Zuccardi Fosil Chardonnay 2023 - Punching Above Its Price Tag

Decanter recently blind tasted 147 of the leading wines from Pomerol and Saint-Emilion, awarding only 3 the coveted "Exceptional" rating. One of them was the under-the-radar Château Saint-Georges (Côte Pavie), a tiny estate nestled between Château Pavie and the legendary Château Ausone.

Best of all, despite its 98-point score and extraordinary terroir, it remains remarkably affordable at just €29.50* In Bond per bottle. Don't miss this one.

Chateau Saint Georges Cote Pavie 2020

98 Points - Decanter

"This relatively under-the-radar St-Emilion estate has been owned by the same family since 1873. The majority of its vines lie on the prestigious clay-limestone slopes nestled between Château Pavie and Château La Gaffelière. Beguiling nose. Plenty of grip but it's stony and mineral, with a real creaminess. Such a lot going on. Joyful but still a compact, muscular wine with plenty of ageability"

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Château Saint-Georges (Côte Pavie) is one of Saint-Emilion's hidden treasures. The five-hectare estate entered an exciting new era in 2016 under the guidance of Stéphane Derenoncourt's team, combining generations of tradition with a renewed focus on precision, elegance and expressing this exceptional terroir.

Saint-Georges occupies an enviable position on the famed Côte Pavie limestone slope, directly beside Château Pavie and within touching distance of Château Ausone and Château La Gaffelière. Its south-facing clay-limestone soils deliver freshness, structure and minerality, placing this tiny estate among some of the most prestigious neighbours in all of Bordeaux.

Decanter Blind Tasting Results:

Decanter recently blind-tasted 147 leading wines from Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, awarding only three the coveted "Exceptional" distinction, with Château Saint-Georges among them.

The 2020 combines layers of black cherry, graphite, violets and crushed stone with refined tannins and a distinctive chalky freshness. It is a superb expression of the Côte Pavie terroir and one of Bordeaux's great under-the-radar success stories.

The quality should not come as a surprise; the estate has always possessed exceptional vineyards, but since the arrival of the Derenoncourt team in 2016, the wines have reached another level entirely.

We have a small parcel of 3x75cl OWC cases available, coming directly from the estate, at a remarkable €29.50* In Bond per bottle. If you enjoy discovering tomorrow's stars before everyone else catches on, this is a bottle well worth securing.

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Chateau Saint Georges Cote Pavie 2020

Buy Chateau Saint Georges Cote Pavie 2020

€29.50* In Bond per bottle

98 Points | Decanter, Tasted May 2026

This relatively under-the-radar St-Emilion estate has been owned by the same family since 1873. The majority of its vines lie on the prestigious clay-limestone slopes nestled between Château Pavie and Château La Gaffelière. Led by Philippe Masson since 2016, it has entered a dynamic new chapter with consultancy from Derenoncourt Vignerons Consultants' Hannah Fiegenschuh, plus a new vat room, operational from 2020, and the creation of a special 100% Merlot cuvée, Clos 1873. Given its location and consistent quality, this estate really deserves to be better known. Georgie Hindle: "Beguiling nose. Plenty of grip but it's stony and mineral, with a real creaminess. Such a lot going on. Joyful but still a compact, muscular wine with plenty of ageability." Arthur Coggill: "Really inviting, with ripe Morello cherry, cedar and cumin spice. A racy little number, but you don't notice it as the whole vehicle is so well tuned, with its perfectly engineered tannins." Tom King: "Cherry and mulberry nose, delicate touches of leafy, woody character. Layers of flavour on a perfectly poised palate, suave tannin texture and a long finish."

95 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

"From a château that has been on the rise over the past decade, the 2020 Château Saint Georges (Côte Pavie) is based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, aged in just 30% new barrels, that comes from a gorgeous terroir on the Côte Pavie, just to the west of Château Pavie. Gorgeous red and black fruits, crushed stone, spring flowers, and hints of leather define the bulk of the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a deep, layered mid-palate, nicely integrated oak, and enough tannins to warrant a solid 5-7 years of bottle age. A gorgeous bottle of wine, it will have 20-25 years of overall longevity."

94 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

"The 2020 Saint Georges (Côte Pavie) is every bit as stunning as it was from barrel. Rich, ample and explosive, with tons of energy, the 2020 is super-impressive. This may very well be the finest vintage I have tasted, as the tannins - while potent - are also nicely tamed. Graphite, black cherry, plum, licorice and incense meld into the palate staining finish."

93 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

"A strong effort from this underrated property, the 2020 Saint-Georges Côte Pavie reveals notes of dark berries, cherries, raw cocoa and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate framed by refined tannins and lively acids, concluding with a chalky finish. It derives from holdings adjacent to Pavie, where Cabernet Franc is gradually increasing in importance in the blend."

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

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Browse Saint-Emilion & Chateau Saint Georges Cote Pavie

Buy Chateau Saint Georges Cote Pavie wines → | Browse Saint-Emilion →

After En Primeur we don't often have La Conseillante at good prices, so it pleases us to be able to offer a parcel of the highly esteemed 2019. Like a lot of 2019's, the pricing is sharp, and the quality is very high.

La Conseillante 2019

100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

"An utterly brilliant Pomerol and the finest wine from this estate to date, surpassing even the 2016, [...] Flawlessly balanced, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has a beautiful mid-palate, ultra-fine, utterly seamless tannins, and a heavenly finish. It doesn't have the sheer density or outright power of some of the other top Pomerols, but as I wrote in the barrel sample review, no one marries elegance with opulence as well as Conseillante. This magical Pomerol will take a decade to hit full maturity and will evolve for 30 years or more. This is haute couture at its absolute pinnacle, and as I wrote in the barrel review, hats off to Marielle Cazaux for producing one of the top wines of the vintage."

Chateau La Conseillante is one of Pomerol's most elegant and revered estates, with a history stretching back to the 18th century. Under the Nicolas family and director Marielle Cazaux, it has reached extraordinary heights, producing wines that unite perfume, finesse and depth. The estate's distinctive violet-scented style has become one of Bordeaux's most recognisable signatures.

The 2019 vintage in Pomerol produced wines of exceptional balance, combining the richness of a warm growing season with remarkable freshness and precision. Merlot achieved perfect ripeness, while Cabernet Franc brought aromatic lift and structure. The finest estates crafted wines of great concentration, silky tannins and the capacity to evolve gracefully for decades.

