Leoville Barton 2025 - the best yet?

2025 Gruaud Larose Releases En Primeur!

One of the great overperformers of the vintage, Gruaud Larose 2025 matched the scores of wines like Mouton Rothschild and Petrus with an incredible 97-99 points from Jeb Dunnuck, yet it releases at just €50.40* per bottle.

 

97-99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

“This beauty stopped me in my tracks with its sheer class and purity. […] This is a heavenly Saint-Julien that brings the richness of the vintage alongside an unmistakable sense of class. Bravo!”

 

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We are pleased to offer the 300th vintage of Chateau Gruaud Larose. To mark this historic anniversary, the wine is presented in a beautifully screen-printed bottle finished with a gold wax seal.

Chateau Gruaud Larose is one of Saint-Julien’s great historic estates, celebrated for producing deeply classical Bordeaux with power, perfume and longevity. Founded in the 18th century and now celebrating its 300th anniversary, the estate sits on exceptional gravel soils near the Gironde estuary. Gruaud Larose combines Cabernet Sauvignon structure with remarkable aromatic complexity, delivering wines that balance old-school Saint-Julien character with increasing polish and precision.

Gruaud Larose 2025 is a beautifully refined Saint-Julien that combines the richness of the vintage with striking freshness and elegance. Aromas of cassis, violets, tobacco, graphite and dark chocolate unfold into a layered palate framed by silky tannins and mineral tension. Jeb Dunnuck called it a “heavenly Saint-Julien”, while critics praised its purity, balance and classical structure. This is a serious, age-worthy Gruaud Larose with immense long-term potential.

 

*2025 prices not released, 2024 used in table

 

Released this morning at €50.40* In Bond per bottle, Gruaud Larose 2025 looks like a serious overperformer on the price-to-quality spectrum. With scores of 97-99 points from Jeb Dunnuck and 95-97 points from Neal Martin, it is rubbing shoulders with Petrus and the First Growths in terms of critical acclaim, yet at only a fraction of the price.

We have cases of 3x75cl & 6x75cl live on the website.

 

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Gruaud Larose 2025

€50.40* In Bond per bottle

Buy Gruaud Larose 2025

3x75cl & 6x75cl

 

97-99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Crème de cassis and black raspberry fruits intermixed with spring flowers, graphite, tobacco leaf, and spicy wood all emerge from the 2025 Château Gruaud Larose, a deep purple-hued Saint-Julien based on 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc that's resting in 80% new French oak. This beauty stopped me in my tracks with its sheer class and purity. Full-bodied on the palate, it has a layered, graceful mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and a great finish, all grounded by a remarkable sense of balance and elegance. It checks in at 13.47% alcohol with a pH of 3.71. This is a heavenly Saint-Julien that brings the richness of the vintage alongside an unmistakable sense of class. Bravo!

97 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque, almost inky core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Notes of licorice and hibiscus, hints of cassis, dark wild berries, fine herbal spice, some precious wood. Taut, complex and elegant, pure black forest berries, silky tannins, mineral-salty, very good length and freshness, remains very persistent, has definite ageing potential.

95-97 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Gruaud Larose is rich, ample and exotic right out of the gate. Dark-toned fruit, graphite, licorice, mocha and lavender are all dialed up. The 2025 has a lot to offer, but will need a number of years to be at its finest. There's a lot of wine here. Even with all its intensity, the tannins show no signs of stress. All the 2025 needs is a lot of time in the cellar to shed its considerable baby fat.

96 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

Such scented notes on the nose, more like a sultry summer’s evening with jasmine, lavender, violets, peonies and deep, heady blackcurrants alongside tobacco, liquorice and clove. Supple and so wonderfully textured – grippy but finely placed with an almost crushed stone aspect but this really holds the juiciness such a long time – strawberry and raspberry, crunchy cranberry, with a persistence and energetic finish. What a wine. Silky, almost a delicate touch here where there’s such precision yet still at the same time there’s concentration and intensity. 11% press wine (all from Cabernet). 3.71pH. A yield of 26hl/ha. 50% grand vin production.

94-96 Points | Wine Advocate

Unwinding in the glass with notes of dark berries, cassis, plums mingled with hints of violet and pencil shavings, the 2025 Gruaud Larose is medium- to full-bodied, supple and suave, with a deep core of fruit, lovely energy and ripe, powdery tannins. Checking in at 13.5% alcohol, this blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc will bear a special gold label to commemorate the estate's 300th anniversary.

95 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

You get the tannic grip of the vintage in spades, but as you sit with the wine, a creaminess appears through the mid palate that is highly appealing, with a cocoa bean and espresso lick alongside berry fruits, crayon and graphite. Smoky signoff on the finish right now, will integrate over ageing, a ton of potential here, great quality. 75% new oak. Virginie Sallette 8th vintage, a lovely expression of Gruaud. Harvest September 3 to 20. 3.71 pH

93-95 Ponts | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 Gruaud Larose comes in a specially designed etched bottle to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the first vintage labelled as Gruaud Larose (although there were already vines in situ). Picked between September 3 and 20 at 26 hl/ha, average for the appellation, and aged in new oak, it has a less outgoing bouquet than its peers, tightly wound black fruit, sous-bois and tobacco. Fine delineation and firmly classical in style. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins. A more tertiary Gruaud Larose, hints of dark powdered chocolate combine with black fruit, leading to a more structured vintage that lingers nicely in the mouth. Perhaps slightly less deep than some of its peers, this has a tendency to gain weight during élevage. Englishman's claret!

 

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

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Explore our full range of Buy Gruaud Larose wines available in bond and for immediate delivery

2025 Lafite Rothschild releases En Primeur!

Finally, one of the 1st Growths comes to the party!

