Angelus 2024 releases at a 30% discount

Benjamin Leroux has become one of the most respected names in Burgundy, quietly redefining what it means to be a négociant in a region rooted in tradition. Born in Beaune and a prodigy of the Lycée Viticole in Dijon, Leroux was appointed régisseur of Domaine Comte Armand in Pommard at just 24. It was there, over more than a decade, that he earned his reputation for precision, restraint, and an intuitive feel for terroir.

In 2007, Benjamin founded his own label with the aim of expressing Burgundy’s diverse appellations through a new kind of négociant model. Rather than purchasing bulk wine, Leroux works closely with growers across the Côte d'Or—many of whom farm organically or biodynamically—to manage the vines and ensure the fruit is harvested to his exacting standards. This allows him to craft wines that are as transparent and site-specific as those from top domaines, despite owning little land himself.

Leroux's portfolio is vast, ranging from Bourgogne Blanc to Grand Crus like Clos de la Roche and Bâtard-Montrachet, but the unifying theme is clarity of expression. Whether from Puligny, Volnay, or Meursault, his whites are taut, mineral, and nuanced, while his reds are lithe, detailed, and wonderfully aromatic. He favours whole-bunch fermentation in his reds when the stems are ripe and manages oak use with subtlety—never letting winemaking overpower terroir.

In the cellar, Leroux’s style is gentle and hands-off. Native yeasts, low sulphur, and minimal fining or filtration reflect his philosophy: that great wine is grown, not made. This commitment has earned him praise from critics and collectors alike, who view his wines as benchmarks for modern, terroir-driven Burgundy.

What sets Benjamin Leroux apart is his ability to combine the rigour of classical Burgundy with a fresh, open-minded sensibility. His wines show restraint but never lack generosity; they are cerebral but deeply pleasurable. In many ways, Leroux represents the future of Burgundy: technically skilled, environmentally conscious, and wholly devoted to revealing the soul of the vineyard. With each vintage, he continues to craft some of the region’s most authentic and compelling wines—wines that speak quietly but with undeniable clarity.

Today we’re offering two standout village cuvées from Benjamin Leroux—Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny—each a perfect introduction to the precision and quiet confidence that define his style. Burgundy scores often lean conservative, but don’t let that distract from the undeniable charm and character of these wines.

If you’ve ever wondered what thoughtful, terroir-driven Burgundy tastes like in the hands of a modern master, this is the perfect opportunity to discover it.

 

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Benjamin Leroux Gevrey-Chambertin 2021

€85* inc VAT per bottle

Fine Wine Library Tasting Note:

A beautifully composed Gevrey-Chambertin with dark cherry, raspberry and a dusting of earthy spice on the nose. The palate is structured yet elegant, delivering fine tannins, lifted acidity and a savoury undertone of forest floor and crushed rock. There’s precision and restraint, but also a quiet power. A refined and terroir-driven expression of Gevrey, this 2021 promises rewarding complexity with a few years in the cellar.

89-91 Points | Jasper Morris MW

Excellent fine bright purple. Clean and fresh, with plenty of red fruit energy. There is a crispness and precision which works really well, small red berries, Now Benjamin gets a lot of fruit from Brochon which really helps. He may do single vineyard bottlings in future. Drink from 2025-2030. Tasted Oct 2022.

 
Benjamin Leroux Chambolle-Musigny 2021

€115* inc VAT per bottle

Fine Wine Library Tasting Note:

This Chambolle-Musigny is graceful and aromatic, with notes of wild strawberry, rose petals, and a delicate touch of spice. The palate is silky and pure, offering a seamless flow of red fruit, subtle minerality, and vibrant acidity. It’s finely etched and supremely elegant, capturing the ethereal charm of the appellation. Benjamin Leroux has delivered a wine of poise and charm—one that will offer pleasure both young and with age.

89-90 Points | Jasper Morris MW

From up and down slope, Véroilles and Les Athets, more the latter this year. Medium colour, rich strawberry notes, though not much whole bunch, jammier fruit on the palate, with an agreeable finish of medium length. Drink from 2025-2030.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

View all wines and vintages of Benjamin Leroux.

The Lafite 2024 Wines are released!

Lafite has listened to the market, releasing at €336 per bottle — a 29% saving compared to the 2023 vintage.

“Rich texture, this stands head and shoulders above many in the vintage, with graphite, crayon, cassis bud rather than exuberant black fruits, this is precise, savoury, delineated, floral, gunsmoke, juicy, captures the effortless elegance that Lafite does so so well, and it totally delivers.” - Jane Anson

The 2024 vintage of Château Lafite Rothschild has arrived with the anticipation and reverence you’d expect for one of Bordeaux’s most iconic names—and it hasn’t disappointed. We’re not going to tell you this is the best Lafite ever made—the 95-point scores speak for themselves. But what we will say, confidently, is that it’s the best value Lafite we’ve seen in years. After our disappointment with Pontet-Canet’s release last week, it’s clear that Lafite has got the price absolutely right.