Comparison of top vintages of La Conseillante:

La Conseillante 2019 is a masterclass in elegance and opulence. Aromas of violets, black raspberry, cassis and dark chocolate lead into a seamless, full-bodied palate framed by ultra-fine tannins and remarkable purity. Effortlessly balancing power with refinement, it stands among the greatest wines ever produced at this legendary Pomerol estate.

Today's offer comes in at a great price of €175 In Bond per bottle and we have cases of 6x75cl OWC and some loose bottles.

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La Conseillante 2019

Buy La Conseillante 2019

€175 In Bond per bottle

100 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

"An utterly brilliant Pomerol and the finest wine from this estate to date, surpassing even the 2016, the 2019 Château La Conseillante checks in as 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc and was raised in 70% new French oak. A wine of incredible finesse, purity, and precision, its deep purple hue is following by an incredible array of blueberries, crème de cassis, spring flowers, damp earth, and violets. Flawlessly balanced, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has a beautiful mid-palate, ultra-fine, utterly seamless tannins, and a heavenly finish. It doesn't have the sheer density or outright power of some of the other top Pomerols, but as I wrote in the barrel sample review, no one marries elegance with opulence as well as Conseillante. This magical Pomerol will take a decade to hit full maturity and will evolve for 30 years or more. This is haute couture at its absolute pinnacle, and as I wrote in the barrel review, hats off to Marielle Cazaux for producing one of the top wines of the vintage."

99 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

"The 2019 La Conseillante is performing brilliantly and rivals the 2016 as Marielle Cazaux's finest vintage at this leading Pomerol estate to date. Wafting from the glass with striking aromas of raspberries, plums, violets, raw cocoa, sweet soil tones and licorice, framed by a deftly integrated touch of classy new oak, it's full-bodied, ample and enveloping, its broad attack segueing into a seamless, layered mid-palate that's vibrant and concentrated, framed by powdery tannins and lively acids, before concluding with a long, saline finish."

99 Points | Jeff Leve

"Almost at the same level as the incredible 2016, this is one of the great vintages of La Conseillante. The nose, with its haunting bouquet of violets, lilacs and roses come along with additional nuances of chocolate, truffle, black cherries, black raspberries and black plums. I remember during the barrel tastings with Marielle Cazaux over Zoom blurting out, "Holy F..K!" Yes, it is that good! On the palate, the wine is elegant, seductive, long, vibrant, sweet, fresh and most importantly, incredibly pure displaying the essence of its gorgeous fruits. This is one of the great vintages of La Conseillante. Fans of the estate need some of this in their cellar."

98 Points | Antonio Galloni

"The 2019 La Conseillante is elegant and nuanced, just as it was from barrel. All of the freshness and energy that was present en primeur comes through in the bottle. There is an element of sophistication, of reserve, that needs time to be fully expressive. The 2019 is a wine of linear precision more than volume or density. It should age exquisitely for many years to come."

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

Browse Pomerol & En Primeur

Buy Chateau La Conseillante wines → | Browse Pomerol → | En Primeur Explained →

​Saurwein Pinot Noir - One of South Africa's most exciting Pinot Noir producers.

96 Points - Tim Atkin MW
"it's a red for Burgundy lovers, all wet earth, tangy minerality, pomegranate and red cherry, embellished by 25% new wood. Impressive stuff from Jessica Saurwein"​

 

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Founded by Jessica Saurwein in 2015, Saurwein has become one of the most exciting names in South African Pinot Noir. Working with some of the Cape's finest cool-climate vineyards, she crafts wines that capture the distinct character of Elandskloof and Hemel-en-Aarde with remarkable clarity. Produced with a light touch in the cellar, Saurwein's Burgundian-inspired Pinot Noirs combine purity, elegance and finesse with a compelling sense of place.

Jessica Saurwein takes a minimalist approach in the cellar, using gentle extraction, partial whole-bunch fermentation and restrained oak ageing to preserve vineyard character.

Nom:

Named after Nomkhubulwane, the Zulu goddess of agriculture and fertility, Nom comes from a high-altitude vineyard in Elandskloof, where cool temperatures, strong winds and shale-rich soils produce a Pinot Noir of depth and quiet power. Dark cherry, wild berry and subtle forest floor notes are framed by impressive structure and freshness. This is the more muscular and concentrated of the two Saurwein Pinot Noirs, offering a darker fruit profile and greater breadth on the palate. For Burgundy lovers, it is reminiscent of a village Gevrey-Chambertin, combining intensity, structure and savoury complexity with remarkable poise and ageing potential.

Om:

​Om takes its name from the Sanskrit symbol representing wholeness, harmony and connection, a fitting reflection of this beautifully balanced Pinot Noir from Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Fragrant red berry fruit, dried herbs, spice and earthy complexity are supported by vibrant acidity and finely woven tannins. Compared to Nom, Om is more about elegance, precision and aromatic lift than power. The cool maritime influence of Hemel-en-Aarde brings tension, freshness and purity, resulting in a beautifully detailed Pinot Noir that evokes the graceful, perfumed style of Chambolle-Musigny, with finesse and balance taking centre stage.

Both cuvees come with high praise and scores from the wine critics.

This week we're doing a special introductory price of €42.50* inc NL VAT per bottle. Grab them whilst you can.​

 

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Saurwein Nom Pinot Noir 2024

€42.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

Buy Saurwein Nom Pinot Noir 2024

 

96 Points | Tim Atkin MW
One of a pair of Nom Pinot Noirs on the market, this comes from a windy site at 700 metres on Bokkeveld shale. Fermented with 15% whole bunches, it's a red for Burgundy lovers, all wet earth, tangy minerality, pomegranate and red cherry, embellished by 25% new wood. Impressive stuff from Jessica Saurwein. 2026-30

​92 Points | Wine Mag, Christian Eedes

W.O. Elandskloof. Matured for 10 months in 228-litre barrels, partially new. Expressive aromatics of orange, musk, red cherry and white pepper. The palate is opulent – saturated with ripe fruit, just enough acidity and smooth tannins. A wine of presence and generosity. Alcohol: 14%.