We took a deep dive into Neal Martin’s historical scoring of Lafite Rothschild and found that only two vintages have ever received a perfect 100-point score from him, 1953 and 1870. The Lafite Rothschild 2025 now has the potential to join that incredibly short list as one of the greatest Lafites ever produced.

If we were betting men, this is exactly the sort of Lafite we would want tucked away in the cellar for the decades ahead.

 

98-100 Points - Neal Martin

“That comes through completely on the deliriously intoxicating nose […] It is blessed with extraordinary harmony and it is so well balanced that you almost overlook the weight and minéralité towards the finish. Just a dab of graphite lingers on the aftertaste. This is a very succinct and refined Lafite-Rothschild that I suspect will drink earlier than the 2022, yet will age with equal grace in bottle. I admit that, upon returning to my car, it was only then that I realised what a brilliant wine the 2025 Lafite-Rothschild is destined to become.”

 

98-100 Points - James Suckling

“Very structured with bones. Reminds me of Lafite from the 1980s. Unique for the vintage”

 

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Lafite Rothschild 2025 is a beautifully classical Pauillac, combining extraordinary refinement with remarkable precision and freshness. Aromas of cassis, graphite, violets, cigar box and wet stone unfold into a layered palate framed by silky tannins and saline minerality. Critics repeatedly compared it to great traditional vintages of the past, with Neal Martin awarding 98-100 points and calling it “a brilliant wine.” A poised, age-worthy Lafite with immense finesse and harmony.

We couldn’t quite believe how few vintages of Lafite Rothschild Neal Martin has awarded truly monumental scores to.

In fact, only two vintages have ever received a perfect 100-point rating from him, 1953 and 1870. The 2025 now has the potential to join that incredibly short list as one of the greatest Lafites ever produced.

What makes this even more striking is that Lafite 2025 outscored hugely celebrated vintages such as 2009 and 2010, both of which Neal Martin awarded 96 points.

What impressed us the most when tasting it was the concentration and purity of fruit, but the extraordinary balance, restraint and classical proportions of the wine, something increasingly rare in modern Bordeaux. Everything is in the right place for this to age beautifully.

Lafite 2025 seems to capture everything collectors love about the great traditional vintages of the estate, graphite minerality, perfume, finesse and effortless ageing potential, while still delivering the depth and precision expected from a modern First Growth.

This feels less like a blockbuster Lafite and more like a timeless one. In our view, this is a vintage well worth adding to the cellar.

 

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Lafite Rothschild 2025

 

€392* In Bond per bottle

Buy Lafite Rothschild 2025

 

98-100 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 Lafite-Rothschild was cropped at 27 hl/ha between September 2 and 20. Eric Kohler mentioned that, unlike 2022, it underwent a longer maceration than usual because, after 24 days, he felt the wine was at ease with itself and there was no excess. That comes through completely on the deliriously intoxicating nose, replete with nuanced blackberry, bilberry and estuarine scents, all beautifully defined and seamlessly integrated with the 90% new oak that is made from Lafite’s own cooper. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins. It is blessed with extraordinary harmony and it is so well balanced that you almost overlook the weight and minéralité towards the finish. Just a dab of graphite lingers on the aftertaste. This is a very succinct and refined Lafite-Rothschild that I suspect will drink earlier than the 2022, yet will age with equal grace in bottle. I admit that, upon returning to my car, it was only then that I realised what a brilliant wine the 2025 Lafite-Rothschild is destined to become.

98-100 Points | James Suckling

Intense aromas of sweet tobacco, dark cedar, cigar humidor, mushroom, roses, and wet earth follow through to a medium to full body with firm, velvety tannins and a driven, intense finish. Very structured with bones. Reminds me of Lafite from the 1980s. Unique for the vintage. 12.5% alcohol. A blend of 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot and 1% petit verdot.

99 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider

Cuban cigars, cedar, crème de cassis, blackberries, flowers, espresso, and forest leaves set the wine's perfume. Refined, elegant, precise, and pure, the fruit tastes as if it were just pulled from the vines. Expressive, vibrant, long, and packed with blackberries, currants, Indian spices, tobacco, and marine influences, the seamless, graceful finish does not want to quit, passing the 60-second mark with ease. One of the most important parts of the growing season took place starting in June and running through July 10. Climatically, it was hot and dry. The midsummer rains following that dry period provided much-needed nourishment, aiding ripeness and contributing to the style and success of the vintage. The wine is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. 12.5% ABV. Picking took place September 2 - September 20. Yields were low at 27 hectoliters per hectare. 48% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2032 - 2075.

99 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Floral touch, delicate roses, dark wild berries, candied violets, delicate licorice, some velour, multi-faceted, inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant, red cherries, delicate redcurrants, fine, silky tannins, a hint of lime, salty minerality, delicate, full of finesse and long-lasting, sure maturity potential. Lafite absolu.

97-99 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Lafite-Rothschild is powerful and explosive in the glass. Dark cherry/plum fruit, graphite, new leather, graphite, licorice and lavender race across the palate. A Pauillac of mid-weight structure, the 2025 impresses with its tension and deep, layered personality. Even in the early going, the Grand Vin is so vivid, so expressive. I can't wait to taste it in finished form. For those who love data

96-98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Checking in as 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that's resting in 90% new French oak, the 2025 Château Lafite Rothschild sports a classic, deep ruby hue as well as a complex and classic nose of cassis, spicy wood, tobacco, violets, and graphite. It's quintessential Lafite on the palate as well, with its class, medium to full body, ripe, building, yet polished tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. It checks in at 12.51% alcohol with a pH of 3.65. I love its overall balance, purity, and complexity, and I suspect it's going to continue gaining weight over the course of its élevage.

