Maya Dalla Valle - Vinous' Winemaker of the Year 2025 - Top Napa Cab

2018 Pichon Baron - A Super Second of Bordeaux First Growth quality

There is real value to be found in Bordeaux right now, and opportunities like this do not come around often. We have secured a well-priced parcel of the Super Second Château Pichon Baron, a long-standing favourite of ours, sourced directly from Bordeaux and offered at a level that demands attention.

100 points - Wine Enthusiast
“This great estate in southern Pauillac, facing the Latour vineyard, is at the top of its game”

Chateau Pichon Baron stands as one of Pauillac’s great benchmarks, a Super Second that increasingly brushes First Growth territory. Sitting opposite Latour and bordering Pichon Lalande on the Pauillac plateau, the estate’s deep gravel soils are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon of real authority, delivering structure, depth and longevity with unmistakable Left Bank precision. Under AXA Millesimes and long-time technical director Jean-Rene Matignon, quality has risen relentlessly, cementing Pichon Baron’s elite status.

The 2018 vintage captures the estate at full stride. This is Pauillac turned up to volume, yet delivered with control and finesse. Dense Cabernet fruit, graphite, cigar box and dark cherry sit at the core, framed by ripe, polished tannins and lifted by freshness and subtle floral notes. The warmth of the year brings scale and richness, but balance and restraint keep everything finely judged. Powerful, confident and unapologetically ageworthy, this is a monumental Pichon Baron that will reward patience.

Critics agree. Wine Enthusiast awarded a perfect 100 points, with Decanter close behind at 99 points, while Galloni and Dunnuck both highlight its sophistication and long-term promise. It also ranks among Jean-Rene Matignon’s finest achievements before his retirement, marking the peak of a hugely successful era at the estate.

Opportunities like this are becoming rarer. We have secured a well-priced parcel direct from Bordeaux, now offered below original release levels, making this one of the most compelling Pauillac buys currently available.

For collectors seeking serious Cabernet, top-tier terroir and genuine long-term value, Pichon Baron 2018 is an easy decision for the cellar.

Pichon Baron 2018

€129* In Bond per bottle

Add to Cellar - BUY

100 Points | Wine Enthusiast, Roger Voss

This great estate in southern Pauillac, facing the Latour vineyard, is at the top of its game. In this release, the tannins are as impressive and dense as the black fruits. Together they form a harmonious ensemble, richly structured, concentrated from the many old vines in the blend, and very ageworthy. Drink from 2027

99 Points | Decanter, Yohan Castaing

Generous aromatics of dark berry fruit, caramel, and spice are clear indicators of a warm vintage, but there are also floral notes and no heaviness whatsoever. There is juicy, savoury substance on the palate, sustained by gossamer tannins of surprising delicacy, but lurking underneath is the power so characteristic of this vintage. A few years of cellaring will be needed for the terroir expression to hit its stride.

98 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Incredibly dark in color, the wine pops with Cuban cigar, cedar, herbs, tobacco leaf, red and black currants, forest floor and peppery spice box aromas. This could be the most concentrated, powerful vintage of Pichon Baron ever produced. The wine is very concentrated, full and deep. Yet, with all this depth of flavor, everything remains perfectly balanced. The tannins are ripe. Full-bodied and lush on the palate, with layers of sweet, ripe, dark red fruits in the finish, the wine really sticks with you. Jean-Rene Matignon feels this is his best vintage. I am not sure I agree. But if it is not, it is damn close to it! The wine blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. Due to its immense power, this is the only vintage of Pichon Baron aged in 100% new oak, however, the oak is already fully integrated into the wine.

97+ Points | Jeb Dunnuck

A beautiful, majestic Pauillac that reminds me a little of the 2000, the 2018 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. It shows the estate's more pure Cabernet, focused, elegant style yet offers full-bodied richness and serious depth of fruit as well as awesome notes of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and wet stone-like minerality. With building tannins, a fresh, focused texture, and a great finish, it's not for those looking for instant gratification, and I suspect it will need a solid decade or more of cellaring, but it will evolve for 50 years or more. It's a profound 2018.

97 points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

Suave and sophisticated, the 2018 Pichon Baron is a real head-turner. Silky, polished tannins wrap around a core of inky dark red/purplish berry fruit. More than anything else, the 2018 impresses for its exceptional balance. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. That will make the 2018 easy to drink relatively early, although my preference would be to leave it in the cellar for the better part of the next decade. Rose petal, spice, blood orange and mint add brightness and perfume on the long, finely-knit finish.

96+ Points | Wine Advocate

The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, aged for 18 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% one year old. Production of the grand vin represents 50% of the harvest this year. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose bursts from the glass with flamboyant scents of stewed black plums, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake, plus suggestions of Indian spices, unsmoked cigars, pencil shavings and espresso. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers impactful black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and spicy.