Saurwein Om Pinot Noir 2024

€42.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

Buy Saurwein Om Pinot Noir 2024

 

95 Points | Wine Mag, Christian Eedes
W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Matured for 10 months in 228-litre barrels, partially new. Black cherry, some leafiness, earth, spice and a touch of reduction on the nose. Great definition and structure – clean fruit, vibrant acidity and firm tannins, making for a long and nicely austere finish. Finely judged and intellectually engaging rather than immediately seductive. Alc: 14%.

​94 Points | Tim Atkin MW

Om uses grapes from the Place of the Gods' vineyards on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Fermented with 12% whole bunches before ageing in 25% new wood, it has lots of grip, focus and presence, flavours of fynbos, redcurrant and cranberry and the structure to age in bottle. 2027-32

 

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Browse all South African wines → | Stellenbosch → | Swartland →

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

Dr. Loosen - Zach. Bergweiler-Prüm Erben

Ernst Loosen is Riesling royalty, and his latest project pays tribute to his great-grandfather by reviving the winemaking traditions of a bygone era. First released with the 2018 vintage, these remarkable wines are crafted using historic methods from Riesling's golden age, from 130-year-old ungrafted vines. The wines have quickly swept critics off their feet, earning a string of outstanding scores along the way.

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98 Points - Decanter 
"This has such a rich texture, thick and viscous, like a syrup but with the most lively, juicy, bright and lifted core that just makes you sit up and smile and then want another glass straight away. Dense and rich yet mouthwatering with great clarity as well as a little bit of creamy, vanilla and peach aspects to the finish. Absolutely stunning"

​97 Points - Wine Advocate
"Round and lush on the palate, this is a light yet intense and supple, remarkably refined and saline Riesling with fine, crystalline acidity (9.1 grams per liter) and no palatable sweetness. This is a highly gastronomic Auslese from ancient vines. It is still young but already irresistible."​

 

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Zach. Bergweiler-Prüm Erben is a deeply personal project for Ernst Loosen, created to honour his maternal great-grandfather, Zacharias Bergweiler-Prüm, one of the Mosel's respected growers during Riesling's golden age.

Run as a separate estate, the project focuses on a tiny parcel of 130-year-old ungrafted vines in the famed Wehlener Sonnenuhr vineyard. The wines are crafted as they would have been in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with hand harvesting, careful selection, basket pressing in a restored 1910 press, spontaneous fermentation and long ageing in traditional Mosel Fuder barrels.

Production is exceptionally small. Just one Fuder is produced of each wine, a dry Riesling GG, a Kabinett and an Auslese, resulting in only around 1,200 bottles of each release. Each wine carries its own historic label, reinforcing the connection to the estate's heritage.

Following two years on lees in barrel and several more years in bottle before release, the wines offer a rare glimpse into how great Mosel Riesling was made more than a century ago, while showcasing the remarkable purity and longevity of the Wehlener Sonnenuhr terroir.

Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese

This old-school Auslese showcases the timeless partnership of sweetness, acidity and slate-driven minerality that defines great Mosel Riesling. Drawn from 130-year-old ungrafted vines, it offers notes of candied citrus, orchard fruit, bergamot and wet stone. Rich and textural yet brilliantly fresh, it balances concentration with remarkable poise, promising decades of evolution while remaining captivating even in its youth.

Wehlener Sonnenuhr Dry Riesling GG

Produced from some of the oldest ungrafted vines in the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, this remarkable Grosses Gewächs combines the vineyard's famed elegance with extraordinary depth and precision. Aged for two years in Fuder and four years in bottle, it delivers layers of citrus peel, chamomile, crushed slate and smoky minerality. Concentrated yet weightless, it is a profoundly age-worthy expression of Mosel Riesling.

​Production is so small that they only sell these in 3x75cl OWC and we're lucky to have these at such a wonderful price.

If you're a Riesling fan, then don't hesitate.​

 

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Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2019

€56* In Bond per bottle

Buy Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2019

 

98 Points | Decanter

Caramelised oranges, baked caramel, white chocolate, lemon zest, candied lemons and baked lemon pie. Zesty and sherbet like straight away. This has such a rich texture, thick and viscous, like a syrup but with the mot lively, juicy, bright and lifted core that just makes you sit up and smile and then want another glass straight away. Dense and rich yet mouthwatering with great clarity as well as a little bit of creamy, vanilla and peach aspects to the finish. Absolutely stunning. Another great wine with such mass appeal that offers pleasure now but will continue to grow and change and get better over the next few decades. The second vintage for three wines in this range on the Place de Bordeaux that is an homage to the historical winemaking traditions of Ernst Loosen's family.

​98 Points | James Suckling

Not only rich in the honeyed sense that’s normal for the category, but also wonderful textural complexity that’s hard to resist. Incredible density without the feeling of weight, this has a relentless yet gentle power that drives the enormously long finish. Drink from release.

​97 Points | Wine Advocate

The vivid yellow-colored 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Vieilles Vignes opens with a fascinatingly intense yet refined and elegant, saline and flinty bouquet of ripe and fresh pineapples, Burundi bananas and hints of caramel. Round and lush on the palate, this is a light yet intense and supple, remarkably refined and saline Riesling with fine, crystalline acidity (9.1 grams per liter) and no palatable sweetness. This is a highly gastronomic Auslese from ancient vines. It is still young but already irresistible. 9.5% stated alcohol and 53 grams per liter of residual sugar. Natural cork. Tasted in October 2025.

 

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Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2018

€56* In Bond per bottle

Buy Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2018

 

97 Points | James Suckling

An old-fashioned Auslese that has a wonderful combination of restrained ripeness and elegant mineral character, this tiptoes over the barely medium body with just a hint of wood. Very long, beautifully balanced finish. A historical reconstruction using basket pressing of grapes from very old vines, then two years maturation on the lees before bottling. Limited production. Drink or hold.