97 Points | Decanter

Vivid purple colour in the glass. Cool blue fruit, graphite and wet stones on the nose. Succulent and juicy, ripe and lifted, with supple tannins barely noticeable – the focus is on the purity and refinement of the fruit with bright acidity and an undercurrent of cooling, fresh minty freshness with graphite and wet stones. You really get the spice and fruitiness. A bit more lively, energetic and upfront than Lafite can sometimes be. There’s finesse for sure but there’s also confidence here. Mouthwatering with a ton of flavour and layering but at the end such a finessed and refined finish with a wet stone grip. So balanced and harmonious. An amazing feat this year. Eric Kohler, technical director of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), calls 2025 a: ‘Vintage of happiness – a symphony of all the perfect parameters' and likened the vintage to '2020 but perhaps more delicate and less tannic. More immediate than 2020'. A yield of 27hl/ha. 16% press wine.

95-97 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2025 Lafite Rothschild unwinds in the glass with a deep and brooding bouquet of dark berries, violets, rose petals and pencil lead. Medium- to full-bodied, supple and layered, with suave tannins, good concentration and bright acidity, it checks in at 12.5% alcohol and an unusually low (by the standards of recent warm vintages at Lafite) pH of 3.65. Harvest began here on September 2, with the estate's old-vine Merlot beginning on September 3 and the first Cabernet Sauvignon coming in from September 11 (earlier than in 2022), and the harvest wrapped up on September 20.

 

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

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Cos d'Estournel 2025 released En Primeur!

Big release of the week is Cos d'Estournel 2025 with big scores to match!

Released at a price better than expected, the same price as the 2024 but with a massive step up in quality. We recommend acting fast on this one.

 

97-99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

“The 2025 Cos d'Estournel is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. […] I am blown away by the wine's magnificent balance. A masterpiece”

 

“The 2025 Cos d'Estournel appears to be one of the finest wines this property has produced in the last decade”

 

“It stays lively, balanced, and remarkably fresh despite its weight and richness, and I'd happily put this up with the crème de la crème of the vintage”

 

“ This is a serious Saint-Estèphe that will age supremely well in bottle”

 

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Cos d’Estournel is one of the most distinctive chateaux in Bordeaux, instantly recognisable for its exotic architecture and bold, opulent style. Situated on the hill of Saint-Estèphe near the Pauillac border, the estate benefits from exceptional gravel soils and south-facing slopes. Known as the “Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe,” Cos blends power with finesse in both its Grand Vin and Pagodes de Cos. Under Michel Reybier’s ownership, it remains a benchmark for modern precision and age-worthy grandeur.

Cos d'Estournel 2025 is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage, combining the estate’s trademark power and exotic spice with remarkable freshness and precision. Aromas of cassis, graphite, incense and dark berries unfold into a layered, velvety palate framed by fine tannins and gravelly minerality. Critics praised its balance and classical proportions, with Antonio Galloni calling it “a masterpiece” and James Suckling awarding 98-99 points.

Released this morning at €98* In Bond per bottle, and we have cases of 6x75cl and 3x75cl live on the website. We recommend acting fast on this one.

This is a serious, long-term Cos with all the graphite, cassis, spice and gravelly depth that fans of the estate look for, yet delivered with a more refined and controlled style than some recent vintages. If you love classical Left Bank Bordeaux with power, pedigree and decades of ageing potential, this is a release well worth paying attention to.

 

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Cos d'Estournel 2025

€98* In Bond per bottle

Buy Cos d'Estournel 2025

 

97-99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Cassis, currants, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and graphite all define the 2025 Château Cos D'Estournel, a powerful, ripe, concentrated beauty based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that's still resting in 50% new barrels. On the palate, it's full-bodied, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, integrated oak, and a great finish. It stays lively, balanced, and remarkably fresh despite its weight and richness, and I'd happily put this up with the crème de la crème of the vintage.

99 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate notes of licorice, black cherries, cassis, fine nougat, delicate herbal spice, some precious wood. Complex, taut, tightly woven, ripe, firm tannins, mineral, long-lasting, dark berry finish, great length, black cherries, mineral-salty aftertaste, sure maturity potential.

98-99 Points | James Suckling

A density to this, yet it remains balanced and complex, with well-integrated tannins and a juicy finish. It seems to be a wine with lots of fruit, but then it diffuses and shows open-grained, velvety tannins. Intense yet subtle blackberries, lead pencil and hazelnuts. Some flint. Persistent and reserved at the end. Great potential. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot and 1% petit verdot.

98 Points | Decanter

Vivid pink colour in the glass. Plush, plump and chewy yet serious in a tight, cool blue fruit and graphite way. Lots of gravelly minerality keeps this quite focused and straight but with lovely fine layers of flavour and fruitiness. Classic in the sense of lower alcohol but still with ripe tannins – a nice combination. Still shy I’d say for Cos, definitely not the showy more exuberant style you can find. Refined but well built and definitely not overripe. Dominique Arangoits, technical director of Cos d'Estournel said 2025 was a: ‘Very interesting vintage, the dry situation arrived early so the vines adapted better. Easter brought three days of rain with 115mm on 20 April which proved vital, followed by helpful rain at the end of August. We started harvest on 3 September – our earliest ever. Nice quality of tannins and colour – we have the benefits of a hot season but with cool nights too, low alcohol and nice quantity of fresh fruit. It’s a mix of styles – ripeness and precocity of 2022 and freshness of 2016. Maybe a bit like 2020.’ 3.68pH. 65% grand vin production.

96-99 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Cos d'Estournel is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Grand, dramatic and sweeping, with notable textural intensity, the 2025 hits all the right notes. Even in the very early going, the 2025 is magical. Dark red/purplish fruit, spice, new leather, tobacco, lavender and mocha build effortlessly in the glass. More than anything else, I am blown away by the wine's magnificent balance. A masterpiece.