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

View all wines from Pichon Baron

2022 Sassicaia - Italy's most iconic wine

97+ Points - Wine Advocate
“The Tenuta San Guido 2022 Bolgheri Sassicaia reveals a beautiful fruit profile with fresh blackberry, tart cherry and Mediterranean tones of blue rosemary blooms and lavender sachet. I tasted this wine several times over the course of a few months, and it has already shown a happy evolution coming into slow focus like the faint colors that emerge from a Polaroid photograph."

97 Points – Decanter

“The wine is tightly coiled and concentrated. It feels almost cinched at the waist, with a fascinating tension between the weight of raspberry, blackberry and strawberry coulis fruit and the wine's verticality, as if it's trying to burst out”

Sassicaia is one of the world’s most iconic wines, a Cabernet-based Super Tuscan with a proven track record for quality, longevity and elegance. The 2022 release follows the exceptional 2021 and had big shoes to fill, but it does so with remarkable poise.

Despite the hot, dry conditions of the vintage, the 2022 Sassicaia is anything but heavy. Sourced from hillside vineyards in Bolgheri and benefiting from the region’s cooling sea breezes and surrounding woodland, the wine retains exceptional freshness and balance. Clocking in at just 13.5% alcohol, it’s a chiselled, structured release defined by aromatic lift, energy and restraint.

Critics have praised the wine’s vibrant redcurrant fruit, wild herbs, sandalwood and Mediterranean florals, all wrapped in fine, savoury tannins. Tightly coiled for now but built for the long haul, the 2022 will require patience, but those who wait will be handsomely rewarded.

With 98 points from James Suckling and very respectable 97+ Points from Monica Larner, Audrey Frick and others, this vintage stands as a testament to Sassicaia’s resilience, refinement and continued mastery in Bolgheri.

The 2022 Sassicaia is a refined, structured release, praised for its aromatic lift and impressive tension. Despite a hot, dry year, the wine retains freshness and precision, with notes of redcurrant, herbs, sandalwood, and Mediterranean flora. Tightly wound but with immense promise, critics agree it will reward patience. With 97-98 points from leading voices, including James Suckling and Monica Larner, this vintage is a testament to Sassicaia’s resilience, elegance, and continued mastery in Bolgheri.

Stocks are extremely limited, and demand is usually high, especially without any tie-in requirements. A rare chance to secure Sassicaia at a sharp price. Don’t miss it.

The wine is available on the website – first-come, first-served.

San Guido Sassicaia 2022

€220* In Bond per bottle

Add to Cellar - BUY

98 Points | James Suckling

Plenty of red currant, cedar, iron and terra cotta aromas follow through to a medium to full body with graphite, sandalwood, red currants and fresh Mediterranean herbs such as thyme and rosemary. The tannins are chewy but polished in texture. This is a Sassicaia that needs three or four years of bottle age to come together and soften. A structured wine for the cellar. Try after 2029.

97+ Points | Wine Advocate, Monica Larner

The Tenuta San Guido 2022 Bolgheri Sassicaia reveals a beautiful fruit profile with fresh blackberry, tart cherry and Mediterranean tones of blue rosemary blooms and lavender sachet. I tasted this wine several times over the course of a few months, and it has already shown a happy evolution coming into slow focus like the faint colors that emerge from a Polaroid photograph. Indeed, the bouquet appeared more closed just a short while ago. The wine's strongest suit is its elegantly streamlined mouthfeel and its contained 13.5% alcohol content. These qualities add to the silky cleanness of the mouthfeel and the accessible freshness of this vintage. I am confident that this bottle will improve with time. It requires patience.

97+ Points | Jeb Dunnuck, Audrey Frick

The 2022 Sassicaia is a deeper, youthful magenta/red color with a slightly deeper aromatic profile of rosemary, gravelly earth, sage, mossy earth, and fresh black cherries. The palate has slightly broader shoulders but remains elegant. It has more plushness on the mid-palate, while its acidity shines through with the finish. It will need several years to shed its baby fat and show its full potential. Drink 2028-2058.

97 Points | Decanter, James Button

The wine is tightly coiled and concentrated. It feels almost cinched at the waist, with a fascinating tension between the weight of raspberry, blackberry and strawberry coulis fruit and the wine's verticality, as if it's trying to burst out. Lovely mid-palate sapidity is allied to fresh acidity and fine but dense tannins, making for a dark horse of a Sassicaia that isn't giving much away today but will greatly reward those who can cellar it for 12 years and more. ‘What is sure is that 2022 will need a lot of time, but will also have a long life,’ said Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta. A hot vintage, 2022 caused the team to work in the newly completed refrigerated warehouses in San Guido, even moving the sorting table inside. Shorter macerations and 23 rather than the more typical 24 or 25 months of ageing in wood helped to maximise the freshness.