​95+ Points | Wine Advocate

From ungrafted, 130-year-old vines, the 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Vieilles Vignes Riesling Auslese was made from very ripe clusters that were about 50% affected by botrytis. Picked along with the dry grand cru (GG) and about two weeks later than the Kabinett, the 2018 Auslese is rich yet also fine and multi-layered on the elegant, delicately slatey nose. Dense and rich on the palate and definitely sweet yet also spicy, with delicate acidity and a savory slate note, this is a tasty and generous but still not a little playful Sonnenuhr that will gain finesse and complexity over many years. It should be given this time, i.e., about a decade. There are notes of black tea in relation to the delicate tannins as well as the bergamot aromas. In the long term, this might be a fabulous interpretation and the finest of the 2018s that will all be released in November this year. It was bottled with 10% stated alcohol plus a moderate 39.8 grams per liter of residual sugar. I doubt whether she really “drinks like water” in 10 or 15 years' time, as Ernst Loosen cheerfully remarked; but if the master means the speed with which his old-fashioned Auslese is drunk, he is likely to be proved right. Natural cork. Tasted in October 2024.

​95 Points | Vinous

The 2018 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Vieilles Vignes has 39.8 g/L of residual sweetness and 8.5 g/L of acidity. Flint flickers reductively on its citric nose. The palate brings forward notes of earth, dusty slate and creamy apple with a gorgeous acidity. These elements expand in the mouth, astonishing with their immense brightness and freshness. Erni Loosen has made two important points with this wine: it shows Riesling's transformation with just a few years of age and demonstrates what an Auslese can be—even at moderate sugar levels. (Medium)

 

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Wehlener Sonnenuhr Dry Riesling GG 2019

€52.50* In Bond per bottle

Buy Wehlener Sonnenuhr Dry Riesling GG 2019

 

98 Points | Vinous

The 2019 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Im Laychen Grosses Gewächs Réserve is from Loosen's oldest vines in the site that are well over 100 years old. It spent two years on lees in Fuder and four years in bottle. Dried hayflower and chamomile frame dried sultana and lemon peel aromas. All is lift on the nose, but the palate is balm. This has super smooth emollience, beautiful direction and bright acidity. Its exquisite, supple concentration still brims with chamomile and rings eternally on the finish. The elegance of the Sonnenuhr is clearly manifested here. (Bone-dry)

​96 Points | Wine Advocate

From a single fuder and aged for 24 months on the full lees, the 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling GG Vieilles Vignes offers a generous, very intense and lemony bouquet of concentrated Riesling berries. Very elegant and fresh on the palate, this is a full-bodied, textural and vivacious, tight and mineral, firmly structured Sonnenuhr with a long, complex, saline, very stimulating finish. It is incredibly young and full of expression. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in October 2025.

​96 Points | James Suckling

This has crazy, flinty minerality and terrific herbal freshness. The white peach aromas and touch of oak of this site slowly emerge as it aerates. Totally focused and energetic, this is only just beginning to show what it’s made of. Drink from release.

 

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

​Las Uvas de la Ira 2024, a Garnacha Bargain:

There is no doubt how influential Daniel Landi and Comando G have been on the Spanish wine scene, helping elevate Garnacha to world-class status. Some of their most sought-after cuvees, such as Rumbo al Norte, now sell for more than €500 per bottle, a reflection of the esteem in which collectors and critics hold their wines.

Today, however, we have something of an insider's pick. The sort of wine that those in the know quietly snap up whenever they see it. A wine that captures the same philosophy of purity, terroir and old-vine Garnacha, but at a fraction of the price of the headline-grabbing cuvees.

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94 Points - Wine Advocate
"The super tasty and expressive 2024 Las Uvas de la Ira was produced with Garnacha from seven vineyards in El Real de San Vicente, fermented separately and matured in concrete and oak vats and foudres"

 

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​The rise of the Sierra de Gredos from relative obscurity to one of Spain's most exciting fine wine regions owes much to Daniel Landi and Fernando Garcia of Comando G. Their work helped redefine Garnacha, showing that the variety could produce wines of extraordinary finesse, freshness and mineral character from Gredos' rugged granite slopes.

Viticola Mentridana represents the next chapter of that story. When Landi chose to focus entirely on Comando G and the Alberche Valley, he entrusted his Tiétar Valley vineyards to childhood friend Curro Barreño. A native of Gredos and co-founder of Fedellos, Curro shared Landi's vision for terroir-driven, old-vine Garnacha and was the natural choice to continue the project.

Today, Curro farms these historic vineyards alongside plots owned by his own family in DO Méntrida, building on the foundations established by Landi while bringing his own experience and perspective. The result is a range of wines that beautifully capture the energy, purity and mountain character that have made Gredos one of Spain's most talked-about regions.

Originally created by Daniel Landi and now crafted by Curro Barreño, Las Uvas de la Ira remains one of the benchmark wines of Gredos. Sourced from old-vine Garnacha around El Real de San Vicente at roughly 850 metres altitude, the 2024 combines wild herbs, floral aromatics and bright red berry fruit with granite-driven minerality, fine tannins and remarkable elegance. A beautifully detailed expression of mountain Garnacha.

This week we have a small parcel available at a very competitive price of €26.50* inc NL VAT per bottle.

If you're a fan of Comando G, then this one is for you.​

 

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Viticola Mentridana Las Uvas de la Ira 2024

€26.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

Buy Viticola Mentridana Las Uvas de la Ira 2024

 

94 Points | Wine Advocate
The super tasty and expressive 2024 Las Uvas de la Ira was produced with Garnacha from seven vineyards in El Real de San Vicente, fermented separately and matured in concrete and oak vats and foudres. It was a very challenging vintage, with mildew and oidium, from a wetter zone than Méntrida village on soils with a very high content in silt. It has some flinty notes and is faintly reductive, with notes of herbs, flowers and small, translucent berry fruit. It is fine-boned, with classical chalky granite tannins. 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2025.

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Browse all Spanish wines → | Rioja → | Ribera del Duero →

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

Carmes Haut-Brion Collection Cases

We've been raving about Les Carmes Haut-Brion recently, and for good reason. The estate is producing incredible wines in a uniquely modern Bordeaux style, at a price point that, for now at least, remains remarkably reasonable.

Today, we're delighted to present three exciting offers from Les Carmes.

The 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages became known as the Trilogie in Bordeaux, marking an extraordinary run of three outstanding years. To celebrate, the estate has assembled a series of beautifully presented collection cases at very attractive prices, offering a perfect introduction to collecting one of Bordeaux's most exciting modern wines.