96-98 Points | Wine Advocate

The 2025 Cos d'Estournel appears to be one of the finest wines this property has produced in the last decade. Unwinding in the glass with a deep bouquet of dark berry fruit mingled with violets, pencil shavings, burning embers and anise, it's full-bodied, ample and velvety, with a broad attack, layered mid-palate and beautifully fresh, concentrated flavors. All of this terroir's inherent power is present, contained within very classical proportions at 13.3% alcohol. The 2025 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot.

98 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Dark in hue, without fanfare, the aromatics showcase black cherries, flowers, licorice, smoke, raspberry, and spice-filled nuances. The palate is even better, with a vivid display of sweet, energetic, lingering fruits, licorice, oceanic influences, dark chocolate, and Indian spices. There is richness, density, lift, and length. Balanced and harmonious, this wine will offer an extraordinary tasting experience. Give it a few years in the bottle before pulling a cork. The wine comprises 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. 13.25% ABV, 3.68 pH. The harvest took place September 3 - September 19, making this the earliest harvest in the history of the estate. Yields were 29 hectoliters per hectare. The wine is aging in 50% new, French oak barrels. The Grand Vin was produced from 50% of the harvest. Drink from 2030 - 2065.

97 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

Incense and sandalwood aromatics, combines the density and concentration of a hot vintage with the freshness and balanced alcohols of a cooler vintage, meaning both weight and lightness of touch (this is something you will hear a lot with the 2025 vintage but rarely find in reality). A real breadth and wide spectrum of possibilities are contained here, a little austere right now but these dark berry fruits and firm tannins are waiting to bloom with ageing. 3.68pH. 50% new oak. Harvest was September 3, earliest since the Reybier era (they began September 7 on 2022, and also in 1989) through to September 19. Last year in organic conversion.

95-97 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 Cos d'Estournel was picked between September 3 and 19 and matured in 50% new oak, the analytic alcohol at 13.25%. There is just a touch of CO2 on the nose that soon dissipates, gorgeous black plum and damson aromas, pencil lead and light iodine scents all delivered with impressive delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a hint of cracked black pepper and pencil lead that infuse the layered black fruit. There is a real crescendo of flavours in this Cos d'Estournel, fanning out gloriously towards the sustained finish. This is a serious Saint-Estèphe that will age supremely well in bottle.

 

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Cos d'Estournel Blanc 2025

€126* In Bond per bottle

Buy Cos d'Estournel Blanc 2025

 

98-99 Points | James Suckling

An incredible wine with electrifying acidity and great depth and concentration. It’s full-bodied and full of character, showing fresh and dried citrus, then honeysuckle and other white flowers. The palate takes off with bright, intense acidity. A pH of just over 3 gives a unique combination of tangy acidity and ripe fruit. Special white. 56% sauvignon blanc and 44% semillon. Best ever?

95-97 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Citrus, lemon zest, mint, and crushed stone notes all emerge from the 2025 Château Cos D'Estournel Blanc, a vibrant, focused white based on 56% Sauvignon Blanc and 44% Sémillon that's being raised in 6% new barriques. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, with bright acidity and outstanding length. It's more inward and chiseled than the Pagodes release and will benefit from a few years of bottle age. This is a brilliant white.

96 Points | Jane Anson

Love the two whites from Cos this year, each with its own character and personality. They field grafted the vines back in 2021 onto more limestone-rich soils, and the results are clear in the glass. This is juicy, characterful, with structure and depth, fleshy white peach and pear, sage and lemongrass, waves of oyster shell and sea spray, steel and silk, with long ageing potential. Harvest August 25 to September 6 % new oak. 3 pH, even lower than 2024.

 

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

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Bordeaux 2025 Vintage Report → | Buy 2025 Wines → | En Primeur Explained →

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2025 Cantemerle Releases En Primeur! 

Selected by Antonio Galloni as one of his overachievers of the vintage, describing them as “wines I would be thrilled to own that offer exceptional quality, character and value”.  Cantemerle is one of the smart buys this year.

Decanter agreed, as they also classified it as a Top Value Selection of the vintage.

 

95 Points - Decanter

“Vivid purple in the glass. Sleek and so svelte, this has such a silky, almost creamy texture, tannins are gorgeous and this has such a juicy, lively core. Nothing out of place here. Super accessible and one of the best primeurs samples for consistency tasted three times. Ends salty with a stony grip.

 

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Chateau Cantemerle is one of the most historic estates in the Haut-Medoc, with a reputation for producing classically styled Bordeaux that consistently overdelivers for the price. The estate’s gravel-rich soils and proximity to the Gironde estuary help preserve freshness and aromatic precision, while ongoing investment, including a brand new cellar completed in 2024, continues to elevate the quality and refinement of the wines.

Selected by Antonio Galloni as one of his overachievers of the vintage, Chateau Cantemerle 2025 looks set to be one of the smartest value buys from the Left Bank this year. Quality has clearly stepped up, with 2025 marking the first vintage produced in the estate’s brand new cellar, featuring 114 vats and more precise plot-by-plot vinification.

Critics have been quick to notice the improvement. Jane Anson awarded the wine 94 points, praising its elegance, graphite minerality and ageing potential, while Georgina Hindle at Decanter scored it 95 points, highlighting the vivid floral aromatics, silky tannins and saline, stony finish. The result is a refined and beautifully balanced Haut-Medoc with impressive precision and charm.

Released at €22.50* In Bond per bottle, the value here is crazy.

If you’d like some magnums or halves, let us know (there is a small premium on those).