Last year, Lafite Rothschild 2023 was released at €475 In Bond per bottle.

This year, the 2024 comes out at €336, representing a 29% discount, and one of the most attractive Lafite release prices we’ve seen in the past decade. It’s encouraging to see a leading First Growth respond thoughtfully to market conditions. For context, we’ve included a table below showing the most recent market prices across the last decade.

Now, back to talking about the wine itself. Jane Anson awarded Lafite 2024 an impressive 95 points—one of her highest scores of the vintage—describing it as having a “rich texture” and noting that it “stands head and shoulders above many in the vintage.” While some 2024s have been criticised for lacking body, that wasn’t the case here. As you can see from our photo below, the colour was deep and the wine showed real structure and depth when we tasted it. It also had a glimpse of that Lafite magic.

Our own En Primeur tasting confirmed the impression of a wine built for the long haul. Still somewhat reserved in barrel, the 2024 showed immense potential: layered dark fruit, damson and graphite, with a saline finish and exceptional tension. A true First Growth in every sense, Lafite 2024 reflects the finesse of the estate’s terroir and its mastery in challenging vintages.

Alongside the Grand Vin, we’re also offering the elusive Carruades de Lafite—often more difficult to secure due to its strong price-to-quality ratio and limited availability.

Quantities are limited and demand is, as always, high. A portion is available now on our website on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’d like to request an allocation, need additional stock, or are interested in alternative formats such as 3x150cl, please don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’ll do our best to assist.

 

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Lafite Rothschild 2024

€336* In Bond per bottle

See product page.

95-97 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin
According to Technical Director Eric Kohler, the 2024 Lafite-Rothschild was picked from September 23 to October 7 and underwent a short vinification—less than three weeks—plus a gentle extraction. The blend includes 16% vin de presse. It has an understated and typical Lafite nose with crushed stone infusing the black fruit, black olive tapenade and marine scents. It comes across as statesmanlike, which is just how you want your First Growth, even in a tricky vintage like this. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh saline notes on the entry. Tensile from the start, this has very impressive focus and is a tad more peppery than previous vintages. This is an assured Lafite-Rothschild with a very seaweed/Japanese wakame-tinged finish. Very promising and one of the very few "cerebral" Left Bank wines in 2024.

94-96 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni
The 2024 Lafite-Rothschild is a sensual, elegant wine very much in the style of the year. Plush and enveloping, with lovely forward fruit, the 2024 is very Lafite, perhaps a bit reticent, but super-expressive just the same. Black cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and a kiss of espresso all build in the glass, framed by quintessentially finessed Lafite tannins. The 2024 is sublime. I expect it will be one of the to be one of the top wines in the Médoc when all is said and done.

19+ Points | Matthew Jukes
It’s always lovely to taste with Saskia de Rothschild, and her fabulously chilled-out comment, “This is an early drinking, accessible Lafite for a new clientele”, is certainly accurate, although I am sure old duffers and even middle-aged wine connoisseurs will be queuing up for this vintage, too. Whispers abounded that the Lafite family of wines would be endeavouring to attach CPR pads to the notion of En Primeur purchasing by coming out early and with eye-catching prices. Let’s hope this is borne out because this is not only a wine for newcomers and experts alike, but if this vintage turns out to be anyone’s first sip of this famous First Growth, it is a cosmic place to start. Linear, lithe, cool, chiselled and dynamic, this is a long, pure, pristine wine with hints of sea spray, fresh-picked blueberries and thrillingly carnal new leather nuances among the glorious summer pudding core. There is musicality, levity, grace and direction here, and the very first words at the top of my tasting pad were ‘modern Lafite for a new era’! The control and beauty found are effortless and sensationally well-balanced. The tannins and acidity lose nothing in translation, balancing the medium-weight fruit with trueness and thrilling sense equilibrium. Forget vintage reports, the various trials and tribulations and Lafite’s own running theme of battling through the elements while rounding Cape Horn on a galley; this is quite simply as ‘Lafite’ as any vintage I have tasted in a long while, and the fact that it tastes so singular, identifiable and delicious, makes me love it more. I am awarding a QP here on rumour alone. Let’s hope I don’t delete it in post-production!

95 Points | Jane Anson

Rich texture, this stands head and shoulders above many in the vintage, with graphite, crayon, cassis bud rather than exuberant black fruits, this is precise, savoury, delineated, floral, gunsmoke, juicy, captures the effortless elegance that Lafite does so so well, and it totally delivers. Harvest 23 September to 7 October, 32hl/h yield, above the Pauillac average, 16% press wine included in the blend. Director Eric Kohler's 33rd year in Pauillac. I am giving a slightly earlier begin drinking date, but I am certain this will age exceptionally well as Lafite always does. Slightly earlier starting date for drinking than usual, eight years following harvest.