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

View all wines from San Guido / Sassicaia

2023 Damascene Syrah 2023 - a hot vintage release:

98 Points - Tim Atkin MW
“This amazing Syrah used to have a 10% component from the Bottelary Hills, but is now a pure expression of the Karibib farm in the Polkadraai Hills, already the source of some of the Cape's best reds. Matured in large foudres to give the site maximum expression, it has aromas of lavender, rosemary and incense, effortless concentration, blackberry, liquorice and tapenade flavours and remarkable energy, vibrancy and focus.”

We sat down for lunch with Jean Smit of Damascene last October to taste the 2023s and have been eagerly awaiting this allocation ever since. Damascene may feel like a recent arrival, but the confidence and clarity of the wines suggest a project already hitting its stride. These are serious, terroir-driven Cape wines that remain, for now, very sensibly priced. We strongly encourage South African wine fans to take note and get ahead of the curve.

Founded in 2017 by winemaker Jean Smit and David Curl, Damascene has quickly established itself as one of South Africa’s most exciting modern estates. The focus is firmly on cool-climate Syrah, Cabernet Franc and site-expressive Chenin Blanc, drawn from some of the Cape’s best vineyards. The style is one of precision and restraint, prioritising freshness, texture and transparency over sheer power. International attention has followed swiftly, culminating in Tim Atkin placing Damascene in his coveted ‘First Growth’ category in the 2023 South Africa report.

Jean Smit’s pedigree runs deep. His experience spans DuMOL in California, Stephane Ogier in Côte Rôtie, Larkmead and Rustenberg, before nearly a decade leading the winemaking at Boekenhoutskloof. That background shows clearly in the cellar.

Fermentations are natural, whole clusters are often used, and élevage takes place in large Austrian oak foudres and concrete tulip vats, followed by rest in concrete to harmonise the wines. A submerged cap approach, inspired by Jamet and also adopted at Porseleinberg, enhances purity, finesse and vineyard expression. Jean Smit highlights that his submerged cap is about as deep as his arm length.

When Tim Atkin MW released his South Africa 2025 report, one of the top wines of the report was Damascene Stellenbosch Syrah 2023, awarded 98 points, the same score as Eben Sadie’s Columella. When we tasted it last October, the wine showed striking purity, finely etched tannins and lifted floral aromas layered with oriental spice. Freshness and energy run through the core, a clear Damascene signature. It’s 75% whole cluster.

Damascene is sure to be a future icon in the making, so get in on allocations whilst they are available and reasonably priced!

Neal Martin summarised it nicely for us: “this is one of the best Syrahs you will find from Stellenbosch”

Damascene Stellenbosch Syrah 2023

€41.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

Add to Cellar - BUY

“If South Africa has a Grand Cru Syrah site, it is arguably Karibib, the main source of this superb red from Jean Smit”, wrote Tim Aktin on the 2021 vintage

98 Points | Tim Atkin MW

This amazing Syrah used to have a 10% component from the Bottelary Hills, but is now a pure expression of the Karibib farm in the Polkadraai Hills, already the source of some of the Cape's best reds. Matured in large foudres to give the site maximum expression, it has aromas of lavender, rosemary and incense, effortless concentration, blackberry, liquorice and tapenade flavours and remarkable energy, vibrancy and focus. 2027-35

95 Ponts | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2023 Syrah Stellenbosch comes from the Karibib Vineyard. It was vinified with 75% whole clusters, with light pump-overs conducted twice a year without breaking the berries. This has a sophisticated, garrigue-scented bouquet that is very seductive, complex and beautifully defined, just like the previous vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, allowing that garrigue note to blossom with aeration. Very poised and persistent through the finish, this is one of the best Syrahs you will find from Stellenbosch.

“Damascene is a protagonist in South Africa's New Wave. The estate was founded in 2017 by winemaker Jean Smit and entrepreneur David Curl and is based in Elgin. It sources fruit from various sites in Stellenbosch, the Swartland, Cederberg and Franschhoek. The Syrahs and the Chenin Blancs are of special interest. Jean Smit runs a tight ship in a state-of-the art winery. He employs natural fermentation, whole-cluster fruit and aging in large oak foudre and concrete vats. The goal is to preserve varietal character and the identity of each vineyard site. These are extremely exciting wines. Watch this space.” 

- Wine Advocate, Monica Larner

The lineup of Damascene we tasted last October.

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

View all wines from Damascene.

2009 Montrose - a legendary vintage 

We have an ex-cellars parcel (meaning it comes directly from the cellars of Montrose) of the fantastic 2009, which earned five perfect 100-Point ratings, including one from the Wine Advocate. We have a special case price this week only.