 

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Chateau Cantemerle 2025

€22.50* In Bond per bottle

Buy Cantemerle 2025

 

95 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

Quite a fragrant, aromatic nose, full of intense violets and irises. The Petit Verdot and the Cabernet Sauvignon really stand out in terms of aromatics. Vivid purple in the glass. Sleek and so svelte, this has such a silky, almost creamy texture, tannins are gorgeous and this has such a juicy, lively core. Nothing out of place here. Super accessible and one of the best primeurs samples for consistency tasted three times. Ends salty with a stony grip. Completed new cellar in July 2024 with 114 vats. The team used a thermal camera for plot-by-plot harvest in 2025. New label as this vintage. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.6pH. A yield of 30hl/ha. 60% grand vin production. Ageing 12 months in barrel, 35% new wood.

94 Points | Jane Anson

Captures the austerity that you expect and want during En Primeur, wet stones and graphite, plenty of elegance and balance, measured acidities that give Left Bank typicity, a ton of ageing potential and curls of gunsmoke and flowers. Very pretty, very enjoyable, impressive. Yield 32 hl/ha. 35% new oak. First vintage in new cellars.

92-94 Ponots | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Tobacco, cedar, smoke, spice, cherries, and espresso form the core of the wine in the perfume, and on the medium-bodied, vibrant, soft, elegant, fresh, and fruity palate. Drink from 2029-2055.

91-93 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Cantemerle is terrific. Plush, deep and quite powerful, Cantemerle has a lot to offer. Dark red fruit, leather, cedar, tobacco and dried herbs are all dialed up. Cabernet Sauvignon drives the blend, which is very much in evidence in the wine's savory intense and structure. There's a lot of wine here.

91-93 points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 Cantemerle has a pretty nose with violet and iris flower-infused black fruit, very well defined, the oak very well integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, very well balanced, impressive weight and cohesive, with more precision on the finish than I have noticed on previous vintages of Cantemerle. I appreciate the sapidity here, a moreish Haut-Médoc in the making, and I look forward to revisiting this in bottle.

 

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

Browse En Primeur

Bordeaux 2025 Vintage Report → | Buy 2025 Wines → | En Primeur Explained →

Explore our full range of Buy Cantemerle wines available in bond and for immediate delivery

2025 L'Evangile Released En Primeur! 

L'Evangile 2025 at the same low price as the 2024, which itself represented a massive -36% reduction versus the 2023 vintage, the key difference this year is the significantly higher quality of the wine, making this a far more compelling release

96-98 Points - Neal Martin

“Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, a fine bead of acidity, superb minéralité, as if there were a bit of limestone soil, but there is none. Very saline on the aftertaste with impressive length. This is a marvellous L'Évangile given the growing season, and it seems imbued with so much personality”

 

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Chateau L’Evangile is one of Pomerol’s great names, enjoying a prime location next to Petrus and just across the road from Saint-Emilion. Owned by the Rothschild family of Chateau Lafite since 1990, the estate has seen continued investment and a steady rise in quality. The vineyards are dominated by Merlot, with Cabernet Franc and recent Cabernet Sauvignon additions adding complexity. Organic farming, plot-by-plot vinification, and input from Michel Rolland have helped position L’Evangile among Bordeaux’s most refined and age-worthy wines.

Chateau L'Evangile 2025 is one of the standout Pomerols of the vintage, combining richness with remarkable precision and freshness. Aromas of black cherry, plum, rose petal and spice unfold into a silky, layered palate framed by polished tannins and saline minerality. Despite the warmth of the growing season, the wine remains poised and classical in style, with superb energy, fine structure and impressive ageing potential.

Releasing this morning at €112* In Bond per bottle, Chateau L'Evangile 2025 arrives at exactly the same price as the 2024. Considering the clear step up in quality and the strong critical reception already building around the wine, this feels like one of the more intelligently priced releases on the Right Bank so far this campaign.

Production was tiny across the estate, with yields averaging just 22hl/ha after a growing season that produced exceptionally small berries and naturally concentrated fruit. Juliette Couderc and the team responded with meticulous intra-plot harvesting and a carefully judged élevage using a mix of foudre, amphora and restrained new oak, preserving both freshness and terroir expression.

The result is a beautifully refined and mineral Pomerol that captures the sensual texture expected from L'Evangile, while also delivering the precision and energy that defines the best wines of the vintage.

We have limited quantities available in both 3x75cl and 6x75cl cases.

 

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L'Evangile 2025

€112* In Bond per bottle

Buy L'Evangile 2025

 

97-98 Points | James Suckling

The aromas of blackberries, black olives and hints of tobacco and dried fruit are fascinating and enticing. It’s medium- to full-bodied with creamy and polished tannins and a savory finish. Turns refined and focused after the layered fruit. Classic in character, with a caressing texture and balance. Hints of ripe fruit and freshness at the same time. 86% merlot, 13% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon.

96-98 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 L'Évangile has been given new impetus by winemaker Juliette Couderc. It is initially backward, but it really comes forth with a few swirls of the glass: black cherries, mint and juniper berries, just a hint of truffle, quite vibrant and vivacious. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, a fine bead of acidity, superb minéralité, as if there were a bit of limestone soil, but there is none. Very saline on the aftertaste with impressive length. This is a marvellous L'Évangile given the growing season, and it seems imbued with so much personality.

96 Points | Jane Anson

Damson colour, this has a ton of juicy blue and black fruits, well judged density, energy and lift, clear ageing ability, grilled cumin, peony, iris flowers, slate and crushed rocks, 40% new oak, with large oak casks for almost half of the production. Less Cabernet Franc in this blend simply because of the size of the berries. 3.7ph. Blason no longer sold En Primeur, so not tasted here. Juliette Couderc director. Harvest began on August 26 with young Merlot on gravel. 23hl/h overall yield, fascinating to see how they split across different terroirs in the L'Evangile vineyard - on gravel 15hl/ha, on clay 28hl/ha, on sand, 38hl/h all due to size of berries. In practise this meant a lot of intra-plot harvesting, going through four or five times. The result is impressive.