95 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby, deep core, violet reflections. Fine herbal savouriness, red berryish touch, a hint of cassis, but also red cherries. A touch of oak. On the palate taut, red berryish and fresh, silky tannins, lively acidity, nuances of currant, mineral, delicate and light-footed, a refined food wine with good ageing potential.

91-94 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2024 Lafite Rothschild offers up aromas of minty blackcurrants, violets, incense, loamy soil and cigar box, followed by a medium-bodied, pillowy and open-knit palate built around tangy acids and powdery tannins, concluding with a discreetly herbal finish. Harvest began on September 24 and concluded on October 4, delivering a Lafite in something of a throwback style, nodding to the wines made here in the 1970s.

Fine Wine Library - Tasted En Primeur - April 2024

It was easy to see why Lafite is a 1st Growth. A prominent, complex and deep nose invites you in whilst the savoury, dark fruit, damson, graphite and touch of oak on the palate. Great tension. We wrote “mega” in our tasting book. You could feel that Lafite has more to show and was a bit closed when tasting. It will be exciting to see how it turns out in bottle. Very long structured finish with the hallmark freshness of the 2024 vintage. Tightly packed and saline on the finish. We were torn between Lafite and Mouton and decided that it’s like choosing your favourite child, both were unique and themselves.

 

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Carruades de Lafite 2024

€140* In Bond per bottle

See product page.

92 Points | Jane Anson

Gorgeous deep plum colour, very juicy, extremely well handled, savoury and mouthwatering, cassis bud, roses, crayon, shorter on the finish than a typical Carruades, but this has plenty of subtle pleasure and will be ready to drink sooner than usual. Harvest 23 September to 7 October, 32hl/h yield, 47% of the harvest is in this wine, 12% press.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to cha

 

See all wines and vintages from Lafite Rothschild.

Jean-Marc Burgaud Côte du Py 2022

“This is an exemplary producer at the top of the tree. Tasting through Burgaud’s 2022s from bottle and 2023s from barrel (picked from September 9), there is a sense of sophistication running through nearly every cuvée. Burgaud is a master working in the Côte du Py who can occasionally evoke almost Pinot-like characteristics.” - Neal Martin, Vinous

We love finding wines that overperform in a vintage, and this is certainly one of them.

Jean-Marc Burgaud is one of Beaujolais’ most respected and uncompromising vignerons, known for producing structured, age-worthy wines that transcend the expectations of the region. Based in Morgon, Jean-Marc established his domaine in 1989 and today cultivates around 19 hectares of vines across Beaujolais, Régnié, and Morgon, with a particular focus on the famed Côte du Py. His philosophy is rooted in tradition, precision, and expressing the character of Gamay from each unique terroir.

Burgaud farms organically, with an emphasis on low yields, hand harvesting, and minimal intervention in the cellar. Fermentation takes place with whole clusters and indigenous yeasts in concrete vats, followed by ageing in large old barrels or concrete. The resulting wines are dark-fruited, mineral, and structured—wines that often benefit from a few years in bottle, particularly those from Côte du Py, which are widely recognised as some of the most cellar-worthy wines in Beaujolais.

While many in the region chase approachability, Burgaud’s wines stand apart for their seriousness and longevity. His meticulous approach and deep understanding of his vineyards have earned him a devoted following among sommeliers and collectors alike, and his wines continue to define the potential of cru Beaujolais at the highest level.

For those who haven’t tried the wines, the 2022 Côte du Py is the perfect entry point. In a recent Decanter report on the Morgon Cru in Beaujolais, Burgaud’s Côte du Py 2022 stood head and shoulders above the rest, with a 97-point score, beating Lapierre, Foillard, and Guy Breton, to name a few of the great names from the region. Decanter’s praise is further supported by Neal Martin, who scores the wine a very respectable 94 points.

Coming in at an accessible €21.50* IB per bottle, this is a wine you’ll want to add a case or two of to your collection.

 

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Jean-Marc Burgaud Côte du Py 2022

€21.50* In Bond per bottle

 

97 Points | Decanter, Charles Curtis MW

This delightful wine has a ripe blueberry and blackberry fruit character with pronounced floral notes on the initial attack. It has an impressively dense and tightly wound texture on the palate, yet the feel is elegant and not heavy. Burgaud notes that this is the highest elevation of his sites (at 370m) and the coolest; the vines were planted in 1933 in granite soils on the plateau that borders Régnié, sloping gently toward the south. Drinking Window: 2028 - 2040

94 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2022 Morgon Côte du Py has an absolutely delightful bouquet. Much more charming than the Corcelette, it shows exquisite delineation with perfumed, mineral-laced red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, very focused with a touch of Indian spice toward the detailed finish. This has a long life ahead. It’s so refined and elegant. Drinking Window: 2026 - 2040

