Earlier this month we partnered up with Mestrezat Maison de Grand Crus, to host a Bordeaux En Primeir Tasting at our head office tasting room, in celebration the magnificent wines of Bordeaux and the release of the 2017 vintage.
We received a wonderful range of samples from over 30 prestigious estates and we were delighted to welcome representatives from Château Pape Clément, Château Lassegue and Château Talbot, who joined us to present their wines for our private clients to enjoy before being released into the UK market.
Highlights from the tasting include:
Château Capbern
The tentative blend for the 2017 Capbern is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it gives exuberant red cherries, blackberries and black raspberries on the nose with touches of bay leaves and dusty soil. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and fresh with chewy tannins and an earthy finish. Robert Parker
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge
Ripe, pure black cherry and floral perfume. Lively palate, beautifully balanced with integrated tannins and impressive length.
Alex Robertson, Armit Wines. 95-96 Points, James Suckling
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc. Concentrated fruit with floral lift. Quite rich with supple tannins.
Alex Robertson, Armit Wines. 96-97 Points, James Suckling
Château Talbot
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Talbot is a little closed on the nose with subtle plums and blackberries notes plus hints of underbrush, black olives and wood smoke. Medium-bodied with a firm frame of chewy tannins, it has lovely freshness and a savory finish. Robert Parker
Château Lassègue
The 2017 Lassègue displays a deep garnet-purple color and quite a spicy nose giving up black pepper, cinnamon and cloves notes over a core of crème de cassis and preserved plums with a waft of dusty soil. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a firm frame of chewy tannins and tons of black fruit layers, finishing long and spicy. Robert Parker
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse
The 2017 Grand-Puy-Ducasse is deep garnet-purple in color with a nose of fresh blueberries and black currants plus touches of underbrush, pencil lead and mocha. The palate is medium-bodied with very firm, chewy tannins and something of a roasted note, finishing just a little bitter. Robert Parker
Château Batailley
Blended of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Batailley gives profound notes of crème de cassis, preserved plums and licorice over a core of espresso, tapenade and Marmite toast. Medium-bodied with a ripe, firm backbone of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the vivacious, sustained fruit, it finishes long with a red fruit lift. Robert Parker
Château Malartic Lagravière
The tentative blend of the 2017 Malartic Lagravière is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little closed, offering hints of tar, tilled black soil and yeast extract over a core of blackberries and warm red plums plus a waft of bay leaves. Medium-bodied with a good amount of elegant red and black fruits plus delicately played chewy tannins and a lively backbone, it finishes on an earthy note. Robert Parker
Château Léoville Poyferré
Ripe and concentrated dark cherry, plum and floral notes of violets and lavender come together beautifully. Energetic and fresh on the palate balancing the depth of concentrated fruit and chewy tannins. A superb Léoville Poyferré.
Alex Robertson, Armit Wines. 95-96 Points, James Suckling
Château Sociando-Mallet
The 2017 Sociando-Mallet is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with a spicy nose over a red plums and red currants core plus a waft of underbrush. The palate is medium-bodied with a well-judged, approachable structure and plenty of freshness, finishing fruity. Robert Parker
Château Phélan Ségur
Ripe and concentrated dark cherry, plum and floral notes of violets and lavender come together beautifully. Energetic and fresh on the palate, balancing the depth of concentrated fruit and chewy tannins. A superb Léoville Poyferré.
Alex Robertson, Armit Wines. 95-96 Points, James Suckling
Château du domaine de l'Eglise
Wonderful floral bouquet, rounded and gentle at first before revealing its power and depth. Very good structure, this could be great. Peter Valiunas, Armit Wines. 97-98 Points, James Suckling
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