A big thank you to all our guests and to the Majestic staff who helped out – Ben from Chester, Hamish from Wilmslow, Rachel from Chapel Allerton and Jonathan from Harrogate. We’ll fill you in on all the details, especially the wines, on our return later today. If you have an idea for a corporate or private Fine Wine tasting or have any wine-event related questions our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be delighted to answer your questions and provide any advice you might require.

Adrian Heaven, Senior Wine Consultant

During an all-too-short holiday near to Saumur last year, I was lucky enough to be able to squeeze in a few winery visits with wine-brokers Charles and Philippa Sydney. Having lived near Chinon for the best part of twenty years, few know the vineyards and winemakers of this region better than this husband and wife duo – who themselves produce wines under the La Grille label which are frequent best-sellers at Majestic Wine.  Their boundless enthusiasm for the wines made here ignited my own interest in this vast and beautiful winemaking region and I am delighted to bring you our first Loire Valley offer in a number of years.  Amidst the somewhat challenging Bordeaux 2011 campaign, this offer provides a fantastic array of age-worthy wines across the two most recent vintages (2010 and 2011).

Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc thrive in the Loire like in no other region in the world, creating wines that range from crisp and refreshingly dry, rich and oak-influenced, to the hedonistically sweet.  In the hands of sensitive growers, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir also excel, producing fine infusions of raspberry and cherry fruit that can demand years in the cellar to show their true worth.  The one defining signature of all these wines is their backbone of acidity – or nervosité.  Loire wines have an unmistakable vibrancy that means many of them age remarkably well.  This is not only true for the moelleux wines of Vouvray, but also the best Sancerres and Chinons.  For wine-lovers and wine-collectors alike, there is much to tempt them here.

There is great value to be had across the range. However, I have managed to whittle-down my favourites which I have listed below.  Incidentally, all of the wines in this offer would be a fine addition to any cellar, so I hope you will discover something here that takes your interest.  For more information, please call our sales team on 01473 313300 who will be happy to help you.

Edwina Watson

Edwina’s Loire Picks

2010 Savennières Roche aux Moines, Domaine des Forges
£54 per case of 6 bottles in bond
This is a significant cuvée that displays all the power and complexity of the best Savennières with clear vineyard definition.  Hand-harvested in a series of ‘tries’ to ensure perfect levels of ripeness, the wine then undergoes partial malolactic fermentation in double-barriques which helps to add considerable body and richness; this is what the French would describe as ‘gras’.  Classic Chenin aromas of apples and lemons are accompanied by wonderful creamy oak on the nose.  The palate is very precise and round but with sharp, poised acidity and a unique toasty, nutty quality.  Elegant mineral notes combine with its great density to create a wine that is balanced and supremely impressive.  This is a truly exceptional dry Chenin that will provide much enjoyment in the mid-term. 

2010 Sancerre La Moussière Rouge, Domaine Alphonse Mellot
£102 per case of 6 bottles in bond
The warm and ripe nose of summer berries, raspberries, strawberries and rhubarb is elegantly held in place by perfectly balanced and sophisticated oak.  This enticing scent leads to a palate that is wonderfully concentrated with beautiful depth; pure, sweet red fruit and spice notes.  The tannins provide precision, grip and finesse which is supported by a backbone of vibrant and fresh acidity.  This is an extremely impressive Pinot Noir from the Loire that is both refined and eminently significant. 

2010 Chinon Les Charmes, Domaine Charles Joguet
£66 per case of 6 bottles in bond
This cuvée comes from old vines in the village of Anché which provide a dense aroma of plum, blackberry and red cherry alongside redcurrant and herbal, leafy notes encased in a pleasant background of oak.  The palate is firm, with grippy, well-integrated tannins which gives an impression of neatness supported by its bright acidity.  Strawberry and raspberry marry with a hint of violet to create a beautifully defined and lifted finish. 

With a bank holiday in France last week, yesterday saw a deluge of releases from some of the top names in Bordeaux. The wines came out so thick and fast that it was hard to keep track, so here is brief a summary of releases:

Léoville-Barton was one of our most anticipated releases, having produced a wine that is genuinely excellent and not far behind 2010 in terms of quality. The price at £480 per 12/75cl makes Léoville-Barton the best value Second Growth by a country mile.

Next up were the two Pichons, who have both produced wines of exceptional quality cementing their reputation as “super seconds”. I would be splitting hairs as to which I preferred, with Pichon Baron a more flamboyant and hedonistic style and Pichon Lalande a seriously classy archetypal Paulliac. Both these superstar Paulliacs were released at £378 per 6/75cl, pricing below 2008 current prices.

Rauzan Segla produced one of the wines of the vintage and certainly one of the best Margaux. We had Rauzan Segla rated just behind Château Palmer and Château Margaux, so at £297 per 6/75cl it is definitely worth considering.

Léoville-Poyferré are making some of the most modern and thrilling wines from the left bank and after receiving their first perfect Parker score in 2009, are continuing the good work in 2011. A large scaled and polished St-Julien that is in my opinion a much better wine than 2008 and is cheaper too.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste released at £398 per 12/75cl and was bang on this year. I absolutely loved 2011 GPL and hands down preferred it to Lynch Bages which is nearly twice the price. From the same stable comes Haut-Batailley, which I always find to be a reliable source of elegant and delicious claret and at £240 for 12/75cl it is very good value indeed.

