As the festive season fast approaches, nothing says Christmas to us like opening a great bottle of Claret with family and friends! We've hand-picked our top Red Bordeaux from classic Cru Bourgeois to great Growths. Sit back, pour a glass and enjoy...
Château Tour Saint Bonnet, Haut-Médoc 2014 | £13.99
Chateau Tour Saint Bonnet is based in Saint-Christoly in the northern Medoc region. It has been in the hands of the Lafon family since 1903, and is the largest property in the village with 40-hectares under vine, with an average age of 35 years planted on the best gravel soils. An excellent Medoc, which is always a customer favourite.
"Dark purple. Sweet start and some pretty jazzy oak. Very slightly less-than-fully ripe. Sinewy – more frame than flesh. But the finish is pretty impressive." Drink 2018-2023. 16/20 points. Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinon.com, March 2015
BUY NOW
Château Bel Air Gloria, Haut-Médoc 2016 | £15.99
Owned by Domaines Henri Martin (Châteaux Gloria and Saint-Pierre fame) since 1980, this is a wonderful 35-hectare estate situated in Cussac, on the edge of Saint-Julien Beychevelle. Geographically and stylistically its a combination of St. Julien (power and structure) and Margaux (elegance and finesse), and as we all know, 2016 is a superb vintage and this is a bright, vibrant and excellent quality Claret.
"Smoky with flavors of the wood aging, this wine is also rich and concentrated with firm tannins. Situated just inland from Saint-Julien and made by the owners of Château Gloria, the vineyard has produced a full wine with a serious structure and dark black fruitiness. Drink this ageworthy wine from 2024." 93/100 points. Roger Voss, winemag.com, April 2019
BUY NOW
Château du Glana, St. Julien 2011 | £22.00
Château du Glana can trace its history back to 1870, however, sadly in the middle of the 20th century it fell into delapidation. Gabriel Meffre (owner of Chateau Bellegrave in Pauillac), purchased the property in 1961 and completed renovations by 1968. We believe the property offers some of the best value, drinking St-Julien on the market.
"Captivating nose of blackberry and blackcurrant puree with added sweet toasted oak spice. Structured and poised on the mid-palate with great balance between ripe, fine tannins and a core of further dark black fruit, black pepper and cedar spice."
BUY NOW
Château Corbin, St. Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2014 | £29.99
An excellent property that we have been following for several years under the watchful eye of the fourth female generation with Annabelle Cruse-Bardinet. The estate is situated on the north-west section of the Corbin plateau and the subsoil is predominantly clay-based as opposed to the regular limestone, which crafts richer and more fuller bodied wines that its neighbours. My mini Château Canon!
"This is a gorgeous wine, it has wonderfully flexible tannins that are full of life. It has a lovely gourmet edge, with a touch of dark chocolate and lovely damson fruit, as well as great texture and complexity. A real wine to discover and savour, from a vintage that generally did better on the left bank." Drink 2022-2026. 92/100 points. Jane Anson
BUY NOW
Château Meyney, St. Estèphe 2012 | £33.99
Located in the heart of St. Estèphe, we believe this is a hidden gem property with 51-hectares of vines spread across 63 plots right next door to the Super Second Growth; Château Montrose... it has even been mistaken for Montrose in recene blind tastings! Despite not being classified, Jane Anson rightly points out it is 'always one of the real value picks in St. Estèphe', and we wholeheartedly agree and is one of our Médoc hidden gems.
"The 2012 Meyney is a deep, structured wine with a lot going on in the glass. The expressive bouquet alone is enticing, but all the elements simply come together effortlessly. The pliant fruit suggests the 2012 can be enjoyed young - and it can - but there is also more than enough depth to allow the wine to age gracefully for years. This is an impressive Saint-Estèphe, especially for the year. Drink 2018-2032." 91/100 points. Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, January 2016
BUY NOW
Château de Sales, Pomerol 2010 | £34.99
Chateau de Sales is owned by no less than 14 cousins and headed up by Henri and Marguerite de Lambert, and has strong claims to be the Bordeaux estate with the longest time in any one family's hand (since 1464!). Marine Treppoz is the President, and along with cousins Henri and Marguerite, represent the 25th generation at de Sales. Located in the far west Pomerol, with 47-hectares of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are almost all in one block on sandy soils, which has produced in the excellent 2010 vintage a supple, rounded and delicious Pomerol.
"Good medium ruby. Blackcurrant, violet and a dusty mineral note on the deep nose. Dense, lush and chewy, offering, pure, precise dark berry and floral flavors. Finishes broad, saline and very long, with a density of texture and a degree of fruit concentration that I have never before found in De Sales--and that I didn't even think was possible in view of this estate's very sandy soils. Without doubt the best wine ever made by owner Bruno de Lambert. Well done." 90/100 points. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, August 2013
BUY NOW
Château Langoa Barton, St. Julien 2011 | £52.99
Sister estate to the esteemed Second Growth, Château Léoville Barton. A well-respected Third Growth in its own right, Langoa Barton owns 18-hectares of prime vineyards planted on cool, gravel-clay soils like those of neighbouring Château Beychevelle. The estate is still run by Lilian Barton Sartorius and her children; Damien, and Mélanie, alongside consultant Eric Boissenot. Langoa Barton has improved dramatically in recent years to the point where we believe it is now producing wines of a similar quality level of its more famous sibling, yet a fraction of the price.
"Well placed black fruits, there is some austerity to the tannins and it is softer through the mid palate than you are going to find in this estate in more recent vintages, but it has a tomato leaf freshness and an appealing grilled cherry and woodsmoke aromatic that builds as it opens in the glass. Good stuff." Drink 2021-2038. 91/100 points. Jane Anson, decanter.com, February 2021
BUY NOW
Prices quoted are per bottle, by the case (6x75cl or 12x75cl) and include Duty & VAT.
Free delivery to UK mainland for orders over £200 retail. Standard delivery charged at £9.95 if order totals less.
