Mouton Rothschild appeared to be under performing against its peers at the beginning of the 20th century but has really been fighting back since the 2005 vintage with a succession of consistently good vintages. The 2011 is no exception for us and was our favourite First Growth this year along with Chateau Margaux.
Mouton Rothschild - £3770 per case 12. 93-96 Robert Parker: "Mouton's classic note of crème de cassis is well-displayed in this inky purple-colored wine. Significantly more powerful, rich and textured than its nearby neighbor, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton boasts superb intensity, stunning concentration, and plenty of sweet tannin. This is an impressively built, full-throttle wine that will require 5-8 years of cellaring and should keep for 25-30 years thereafter. It should prove to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage"
Petit Mouton - £780 per case 12. 87-89 Robert Parker: "exhibits attractive, fresh black currant fruit intermixed with notions of forest floor, licorice and wood smoke. It is a lovely, round, fresh wine to drink in its first decade of life."
Third Growths:
Lagune - £370 per case 12. Since arriving at this Third Growth estate in 2000 the Frey family have made large scale investments and it is certainly paying off. 90-93 Robert Parker: "appears to be outstanding, and one of the better efforts of the vintage. A dark plum/ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of dense, rich black raspberries, black currants, loamy soil and a hint of new oak. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, decent acidity and loads of fruit and glycerin presented in a forward, appealing, seductive style, it can be enjoyed over the next decade"
Graves:
Haut Bergey - £165 per case 12. Robert Parker describes Haut Bergey as "One of the best over-achieving, value-priced wines in Pessac-Leognan". 90-93 Wine Spectator: "good depth and polish, with pure, ripe blackberry and black currant fruit laced with roasted tobacco leaf, bay and iron notes. Shows solid grip through the finish"
Haut Bergey Blanc - £225 per case 12. 91-94 Wine Spectator: "rich, straw-framed white peach, verbena, meringue and blanched almond notes. The long, creamy, smoke-tinged finish is very alluring"
St Emilion:
Mondotte - £1130 per case 12. 92-94 Robert Parker: "This nearly 12-acre vineyard on the high plateau of limestone and clay soils above Pavie and Pavie Decesse has produced a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc in 2011. The result is an opaque purple-colored wine with sweet mulberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with forest floor, toasty new oak and spring flowers. Full-bodied with sweet tannin, adequate acidity and a lavish, almost extravagantly rich style, this is one of Bordeaux's most compelling wines. The 2011 La Mondotte is another great success in a difficult vintage"
Moulin Saint Georges - £220 per case 12. 92-94 Neal Martin: "The Moulin Saint-Georges is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc picked at 35hl/ha and will spend around 18 months in new oak. It has a floral bouquet emanating from the ripe Cabernet Franc, hints of cassis and blackcurrant complemented by subtle crushed stone aromas with aeration. It is well defined and focused, the oak deftly assimilated into the wine. The palate is medium-bodied with a lovely opening of vibrant, red berry fruit with hints of truffle and dried meats. It is very well balanced with svelte tannins and substance from start to finish. This is a supremely accomplished Saint Emilion from Alain Vauthier: feminine and...nubile."
Troplong Mondot - £600 per case 12. 91-93+ Robert Parker: "The wine boasts a dense blue/purple color as well as aromas of black raspberries, blackberries, acacia flowers, espresso, toasty oak, and a sweet, mossy, foresty character that ranges from an autumnal, vegetative smell to minerality. Opulent, dense and strikingly rich and extracted with moderately high tannins, this is one of the bigger, richer wines of the vintage. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20-25. Christine Valette has turned in another impressive performance"
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.
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