Monday 29 April 2019

This promises to be a busy week of releases, starting with two Classed Growths.  Saint Julien is always a quality highlight and in 2018 the commune excelled. Ripeness is a given, but there was an exciting energy to these wines that makes them stand out from the crowd. If you love the elegance of Saint Julien, there is a lot to enjoy in 2018. 

Langoa Barton is consistently one of the best value Classed Growths.  "A textbook 2018 and a textbook St Julien" (93-96 WS) that shows balanced structure and wonderful purity of fruit.

Situated opposite Beychevelle and a neighbour of second growth Ducru Beaucaillou, Branaire Ducru has really impressed in recent vintages; with high-toned cassis fruit and impressive length, 2018 is one of the finest yet. 
 
Chateau Capbern is now released. From the team behind Saint Estephe star Calon Segur, this is a beautifully made wine with purity and smoothness that really shows off the skill here. A great value in an appellation that really shone this year and one of the very best in Bordeaux at this price level.

In Sauternes, Suduiraut is now released, following Coutet and Doisy Vedrines.

Finally, two releases from late last week that deserve high praise:

Chateau Laroque from Saint Emilion, at just £215 per 12, is a wine to take note of with glowing reviews in 2018 (95-97 from Wine Advocate and 95-97 from Jeb Dunnuck “it's an incredible success for the estate”).  Made by David Suire of Beausejour Duffau and Pavie Macquin since 2016, the 2018 is packed full of deep plush fruit, concentrated and smooth with rich tannins, bright acidity and incredible ageing potential.     
 
Margaux’s Chateau Labegorce has impressed us in the past 3 vintages and 2018 again shows perfumed floral notes, ripe yet soft fruit at the core.  “A rocking value in the market today” 93-96 Jeb Dunnuck
 

Prices

BRANAIRE DUCRU  |   £462 per 12x75
94-97 WS  - This is well-packed, with blueberry, açaí and blackberry fruit flavors and licorice snap and fruitcake notes. Long and refined despite the copious fruit, showing polish and poise through the finish.

CAPBERN  |   £188 per 12x75
91-94 WS  - Delicious cassis, plum and blackberry fruit forms the core, showing lovely purity and definition. Light tobacco, floral and mineral shadings emerge through the finish.?his is well-packed, with blueberry, açaí and blackberry fruit flavors and licorice snap and fruitcake notes. Long and refined despite the copious fruit, showing polish and poise through the finish.

FIEUZAL    |   £360 per 12x75
94 Dec - It has a silky texture with firm and bristling tannins - you can feel the latent power, pretty much in line with 2010 or 2016 in terms of its construction. Liquorice and dark chocolate are joined by freshly cut herbs and black pepper notes. Great stuff.

FIEUZAL BLANC    |   £468 per 12x75
94-95 JS -  Serious density and tension to this with a full body, fruity center palate and a tight, focused finish.

LABEGORCE   |   £255 per 12x75
93-96 JD  -  Another winner from Margaux is the 2018 Château Labégorce, which is an interesting blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (although I was given slightly different blends for the two samples tasted). Aging in 40% new oak, this deeply colored effort offers a beautiful perfume of blueberries, raspberries, flowers, and spice. It’s medium to full-bodied, has remarkable purity, and fine tannins, and should be approachable right out of the gate. It’s worth mentioning this estate has been managed by Marjolaine de Coninck since 2009, and it’s a rocking value in the market today.

LANGOA BARTON  |   £435 per 12x75
93-96 WS  -   This has the ripe, intense, racy feel of the vintage, with cassis, plum and blueberry compote flavors, carried by a long graphite spine. A textbook 2018 and a textbook St.-Julien.

LAROQUE  |   £215 per 12x75
95-97 WA  -  Full-bodied and jam-packed with bright, crunchy black and blue fruits, it has a firm line of ripe, fine-grained tannins and loads of freshness, finishing very long and layered. Impressive!

95-97 JD  -  Its deep purple color is followed by a classy bouquet of ripe black cherries, cassis, graphite, licorice, and crushed rocks. Deep, medium to full-bodied, with a beautiful mid-palate and ripe, silky tannins, it's an incredible success for the estate, which is firing on all cylinders today thanks to the talented David Suire!

SUDUIRAUT    |   £480 per 12x75
97-98 JS -  This has lots of concentration and mushroom and spice character. Plenty of botrytis. Dense and flavorful finish. Big wine for the vintage. Five hectoliters a hectare and half went into the second wine.

For more information or to place an order, please call on 01223 849040 or email us  (finewine@albanyvintners.com)