100 Points - Wine Advocate
“Hallelujah—what a glorious nose! The deep garnet colored 2009 Montrose features beautiful Black Forest cake, licorice, crème de cassis and warm blueberries scents with hints of charcoal, truffles, tapenade and menthol plus a waft of star anise. The palate is full-bodied, rich, super concentrated and yet superbly harmonious with a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long and mineral laced”

100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2009 Château Montrose is just pure perfection, and it doesn't get any better. This magical Saint- Estèphe is still youthful yet offers incredible pleasure in its assorted black and red fruits as well as notes of smoked tobacco, licorice, graphite, and scorched earth. […] It's a richer, more expansive wine compared to the more focused, classic 2010. Unquestionably one of the finest wines in the vintage, as well as one of the legendary wines from this address, it should evolve for another 40-50 years, although don't let that stop you from opening a bottle!”

Chateau Montrose is one of Saint-Estèphe’s greatest estates, renowned for its powerful, long-lived wines. Classified as a Second Growth in 1855, Montrose’s gravelly terroir near the Gironde Estuary provides optimal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, producing wines with remarkable depth, structure, and ageability. The estate has undergone significant investment in recent years, refining both winemaking and sustainability practices. Today, Montrose stands alongside Bordeaux’s elite, consistently delivering complex, structured, and elegant wines that evolve beautifully over decades. In a recent review, William Kelley described Chateau Montrose as "a de facto First Growth".

Since the Bouygues brothers acquired Chateau Montrose in 2006, the estate has undergone significant transformation and investment, elevating quality to new heights. 2009 was the first vintage since the takeover that got 100 points, an incredible feat in a short number of years.

Montrose 2009 stands as one of the great modern Bordeaux, a towering expression of Saint Estephe power harnessed by precision. The nose is expansive, layered with cassis, blackberry, licorice, graphite and warm spice, all framed by mineral depth. On the palate it is dense yet remarkably fresh, driven by ripe, grainy tannins and extraordinary balance. Monumental concentration meets poise, delivering a finish of haunting length and effortless authority, built to evolve for decades.

Today, we have a well-priced parcel of Montrose 2009 in 3x75cl OWC and 6x75cl OWC at a price of €245* In Bond per bottle. Our price is currently the lowest in the Netherlands, according to Wine-Searcher.

This is a truly epic wine from a legendary vintage. Montrose fans should not hesitate to add it to the cellar, if it is not already there.

Montrose 2009

€245* In Bond per bottle

Add to Cellar - BUY

3x75cl OWC

6x75cl OWC

100 Points | Wine Advocate, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Hallelujah—what a glorious nose! The deep garnet colored 2009 Montrose features beautiful Black Forest cake, licorice, crème de cassis and warm blueberries scents with hints of charcoal, truffles, tapenade and menthol plus a waft of star anise. The palate is full-bodied, rich, super concentrated and yet superbly harmonious with a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. Drinking Window: 2020 - 2065

100 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

The 2009 Château Montrose is just pure perfection, and it doesn't get any better. This magical Saint- Estèphe is still youthful yet offers incredible pleasure in its assorted black and red fruits as well as notes of smoked tobacco, licorice, graphite, and scorched earth. A wine that has always been open and satisfying since release, it's still full-bodied and has a broad, expansive, velvety mouthfeel, gorgeous and still present tannins, and a great, great finish. It's a richer, more expansive wine compared to the more focused, classic 2010. Unquestionably one of the finest wines in the vintage, as well as one of the legendary wines from this address, it should evolve for another 40-50 years, although don't let that stop you from opening a bottle!

100 Points | The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2009 Montrose prances out with showy notes of blackcurrant preserves, blackberry pie, dark chocolate, anise, and violets with touches of menthol and fallen leaves. The medium to full-bodied is jam packed with impactful black fruit preserves, supported by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with epic length and wonderfully fragrant.

100 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Everything here is on fire! This is what great wine is all about. Incredibly concentrated, powerful, rich, deep, long, and complex. From the sniff, you should be hooked. But the real star of the show is on the palate, which is completely coated with layer after layer of perfectly ripe, opulently textured layers of black, red, and blue fruits that linger well past the 60-second mark! The seamless finish must be tasted to be believed. This is already just great to taste. But it is in the future where it will achieve its future legendary status. Drink from 2025-2060.

100 Points | James Suckling

Blueberries, currants and Indian spices on the nose follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a lovely finish. It's intense and refined. A beauty. It goes on for minutes. Speechless. Better and cleaner than the great 1990. Try in 2022.

99 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

Cuts right to the heart of great St Estèphe, dark fleshy fruits, ambitious, just a touch of exuberance, but held back by bitter black chocolate, espresso, olive tapenade, eucalyptus, mint leaf, blackberry and damson fruits. Right up there showcasing what 2009 can offer Jean Bernard Delmas was director at the time, and he is bringing some First Growth magic. Can be opened now with a long carafe, but is built to last.

