Bordeaux 2011: Haut Brion, Petite Eglise, Clinet, Calon Segur, Angelus...

This morning has seen another rush of releases which will only result in most wines being completely 'lost'. This seems no way to market a luxury product but below are a list of today's releases (so far). There are a few that deserve attention and a bit more focus should be put on these:-

The wines of superstar wine maker Denis Durantou were the most impressive that we tasted across the board this year. Pomerol was the most successful appellation this year and the quality at the lower level here was superb. If you buy one lower priced drinking wine this year it should be from here - Amazing value!

Denis Durantou Wines: 

Petite Eglise- £235 per case 12. 2nd wine of Eglise Clinet from Pomerol

Chenade - £98 per case 12.  Lalande de Pomerol that is excellent value. 90-92 Neal Martin.

Cruzelles - £140 per case 12. Lalande de Pomerol 1KM from the plateau of Pomerol. Excellent quality this year.

Saintayme - £95 per case 12. Value Saint Emilion.  88-91 Wine Spectator

Montlandrie - £140 per case 12. New addition to the portfolio from Côtes de Castillon. 90-92 Neal Martin.

The wines of the Haut Brion stable have also been released:

Haut Brion - £3770 per case 12. 92-95 Parker: "Undeniably elegant"

Clarence Haut Brion - £770 per case 12. 91-92 James Suckling: "Full body with fine tannins and pretty finish"

La Mission Haut Brion - £2300 per case 12. 93-95 Parker: "a big, sexy, smoky, classic La Mission"

Chapelle de la Mission - £520 per case 12. 90-92 Parker: "The second wine is also a great success"

Haut Brion Blanc - £6500 per case 12.  95-98 Wine Spectator: "terrific depth and length" 

Clarté de Haut Brion - £645 per case 12. 94-95 James Suckling: "Full and fruity with super fresh acidity"

A couple more worth a special mention: 

Clinet - £545 per case 12.  Clinet deserves special attention following their 100 point 2009 and excellent 2010 vintages.  The 2011 also impressed us and the price of £545 looks fair to us.  92-94 Robert Parker: "Clinet has returned to the high quality witnessed in 1989 and 1990..this is one of the most impressive wines of the vintage. It should drink well for two decades"  

Calon Segur - £430 per case 12.  Always a favourite of ours, this top St Estephe and is always priced fairly, eschewing the enormous rises seen at neighbouring Montrose and Cos d'Estournel. We can also offer the second wine Marquis de Calon at £155 per case 12. 92-94 Robert Parker: "A very strong effort..potentially one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage and should drink well for 25 or more years". 

And the rest of today's releases so far...

St Emilion:

Angelus - £1470 per case 12.  92-95 Parker:"A great success for proprietor Hubert de Bouard"

Clos de l'Oratoire - £210 per case 12. 91-94 Wine Spectator: "Nice chalky grip holds sway on the finish"

Faugeres - £210 per case 12.  91-93 Parker:"impressively endowed...a big wine for the vintage"  

Peby Faugeres - £645 per case 12. 92-94+ Parker: "One of the up-and-coming stars of St.-Emilion"  

Left Bank:

Fieuzal Rouge - £235 per case 12. 89-91 Parker: "already seductive"  

Fieuzal Blanc - £335 per case 12. 94-95 James Suckling: "Full body..bright acidity..long racy finish. A beauty"

Kirwan - £310 per case 12. 17 Decanter: "Margaux expression dominates with good fruit and complexity"

Lafon Rochet - £270 per case 12. 17 Decanter: "Very well extracted blackcurrant fruit, rich yet firm"

Lagrange - £300 per case 12. 90-92 Neal Martin: "a very accomplished Lagrange"

Langoa Barton - £340 per case 12. 86-88+ Parker: "will be more interesting to taste once...bottled"

Larrivet Haut Brion Rouge - £200 per case 12. 88-90 Parker: "This excellent, somewhat under-the-radar estate has turned in a sleeper of the vintage in 2011"

Lynch Moussas - £220 per case 12. 87-89 Parker: "an estate that is making better and better wine"

Montrose - £770 per case 12. We can offer the 91 point 2007 vintage at £520 per case 12 IB. 91-93 Parker: "A strong effort, the 2011 Montrose exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to abundant black currant and boysenberry fruit notes intermixed with white chocolate, damp earth, truffle and camphor. Medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin and impressive concentration"

Dame de Montrose - £245 per case 12. Second wine from Montrose. 87-90 Parker: "Drink this seductive effort over the next decade"

Rauzan Gassies - £300 per case 12. 88-90 Parker: "strong effort from this..forgotten Margaux"

All wines offered en primeur; available in the UK Spring/Summer 2014.  Prices include shipment from Bordeaux warehouse to the UK.  Offer subject to remaining unsold.  E&OE.

> For enquiries and orders, please email us.