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

View all the wines from Jean-Marc Burgaud

Taaibosch Crescendo 2020

“There have arguably been few more exciting new releases on the South African wine scene recently than the resurrection of the fabled Crescendo Cape Bordeaux red blend by winemaker Schalk Willem Joubert and the team at Taaibosch” - Greg Sherwood MW

Taaibosch Crescendo is one of the most exciting Bordeaux-style wines emerging from Stellenbosch’s revered Helderberg region. It must surely be one of the most captivating stories to emerge from the Cape winelands in the past decade—the resurrection of one of South Africa’s most famous wines, the Cordoba Crescendo, originally made legendary by Chris Keet in the mid to late 1990s. For many, drinking a bottle of Crescendo 1995 ranked among the pinnacles of local fine wine experiences—until the winery suddenly disappeared.

Now, under the guidance of winemaker Schalk-Willem Joubert, the legacy has been revived with extraordinary precision. As Greg Sherwood MW notes, “There have arguably been few more exciting new releases on the South African wine scene recently than the resurrection of the fabled Crescendo Cape Bordeaux red blend by winemaker Schalk Willem Joubert and the team at Taaibosch.” Grown on the cool, rocky slopes of the Helderberg, the vineyards benefit from altitude, sea breezes, and maritime soils, which lend finesse and freshness to the wines.

The Crescendo blend—led by Cabernet Franc, with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon—is vinified with a light touch, prioritising purity over power. Silky tannins, floral aromatics, and vibrant fruit define the style. Though it honours the past, Taaibosch is firmly focused on the future, now considered one of South Africa’s most exciting fine wine estates.

Fermentation takes place in a mix of cement tanks and stainless steel, followed by full malolactic conversion in 100% cement. Once the base blend is assembled, the wine spends 13 months ageing in 225-litre French oak barriques, with around 30% new oak. After this, 70% of the wine is transferred to large oak foudres for a further 12 to 13 months, while the remaining 30% continues ageing in cement tanks to preserve freshness.

We are very excited to present the 2020 vintage, the third release of this remarkable wine. Scoring 97 points from Tim Atkin MW and offered at just €24.95* IB per bottle, this is extraordinary value for a wine of such pedigree and precision. With its roots in one of South Africa’s greatest fine wine stories and its future firmly secured, Taaibosch Crescendo 2020 is a must-have for any serious cellar. Don't miss the chance to secure it while you can.

 

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Taaibosch Crescendo 2020

€24.95* In Bond per bottle

97 Points | Tim Atkin MW

The price of Taaibosch has gone up by 25%, but it's still a comparative bargain in its peer group. A red that has established an enviable reputation in just three vintages, this sings of its site on the corner of the Helderberg. Partnering Cabernet Franc with 26% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, it's another triumph from Schalk-Willem Joubert. Elegant, detailed and refreshing, it's a wine that doesn't seem to be trying too hard, with graphite, fynbos and sea breeze aromas, subtle 30% new wood and a layered palate of fresh herbs, cassis and black cherry. 2025-35

93 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2020 Crescendo contains more Merlot and less Cabernet Franc this vintage because one vat was picked too ripe—winemaker Shalk Joubert felt that it risked altering the style of the wine too much. It matured in 25% new oak for 14 months, then went into 75% foudres and 25% cement for a year. It has a glorious, wonderfully delineated bouquet with ebullient cranberry and raspberry scents, hints of dark chocolate and a touch of peppermint. The palate is medium-bodied and pure with slightly grainy tannins and minty red fruit, beautifully balanced with a svelte and harmonious finish. Very stylish, this is a classy Stellenbosch Bordeaux blend that represents outstanding value for the money.

 

See all available wines and vintages of Taaibosch

Leoville Barton 2019: A Modern version of 1985

“Like its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for patient connoisseurs. […] Could it be a more concentrated modern-day version of Anthony Barton's brilliant 1985?” - Wine Advocate

We've long been a fan of Leoville Barton and we think the 2019 vintage belongs in your cellar, let us tell you why!

Classified as a Second Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, just behind icons like Mouton, Lafite, and Haut-Brion, Léoville Barton has earned an exceptional reputation. Loved by wine enthusiasts worldwide, the estate is celebrated for maintaining consistent pricing while delivering top-quality wines. Often referred to as a "Super Second," it stands as one of the most sought-after wineries in its category.

The 2019 En Primeur campaign will be remembered for its timing, released amidst the economic uncertainty of COVID-19’s first wave. In response, Bordeaux estates set sensible pricing for their exceptionally high-scoring wines. We've secured a competitive parcel priced at €79.50 In Bond per bottle, with perfect provenance, still stored in Bordeaux.