98+ Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2009 Montrose has a taut, brilliantly defined bouquet with intense black fruit laced with crushed stone, forest floor, crushed rose petals and a touch of slate. Magnificent. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, good depth and grip, plenty of graphite locked in here with a bravura finish that indicates that this Saint-Estèphe is in for the long-haul. It may well deserve a higher score as it evolves in bottle. Everything you wish for in a Montrose. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.

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

View all vintages of Montrose.

"The 2020 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has one of the more opulent aromatic profiles amongst the flight of Pauillac wines, displaying black cherries, cassis, graphite and cedar. [...] this a fabulous Pauillac that flirts with perfection." - Neal Martin, Vinous 

"Hail! Hail! Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande! Nicolas Glumineau crafted a scintillating, effortless, composed and delicious wine that, as I write in my tasting note, flirts with perfection." - Neal Martin, Vinous

With a score upgrade from Neal Martin to one point of perfection, 99-Points and coming in at #3 of Vinous Top 100 wines of 2024, there are no better endorsements as to why you should be adding the Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2020 to your collection right now. 

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2020 is a masterpiece that captures the essence of Pauillac’s elegance. Neal Martin of Vinous just tasted the 2020's in bottle this month and Pichon Lalande was the only wine to score 99-points in the report, outshining bigger names like Latour. Ausone, Figeac and Margaux.

Known for its finesse and distinct charm, Pichon Lalande’s 2020 vintage showcases an alluring fragrance, polished fruit, and a depth of character that rivals any Bordeaux estate. Under the leadership of Nicolas Glumineau, who previously crafted Montrose’s 100-point 2009 and 2010 vintages, the estate has reached unprecedented heights.

William Kelley of Wine Advocate highlights its seamless structure and sensual complexity, a testament to Glumineau’s influence since his arrival in 2013. The 2020 vintage epitomises Pichon Lalande’s recent resurgence, embodying both refinement and swagger, and solidifying its reputation as one of the most exciting names in Bordeaux today.

We've included a table of the top scorers from the tasting below. 

Vinous scores from the Bordeaux 2020 - Southwold tasting this month:

Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2020

€165* In Bond per bottle 

Add to Cellar - BUY

99 points | Vinous - Neal Martin
The 2020 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has one of the more opulent aromatic profiles amongst the flight of Pauillac wines, displaying black cherries, cassis, graphite and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins and a silver bead of acidity. Silky smooth in texture, this retains impressive composure toward the finish, handling the weight of fruit with class. It improves with each swirl, though the bottle I tasted just after bottling had a touch more precision. Nevertheless, this a fabulous Pauillac that flirts with perfection. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

98+ points | The Wine Independent. Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2020 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is made from 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs considerable swirling to bring out fragrant scents of lilacs, tilled soil, rosehip tea, and Sichuan pepper, giving way to a core of cassis, black raspberries, and cedar chest with emerging iron ore and charcoal scents. The medium-bodied palate is so tightly knit, with firm, grainy tannins and lovely tension, finishing long and minerally.

98 points | James Suckling
Aromas of blueberries and blackcurrants with some stone and sandalwood undertones. Medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and a fresh and delicious finish. Classy tannins that are fine and textured. Such sophistication. Drink after 2027 and onwards.

98 points | Jeb Dunnuck
The Grand Vin 2020 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new French oak. It has classic Pauillac character in its red, blue, and black fruits as well as graphite, cedar pencil, violet, and flower nuances. Seemingly from a cooler vintage with its purity, vibrancy, and focus, it nevertheless is concentrated and has ripe, gorgeous tannins, a great mid-palate, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. A deep, concentrated, flawlessly balanced 2020 that's built for the long haul, it needs a solid decade of cellaring and will be a 50+-year wine. Of the recent trilogy of 2018, 2019, and 2020, director Nicolas Glumineau has been consist in preferring the 2020, although I think at this point the nudge goes to the 2019. Regardless, these are all truly singular, magical wines that every reader will be thrilled to have in the cellar. It's a good time to be a Bordeaux lover!

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

View all vintages of Pichon Lalande

Platter’s Guide:
Winner – Grenache Blanc of the Year 2026

2026 is going to be a superb year for wine collecting, and we are starting it with something that genuinely stopped us in our tracks when we tasted it. It turns out we were not alone. South Africa’s iconic Platter’s Wine Guide thought so too, naming it one of their Wines of the Year 2026.

Scions of Sinai Gramadoelas Grenache Blanc 2024

When we tasted the lineup of the Scions of Sinai, we were incredibly impressed with the Gramadoelas Grenache Blanc, which carried so much purity and tension that it kept us interested in the wine for a couple of hours of enjoyment. With Platters awarding it as one of their wines of the year 2026, but also backed up with incredible high praise from Neal Martin and Tim Atkin. Now is the perfect time to add this beautiful wine to the collection. With only around 2,000 bottles produced each vintage, we are incredibly humbled to have an allocation of this wine. 2024 is arguably the best yet!