96 Points | Decanter

Nice plump roundness on the palate with a touch of strawberry acidity to bring some life and lift. Quite serious, fine tannins, a cool crisp, blue fruit edge with a lot of liquorice and wet stone aspects – a mineral, salty, spiced grip on the finish. I like the frame, not too heavy but it’s still quite tight. I don’t find the density of 2022 or 2023 but there’s definitely charm on offer in a cool, serious way right now with a hint of gloss. Ageing 5% amphora. 40% foudre. 45% new oak. 10% used barrels. 3,7pH. A yield of 22hl/ha.

94-96 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2025 L'Évangile is a very beautiful wine. Silky and medium in body, the 2025 is a classic L'Évangile, which is shocking given the intense heat and drought of the year, along with yields of just 22 hectoliters per hectare in aggregate across the châteaux. Bright red-toned fruit, mocha and rose petal all grace the palate. Touches of blood orange and white pepper lift the brilliant finish. Élevage is 40% new oak, 40% foudre, 15% once-filled barrels and 5% amphora. This is a very precise wine and one of the top Pomerols of the year.

93-95 Points | Wine Advocate

Te 2025 L'Evangile is showing well, bursting with aromas of sweet cherries, dark berries, spices and licorice, framed by nicely integrated oak. On the palate, it's medium- to full-bodied, with a rather rich, powerful profile, built around ripe but youthfully structuring tannins. It's a blend of 87% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, some 40% of which is being matured in foudre. The vintage conditions, which produced very small berries (as little as 0.6 grams for Cabernet Franc growing on gravel), have delivered an Evangile of unusual density.

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

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2025 Cheval Blanc release En Primeur! 

Chaval Blanc 2025 is one of the wines of the vintage. From our understanding, this is shaping up to be one of the hottest releases of the campaign, so we would recommend moving quickly. Production is the lowest seen at the estate in more than two decades, combined with the fact that Cheval Blanc 2025 is already being talked about as one of the highest-scoring wines of the vintage, all while releasing at a sensible price.

98-100 Points - Wine Advocate

“the 2025 Château Cheval Blanc stands out once again as among the finest wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. […] With its striking aromas, intensity of flavor and resolutely classical proportions (checking in at 12.7% alcohol and pH of 3.76), the 2025 gives every indication of being one of the great Cheval Blancs of the decade.

 

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Château Cheval Blanc, one of the most celebrated and revered wine estates in the world, stands as a symbol of unparalleled quality in Bordeaux’s Right Bank. As a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, the highest classification in Saint-Émilion, Cheval Blanc has consistently produced wines of remarkable finesse, complexity, and longevity. The estate’s unique terroir, combined with a commitment to excellence, has made Cheval Blanc a benchmark for Merlot and Cabernet Franc-based wines.

Chateau Cheval Blanc 2025 is one of the defining wines of the 2025 Bordeaux vintage. The 2025 is born from the estate’s lowest-ever yield, just 15 hectolitres per hectare, rivalling the rarity of 1961. A blend of 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, it combines deep concentration with remarkable freshness at just 12.7% alcohol.

Intensely aromatic, the wine layers dark berries, violets, graphite and spice over a palate of extraordinary precision and ultra-fine tannins. Extended maceration has brought impressive depth and structure, yet the wine remains poised, lifted and classical in style. With no Petit Cheval produced in 2025, this is a profound and uncompromising Cheval Blanc built for decades of ageing.

Released at €390* In Bond per bottle, Cheval Blanc 2025 looks like a very sensible release when viewed against the quality in the glass and the level of critical acclaim it has already received. All the major critics have placed it among the finest wines of the vintage, with several scores pushing into potential perfection territory.

We have limited quantities available in both 3x75cl and 6x75cl cases on the website.

If you’re a fan of Cheval Blanc, this is a release worth moving quickly on.

 

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Chateau Cheval Blanc 2025

€390* In Bond per bottle

Buy Cheval Blanc 2025

 

98-100 Points  |  Wine Advocate, William Kelley

A blend of 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2025 Chateau Cheval Blanc stands out once again as among the finest wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of blood orange and iris, it's full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific mid-palate density, sweet tannins and a long, vibrant, violet-inflected finish. With its striking aromas, intensity of flavor and resolutely classical proportions (checking in at 12.7% alcohol and pH of 3.76), the 2025 gives every indication of being one of the great Cheval Blancs of the decade.

100 Points | Flastaff, Peter Moser

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Intense black forest berries, a hint of juniper, herbs and tobacco, blueberries, candied mandarin zest, very multi-faceted bouquet. Full-bodied, highly elegant, ripe heart cherries, finesse-rich structure, seamless, perfect tannins, a highly delicate wine with enormous length, immense minerality, designed for a long ageing period, a hint of nougat in the finish, an enormous promise for the future.

98-100 Points | Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Purple in hue, the wine explodes with an array of flowers, smoky truffles, black plums, black cherries, blue fruits, orange rind, tobacco leaf, licorice, and chocolate in the perfume. However, the palate is the main event. The mouthfeel perfectly balances its hedonistic tendencies with a touch of reticence, in a good way. There is length, volume, intensity, opulence, and lift. The seamless finish provides silk and velvet tannins, allowing the depth and purity of the fruit to stand out in the extensive, vibrant finish. The key to the vintage was the combination of a dry summer, which lowered yields, and the much-needed August rains, which brought about full maturity. 46 of 47 parcels were placed into the blend. It is important to note that no second wine was produced. Even more importantly, very little Cheval was produced. Yields were a scant 15 hectoliters per hectare, making this the lowest yields in the history of the estate. The wine is made from 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. 12.7% ABV, 3.6 pH. The harvest began September 18 for the Merlot, finishing their Cabernet Franc on October 3. Drink from 2030-2070.