Other releases included Réserve de la Comtesse at £237 per 12/75cl, Clos Fourtet at £267 per 6/75cl (a good wine but expensive) and Clerc Milon at £378 per 12/75cl. Composed by Al Luffingham

I cannot claim to have tasted Gaja very often, but I have had the chance to taste this vintage twice. Once in the office here and a second time at a seminar with Gaia Gaja (Angelo’s daughter). While the quality of the wines was immediately evident, passion is also infectious and being able to hear Gaia talk about the wines, the location, the region and her father’s vision, was undoubtedly inspirational. 

These are wines that wear their hearts on their vinous sleeves. From the fragrant attractive Barbaresco to the more masculine and austere Sori Tildin, these are wines that express their place, their vintage and their maker utterly.

 2008 Barbaresco
£498 per case of 6 bottles in bond
100% Nebbiolo. Gaia Gaja describes this as a demonstration of the art of blending, drawn as it is from 14 separate vineyard parcels. Pure on the nose, with notes of red cherries and wild strawberry. On the palate, this immediately shows great freshness, which enlivens fine, structural tannins and elegant, refined red fruit. Mouthwatering on the finish, very moreish.

 2008 Costa Russi
£1140 per case of 6 bottles in bond
With 5% Barbera included in the blend to add fragrance and colour, this again shows a pretty, floral nose. The palate shows delicate plum and cherry fruit, with hints of spice and blossom, framed by finely expressed tannins that give an almost-silky mouthfeel. Beautiful. 

2008 Sori San Lorenzo
£1140 per case of 6 bottles in bond
95% Nebbiolo, 5% Barbera. Compelling on the nose, with dark berry notes, bramble and a hint of coffee. More austere on the palate than the Costa Russi, yet showing layers of deep black fruits, vibrant acidity and quite structural tannins. In need of time to unwind, but already a beautifully elegant example of Nebbiolo.  

2008 Sori Tildin
£1140 per case of 6 bottles in bond
95% Nebbiolo, 5% Barbera. Black fruits are to the fore on the nose of this wine, with hints of graphite and woodsmoke. There is an immediate sense of freshness on the palate, balancing tannins that are quite bold in nature, but ripe and fine. Notes of minerals, graphite and leather overlay a core of dark berry fruit. Brooding, poised and showing huge potential.

Kat Wiggins  

The biggest names to have released are – at about half the price of the 2010 – first growth Château Margaux (and its second wine Pavillon Rouge, which has been selling out fast), “Flying Fifth” Lynch-Bages and candidate for Wine of the Vintage Château Palmer (along with its stunningly seductive second wine Alter Ego). It would be unfair, however, given the excellent effort produced by the team at Château Gloria, not to mention it as worthy of consideration – this was one of our favourites with regards to value for money and a very pretty St Julien indeed.

2011 Château Margaux, 1er Cru Margaux
£1900.00 per case of 6 bottles in bond

When asked whether the Château was having to change anything to compensate for climate change, Marie Descotis, who heads up the Château’s research and development department, explained that their terroir is proving to be perfect for the somewhat warmer and drier conditions over the last few years, allowing their Cabernet Sauvignon to flourish. The blend this year is made up of 86% of this Cabernet, 10% Merlot and the rest split between Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The resultant wine is the most concentrated they have ever produced, yet it is also incredibly poised and balanced. Dark berry fruits, notes of woodsmoke and spice come through on the nose. The palate is immediately fresh and pure, with a layered sense of fine tannin, depth and power. There is a graphite-like grip to the structure, a definite minerality and a core of cool-natured, classic fruit. Despite the concentration and density in the wine, the balance is such as to give it an almost approachable sensation. Beautiful rather than pretty, this is an elegant and refined wine that shows what could be achieved in 2011 with great terroir and a deft hand.
Drink 2021-2037

2011 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, Margaux
£475.00 per case of 6 bottles in bond

Headily aromatic on the nose, with notes reminiscent of black forest gâteau, a fragrance imparted by a higher proportion of Petit Verdot than usual. On the palate, there is delicious freshness and a lovely sense of purity to the fruit. The tannins are fine and well-integrated, giving structure to cassis and morello cherry fruit. This has a lot of density and power, which Marie Descotis attributes to the drought and the small size of the grapes as a result. She believes that this has never before been as close in style and quality to the grand vin.
Drink 2018-2027

2011 Château Lynch-Bages, Cru Classé Pauillac
£375.00 per case of 6 bottles in bond

A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and the rest split between Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Opulent on the nose, with notes of dark berries and pure cassis. On the palate, this shows a plush texture, driven by velvety-fine, but quite robust tannins. There is a substantial swathe of ripe fruit and a touch of sweet vanillin from 75% new oak barrels, giving this a rounded and pleasing mouthfeel. Intense and balanced, with good definition and concentration, this is another good effort from the Cazes stable.
Drink 2019-2035