 

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100 Points - Wine Advocate

"The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is the finest wine bottled to date at this estate under Patrice Pichet's ownership and Guillaume Pouthier's direction. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of violet, iris, dark wild berries, pencil lead and mulberries, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated with a deep core of fruit beautifully framed by velvety, precise tannins, segueing into a long, saline and perfumed finish. Suave and harmonious"

 

100 Points - Antonio Galloni

"The 2020 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a total stunner. For the first time I can remember, Les Carmes Haut-Brion marries all of its elements so well that nothing stands out. In the past, the high percentage of Franc and/or the whole clusters were evident. The 2020 is the first modern vintage in which all the elements are so well balanced. Dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint, lavender, dried herbs and incense all build in a ravishing Pessac-Léognan that will take your breath away"

 

100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck 

"The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine [...]  A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion, it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical, seamless, singular beauty!"

 

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Few estates have captured the imagination of Bordeaux lovers in recent years quite like Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Nestled within the city limits of Bordeaux itself, this singular property has become a beacon for modern winemaking in the region. Since Guillaume Pouthier’s arrival in 2012, Les Carmes has undergone a remarkable transformation - its striking winery, bold vision, and boundary-pushing approach marking it out as one of the most exciting names in the Left Bank today.

Les Carmes Haut-Brion stands at the forefront of Bordeaux’s new wave, combining meticulous vineyard work with avant-garde vinification. Whole-bunch fermentation, gravity flow, and amphora ageing are used to craft wines of incredible energy, perfume, and finesse. The blend, often with an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc, is shaped to reflect its unique terroir rather than conform to tradition. As a result, Les Carmes is now widely regarded as a rising star producing some of the region’s most original and compelling wines.

Everything is coming directly from Bordeaux.

 

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Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2018, 2019 & 2020 Collection Case

The case contains two bottles of each 2020, 2019 & 2018

Add to Cellar - BUY

€115* IB per bottle
€690* IB per 6x75cl OWC

These are coming directly from the winery so like always, perfect provenance.

 

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Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2020

 

100 Points | Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a total stunner. For the first time I can remember, Les Carmes Haut-Brion marries all of its elements so well that nothing stands out. In the past, the high percentage of Franc and/or the whole clusters were evident. The 2020 is the first modern vintage in which all the elements are so well balanced. Dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint, lavender, dried herbs and incense all build in a ravishing Pessac-Léognan that will take your breath away.

100 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle
The best 2020s seem to be confident without showing off or shouting too loudly and this Carmes does just that. Focused and precise, this is complex and characterful, rich yet vibrant with a texture and taste that makes an impact straight away. Fresh black fruits, floral notes and sensational minerality do the talking - it has weight, density and structure - broad and bold yet svelte, it has direction and persistence, building quickly then settling and elongating with such clarity and purity. This is a wine you want to drink. Cool, classic, sharp and decisive with a flawless texture. Whereas 2019 was more generous, this is more classic and easy to understand. An excellent job - seemingly effortless winemaking in 2020 - and a bottle that is sure to be emptied pretty quickly.

98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck
From a bottle purchased stateside, the 2020 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a riviting, utterly classic Pessac-Leognan that offers textbook darker currant fruits, scorched earth, tobacco, lead pencil, and smoky, truffly nuances, as well as a subtle floral hint with time in the glass. Based on 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Merlot that saw a plenty of stems as well as 80% new oak, it's deep plum/ruby hued, has medium to full-bodied richness, a graceful, layered, elegant mouthfeel, polished, fine grained tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It's more approachable today than I would have imagined from barrel, and it actually reminds me of the 2019 with its understated elegance. It deserves a solid 7-8 years of bottle age and will be a 30, 40, 50+ year wine. It's another heavenly wine from Guillaume Pouthier that you probably couldn't have too much of in the cellar.

 

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Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2019

 

100 Points |  Antocyanes, Yohan Castaing (whom is now with The Wine Advocate)
Smoky, raspberry, blackcurrant, very floral for a bouquet of magnificent complexity. Great class while maintaining precision and sharpness. In the mouth, juicy, precise very beautiful purity of tannin, crystalline, full of fleshy texture, very vibrant. Note the magnificent bitters, of an exceptional level, which bring an airy and fresh finish. Very impressive in its construction, this wine begins tense and ends denser, more elaborate. This vintage will mark the history of the property. A very great Les Carmes Haut Brion which continues its ascent and gives us a glipse of a new facet of its personality

98 Points | Decanter
One of my favourite wines in 2019, immediately captivating with a lasting impression. Gorgeous dark purple in the glass with blackcurrant notes, perfumed violets, dark chocolate and hints of truffle - the old-vine Bouchet (Cabernet Franc) giving aromatic intensity on the nose and palate. Succulent straight away with ripe cherry, blood orange and pink grapefruit flavours set against soft, mouthwatering acidity and a lovely saline grip to the tannins. It's rich but just giving delicate hints in each direction of fruit, acidity, freshness, structure, mouthfeel and body. Restrained and poised, with a drinkability that makes you want a glass now, but could happily be enjoyed decades from now. Managing director Guillaume Pouthier said he simply 'Wants to make wine that is drunk' and this is eminently drinkable. A blend of 48% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot. 3.60 pH. 80% ageing in new barrel, 9% amphora, 11% foudre. Stéphane Derenoncourt consultant.

98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck
I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion from barrel, but it certainly brings the goods from bottle. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with a smorgasbord-like array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as violets, candied flowers, tobacco, and sappy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, flawless balance, and that rare mix of power and elegance that truly great Pessac can deliver. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it checks in behind the magical, perfect 2018 but is very much in the style of the 2016. Readers will love having this beauty in the cellar, and it will evolve for 40-50 years if stored correctly. Hats off to winemaker Guillaume Pouthier for another thrilling wine.

 

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Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2018

100 Points | Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine and is based on a unique blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, violets, damp earth, and truffle, it hits the palate with a full-bodied yet almost understated, building style that carries ripe, supple tannins, gorgeous amounts of smoky black fruits, and an endearing, layered, multi-dimensional texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion, it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical, seamless, singular beauty!

98 Points | Decanter
The march of Carmes Haut-Brion continues in 2018. Once again it stands out for a number of reasons: not least because of its high amount of Cabernet Franc, and also because it is made with 53% whole-bunch fermentation - a brave choice by winemaker Guillaume Poutier and one that pays off hugely in terms of balance and lean muscular build. Even without knowing any of the story behind the bottle, you would be hard-pressed to pass this wine by.