96-99 Points  |  Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Cheval Blanc is seamless and textured. A wine of mystery and seduction, the 2025 dazzles. Time in the glass brings out the wine's tension and energy. Sage, mint, lavender, cloves and cool, blue-toned fruit all build in the glass. In one tasting, Cheval Blanc was massively tannic; in a second tasting, those tannins were much more seamless, highlighting how differently wines can show from day to day. Yields in 2025 were just 15 hectoliters per hectare, tiny by any measure. In many vintages Cheval Blanc can be exuberant, but the 2025 is rather closed, more of an intellectual wine that will require years in bottle to truly show everything it has to offer.

97-98 Points  |  James Suckling

Perfumed, with aromas of flowers, brambleberries and wild berries. Medium-bodied with tight, fine tannins that run forever on the palate. Hints of cedar, mushrooms and bark. Crunchy at the end. Just a hint of fancy bitterness and chocolate. Transparent and complete.

95-97 Points  |  Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2025 Cheval Blanc includes all 47 plots on the estate except one that was sold off. This nose is more immediate than some of its neighbours, a mixture of blackcurrant, raspberry, strawberry and blueberry, very expressive, underneath which lie tobacco and graphite scents. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid red berry fruit, just a touch of black pepper, a more reserved and structured Cheval Blanc than usual, vertical in style, the Cabernet Franc driving the finish. Not what I would call a sensual Cheval Blanc, but it has a distinctive character. Not everyone is going to fall head over heels for this Cheval Blanc because it is uncompromising, and I like that. Just be patient. This will need time.

96 Points  |  Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux, Jane Anson

Of all the wines I tasted in the 2025 En Primeur season, this is the one that I have thought about the most. The lowest ever yield at 15hl/ha yield, close to 1961 in terms of volume. Visually beautiful, deep plum colour, intense, slate, graphite, this has a construction that is clear, muscle, sinew, carved tannins, going long on campfire, chamomile, bitter chocolate, incense, anis, cassis, mint leaf, eucalyptus, crushed rocks, savoury broth. This forces you to project forward - if we are lucky enough to be pulling a bottle out of a cellar in 2060, this Cheval will still be powering along. Stunning and impressive, but I have not yet fallen in love. No Petit Cheval.

96 Points  |  Decanter, Georgina Hindle

One of the lowest yields of Cheval Blanc ever at just 15hl/ha with no Petit Cheval made this year. Chinese five spice, cedar, cinnamon, rose buds, soy, purple flowers, blackcurrants and cherries on the nose. Supple and fleshy, round and enveloping yet softly chalky so you get weight but not massive density in the glass. Tannins are wonderful and the power comes underneath not at the fore. Suave, fresh and floats along the palate - generous yet reined in, glossy, bright with lovely acidity. Almost a bit shy and quiet but so well controlled. I love it for its delicacy and hands-off approach. Complex, charming, soft, pretty and delicious without trying too hard at all. 3.76pH.

 

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

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2025 Pape Clement Releases En Primeur!

Explore the newly released Pape Clement 2025 wines, from the potentially vintage-defining Pape Clement Blanc to the refined and beautifully structured Grand Vin, with full reviews, pricing and buying links below.

 

96-98 Points - Antonio Galloni

“Rich, vivid and textured, the 2025 Pape Clément Blanc is outrageously beautiful. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, tangerine peel, mint and white pepper soar from the glass. All the elements are so well balanced. This builds beautifully through to the intense, palate-staining finish. In 2025, the Blanc is quite simply magnificent—clearly one of the wines of the vintage.”

 

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Chateau Pape Clement is one of Bordeaux’s oldest and most iconic estates, with roots dating back to the 13th century. Named after Pope Clement V, the property has long been renowned for producing powerful yet refined wines from the gravelly soils of Pessac-Leognan. Today, meticulous vineyard work, low yields and precise winemaking continue to elevate Pape Clement among the elite of the appellation.

Pape Clement Blanc 2025 is one of the standout whites of the vintage, combining richness with remarkable precision. Layers of peach, citrus peel, white flowers and saline minerality unfold across a textured, vibrant palate. Despite its concentration, the wine remains crystalline and energetic, with impressive freshness and length. A sophisticated blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Sauvignon Gris, this is a beautifully complete Pessac-Leognan Blanc.

Pape Clement 2025 is a refined, aromatic expression of Pessac-Leognan, showing floral lift, dark berries and savoury spice wrapped around silky tannins. Medium to full-bodied, it balances depth with freshness and precision, favouring elegance over sheer power in 2025. Notes of lavender, graphite, espresso and wet stone add complexity, while the long, structured finish highlights the wine’s strong ageing potential and polished character.

Both colours were released this afternoon, and the early reviews suggest Pape Clement has delivered one of its strongest all-round showings in recent years.

We have the pricing and full reviews below for you.

 

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Pape Clement Blanc 2025

€105* In Bond per bottle

Buy pape Clement Blanc 2025

 

96-98 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

Rich, vivid and textured, the 2025 Pape Clément Blanc is outrageously beautiful. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, tangerine peel, mint and white pepper soar from the glass. All the elements are so well balanced. This builds beautifully through to the intense, palate-staining finish. In 2025, the Blanc is quite simply magnificent—clearly one of the wines of the vintage.

97-98 Points | James Suckling

This is enveloping, with a broad textural element running throughout. It’s bright and incisive, yet with a blanket of fruit that extends across the palate. Flavorful and long. A blend of 56% sauvignon blanc, 30% semillon and 14% sauvignon gris. Aged in barrels, foudres, concrete, amphorae and stainless steel.