A young talent bursting onto South Africa’s fine wine scene, Bernhard Bredell has rapidly made his mark as one of the most exciting voices in Stellenbosch. His label, Scions of Sinai, was born in 2016 from a mission to save the old, dry-farmed bush vines planted by his grandfather on the rugged slopes of Sinai Hill in the Lower Helderberg. A seventh-generation grower, Bredell channels deep family roots and a modern sensibility into creating honest, expressive wines that reflect the unique soils, climate and history of this special corner of the Cape.

Working in tiny quantities and farming organically, Bredell produces wines defined by purity, texture and restraint, far removed from the heavy-handed styles of old. Each vineyard site, whether Chenin Blanc, Syrah, Pinotage or Cinsault, is treated as a living expression of its terroir, yielding wines that hum with energy and transparency. Alongside producers like Lukas van Loggerenberg, Scions of Sinai stands as a beacon for the new generation of South African winemakers, an artisanal project that honours tradition while propelling the Helderberg’s fine wine reputation forward.

Gramadoelas Grenache Blanc 2024 from Scions of Sinai is a striking, site-driven white from the Klein Karoo. Grown on schist and slate at altitude, it shows wildflower lift, fennel, yellow plum and petrichor. Wholebunch pressing and gentle oak ageing bring texture without weight. Bone-dry, saline and steely, the palate crackles with energy, chalky grip and scalpel-like acidity, finishing long, pure and uncompromising. A serious, mineral expression that rewards patience and clearly reflects its rugged terroir.

We have a small amount available today at €37.95* inc NL VAT per bottle. Once they are gone, they are gone.

“Winemaker and Bordeaux lover Bernhard Bredell is a vanguard for the new wave of Stellenbosch producers alongside the likes of Lukas van Loggerenberg and Kaapzicht’s Danie Steytler. Under his slightly difficult-to-pronounce Scions of Sinai label his roster of wines exploits some of the most propitious sites in a style far removed from the ponderous over-oaked/overripe wines of old. […]  If you want to taste today’s South African wines from the top drawer Scions of Sinai comes highly recommended"- Neal Martin, Vinous

Scions of Sinai Gramadoelas 2024

€37.95* inc NL VAT per bottle

Add to Cellar - BUY

96 Points | Platter’s Wine Guide, Malu Lambert

Winner – Grenache Blanc of the Year 2026. Truly remarkable, wildflower-scented grenache blanc on Klein Karoo schist & slate. Thrilling steeliness the hallmark of 2024, intensified by chalky bone-dryness. Majority wholebunch, plus 9 months large oak deliver an intensity that realises the promise of 2023.

94 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

From the Klein Karoo, the 2024 Gramadoelas, pure Grenache Blanc is partially whole cluster pressed and aged for nine months in 400-litre barrels. This has a finely-tuned yet understated bouquet with hints of fennel, chai and yellow plum, so discreet but it unfolds in the glass. The palate is very well balanced with a keen line of acidity, fresh and quite saline, with a very slight flor-like nuttiness that lends complexity on the finish. Superb.

94 Points | Tim Atkin MW

"Very dry - like Priorat" is how Bernhard Bredell describes the terroir of the Klein Karoo, where this Grenache Blanc is planted at 460 metres on shale and schist soils. Stony, tangy and intense, it has scalpel-like acidity, layers of lime, petrichor and white flowers and a bone-dry, palate-cleansing finish. 2027-31

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

View all wines from Scions of Sinai. 

Clos Saint Antonin 2019

We love uncovering wines that truly overdeliver in a vintage, especially when they come at an accessible price. A major score upgrade to 99 points (tasted in November 2025) makes this Chateauneuf a clear must-buy, offering outstanding quality for the money. Better still, it’s a 100% Grenache from the Le Crau vineyard, one of the region’s most celebrated terroirs.

99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
“A powerful, concentrated version of this cuvée, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape delivers gorgeous aromatics of ripe red and black fruits, roasted garrigue, cured meats, and Provençal spice with street market-like nuances. […] This is an absolutely dream of a Châteauneuf du Pape to drink over the coming 25 years or more. "

Few new Rhône estates arrive with such quiet authority. Clos Saint Antonin was purchased by the Sabon family in 2014, securing a rare 15-hectare block in Plan de Dieu, planted on classic clays, galets and sand. Led by winemaker Isabelle Sabon, the project allows her to express terroir beyond Domaine de la Janasse (where she is also the winemaker), drawing on old vines and thoughtful, restrained winemaking. The estate marries Rhône tradition with precision, clarity and a deep respect for place.

Clos Saint Antonin Chateauneuf du Pape is built entirely around old-vine Grenache, sourced from prized sandy parcels in La Font-du-Loup and Le Crau.

For those who don’t know, La Crau is one of Chateauneuf du Pape’s most revered lieux-dits, defined by its vast galets roulés over sandy, clay soils. These heat-retaining stones drive ripeness and power, while underlying sands preserve finesse.