98 Points | Jane Anson
This powerful, full of complex layers of raspberry, blackberry, smoked earth, rosemary and turmeric spice, but running underneath it all is clear salinity and grip. The personality and poise of this wine overtakes the vintage, not an easy thing to do in a year that is as powerful as 2018 and on a warm site such as Carmes Haut-Brion. Touches of saffron and salt-licked as it opens, sage, freshly grilled dried herbs and gourmet espresso and brioche. Enjoyable. 3.62pH, and harvest at almost 1% ABV higher than you find in the final bottle. Ageing takes place in a mix of 25% new oak, 5% oak casks, and 10% amphoras, with 55% stems during fermentation, and natural yeasts.

 

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

​2013 Krug: A brand new release of one of the worlds most iconic Champagnes.

The Krug 2013 is the latest release, and at 99 points from Antonio Galloni it is one of the finest vintage Champagnes to arrive on the market this year.

 

99 Points - Galloni
"The 2013 Vintage is a wild, exotic beauty. Apricot, passion fruit, lemon confit, marzipan, baked apple tart and a kiss of French are all amplified in a dramatic, vivid Champagne that captures all the pedigree of this great vintage. The 2013 is wonderfully complex and dynamic from the very first taste. Time in the glass brings out layers of dimension and captivating nuance. This is a fabulous effort"​

 

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Founded in 1843, Krug is one of Champagne's most revered houses, renowned for producing wines of extraordinary depth, complexity and longevity. Unlike many prestige cuvees, Krug Vintage is only declared in years that express a distinctive character worthy of standing on its own, capturing the unique personality of a single harvest through the house's meticulous winemaking approach.

Krug 2013 is a fascinating expression of a late, cool Champagne vintage, combining the house's trademark power with remarkable precision and freshness. Harvested in October after a slow growing season, it offers layers of apricot, quince, lemon confit, baked apple, brioche and toasted nuts. The palate is chiselled and energetic, driven by vibrant acidity and chalky minerality, yet retains the depth, texture and complexity that make Krug one of Champagne's greatest names.

What makes the 2013 particularly compelling is the balance between richness and tension. Aromatically expressive from the outset, it continues to evolve in the glass, revealing notes of citrus oil, passion fruit, marzipan and saline nuances. Antonio Galloni scored it 99 points, describing it as a "wild, exotic beauty", while Wine Advocate awarded 96+ points.

Dynamic, layered and wonderfully age-worthy, this is a Krug Vintage that will continue to reward collectors for decades to come.

We have a small parcel coming in Gift Box at a fantastic price of €275* In Bond per bottle.

 

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Krug Vintage Brut 2013

€275 *In Bond per bottle

Buy Krug Vintage Brut 2013

 

99 Points - Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2013 Vintage is a wild, exotic beauty. Apricot, passion fruit, lemon confit, marzipan, baked apple tart and a kiss of French are all amplified in a dramatic, vivid Champagne that captures all the pedigree of this great vintage. The 2013 is wonderfully complex and dynamic from the very first taste. Time in the glass brings out layers of dimension and captivating nuance. This is a fabulous effort. Krug ID: 124011

96+ Points | Wine Advocate​

Originating from an October harvest, Krug’s 2013 Brut has turned out very well, delivering—against the backdrop of the slow, late-ripening season and another high-acid test, qualities rendered all the more evident by the house’s methods—the requisite aromatic plenitude and textural properties. Disgorged in early 2024 with a dosage of five grams per liter, the wine emerges from the glass with a deep bouquet of lemon oil, fresh apricot and quince mingled with nashi pear and brioche crust, complemented by a top note of lightly burnt buttered toast. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, chiseled and racy-fresh, structured around a spine of incisive acidity and chalky extract, concluding with a long, citrus-driven, saline-tinged finish.

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

2025 Montrose Releases En Primeur! Our Wine of the Vintage!

When we released our vintage report, before any of the critics had published their scores, we said that if you buy just one wine from this campaign, make sure it's Montrose. We awarded it a perfect score ourselves. Turns out this wine has left its impression on everyone, and we have 5 potential perfect scores from the wine critics.

Do yourself a favour and don’t miss this one.

 

5x 100-Point Scores

 

98-100 Points - Neal Martin
“This has another very intense nose with a potent graphite element that infuses the black fruit, beautifully defined but unapologetically classical in style. Wow. The purity of fruit is exceptional. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, very chiselled tannins, exquisite black fruit loaded with minéralité. So much freshness and vibrancy, gentle but insistent grip, very precise and refined on the finish, this is a Montrose that will rank as one for the ages. Wow (again).”

 

98-100 Points - Wine Advocate
“A timeless classic in the making, the 2025 Montrose unfurls in the glass with notes of dark berries, black truffle, burning embers and violets, gaining in range and detail with aeration. Full-bodied, dense and elegantly muscular, it's layered and multidimensional, with a prodigiously concentrated core of fruit, exceptional quality of tannin and a long, resonant finish”

 

98-100 Points - Jeff Leve
“Montrose is on quite the run. Just when you think they cannot produce a better wine, they come out with the 2025!”

 

97-100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
A magical, utterly profound wine in the making, […]  It reminds me of the 2016 with its finesse... and maybe there's a touch of 1996 here as well”

 

100 Points - Falstaff
“Complex, full-bodied, highly elegant, freshly structured, ripe, supporting tannins, blackberries, nougat and cherries on the finish, lingers for a long time, sure maturity potential”

 

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Montrose has firmly established itself as one of Bordeaux's greatest estates. Situated on Saint-Estephe's famed Terrace 4 overlooking the Gironde estuary, the vineyard possesses one of the most remarkable terroirs in the Medoc. In recent years, the estate has reached extraordinary heights, producing a succession of wines that many collectors now place alongside the very best wines of Bordeaux.

The 2025 is produced entirely from the historic core of Terrace 4, a site that now forms the sole source of the Grand Vin. Built around 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, it offers intense aromas of cassis, graphite, violets, cedar and crushed stone. The palate is beautifully layered and precise, combining concentration and structure with remarkable purity, freshness and mineral tension.