2011 Château d’Issan, Cru Classé Margaux
£350.00 per case of 12 bottles in bond

Inviting on the nose, with aromas of blackcurrant leaf.  A winning combination of finely-grained tannins and freshening acidity combined with a good intensity of fruit at the core, giving this a layered texture and an attractive finish.
Drink 2017-2025

2011 Château Gloria, St-Julien
£245.00 per case of 12 bottles in bond

A very impressive and stylish wine from this excellent property.  Fresh blackberry, bramble and damson fruit combine to create a lovely, rich, juicy and warming scent with earthy undertones.  The tannins are bold, appealing and well-integrated, providing a somewhat suave texture that is balanced by equal amounts of grip and freshness.
Drink 2015-2024

2011 Château Palmer, Cru Classé Margaux
£875.00 per case of 6 bottles in bond

2011 may not be 1961, however in the case of Château Palmer the two vintages could have in common a Grand Vin that could be considered as one of the wines of the vintage. We left the Château gushing about the spicy, almost animal complexity of the dark fruit nose, the incredibly rich palate, silky texture and flavours of kirsch, blackcurrant leaf, clove and leather, the incredibly fine-grained tannins and indeed the brilliant concentration and impressive length… In five short words, we liked it – a lot!
Drink 2021-2035

2011 Alter Ego de Château Palmer, Margaux
£430.00 per case of 12 bottles in bond

Alter Ego is fast becoming a serious wine in its own right and is coming out of its Grand Vin’s shadow. With great weight and silky smooth texture, a juicy fruit character with a tight tannic structure, the plummy and spicy fruit is somewhat reminiscent of black forest gâteau. On the finish, spicy and savoury notes come through to bring even more interest to this lovely wine.
Drink 2018-2030

Ludovic Surina

2011 Château Malescot St-Exupéry, Cru Classé Margaux
£369 per case of 12 bottles in bond
Behind a somewhat muted nose lies a deliciously spicy and rich palate, with a wonderful texture and a juicy mouthfeel. A big wine with fine supporting tannins.  Drinking: 2016-2032

2011 Château Guiraud, Cru Classé Sauternes
£165 per case of 6 bottles
£174 per case of 12 halves
Notes of grapefruit rind, honey and a touch of oak-spice are evident on the nose, mirroring a palate that shows a vibrantly Sauvignon Blanc nature. Mouthwatering citrus characters and acidity balance out rich, botrytis notes of acacia honey and orange peel. Effortlessly beautiful and pleasingly pure on the finish.
Drinking: 2015-2030

2011 Château Pontet-Canet, Cru Classé Pauillac
£366 per case of 6 bottles
When asked if he was happy with his wine in this vintage, serious winemaker Jean-Michel Comme replied that “when people begin to be happy, it is the beginning of the end” and that he was therefore never entirely content. Nonetheless in light of the challenges faced in this vintage and problems experienced by other Châteaux, he deserves to feel more than a little pleased with himself regarding the quality of the 2011 Pontet Canet. Darkly fragrant on the nose, it is an incredibly concentrated wine, yet one that wears its depth and power very lightly. There is a substantial tannic structure here, yet it is so well balanced by acidity, fruit and a marked minerality, that the lasting impression is of a perfectly poised wine; very much the iron fist in a silk glove.
Drinking: 2020-2035

The wines of JP Moueix are always of the highest quality and in this vintage, which favoured the right bank, there is no doubt that they are among some of the best. Robert Parker described Hosanna as being “one of the superstars of the vintage”, an opinion with which we wholeheartedly concur. There is a distinctive style to the Moueix wines, which combines attractive, almost opulent, fruit, with a restraining structure. These are not showy by any means, but serious, delicious wines, with huge potential.

2011 Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol
£495 per case of 6 bottles in bond
A compact and initially reticent nose showing touches of red plum and exotic spice. Superbly balanced and yet still tightly wound, this will undoubtedly unfold with layers of complexity with time. The deftly handled tannins add to a wonderfully supple and elegant texture. Presence on the palate is persistent yet unforced. Drinking: 2016-2030

2011 Château Hosanna, Pomerol
£450 per case of 6 bottles in bond
Under the stewardship of J.P. Moueix this tiny 4.5 ha property has built a reputation for crafting exciting wines from its typical Pomerol terroir of clay and red gravel. Polished in style, with ripe black fruit underscored by coffee and chocolate notes, framed by intense yet silky tannins and a plush mouthfeel. The finish is long and seamless. Drinking: 2014-2028

2011 Château Belair-Monange, 1er Grand Cru Classé St-Emilion
 £370 per case of 6 bottles in bond
With vines over a hundred years old planted on the famous plateau and the perfectly south-east facing slopes next to Ausone, this property is something of an undiscovered gem. Attractively ripe and juicy berry fruit, counterbalanced by a vein of fresh acidity and perfectly balanced tannins. There is presence and weight to the wine, which is unforced and elegant. Drinking: 2018-2030

Always popular with our clients, Batailley is a property that has excelled this year, with recent investment clearly paying dividends. The 2011 vintage suits the classic style of this wine, making it a highly appealing and good value prospect.