In 2019, Léoville Barton shines as a prime example of this historic Saint-Julien estate’s mastery in crafting classic, structured wines. From a vintage renowned for balance and precision, this wine exemplifies the powerful yet refined qualities that have earned Léoville Barton a loyal following among collectors.

The 2019 vintage has been highly praised, receiving top scores in both En Primeur tastings and subsequent bottle reviews. With 97 points, this is the joint highest-scoring Léoville Barton, standing alongside the 2016 and surpassing other notable vintages like 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2010. Only the legendary 1945 vintage surpasses it with 98 points.

Comparison of the top-scoring vintages as scored by the Wine Advocate:

So if you missed it En Primeur, now’s the time to make it right—this is Léoville Barton at its absolute best, and it’s ready to reward a decade or more of patience. Grab them whilst stocks last!

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"Like its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for patient connoisseurs." - 97 Points, Wine Advocate

"Big rich, powerful wine with pencil lead precision. This is a brilliant wine, I loved it En Primeur and it is delivering on expectations." - 97 Points, Jane Anson

"The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Barton is brilliant, showing both the style of the estate as well as the vintage beautifully. It's never the biggest or richest wine, yet it has a classic, vibrant, structured style that ages beautifully. " - 97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

 

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Leoville Barton 2019 

€79.50* In Bond per bottle

 

98 Points | The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2019 Leoville Barton is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a fait bit of swirling to coax out wonderfully pure notes of blackcurrant jelly, wild blueberries, and boysenberries, followed by hints of tar, lavender, crushed rocks, and fragrant soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is an exercise in elegance, with very fine-grained, silt-like tannins and beautiful tension framing the highly nuanced black fruits, finishing very long and fantastically layered.

97 Points | Wine Advocate

Like its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for patient connoisseurs. Offering up aromas of blackcurrants, plums, pencil shavings and licorice, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, its deep core of fruit framed by a chassis of rich, powdery tannin that makes itself felt on the youthfully firm finish. While it's clearly built for the long haul, its structural seamlessness and mid-palate plenitude mark it out as one of the finest wines from this château in recent times. Could it be a more concentrated modern-day version of Anthony Barton's brilliant 1985?

97 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2019 Léoville Barton has a powerful and comparatively rich bouquet with layers of black fruit suffused with minerals - wonderful delineation. This has an effortlessness about it. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, gorgeous satin-like texture, mineral-driven with hints of truffle and white pepper towards the exceedingly harmonious finish. I thought this was outstanding before - now I think it might be a benchmark. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

97 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

Big rich, powerful wine with pencil lead precision. This is a brilliant wine, I loved it En Primeur and it is delivering on expectations. It's big, as is Langoa in this vintage, with damson and black cherry fruits, and tons of gourmet notes from brioche to bacon rind to chocolate shavings. The tannins are going to need a good decade to soften, but when it is ready, this is going to be such a fun wine to share with friends.

97 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Barton is brilliant, showing both the style of the estate as well as the vintage beautifully. It's never the biggest or richest wine, yet it has a classic, vibrant, structured style that ages beautifully. Pure cassis, black currants, scorched earth, new leather, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a lively spine of acidity, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. This textbook Léoville Barton demands a decade of bottle age and will keep for 30-40 years.

97 Points | Decanter

A dark nose here, savoury with animal tones, bramble fruits and leather nuances. The palate is excellent, grippy with tannins that just take hold and coat the mouth but underneath you feel there is such well defined fruit - a core of ripe blackcurrants and liquorice tinges. There is an elegance to this despite the mouthful of creamy tannins that are doing all the talking at the moment. This will be excellent in time. Sumptuous and utterly enchanting.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

See all available wines and vintages of Leoville Barton.

Back vintage offer: Branaire-Ducru 2022

“One of the standouts of the vintage that impressed equally on three different occasions. […] Exceptional quality and drinkability on offer with a delicious salty, graphite and flint finish that puts you at the estate. Overlook this at your peril” - Decanter, Georgina Hindle

One of the pleasures of tasting En Primeur at Chateau Branaire-Ducru is their thoughtful approach to showing wines: each visit includes not just the latest release, but also the two preceding vintages. It’s a rare opportunity to track the evolution of the wine and see how it develops in bottle—a true window into the estate’s consistency and style.

We started with the 2024 and went backwards to the 2023, then the 2022 and with each vintage, the wine got more serious and fuller bodied. The 2022 vintage is the best they have ever produced at this address, and it certainly showed in real life. The wine took us by surprise—in the best way. We were genuinely impressed.

Critics agree: both Decanter and Jeb Dunnuck awarded the 2022 vintage 97 points, praising it as a “concentrated, flawlessly balanced Saint-Julien” and “one of the standouts of the vintage that impressed equally on three different occasions.” These are among the highest scores Branaire-Ducru has ever received, and well deserved.