What makes Montrose 2025 so compelling is not simply its power, but its sense of inevitability. Everything feels perfectly in place, from the purity of the Cabernet Sauvignon to the remarkable mineral drive that carries the finish.

There is no excess here, just layer upon layer of detail unfolding across the palate. It is the sort of wine that reminds you why Montrose has become one of Bordeaux's benchmark estates.

 

Comparison of top vintages of Montrose:

 

Released today at €119* In Bond per bottle, which is lower than expected for its 5x 100-Point rating!

En Primeur pricing often attracts criticism, but Montrose has done a fantastic job here, giving collectors plenty of incentive to add one of the standout wines of the vintage to their collection.

We have cases of 3x75cl OWC and 6x75cl OWC available on the website.

If there is one wine from the 2025 campaign that we would back without hesitation, it is this.

 

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Montrose 2025

€119* In Bond per bottle

Buy Montrose 2025

 

98-100 Points | Neal Martin

The 2025 Montrose only comes from the Terrace IV, as has been the way since the 2023 vintage. It was picked from August 29 and finished not until September 20, so quite a long harvest, 16 days of picking between those dates. This vintage is matured in 60% new oak. This has another very intense nose with a potent graphite element that infuses the black fruit, beautifully defined but unapologetically classical in style. Wow. The purity of fruit is exceptional. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, very chiselled tannins, exquisite black fruit loaded with minéralité. So much freshness and vibrancy, gentle but insistent grip, very precise and refined on the finish, this is a Montrose that will rank as one for the ages. Wow (again).

98-100 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

A timeless classic in the making, the 2025 Montrose unfurls in the glass with notes of dark berries, black truffle, burning embers and violets, gaining in range and detail with aeration. Full-bodied, dense and elegantly muscular, it's layered and multidimensional, with a prodigiously concentrated core of fruit, exceptional quality of tannin and a long, resonant finish. The 2025 is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, derived exclusively from the estate's historic core on the fourth terrace situated just in front of the château itself. With a pH of 3.65 and 13.4% alcohol, it remains classically balanced despite its impressive power and intensity. Readers will have a fascinating time parsing the nuances of style and quality between the 2025, 2023 and 2022 over the decades to come!

98-100 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Cherries, cedar, Cuban cigar wrappers, blackberries, flowers, smoke and black raspberries provide the aromatic nuances. The palate is even better. Concentrated, deep, dark, and energetic, there is a sophisticated, lushness that delivers its regal tendencies while coating your mouth and palate with multiple layers of supple, rich, waves of black fruits, spice, and chocolate. Montrose is on quite the run. Just when you think they cannot produce a better wine, they come out with the 2025! This is the third vintage produced entirely from vines planted in Terrasse 4. The wine blends 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13.4% ABV, pH 3.65 pH. Harvesting took place August 29 - September 20. This is the earliest start to harvest in the history in the history of the estate. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2032-2070.

97-100 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

A magical, utterly profound wine in the making, the 2025 Château Montrose is a classic blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc that will spend 18 months in 60% new French oak, with 12% press wine included in the final blend. Pure cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and spicy wood define the aromatics, and it's sensationally pure on the palate, with full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, ripe, polished tannins, incredible class, and a great finish. It reminds me of the 2016 with its finesse... and maybe there's a touch of 1996 here as well.

100 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Candied violets, scent of roses, fine cassis, incredibly seductive, delicate notes of precious wood, underlaid with black forest berries. Complex, full-bodied, highly elegant, freshly structured, ripe, supporting tannins, blackberries, nougat and cherries on the finish, lingers for a long time, sure maturity potential.

98-100 Points | Fine Wine Library

We said it last year and will say it again in 2025: if there is one wine to buy from the campaign, make sure it is Montrose. Wow, what a wine. Amazing purity, very precise and not overly big. Great structure, length and balance. An intoxicating nose of spice and floral aromas. On the palate, everything was there - fruit, spice, floral, cedar on the mid palate, and a long salty finish, which is a trademark of Montrose in very good vintages. For us, this was a perfect wine, and we would score it as such. Montrose itself compared it to the fantastic 2016, which was a 3x 100-point vintage.

97-98 Points | James Suckling

Integrated and creamy tannins that are long and polished deliver an impressive palate of medium body, juicy fruit and a refined finish. Character of black and red currants with hazelnuts. Refined. Extremely long and polished, with plenty of Montrose character. Balanced. All there for the vintage. A blend of 77% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot and 4% cabernet franc.

97 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

Vibrant purple colour in the glass. Amazing fragrance, so pure and crystalline – blackcurrants and violet notes. Silky and glossy, packed full of cherry and strawberry fruit with quite massy tannins but keeping a really cool and compact form. Structured with layers of elements but also a little granular, tight and spiced. Liquorice, cool cola and wet stone edges. Maybe less overtly charming and filling than in previous years, but this has a distinctly cool mineral edge and slightly grippy tannins on the finish. I like the style, it’s quite serious and terroir transparent. Ageing should soften this and relax a little. 3.65pH. 80 IPT. 12% press wine. Ageing 18 months, 60% new oak.

95-97 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Montrose is a very quiet, sophisticated Montrose. Silky tannins, lifted aromatics and mid-weight structure are the signatures. Time in the glass brings out lovely red-toned fruit character, along with hints of spice, blood orange, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco. It will be interesting to see how the 2025 develops with élevage. Today, it is a bit on the lighter side relative to the norm here. Some of that may be attributable to winemaking.

 

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

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2025 Leoville Las Cases releases En Primeur!

Leoville Las Cases 2025 releases with potential perfect 100-point scores and is arguably one of the finest releases from Saint-Julien in 2025.

 

97-100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
“the 2025 Château Léoville Las Cases is one of the wines of the vintage and just has an incredible sense of class, balance, purity, and richness. […] If this doesn't make your eyes roll back in your head, nothing will”

96-98 Points - Wine Advocate
“One of the most serious, brooding wines of the vintage is the 2025 Léoville Las Cases”

 

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Chateau Leoville Las Cases is one of the most prestigious estates in Saint-Julien, often considered a "Super Second" due to its consistent First Growth-like quality. With origins dating back to the 17th century, the estate boasts one of Bordeaux's finest terroirs. Its vineyards border Chateau Latour at the edge of Pauillac, a detail that helps explain the power, structure and longevity that have become hallmarks of the wine. Recent vintages such as 2016, 2018 and 2022 rank among the greatest wines ever produced at the estate, further cementing its reputation as one of Bordeaux's benchmark properties.