2011 Château Batailley, Cru Classé Pauillac
£250 per case of 12 bottles in bond
One of the oldest estates in the Médoc producing a classic and typical Pauillac. Complex on the nose, with notes of cassis, chocolate and mocha, with a hint of cloves and cinnamon. Blackberries, chocolate notes and cream texture, with nuances of vanilla and nutmeg on the palate, there is a real plush richness to this wine. It is held together beautifully with very well integrated tannins and a soft vein of acidity running through the finish. An excellent wine that should not be missed! Drinking: 2018-2028

Yesterday, three of our team were lucky enough to taste at the UGC tasting, hosted at the Somerset House in London. Sixteen of the leading Châteaux in Bordeaux showed their wines from the 2011 vintage, as well as the 2010-2008 vintages.

This was a great opportunity to see how the 2011s are coming on a month after the En Primeur tastings, as well as giving them the chance for some excellent comparisons. Firstly, directly comparing 2011 with 2008 (the vintage most likened to 2011 in terms of quality) and then comparing 2010 with 2009, arguably two of the greatest vintages of the last decade.

Al Luffingham, Paula Hunter and Hayley Wright give their opinions below:

“Well the good news is that the 2011s are showing even better than they did a month ago. With the exception of Léoville-Poyferré (which was very drying), all the 11s seem to have softened and fleshed out. They are still showing the same vibrant fruit and floral/violet notes, but the tannins are less aggressive. It was fascinating to compare them with their 2008 siblings. In general the 2008s showed well, with very attractive fruit, soft tannins, freshness and elegance. With the exception of Pontet Canet (a monolithic beast of a wine), I would happily drink any of the more-ish 08s now. The 11s in general seemed to have more concentration and if they continue to improve, seem set be superior to 2008. There were of course exceptions to this, for instance 2008 Château Bellevue, was an incredible wine and really quite close to 09 and 10 in terms of quality. Overall though I would come down in favour of 2011. The best 2011s in the room were Rauzan-Ségla, which they believe is close to 2010 (I see no reason to disagree) and Pontet-Canet which is a truly thrilling wine and definitely of First Growth quality.

Now, as well as the 2011 and 2008 wines showed, there is no doubt that the 2010 and 2009 wines are in a totally different league. I was rarely disappointed when tasting a 2011, but found without exception that when I tasted a 2010 or 2009 I was just blown away. It is a strange feeling to first taste a wine that is balanced, juicy, has excellent mouthfeel and good length, but to then taste a wine that absolutely blows the first wine out of the water.

This happened time and time again. I guess this is what 2010 and 2009 wines have – an almost indefinable wow factor. They have such concentration, such ripeness, such freshness, perfect harmony… but more than this they are just down right delicious. You would think that, given the overall high standard of wines in 2010 and 2009, it would be difficult to pick a favourite, but it turns out that it wasn’t. It is fair to say that I bit of a reputation in the office for loving all things Pontet-Canet and I can’t deny it. So it will come as no surprise that my pick of the day was Pontet-Canet. It wasn’t however the 100 point 2009 vintage, but the spellbinding, incredible, words-cannot-describe-how-much-I-love-this-wine 2010. Simply a different class!

Asked to pick a preference between 2010 and 2009 vintages, I would just about come down on the side of 2010 (they show a touch more detail), but anyone lucky enough to own wine from either vintage is a lucky person indeed.”  Al Luffingham

 “This tasting was a fabulous opportunity to re-visit the older vintages and taste the 2011s once again. It is a shame that the 2011s are getting such bad press, as I thought they showed very well, although obviously some more so than others! One of my very favourites of the tasting was 2011 Château Rauzan-Ségla, which showed great balance and depth, with an enticing nose and seductive palate.

2011 Château Pontet-Canet, was a dream: graceful, elegant, but with an underlying power. It was an absolute privilege to taste this vintage, followed by 2010, 2009 and 2008 Pontet-Canet. The 2008 blew me away, dare I say I liked it more than the 2009!

One final 2011 I really must mention was Château Branaire Ducru, which showed notes of wonderful sweet dark fruits and was plush, rounded and fresh, very appealing indeed.” Paula Hunter

“This was my first vertical tasting and I found it absolutely fascinating.  The 2011s showed much better than a few short weeks ago inBordeaux, with Angelus, Léoville-Poyferré and Pontet Canet standing out for me in particular. In general I found the 11s outshone the 08s with their vibrancy.  Other stars of the tasting for me were 2009 Rauzan-Ségla, 2010 Branaire Ducru, 2010 Léoville-Poyferré and 2009 Pontet-Canet – simply stunning wines.” Hayley Wright

2011 Les Tourelles de Longueville, Pauillac
£240 per case of 12 bottles in bond
A blend of 60% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot from the richer soils on the Pichon-Longueville estate. Dark on the nose, with reserved notes of bramble fruit, damson and mocha. The palate shows a lovely purity and depth to the dark berry fruit core, balanced by a dart of acidity and finely-expressed tannins. Attractive and appealing.  Drinking: 2016-2024

The next wine is another new wine to us, this time from a Château purchased recently by the family behind Léoville- and Langoa-Barton, who have poured a huge amount of investment and expertise into the property over the last few months.

