Bordeaux 2019: Montrose, Grand Puy Lacoste, Lagrange, Gloria...

Just released, the last big name in Saint Estephe – Chateau Montrose, at £600 per 6 – a 23% reduction on last year’s Euro release price.  The price sets it far below the 2018 (£1560/12) and 2016 (£1420/12) – the recent benchmark vintages for this prestigious estate, and significantly under the 2009 (£2100/12) and 2010 (£1700/12) .   

Another great vintage under Herve Berland, former director of Mouton Rothschild, reports are that it is close in quality to the great 2016 – but so far, it has only been tasted by Bordeaux-based critic Jane Anson, who writes: “Stately and concentrated in a way that reminds me of a 1996 or a  2016….A masterclass in the flavours and aromatics that you expect in a great Medoc wine”  - 98  Jane Anson, Decanter.  Only Chateau Latour on the left bank scores higher from Jane Anson!

Dame de Montrose is also released at £158 per 6 and scores 94 from Jane Anson.

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Some great releases this morning for lovers of well-priced Bordeaux.

Grand Puy Lacoste is now available at £270 per 6 or £540 per 12 - a discount of 20% on last year’s price makes this a must buy for Bordeaux lovers.  This is seriously good, Pauillac at its classic best – “Classy and full of breeding - quintessential Pauillac” with 95-97 points from Neal Martin – superior to the 2018 but a good chunk cheaper.  A hugely popular Classed Growth - it will certainly be much cheaper than the other great names of Pauillac such as Pichon Lalande and Pichon Baron and is offered way below Pontet Canet (£366 per 6) and Lynch Bages (£395 per 6) which have both sold out.
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Also out this morning St. Julien Favourites Gloria at £150 per 6 ("excellent" 93-95 Neal Martin and the small production Classed Growth, Saint Pierre at £211 per 6 - "superb, absolutely superb" - 94-96 Neal Martin.
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Chateau Lagrange is released at £184 per 6 - 14% down and with only half of last year’s volume released. Lagrange is undergoing a transformation in quality and now only one third of production goes into this wine - significantly lower than before, and the 2019 has more Cabernet in the blend. The price is slightly lower than the 2016 - (£210/6, 95WA) and this could be the best Lagrange so far.  94-96 from Neal Martin and 95 points from Jane Anson: "I love this wine, one of the most enjoyable of the vintage in St Julien, with a strikingly seductive texture."
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Chateau Gruaud Larose is released at £325 per 6.  This historic estate makes fine St Julien and moreover and always eschewed big price hikes in good and great vintages, keeping prices consistent when others have not. Gruaud Larose has not submitted samples to the critics but recently quality has been very good.  This will certainly be one of the least expensive Second Growths this year!

Offered En Primeur.  Available In Bond UK, Spring 2022.