We’ve secured a small parcel of this exceptional 2022 to offer today. Like many wines from the stronger Bordeaux vintages, it will benefit from time in the cellar, but the potential here is clear. At €47 In Bond per bottle, this is undoubtedly one of the smartest buys of the 2022 campaign. Don’t miss it.

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Branaire-Ducru 2022

€47* In Bond per bottle

 

97 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Darker currants, leafy herbs, graphite, tobacco, and subtle orange zest-like nuances all emerge from the 2022 Château Branaire-Ducru, a ripe, concentrated, flawlessly balanced Saint-Julien. With medium to full-bodied richness, a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, and plenty of tannins, it's another no-brainer of a 2022 that readers will love to have in their cellar. The 2022 is 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in oak.

97 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

One of the standouts of the vintage that impressed equally on three different occasions. Fragrant and expressive on the nose, lovely scents and dark fruits. Smooth and crisp, silky but concentrated, such precision and detail straight away with succulent and juicy acidity. There’s concentration no doubt, it’s ripe and intense, the dark perfumed blackcurrants and black cherries give a serious backbone and tension to the wine, while the minty, stony freshness carries the flavour and gives the energy and definition. Excellently weighted on the palate, with structure and a mouthwatering sensation that comes in once the weight settles. So well constructed with a beautiful texture and overall integration of all the elements. Exceptional quality and drinkability on offer with a delicious salty, graphite and flint finish that puts you at the estate. Overlook this at your peril. 2.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.65pH. Harvest 12 - 24 September. 60% grand vin production. A yield of 34hl/ha. Tasted three times. This vintage was the first to be made 100% in the new cellar with double the number of vats than were available in 2020 for more precise fermentations. HVE3 certified. Harvest 12 September - 24 September.

96 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2022 Branaire Ducru, bottled mid-June, was one of the most impressive I tasted from barrel. It retains a wonderful bouquet with more red fruit compared to its peers, hints of iodine and a touch of desiccated orange peel. The wine shows fine, almost clinical delineation. It is medium-bodied with an extremely well balanced palate, slightly powdery tannins and a sense of tension and brightness that, like some of the best Saint-Juliens in 2022, puts it above the 2019 or 2020. Quite linear and mineral-driven towards the sapid finish, this is a classic Branaire-Ducru that will age with style in bottle.

96 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

The 2022 Branaire-Ducru has turned out just as brilliantly as I had hoped. Offering up a deep bouquet of crème de cassis and blackberries mingled with pencil shavings, burning embers and cigar box, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and unctuous, with a rich core of fruit, lively acids and sweet structuring tannins. Iterated and complete, it concludes with a long, broad finish. This blend of 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot is worth a special effort to seek out.

96 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

This is an estate that can be so understated as to almost miss its complexity, but this vintage, with its excess and exuberance, does a wonderful job of drawing it out. The concentration is impressive, but there you'll also find a softness and balance that is juicy and enticing. Great job Branaire Ducru. Francois Xavier Maroteaux owner. I honestly think the best example of this chateau that I have ever tasted En Primeur (and god I hate it when critics say that).

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

See all available wines and vintages of Branaire-Ducru.

From the son of Charly Foucault of Clos Rougear, Domaine du Collier ranks among the top producers in the Loire. Their Saumur La Charpentrie is considered to be an unofficial Grand Cru site in the Loire.

Antoine Foucault, son of the late Charly Foucault of Clos Rougeard, had long been preparing—alongside his partner Caroline—to take over the revered family estate. But following his father’s death, the Clos Rougeard was unexpectedly sold by his uncle, ending that dream. Though the loss still lingers, Antoine and Caroline channelled their experience and passion into building something of their own. In fact, the pair founded Domaine du Collier in 1999, releasing their first vintage the following year to critical acclaim in the French wine press. Today, the domaine ranks among the top producers in the Loire, its reputation built on soulful, age-worthy wines and meticulous, low-intervention farming.

The domaine comprises seven hectares of some of Saumur’s most beautiful terroirs, primarily planted to Chenin Blanc, with a small portion of Cabernet Franc. Most of the vines are old—some over a century in age—and are tended organically. Antoine's winemaking philosophy is rooted in minimal intervention and gentle élevage. Fermentations take place using indigenous yeasts, followed by long ageing in a subterranean network of cold limestone cellars 40 metres below ground, where the wines slowly evolve over 12 to 24 months in a mix of new and one-year-old barrels. They are bottled without fining or filtration, allowing each cuvée to express its site with purity and precision.

The domaine’s Saumur whites are among the most refined in the Loire, particularly the Saumur Blanc and Saumur Charpentrie Blanc.

The Saumur Blanc is sourced from 2.5 hectares on the coteaux of Brézé, where Chenin Blanc vines aged between 18 and 70 years grow on clay-limestone soils over tuffeau. Yields are modest—just 30 hl/ha—resulting in wines of tension, energy, and mineral drive.