2011 Château Mauvesin-Barton, Moulis en Médoc
£108 per case of 12 bottles in bond
Made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, this is a classic and well-structured claret, with an enticing core of ripe, plum fruit. The terroir of the site allowed full-maturity of the Cabernet fruit in this vintage and it is this that contributes the well-judged structure and freshness of this very pleasing wine.  Drinking: 2016-2028

Beychevelle produced a wine of great finesse in 2011- the epitome of St Julien. They have also released at a sensible price, the 2011 is a much more serious wine than the cheapest available vintage currently on the market and at a substantially lower price than that vintage, making it a canny buy.

2011 Château Beychevelle, Cru Classé St-Julien
£495 per case of 12 bottles in bond
Care for the environment is a very major concern to the vineyard management team of Château Beychevelle, where they believe in producing high quality grapes in an environmentally friendly way. This is deep and brooding with dark fruits and a toasty edge. Quite spicy, with good concentration, black fruits are present, mirroring the aromas on the nose. The tannins are tightly wound, but balanced by a refreshing burst of acidity. Given time we expect this wine to unfold and develop into a stunning St-Julien.  Drinking: 2018-2028

Château Pibran was a property that we heard praised by many of the wine professionals who were tasting at the same time as us in April and we utterly agree; attractive and compelling, this is a great Pauillac and tremendous value.

2011 Château Pibran, Cru Bourgeois Pauillac
£198 per case of 12 bottles in bond
One of the rather pleasant surprises of this vintage. Tasted at Pichon-Longueville, this showed incredibly well. Made of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is immediately open and fragrant on the nose, with notes of white flowers alongside cassis and plum. On the palate, this seems effortlessly balanced: a core of ripe attractive fruit hemmed in by very fine tannins and a zip of acidity. Incredibly charming, it won us all over.
Drinking: 2015-2023

Château du Tertre was one of the properties that stood out at a quite challenging Margaux tasting. The key to its success was the way in which they have managed the tannins, giving it structure but retaining a lovely purity.

2011 Château du Tertre, Cru Classé Margaux
£228 per case of 12 bottles in bond
According to the Château, 2011 marks ‘a return to a more classic style of wine’, with a ‘tannic and fresh profile’. Certainly it was one of the properties that showed well at the Margaux tasting, with a delightfully fruity nose, leading to a serious and well balanced wine.
Drinking: 2016-2028

We have not purchased Château Fonplégade in the past, but in this highly successful right bank vintage, it is irresistible. Crowd pleasing, opulent and yet incredibly balanced, this is a very classy St-Emilion.

2011 Château Fonplégade, Grand Cru Classé St-Emilion
£240 per case of 12 bottles in bond
“Since this estate was acquired by the Adams family of America, who hired consulting oenologist Michel Rolland, the quality has soared. The 2011 Fonplegade is another tour de force. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color in addition to copious notes of charcoal, camphor, blackberries, blueberries and spring flowers. Opulent, fleshy, deep and impressively built, it will be drinkable in 3-4 years or can be cellared for two decades or more. Kudos to Fonplégade!” Robert Parker, 92-94 points
Drinking: 2015-2028

With this and other negative press reports around, we were not expecting great things when we visited the regions. After tasting however, we (along with much of the wine trade) were pleasantly surprised. While the vintage is by no means in the same league as the previous two “vintages of a lifetime”, it is a good (very good in places) vintage none-the-less. 2011 has produced some fragrant and attractive wines that, when made well, were absolutely delicious and at times stunning.

Releases of 2011 Bordeaux have thus far have been few and far between and, with the exception of an unexpected early release from Château Lafite (at £2799 per 6/75cl , the cheapest Lafite vintage on the market), none of the major Châteaux have released. The feeling has been that they have all been waiting for Robert Parker’s pronouncements on the vintage.

Well, last Friday the wait was finally over as his scores and report were published. He, like us, had clearly found the vintage to be more pleasing than he anticipated, as he claimed in his report: “This is a much better vintage than I thought it was before my trip to Bordeaux and could turn out to be close in overall quality to years such as the underrated 2001 and 2008”.

While this was, on the face of it, an encouraging start, further examination of his reviews and scores (available here) leads me to feel that he has perhaps somewhat underrated the vintage. Our impression, following extensive tastings, was that the best wines had the freshness and verve of the 2008, but with greater flesh and structure – an opinion that we have seen echoed by many other professionals. Robert Parker’s notes seem also to support this, but the scores do not necessarily match.

Having taken the mid-point of his predicted 2011 scores, Parker has given an average score of 88.90, which does compare favourably with 2008 (average score of 88.77), a fact that would appear to support our belief that 2011 is a better vintage than 2008.  However, Liv-Ex looked at the average Parker scores for the leading 35 châteaux and found that – at this crucial level – Parker shows a marked preference for the 2008.

Of course tasting wine is always subjective and tasting (occasionally inconsistent) en primeur samples can prove difficult. However, we believe that some of the top level châteaux have produced excellent wines and I therefore find some of the scores attributed to them hard to understand. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was Château Lafite, which was given a score of 90-93 points, the same as Sociando-Mallet. Lafite was by no means my favourite first growth (for me it was Latour, hands down), but to suggest that it was only of the same quality as Sociando-Mallet is almost farcical.