What truly sets Leoville Las Cases apart is the extraordinary terroir of its walled Grand Clos, a parcel often compared to the finest sites in Pauillac. Here, deep Gunzian gravel overlies clay and limestone, giving Cabernet Sauvignon perfect drainage, slow ripening and remarkable concentration. Recent investments in a state-of-the-art winery have further enhanced precision and parcel selection, helping refine a wine already renowned for its depth, mineral tension and remarkable ageing potential.

Leoville Las Cases 2025 is a return to a more classical expression of this great estate. Built around 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, it combines cassis, graphite, pencil shavings and dark berries with remarkable concentration, structure and mineral tension. Powerful yet precise, the wine is defined by its extraordinary tannins, saline freshness and relentless persistence. A serious, age-worthy Las Cases that will reward decades of patience.

Today’s release comes in at €127* In Bond per bottle, and it’s arguably one of the finest releases from Saint-Julien in 2025.

 

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Leoville Las Cases 2025

€127* In Bond per bottle

Buy Leoville Las Cases 2025

 

98-100 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Deep and dark in color, it takes less than a second to know this is a wine that meshes power with concentration, sports a regal bearing, and delivers layer after layer of vibrant blackberries, cassis, currants, and black cherries with ease. The finish is long, expansive, mouth-filling, and powerful, with a strong mineral essence that adds sapidity. This is another Leoville Las Cases that will age and evolve for over 50 years. The wine blends 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Merlot. 13.6% ABV, 3.56 pH. Harvesting took place from September 5 to September 20. Yields were 23 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2032-2075.

99 Points | Falstaff, Peter Moser

Deep dark ruby ​​garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Nuances of blackberries, cassis, blueberries and some nougat, fine precious wood spice, multi-faceted bouquet. Complex, taut, red berry nuances in the texture, ripe, present tannins, mineral, lemony-salty on the finish, has great animating power, red heart cherries in the aftertaste, will benefit from maturity.

97-100 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Based on a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Merlot that's resting in 80% new barrels, the 2025 Château Léoville Las Cases is one of the wines of the vintage and just has an incredible sense of class, balance, purity, and richness. Harvest began on September 5th, the earliest ever for this estate, wrapping up on the 20th. Cassis, graphite, liquid minerality, and freshly sharpened pencil all define the nose, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a round, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. If this doesn't make your eyes roll back in your head, nothing will. It checks in at 13.65% alcohol with a pH of 3.56.

98-99 Points | James Suckling

The texture is fantastic, with superb aromas of graphite, blackberries and blueberries. Medium- to full-bodied with tannins that are pure and primary, like eating perfectly ripe grapes. It’s the high quality of the tannins. A very classic Las Cases. 82% cabernet sauvignon, 12% cabernet franc and 6% merlot.

98 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

Deep, violet-hued in the glass, this barrel sample opens with remarkably expressive aromatics of cool blue fruit and ripe cassis, layered with hints of hawthorn and integrated oak spice, signaling this estate's pedigree. The attack is immediate, initially juicy with mid-palate fruit that swiftly yields to a formidable structure. The tannins are powerful (IPT 82), dense and commanding, their presence further accentuated by a relatively low pH of 3.56. At this stage, the balance clearly favors Pauillac styled power over St Julien charm, with the fruit somewhat restrained by the sheer scale of the tannic frame. The Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend combined with low yields of 23 hl/ha due to the tiny grapes harvested underscores the wine’s concentration and depth. Élevage is expected to extend up to 22 months in 80% new oak, a choice that should help absorb and refine the structure. A distinct mineral, saline edge emerges on the finish, though presently dominated by the tannic grip. This is the first vintage produced in the estate’s new six-story cellar, equipped with 120 fermentation tanks in oak and stainless steel (up from 40), enabling highly precise parcel-by-parcel and intra-parcel vinification. The addition of a vinothèque reflects the estate's long-term vision. Under the direction of Arnaud Delon, marking his first vintage alongside his father, Jean-Hubert Delon, the technical precision is evident in the glass. A wine of impressive scale and clear potential, though one that will require patience to fully harmonize. (PK)

96-98 Points | Neal Martin

The 2025 Léoville Las Cases is the earliest harvest since 1989, starting on September 5 until September 20. Yields are 23 hl/ha, with a soft extraction using air pumps introduced in 2019, and it was matured in 80% new oak. It is the third vintage made in the new, impressive facility. This has another intense nose, quite flamboyant for Las Cases due to the warmth of the summer, with hints of pencil shavings and cigar box coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied but very concentrated. Real depth and density here, very primal, with an intense, multi-layered finish that coats the mouth. Not a subtle Las Cases, nor should it be, though I aver that it will oblige long-term ageing.

96-98 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

One of the most serious, brooding wines of the vintage is the 2025 Léoville Las Cases, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, pencil shavings and creamy new oak, it's medium- to full-bodied, deep and dense, with prodigious reserves of sweet but assertive tannin, lively acids and a long, muscular finish. This will require patience.

96-98 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Léoville Las Cases is powerful, tightly wound and very shut down—in other words, classic Las Cases. In some recent vintages, the Grand Vin has shown somewhat softer contours, but the 2025 is really a throwback to a more muscular, classically austere style. It offers tremendous persistence and sheer power, but beyond that, the wine is pretty hard to read in the early going, certainly much more so than any of the other wines in the Delon stable. I expect this will need many years to be at its most rewarding. Based on this en primeur sample, the 2025 is a wine for readers who have actuarial tables on their side.

97 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

A serious but classic Las Cases style with a fragrant nose of roses and violets, blackcurrant and plum. Grippy from the off, the Cabernet playing its part in giving structure straight away – so well defined. Power and focus, it’s ripe no doubt but with no dryness thanks to this fresh, mouthwatering fruit in the background – raspberry and cranberry, almost tart. Striking and quite a unique style: supple, energetic and vibrant yet still super coiled and tight. One to wait for with ageing for sure. Has the polish and lots of star power here – refined and focused. 3.56pH.

 

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

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