This grand cuvée is made from a 100% Grenache blend, capturing the warmth, stones and light of the appellation with clarity and poise. Fruit from La Crau brings natural depth and generosity, while the sandy, stony soils preserve aromatic lift, freshness and balance, giving the wine its hallmark combination of richness, energy and finesse.

2019 was an outstanding vintage in the Rhône, with this wine initially scoring 93–95 points during En Primeur. A recent re-taste in November 2025 saw Jeb Dunnuck upgrade it to a remarkable 99 points, placing it on par with Beaucastel Hommage à Jacques Perrin 2019, a wine trading around €220 In Bond.

Clos Saint Antonin Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2019 - 99 JD - €42.50* IB

Beaucastel Hommage A Jacques Perrin 2019 - 99 JD - €220 IB

This week only, we are offering it at €42.50* In Bond per bottle. Rhône lovers should move quickly; this is a rare opportunity at a standout price.

“This up and coming superstar of an estate was created by Isabelle and Christophe Sabon (of Domaine de Janasse) in 2015. The estate is located in the Plan de Dieu, northeast of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, yet they have access to some prime terroirs in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the La Crau and Font du Loup lieux-dits. These are legit, awesome wines, and savvy readers need to get on board!” - Jeb Dunnuck

 Clos Saint Antonin Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2019

€42.50* In Bond per bottle

Add to Cellar - BUY

99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

A powerful, concentrated version of this cuvée, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape delivers gorgeous aromatics of ripe red and black fruits, roasted garrigue, cured meats, and Provençal spice with street market-like nuances. It's full-bodied on the palate, with ripe, velvety yet building tannins and a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel that carries this riveting, loamy earth-like minerality through the finish. This is an absolutely dream of a Châteauneuf du Pape to drink over the coming 25 years or more. Drink 2025-2050.

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

View all wines from Rhone.

Label Released for 2023 Mouton Rothschild

98-100 Points - Jane Anson
“ When Cabernet works at Mouton, it is hard to beat, and it's on full display in 2023. One of my clear wines of the vintage. Of any vintage."

It’s always been tradition for collectors to get excited about the annual Mouton label release. While we care most about the wine inside the bottle, the market has consistently responded to these labels, and 2023 is no exception.

Chateau Mouton Rothschild has unveiled its 2023 artwork by Joana Vasconcelos, the first Portuguese artist ever chosen. Her piece, Paraíso, celebrates the natural forces that shape great wine, continuing the estate’s iconic series featuring artists such as Picasso, Dalí, Warhol, Bacon and Hockney. Label interest often sparks renewed demand, especially in the secondary market.

Mouton Rothschild 2023 is a thrilling, Cabernet-driven wine, hailed by critics as one of the stars of the vintage. It delivers remarkable purity, tension and depth, layering black fruit, graphite, cocoa, violets and smoked earth over refined, velvety tannins. Elegant yet powerful, vibrant yet structured, it is a potential 100-point Mouton built for decades of graceful evolution.

After the initial En Primeur period, interest typically accelerates once the wine becomes physical. Asian buyers, who strongly prefer purchasing stock that is already in bottle, often drive this next wave of demand. Although Asia has been quieter in recent years, our contacts across the trade report that momentum is returning, particularly for the First Growths.

With leading critics such as Jane Anson and Decanter signalling that 2023 could be a perfect 100-Pointed modern Mouton, this may be an ideal moment to secure a case before the market adjusts. Quality at this level, combined with renewed global demand, rarely stays at current release prices for long.

We are offering a special case price this week.

 Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2023

Add to Cellar - BUY

98-100 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

High Cabernet, and the grape is dominant not just in blend but character, totally delicious, with tension, flesh, and confidence, building layers of black fruits, graphite, cocoa bean, espresso, pomegranate and smoked earth throughout the palate. When Cabernet works at Mouton, it is hard to beat, and it's on full display in 2023. One of my clear wines of the vintage. Of any vintage. 100% new oak for ageing. 40% grand vin, harvest September 7 to 30.

98-99 Points | James Suckling

This is the most structured Mouton since the great 2016, with tannins that start slowly and then take off. It’s muscular and toned. It’s full-bodied but doesn’t come across too heavy. It builds up in intensity and goes on and on and on. It just keeps expanding. I took a double take here. 93% cabernet sauvignon and 7% merlot.

98 Points | Decanter

Gorgeous red and black fruit on the nose, ripe strawberries, cherries and blackcurrants, really fruit forward and expressive, not so much on the mineral or floral side. Smooth and supple, this is agile and has great movement. A sense of life, depth and richness, but this is so suave. The fruit and tannins fill the mouth but with wonderful coolness - blueberry and crisp cherry. Lots of liquorice and wet stones also come through; graphite, chalk, mint, a touch of toastiness on the finish. It has flashes of exoticism, as well as finesse. Structure and seriousness but with bounce, full of texture and nuance. Tannins have built a broad wine and this is a real success with lots of energy and vibrancy throughout but with no harsh acidity or too lean tannins. Stylish, characterful and executed very well. 11% press wine, last year was 17%. 93% Cabernet in the blend, second highest in history after 2010 which was 94%. 75 IPT. 40% grand vin production. A potential 100-point wine.