The key to the scores may lie in his report, which contained some very strongly worded commentary on the bordelais  pricing policy, stating that “if prices do not drop dramatically for the 2011 Bordeaux, I do not think there will be any fine “futures” wine market in the civilized world that will buy these wines for delivery in 2014”. For the record, we absolutely agree with him: in order for 2011 Bordeaux to be successful in the UK market, prices must come down to a level that gives the buyer a reason to purchase the wines at this early stage, i.e. the wines must be available at a prices that are lower than physically-available vintages of the same châteaux.

Robert Parker is currently the most influential wine critic around and his reviews have enormous influence on pricing of fine wines around the world. Nowhere is this more evident that in Bordeaux, where points undoubtedly mean (higher) prices.  He is very aware of this power and has often stated that he has never intended for his reviews to be used as the excuse for wines being priced out of the reach of those that would like to drink them. Given his comments on this vintage therefore, one can’t help but wonder whether his allocation of underwhelming scores for some of the more potentially expensive wines is a conscious attempt on his part to cool pricing in Bordeaux?

Al Luffingham

2011 Château Doisy-Daëne, Cru Classé Barsac
£147 per case of 6 bottles in bond
£156 per case of 12 half bottles in bond
A slightly restained style with concentrated tangy fruit and spice. Delicate acidity brightens the fruit. Clean pure and vibrant with persistent length.
Drinking: 2015-2029

2011 Château Chasse-Spleen, Cru Bourgeois Moulis
£195 per case of 12 bottles
Chasse Spleen is said to reflect the extraordinary diversity of its terroir through the ‘fresh mineral qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon and the smoothness of Merlot’. The 2011 displays a beautifully fragrant cherry nose, leading on to ripe juicy fruit on the palate, with spicy undertones backed up by ample tannin and fresh acidity. An elegant wine.
Drinking: 2016-2027

2011 Château Ormes de Pez, Cru Bourgeois St-Estèphe
£210 per case of 12 bottles in bond
Quite brooding on the nose, with a hint of florality and a touch of woodsmoke. On the palate, this has quite a linear structure, with finely-realised tannins and a taut minerality. Held within this structure is a core of layered dark fruit and subtle, sweet oak characters. Fresh and pure on the finish, this is a very well-made wine and a great example of modern St-Estèphe.
Drinking: 2015-2021

2011 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, 1er Grand Cru Classé St-Emilion
£381 per case of 6 bottles in bond
This fabulous wine displays a delightfully perfumed nose of black berry and cherry fruit, rose and violet alongside herbal, menthol nuances.  These aromas lead through onto the palate which is thickly set with taught tannins, balanced by excellent concentration and structure.  There is a very fine flash of acidity which gives an extremely pleasing freshness and lift to the finish.
Drinking: 2016-2028

The 2011 vintage is definitely one that has played into the hands of Sauternes and Barsac producers, giving them ideal conditions for the development of the botrytis that gives these wines their distinctive character. Fresh and pure, yet enticingly complex, these are unmissable in this vintage.

Also released today is Sociando-Mallet, a Cru Classé in all but name that offers great quality and value in this vintage. Located to the north of St-Estèphe on an outcrop of gravel, Sociando-Mallet produces attractive claret in the classic vein.

2011 Château Suduiraut, Cru Classé Sauternes
£240 per case of 6 bottles in bond
£249 per case of 12 half bottles in bond
The château lies in its own microclimate between the rivers Ciron andGaronneensuring the ideal conditions of morning mist and afternoon sunshine. The wine has a delicate nose, full of fresh white peach and apricot fruit and blossom honey flavours. There is a great freshness from excellent acidity levels and a beautifully smooth mouthfeel. Christian Seely described this as being the most like the 2001 vintage, with the same richness and wonderful, pure botrytis.
Drink: 2015-2030

2011 Château Doisy-Védrines, Cru Classé Barsac
£112.50 per case of 6 bottles in bond
£121.50 per case of 12 half bottles in bond
Complex on the nose, with notes of peach and acacia honey combined with hints of spice. The palate reveals a more unctuous side with excellent freshening acidity of apricots, caramel apple and barley sugar.
Drink: 2015-2028

2011 Château Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Médoc
£225 per case of 12 bottles in bond
At first the nose is a little restrained but it slowly opens to reveal black fruit character. A pleasing length follows a nicely-balanced wine, with good grip from some robust tannins and blackcurrant fruit on the mid-palate.
Drink: 2016-2036

The 2007 vintage in Burgundy saw summer conditions in the spring (over 30 degrees in April) followed by a very wet and cold summer which had winemakers really worried by August 15^th. However, an uninterrupted spell of warm and dry weather through the autumn completely saved the vintage, producing soft, rounded and approachable wines with a streak of zingy acidity. These wines’ early drinkability (and their very sensible prices) was the main reason for the theme of that tasting, and we were extremely pleased by just how well both reds and whites showed. 