The Charpentrie, meanwhile, comes from a tiny parcel in the lieu-dit ‘La Charpentrie’, where 100-year-old vines produce fruit of incredible concentration and structure. Widely regarded as an undesignated grand cru of Saumur, this site yields a wine of rare depth and precision, marked by citrus oil, crushed stone, and saline complexity.

Both wines are intricate, balanced, and quietly powerful—hallmarks of a domaine that continues to honour its legacy while forging its own remarkable path. We have a small amount of both wines, the Saumur Blanc from 2018 and the Charpentrie from 2014 with 10 years of age on it!

These wines have been stored perfectly in the Netherlands since release and come with perfect provenance and a competitive price tag on them, these are not bottles you come across every day.

 

 

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Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc 2018

€65* inc VAT per bottle

94 Points | Vinous, Rebecca Gibb MW

The 2018 Saumur Blanc, which Antoine Foucault refers to as his domaine white, is a salty wine as if someone gave a generous twist of the salt shaker, but that's soils of Brézé for you. It's refined with less tension than 2017 due to the season's warmth, making it approachable from release. Intriguingly floral, with honeydew melon, a whiff of smokiness (likely from Desaux barrels) and grilled nuts, alongside a pastry note. Long and classy.

 

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Domaine du Collier Saumur La Charpentrie Blanc 2014

€119* inc VAT per bottle

Fine Wine Library Tasting Note:

The 2014 Saumur Blanc La Charpentrie is a beautifully mature Chenin Blanc that reveals the full elegance of Antoine Foucault’s understated winemaking and the singular terroir of Brézé. The nose opens with layers of preserved lemon, chamomile, and dried orchard fruit, followed by subtle notes of crushed chalk, beeswax, and a gentle oxidative nuance reminiscent of salted almonds. On the palate, the wine is silken and composed, offering a seamless balance between richness and tension. There's a quiet power beneath the surface—racy acidity and a fine mineral thread carry flavours of quince, citrus oil, and savoury herbs through to a long, chalky finish. Now a decade from vintage, the 2014 is entering a glorious drinking window, combining the textural depth of bottle age with the lifted precision that defines this remarkable site. A wine of grace, depth, and quiet persistence.

95 Points | Wine Advocate, Tasted October 2021

Bottled in November 2017, Collier's 2014 Saumur Blanc La Charpentrie is concentrated, deep and ripe on the clear nose. Intense and powerful but elegant on the palate, this is a firmly structured, dense and textured, highly complex and sustainable Chenin from 100-year-old vines. Impressive.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

See all available wines and vintages of Domaine du Collier.

 Incredible Value: Le Cinciole Single Vineyard Chianti 2020’s

"One of the leading estates in all of Italy... Readers should do everything they can to check out these new releases." - Antonio Galloni on the 2020’s

Le Cinciole, nestled in the heart of Chianti Classico near Panzano, is a standout estate celebrated for its commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture, producing authentic expressions of Sangiovese. Founded in 1991 by husband-and-wife team Valeria Viganò and Luca Orsini, the estate spans 30 hectares of high-altitude vineyards, olive groves, and forest, cultivated with respect for the environment. Recognised by Antonio Galloni as "one of the leading estates in all of Italy," Le Cinciole neighbours prestigious producers like Fontodi and Castello dei Rampolla. Their hands-off approach includes fermentation in cement and ageing in a mix of casks and French oak barrels, with a shift to larger formats enhancing the wines' vibrant, terroir-driven character.

The 2020 vintage in Tuscany offered elegance and balance, with fresh acidity, fine tannins, and vibrant fruit thanks to a cooler, more traditional growing season. Le Cinciole excelled in this vintage, with both featured wines earning 97 points from Antonio Galloni of Vinous, who urged: “Readers should do everything they can to check out these new releases.” These are benchmark examples of Chianti Classico’s new wave—elegant, site-driven, and outstanding value.

Aluigi is Le Cinciole’s flagship Gran Selezione, sourced from the stony Campo ai Peri vineyard at 450 metres in Panzano. Made from 100% Sangiovese, it’s fermented naturally in cement and aged 24 months in large French oak. The 2020 vintage is richly layered with red fruit, floral lift, and silky tannins—expressing the vineyard’s altitude and galestro soils with poise, precision, and striking mineral finesse.

Petresco is a pure Sangiovese cuvée from Le Cinciole’s oldest, steepest parcels in Panzano. Though classified as Toscana IGT, it’s built like a Riserva—fermented with native yeasts in cement, then aged two years in large oak and one in bottle. The 2020 is savoury and structured, with earthy tones, dried herbs, and a lifted, translucent quality that reflects both the site’s rocky terroir and the estate’s restrained, hands-off style.