96-99 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2023 Mouton Rothschild is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintages on the Left Bank. Its balance of intense, super-concentrated fruit and equally imposing structure is spellbinding. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, pencil shavings and dried herbs gain intensity in the glass. I especially admire its vertical build and overall energy. This is an exciting young Mouton endowed with palpable dynamic energy. It's a superb effort from the team led by Technical Director Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy.

96-99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Pulled from just 40% of the production, the 2023 Château Mouton Rothschild is based on 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot that will see 18 months in new barrels. Tasting like the blood of Cabernet with its smoky red, black, and blue fruits, tobacco leaf, graphite, and cedar-driven aromatics, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a pure, polished, layered mouthfeel, beautiful concentration, and ripe, velvety tannins. Not the massive style of the 2022, it’s more in line with the 2016. This rich, elegant, seamless 2023 will need a decade to hit its prime.

96-98 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2023 Mouton Rothschild was picked from September 7 to 30 and contains 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, the second highest ever (after the 2010). Matured entirely in new oak as usual, this has an intense, floral bouquet with violet petals infusing the black fruit and touches of licorice loitering just off stage—very fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with extremely refined tannins. Focused and harmonious, it’s velvety smooth with a long and tender finish that has more crispness than the 2022. In fact, I might ultimately end up preferring this over the 2022…it will be interesting finding out in the future!

View all vintages of Mouton Rothschild

Bordeaux Bargain: Chateau Rouget 2019

“This sumptuous, flamboyant Pomerol captures all of the natural intensity of the year." - Antonio Galloni

Chateau Rouget stands among the historic names of Pomerol, with records in local archives and land registers tracing its status as one of the first recognised crus of the appellation in the 1700s. Since 1992 it has been in the hands of the Labruyere family, whose experience across Burgundy, Champagne and Beaujolais brings a thoughtful precision to the estate’s work. Their approach has steadily elevated Rouget’s reputation as one of the area’s quiet stars.

The estate’s eighteen hectares sit beside l’Eglise Clinet and la Croix de Gay, with two thirds of the vines circling the property and 1/3 planted near Trotanoy and Le Pin. Merlot dominates with a touch of Cabernet Franc, planted at a dense seven thousand five hundred vines per hectare. Organic farming, certified from the 2023 vintage, supports the winemaking philosophy of plot-by-plot definition and gentle, integral fermentation in barrel before blending the wines back together in classic Pomerol style.

The 2019 captures everything that makes Rouget such an exciting proposition. Critics highlight its vibrant red fruit, potpourri lift, dark chocolate depth and a seductive interplay of richness and finesse. The wine shows supple tannins, bright energy and a natural sense of balance, with notes ranging from smoked raspberry to kirsch and sweet tobacco. It is already charming but will benefit from further cellaring, revealing the full promise of a vintage shaped by both power and elegance.

Across the board, the 2019 vintage was outstanding for Pomerol and with both Decanter and Galloni scoring Rouget higher than usual, this is very much an under-the-radar overperformer.

Wines from Pomerol usually command a high price, but at €38.50* In Bond per bottle and coming in cases of 3x75cl OWC, these are an absolute steal.

Chateau Rouget 2019

€38.50* In Bond per bottle

Add to Cellar - BUY

95 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

Ripe and dried red berry fruit on the nose, raisins, freshly picked raspberries and blueberries. Some wonderful potpourri perfume too. Great grip and hold from the start - this is tannic and they coat the mouth but with such a bright and juicy aspect too. Real energy here, a lighter if you can say that (as still 14.5%) style, with focus on delicate red fruits, perfume and dark chocolate. Rich to start with, muscular with a bold immediate taste then the delicacy comes in. A wonderful aerial style that is all in balance but still needs some time. It will reward cellaring. Great potential here and quality winemaking on show. Tasted twice.

94 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2019 Rouget is bold, plush and racy to the core. Raspberry jam, spice, kirsch, leather, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco all meld together effortlessly. This sumptuous, flamboyant Pomerol captures all of the natural intensity of the year.

93 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

Seductive floral aromatics, fresh acidities giving a mouthwatering feel from beginning to end, with smoked raspberry and blackberry notes, and a touch of sour plum salinity on the finish. Owner Edouard Labruyère works with a small amount of stems during the winemaking but with fully ripe grapes, giving a textured push and pull of exuberance and restraint. 33hl/ha yield.

View all wines from Bordeaux.