 The typically well-behaved and knowledgeable audience of the Coutts Wine Society were “treated” to a (hopefully not too) lengthy introduction on Burgundy and on the 2007 vintage in general, before delving into the wines. We tried to pick the wines to provide interesting comparisons: village Puligny-Montrachet in a lean and elegant style against 1er Cru Chassagne-Montrachet from a similarly elegant vineyard but from a producer reputed for generous wines; one of the very best producers in Volnay against one of the very best producers in Pommard to see the stylistic difference between the villages; a red Chassagne-Montrachet from an iron-rich soil (more typical of the Côte de Nuits) against a delicate Chambolle-Musigny; and finally, in a battle of the Nuits, a 1er Cru Vosne-Romanée (velvet glove) against a 1er Cru Gevrey-Chambertin (iron fist).  

 The evening was a resounding success and the wines sparked much debate, with the room nicely divided between all the wines when it came to deciding everyone’s favourite wine of the tasting. We came back with only two questions in mind: is there enough Clos-St-Jean left for both of us to have a few bottles, and will either of us have the patience or discipline to age it any longer?

If you too are looking for drinking Burgundy to consume over the next 3-5 years, do have a look at our selection of 2007 Red Burgundies and 2007 White Burgundies, they are very much worth a try. 

 Wine # 1: 2007 Puligny-Montrachet, Etienne Sauzet
The fresh, clean and precise nose of this Puligny was followed on the palate by surprising richness and maturity already, although the streak of minerality and fresh acidity were still very much present. Many tasters’ favourite white for its elegance, this was a great way to start the tasting. 

Wine # 2: 2007 Chassagne-Montrachet 1^er Cru « Les Caillerets », Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot
In comparison, Jean-Marc Pillot’s 1^er cru Chassagne definitely wears its colours proudly. The nose faithfully announces the rich, buttery, spicy and complex style of the wine. The length of flavours was great and in this taster’s opinion, the combination of a terroir reputed for producing mineral, elegant wines, and the know-how of a winemaker who likes to produces round and generous wines yielded fantastic results and great balance of flavour, with the mineral spine of acidity offering a superb backbone for the creamy, fat and delicious mid-palate.  

Wine # 3: 2007 Volnay, Domaine Lafarge 
This showed beautifully, with a super pretty nose of red berry fruits, lovely floral notes and showing real vibrancy and energy. As we had hoped, the palate showed Volnay’s typical elegance and grace. Relatively high, refreshing acidity, pure fruit and lacy tannins. Drinking perfectly now and an excellent example of how good Volnay can be.

Wine # 4: 2007 Pommard 1^er Cru, Domaine du Comte Armand
Again showing well, the 2007 Comte Armand 1er cru Pommard shows much more concentration than the Volnay, with plenty of attractive dark berry fruit and a slightly gamey note. Really plush texture, but the tannins are certainly making their presence felt at this time. In contrast to the more elegant and refined Volnay, this classic, masculine Pommard needs time. Two very contrasting styles of wine, both showing off what great wine can be found in the Côte de Beaune. 

Wine # 5: Chassagne-Montrachet rouge 1^er Cru « Clos-St-Jean », Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot
Chassagne-Montrachet is much better known for producing Chardonnay than Pinot Noir. The white wines of Chassagne-Montrachet command higher prices and are in much more demand than the red wines. However the majority of soil in Chassagne is iron rich clay, which is actually better suited to Pinot Noir. This means that Chassagne can be a source of excellent and seriously undervalued red burgundy. Jean Marc Pillot’s Clos-St-Jean is about the finest example of red Chassagne and the 2007 shows exactly how good it can be. The bouquet is simply magnificent; glorious raspberry, cherry and intensely floral aromas leap from the glass. Showing excellent concentration, the colour is nice and deep and the palate rich and intense, yet harmonious and very burgundian. At approximately half the price of an equivalent quality red from the Côte de Nuits, 2007 Clos-St-Jean represents incredible value. 

Wine # 6: 2007 Chambolle-Musigny « Cuvée des Cigales », Domaine Ponsot
 Laurent Ponsot’s habit of picking later than most in the Côtes de Nuits really paid off in 2007, thanks to the long spell of dry, sunny and warm weather in the autumn. This Chambolle-Musigny is an excellent example of the style of the commune, with its beautifully floral notes and delicate, silky texture. It really lingered and stood up to the power and persistence of the 1er Cru Chassagne very well indeed.

Wine # 7: 2007 Vosne-Romanée 1^er Cru « Clos des Réas », Domaine Michel Gros
Michel Gros’ « Clos des Réas », a monopoly vineyard (only one owner for the whole vineyard rather than the multitude of parcel owners, courtesy of Napoleonic inheritance law, that are the norm in most of the region), could very much aspire to Grand Cru status in its best years. Our cunning plan to pit the velvety richness of its produce against the masculine, spicy and full-bodied 1er cru Gevrey-Chambertin worked perfectly. This Vosne was just stunning, with juicy, very pure flavours of raspberry liqueur and hints of violets, the whole beautifully framed by unobtrusive yet firm structure. If Clos-St-Jean deserved the title for best value for money, surely it is hard to argue against Clos des Réas being the most ‘moreish’ (and perhaps best?) wine of the evening.