We’ve been fans of Le Cinciole since 2016, and in 2020 they’ve truly outdone themselves – outshining the big names with scores on par with Solaia and Sassicaia. Incredibly, their Aluigi even edges out neighbour Flaccianello by a point. Yet these wines come in at a fraction of the price. With a small parcel just landed direct from the winery and now in stock, this is a rare chance to grab serious quality at unbeatable value.

We can’t recommend them enough.

 

“Valeria Viganò and Luca Orsini have quietly turned Le Cinciole into one of the leading estates in all of Italy. Biodynamic farming and a minimalist aesthetic in the cellar inform wines of tremendous character and pedigree. Long aging seems especially well suited to these reds. Readers should do everything they can to check out these new releases.” - Antonio Galloni on the 2020’s

 

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 Le Cinciole Chianti Classico Aluigi Gran Selezione 2020

97 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Aluigi Campo ai Peri is 100% Sangiovese from a single vineyard in Panzano that faces Lamole. It spent two years in cask and a third year in a larger cask. Rich, sumptuous and beautifully layered, the 2020 is all class, all refinement. Silky tannins, expressive red-toned Sangiovese fruit and lifted, soaring aromatics give the 2020 tons of finesse. This sensual Gran Selezione is lights out.

 
Le Cinciole Petresco Toscana 2020

97 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2020 Petresco is 100% Sangiovese from the estate's highest-elevation blocks facing Lamole, where soils are especially rocky and the vines are older. Wildflowers, herbs, rocks, menthol and licorice soar out of the glass. This is an especially savory, expressive Sangiovese that emphasizes mineral and floral notes more than primary fruit. Petresco spent two years in 60-70% cask and the rest in barrique, followed by a year in cement. It remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Italy. Magnificent.

 

See all wines and vintages of Le Cinciole

2023 Alheit Fire By Night

97 Points - “This has a breathtaking mineral-driven bouquet, with struck flint and just a touch of reduction. Captivating!”- Neal Martin

Alheit Vineyards, founded by Chris and Suzaan Alheit, has quickly become a benchmark for South African white wine, especially for site-specific expressions of Chenin Blanc. Their focus on old-vine, dry-farmed vineyards—coupled with a minimalist, terroir-first approach in the cellar—has positioned them at the forefront of the Cape’s new wave. Each wine in the range tells the story of a single place, with remarkable clarity and detail, showcasing the potential of the Cape’s diverse soils and climates.

Fire by Night 2023 is sourced from the Alheits’ own Nuwedam farm on the granitic slopes of the Paardeberg, with vines planted between 1971 and 1985. The wine is taut and focused, with an unmistakable sense of place. Aromatically, it offers a flinty, mineral-driven bouquet with hints of struck match, fennel, oatmeal, and thatch, backed by subtle wood spice. On the palate, it’s precise and sapid, with racy acidity, fine texture, and notes of lemongrass and ginger unfolding across a long, mouth-watering finish. Aged in a mix of cement eggs and foudres, this is a brilliant expression of Paardeberg Chenin—restrained, detailed, and built to age.

Today we have a limited number of bottles of the 2023 Fire by Night 2023 which has scored a double 97-Points score from Tim Atkin and Neal Martin. Neal Martin writes that Alheit’s “2023s surpass his 2022s, which means they are quite brilliant, especially the Fire By Night […] Alheit’s wines represent the apex of contemporary Cape winemaking, infused with character, nuance and expression of place without a sense of conformity. No wonder that allocations are rapidly snapped up.”

With just a handful of bottles available, this is a rare chance to secure one of the Cape’s most compelling Chenin Blancs in a vintage already being hailed as a modern benchmark. If you’re a fan of mineral-driven whites with real ageing potential, Fire by Night 2023 deserves a place in your cellar—before it disappears from ours.

 

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Alheit Vineyards Fire by Night 2023

€45.95* inc NL VAT per bottle

97 Points | Tim Atkin MW

Fire by Night comes from the Alheits' Newudam farm, made with grapes from parcels planted between 1972 and 1985 on the Paardeberg. You can taste the granite here, as well as the intensity of dry-farmed old vines: focused, taut and concentrated, with fennel, oatmeal and thatch aromas, subtle wood spices and a flinty, mouth-watering finish. 2025-35

97 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2023 Fire by Night, which comes from dry-farmed bush vines planted between 1971 and 1985 on Alheit's farm in the Paardeberg in Swartland, was whole-cluster-pressed and settled overnight. It was aged half in cement egg and half in foudres for 12 months. This has a breathtaking mineral-driven bouquet, with struck flint and just a touch of reduction. Captivating! The palate is very well balanced with a taut line of acidity. Sapid in the mouth and judiciously spiced with lemongrass and ginger, it fans out beautifully on the finish. It's a stunning Fire By Night.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

See all available wines and vintages of Alheit