94 NM.
Chateau Lagrange, St. Julien 2020 | £425 IB (12x75cl)
Smallest harvest in 30 years for the estate, and whilst yields are low, quality is high. Better than 2018 and 2019 for me! 94-96 LPB / 93-95 NM.
Fiefs de Lagrange, St. Julien 2020 | £205 IB (12x75cl)
Second wine of Château Lagrange and a great value St. Julien. 92-93 JS.
Chateau Gloria, St. Julien 2020 | £159 IB (6x75cl)
Sister estate to Château Saint-Pierre (Famille Martin ownership), and vineyards border Châteaux Lagrange and Talbot. 94-95 JS / 93-95 NM.
Chateau Saint Pierre, St. Julien 2020 | £231 IB (6x75cl)
An estate that has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and gives its neighbours Châteaux Gruaud-Larose and Ducru Beaucaillou a run for their money! 94-96 LPB.
Sarget de Gruaud-Larose, St. Julien 2020 | £218 IB (12x75cl)
Second wine of Château Gruaud-Larose and a star buy from St. Julien. 90 JA.
MARGAUX
Chateau Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux 2020 | £295 IB (12x75cl)
An up and coming Margaux estate. 95-96 JS / 93 JA.
Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux 2020 | £303 IB (6x75cl)
Not Château Palmer's second wine as its made from dedicated plots and is a different cuvée to the Grand Vin. 93-95 NM.
Marquis D’Alesme, Margaux 2020 | £160 IB (6x75cl)
A property to watch that is under the same ownership as Château Labégorce.
Blason d’Issan, Margaux 2020 | £94 IB (6x75cl)
Second wine of Château d'Issan. 93-94 JS/ 92 JA.
PESSAC-LÉOGNAN
Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan 2020 | £565 IB (12x75cl)
Top selling Pessac-Léognan and as Vinous' Antonio Galloni states it "remains one of the most under the radar wines in all of Bordeaux. 2020 is an absolutely brilliant effort from Olivier Bernard and his team" 95-97 JS.
Château Pape Clément Rouge, Pessac-Léognan 2020 | £376 IB (6x75cl)
Highly rated Château from Bernard Magrez and is one of the best ever made. 97-98 JS / 96-98 LPB / 95-97 NM / 94 JA.
RIGHT BANK SATELLITES
Château Puygueraud, Côtes de Francs 2020 | £110 IB (12x75cl)
Nicolas Thienpont excellent value property – St Emilion styled with Medoc and Cab Franc GREAT VALUE BUY.
Château Roc de Cambes, Côtes de Bourg 2020 | £260 IB (6x75cl)
A mini Château Le Tertre Rotebeouf, almost as good at 1/3rd of the price - RECOMMENDED
Domaine de Cambes, Bordeaux 2020 | £185 IB (6x75cl)
Another Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf stable wine and a superb introduction into the wonderful Mitjavile world!
Château Montlandrie, Côtes de Bordeaux Castillon 2020 | £185 IB (12x75cl)
A hidden gem of an estate - part of the Château l'Église Clinet stable.
ST. ÉMILION
Château du Fonbel, St. Émilion Grand Cru 2020 | £83 IB (6x75cl)
Up and coming estate owned by the Vauthier family (proprietors of Château Ausone). 16/20 JR.
Château Saintayme, St. Émilion Grand Cru 2020 | £140 IB (12x75cl)
Consistently one of the best value for money wines from the appellation. 94-95 JS.
Croix Canon, St. Émilion Grand Cru 2020 | £288 IB (12x75cl)
Second wine of Château Canon and the first time it has been released En Primeur. 95-96 JS.
Château Tour Sainte Christophe, St. Émilion Grand Cru 2020 | £275 IB (12x75cl)
An estate on the up that has been producing exceptional wines since 2015. 95-96 JS.
Château Peymouton, St. Émilion Grand Cru 2020 | £145 IB (12x75cl)
Outstanding value St. Émilion - wonderful vibrancy and purity. 92-93 JS.
Petit Cantenac, St. Émilion Grand Cru 2020 | £195 IB (12x75cl)
Second wine from Château Clos Cantenac - superb value St. Émilion. 92 JA.
Château Clos Cantenac, St. Émilion Grand Cru 2020 | £325 IB (12x75cl)
A real gem by Martin Krajewski's and his daughter, Charlotte. It's making critics heads turn! 93 JA.
Château Trottevielle, St. Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2020 | £650 IB (12x75cl)
On the top plateaux situated near Château Troplong Mondot. Another serious St. Émilion. 98-99 JS.
Château Larcis-Ducasse, St. Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé 2020 | £330 IB (6x75cl)
A blockbuster wine located next door to Château Pavie (also owned by Nicolas Thienpont). 97-98 JS.
Château Le Tetre-Roteboeuf, St. Émilion Grand Cru 2020 | £790 IB (6x75cl)
Outstanding wine from the master that is M. François Mitjavile. Investment grade. 97-99 LPB.
Château Angélus, St. Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé 'A' 2020 | £1,524 IB (6x75cl)
Firmly in the investment camp with a whopping 98-100 score from Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (Wine Advocate).
POMEROL/LALANDE-DE-POMEROL
Château Lafleur-Gazin, Pomerol 2020 | £300 IB (12x75cl)
Stunning value Pomerol from JP Moeuix (owners of Châteaux La Fleur Pétrus and Hosanna). 90-92 AG.
Château L'Évangile, Pomerol 2020 | £1,100 IB (6x75cl)
Château Lafite stable - an incredible wine that actually outshone Lafite at our Waddesdon Manor tasting. Investment grade. 98-99 JS / 96-98+ LPB.
Château Les Cruzelles, Lalande-de-Pomerol 2020 | £215 IB (12x75cl)
Sadly allocations have been reduced 50% this year, yet still a great wine (Château l'Église Clinet stable). 94 JA / 92-93 JS.
Château La Chenade, Lalande-de-Pomerol 2020 | £160 IB (12x75cl)
Second wine of Château Les Cruzelles, where grapes are sourced from a specific 0.5-hectare plot. 91-93 NM / 91-92 JS.
For more information and advice on the Bordeaux 2020 En Primeur campaign, please do call me in the office on 01325 776446, where I would be more than happy to help.