 Wine # 8: 2007 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Le Craipillot”, Domaine Humbert Frères
Of course Manou Humbert would probably be the one to contest that statement. Having swapped places with his brother over a decade ago, leaving (though never for very long) his beloved vines to take the helm at the winery, he really knows how to make a delicious wine in the style that has made Gevrey-Chambertin’s reputation. His Craipillot, made from 65 year-old vines in what Manou would describe as a more “feminine” style of Gevrey, was still endowed with great power and concentration. Its cocktail of rich, red fruit compote with white pepper and a burst of white chocolate on the finish was simply stunning and a perfect conclusion to what had been a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Ludovic Surina and Al Luffingham

Calon-Ségur has been going from strength to strength over the past few years, and young winemaker Vincent Millet’s expertise and talent have a lot to do with this. This knowledge is put to excellent use in the property’s second wine, Marquis de Calon (never offered en-primeur before) and the other St Estèphe property he manages, Château Capbern-Gasqueton. The latter was one of our top choices for value for money in the “drinking clarets” category, with its pretty aromatics and silky smooth, seductive texture.

2011 Château Capbern-Gasqueton, Cru Bourgeois St Estèphe
£129 per case of 12 in bond

Under the same ownership and vinified in Calon-Ségur’s brand new cellars, a violet core of moderate intensity leads onto a very pretty violet tinged floral nose. With raspberries and vibrant summer fruit the palate crackles with verve and energy. Classically styled and elegantly structured with a delightfully pure expression of fruit, this is undoubtedly one of the great value buys of Bordeaux.  Drinking: 2015-2025

2011 Marquis de Calon, Saint-Estèphe
£156 per case of 12 in bond

Representing just 30% of production and with the majority of fruit sourced from low yielding merlot vines planted on drought resistant clay based soils. The ripe damson and fruitcake laden nose has a top note of dark chocolate whilst there is lively acidity and freshness to the front palate which is filled out with plump and fleshy plum fruit and a touch of spice. Tannins are fine grained and velvety in texture, the lasting impression is one of elegance, balance and refinement. Technical director Vincent Millet considers “2011 closer to 2010 than 2008 in terms of quality”.  Drinking: 2015-2025

Ludovic Surina

He has remained true to this, releasing the first tranche Château Lafite-Rothschild at around two thirds of last year’s average price – a very strident message to the Châteaux waiting to release their wines onto the market.

This is without doubt the cheapest available vintage of Lafite on the market – and by some distance – making it a very interesting purchase in a vintage where price is key.

2011 Château Lafite-Rothschild, 1er Cru Pauillac
£2799 per case of 6 bottles in bond
The wine is a very simple blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. 2011 Lafite-Rothschild is a huge, powerful effort that manages levels of concentration rarely equalled in this vintage as well as a velvety, nuanced style and wonderful balance, refined tannins and incredible length. This is a wine that starts big, and grows in stature all the time during the multi-layered finish. It may be hard to dethrone.
Drinking: 2021-2040

2011 Château Charmail, Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc
£120 per case of 12 bottles in bond
Darkly fragrant on the nose, with notes of bramble and cassis fruit coming through alongside spice notes. The palate is incredibly well balanced, with fine, structural tannins and a vein of freshness that gives lift and poise to ripe, opulent fruit. Classic claret and fine value.
Drinking: 2014-2021

Lafite-Rothschild (£2799 for 6 bottles in bond) has been offered primarily to those clients who have expressed interest, however, please let us know if you are interested in case by emailing fine.wine@laywheeler.com

Rumours abounded last year that Cos d’Estournel had lost most of its crop due to hail, but it appears this was not the case, with yields actually being marginally higher in 2011 than 2010. Our price forCosthis year is actually less than half of the price last year, which is extraordinary.

Gazin is one of the most reliable properties in Pomerol, producing perhaps a more modern style, but certainly a very classy one. This year, in a vintage that favoured the right bank, they have performed exceptionally well.

The wines are available to purchase online on a first-come-first-served basis.

2011 Château Cos d’Estournel, Cru Classé St-Estèphe
£513 per case of 6 bottles in bond
Jean-Guillaume Prats has produced a very classicalCosthis year from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. In contrast with previous, more lush vintages, it is a somewhat austere and very serious style, dark, tannic and uncompromising. This will need time to unfold and open up but when it does, the result should be very impressive indeed.
Drinking: 2020-2035 

2011 Les Pagodes de Cos, St-Estèphe
£162 per case of 6 bottles in bond
The 2011 blend is of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot (the latter variety quite successful in 2011). Pagodes shows a nose that blends savoury, animal characters with dark fruit and notes of blackcurrant leaf and dark cocoa. The palate follows through with impressive extract and full yet leafy flavours. The structure of the wine is provided by firm and grippy tannins and should help it age well.
Drinking: 2016-2021

2011 Château Gazin, Pomerol
£225 per case of 6 bottles in bond
Ever the elegant Pomerol, Château Gazin’s leafy, crushed strawberry nose is followed on the palate by a rich, round and generous offering. Notes of mocha, alcohol-soaked morello cherries and violets give a peacock’s tail finish and the promise of a fantastically complex and delicious wine once it reaches maturity.
Drinking: 2017-2030