96 Points | Decanter

Straw, ripe peach and some waxy lemon aspects with really floral and fragrant aromas on the nose – smells rich and enticing. Beautiful succulence with a dollop of pineapple, lemon and lime, creamy vanilla and peach plus a touch of oiliness that gives amplitude and width. I love the intensity and delicacy here, a wine you really want to drink, full of fruit yet crystalline, focused, mineral, saline and salivating with fruit purity and impressive length. Some enjoyable pineapple bitterness with struck match and oyster shell salinity. Gorgeous precision and clarity – really nothing out of place. A glass I wanted more of immediately. 3.14pH. A yield of 18hl/ha. Ageing 65% in barrels (1/3 new), 16% in foudres and 21% in stoneware, concrete and stainless steel.

95 Points | Jane Anson

Fruit driven, so juicy, laden with white peach and pear orchard fruits, lightly grilled without being heavy, an excellent white that has the structure to last but the generosity to give pleasure immediately. 33% new oak. Yield 18 hl/ha. Harvest August 20 to 25, 33% new oak. The vineyard footprint has gone from around 10ha down to 5ha, focusing on a clear limestone and clay-dominant sector, plus one highly impressive sector in Leognan by the former Château du Sartre.

 

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Pape Clement 2025

€61* In Bond per bottle

Buy Pape Clement 2025

 

95-97 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Pape Clément is magnificent. The aromatics alone are captivating. Strong floral and savory notes soar from the glass. Lavender, rose petal, sage, mint and mocha lead into a core of wonderfully vibrant red/purplish fruit. Medium in body and deep, Pape Clément is positively stellar in 2025. The Cabernets and Petit Verdot add tons of aromatic presence. Élevage is 85% in barrique and 15% in foudre, with a relatively modest 33% new oak.

95-97 Points | James Suckling

A linear and very tight red with black currant, blackberry and hazelnut undertones. It's medium- to full-bodied with firm and racy tannins and a savory finish. Lots of tannins, but they are very fine textured and show outstanding length. 60% merlot, 36% cabernet sauvignon, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

96 Points | Decanter

Really floral on the nose, expressive with ripe red and black fruit, incense perfumed scents and a rich headiness with such aromatic purity. Supple and velvety, round and lively with quite a delicate style here where the focus is on the clarity of the blueberry fruit and the lifted aspects rather than fleshiness or power. Almost understated, a word not often used with Pape. A soft salty, wet stone and chalky aspect on the finish. Definitely fresh with lots of energy here. Elegant and precise with a soft chew on the finish and ripe fruit. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.68pH. A yield of 29hl/ha. Ageing 85% in barrels (1/3 new) and 15% in foudres. Harvest 3–25 September.

94 Points | Jane Anson

Wide ranging and expansive, love the bright cherry pit and damson, a ton of expansion and character, luscious with dark berry fruits, espresso and cocoa bean. Julien Viaud consultant. A new group technical director has come over from Penfolds, Pablo Laborde, joined in early 2026 so for the blending and ageing of this vintage. Harvest September 3 to 25. Yield 23 hl/ha. 50% of the wine in barrels of which 25% is new. 55ha, with a recentering to the historical vineyard around the estate in Pessac. Indigenous yeast fermentation.

 

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

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2025 Laroque Releases! 

We’ve been strongly endorsing Laroque for a few years now as one of the best price-to-quality ratio on the right bank and 2025 does not deviate. Laroque 2025 comes strongly recommended this year.

96-98+ Points -The Drinks Business

“This is another vintage everyone will be talking about. I am struck by the gain in viscosity and volume in the mouth in comparison to even the greatest vintages of the past here, due to almost perfect integration of the ulta-fine grained tannins. We're clearly in 'best ever' territory and that's saying something.”

 

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One of Saint-Emilion's most storied estates, Chateau Laroque traces its origins to the twelfth century, yet it is the transformation of the past decade that truly defines its reputation. Owned by the Beaumartin family and directed by David Suire, the estate has become one of the appellation's most impressive performers, combining careful vineyard work, restrained extraction and thoughtful ageing to produce wines of depth and precision.

Situated in the Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes sector, Laroque's 61 hectares sit atop fractured limestone and clay soils that regulate water and encourage deep rooting. Old-vine Merlot, some planted in the 1950s, thrives in this elevated, wind-exposed setting, lending the wines their hallmark freshness and mineral tension. The result is wines of lifted aromatics, ultra-fine tannins and vibrant energy, a precise expression of one of Saint-Emilion's finest terroirs.

The 2025 Laroque is a wine of startling purity and precision. Fragrant blueberries, black raspberries and violets lead onto a medium-bodied palate charged with energetic fruit, ultra-fine tannins and a mineral, saline finish of remarkable length. Critics marvel at its staggering lift, harmony and viscosity, with several declaring this the finest Laroque ever produced, a wine built for decades of cellaring from 2030 through 2055.

Saint Emilion performed very strongly in 2025, and with the vintage’s hallmark balance of good weight, ultra-fine tannins and an expressive, lifted nose, Laroque comes highly recommended.

Releasing today at €22.50* In Bond per bottle, this is an absolute steal. Given that it’s so affordable, it still comes in 6x75cl OWC.

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Chateau Laroque 2025

€22.50* In Bond per bottle

Buy Laroque 2025

 

96-98+ Points | The Drinks Business, Colin Hay

The old vine Merlot from the 1950s was crucial to the capacity to manage the stress of the vintage - and one can see that immediately in the clarity and limpidity of the wine in the glass. Staggering purity, staggering lift, staggering energy and staggering precision. The impression of harmony is amazing and total. Laroque is utterly gorgeous aromatically and, if anything even more so, on the palate in 2025. The transformation of what has been produced here - and with it the reputation of the wine - over the last decade is extraordinary. We are clearly in "best ever" territory and that is saying something.

95-97 Points | The Wine Palate, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Laroque slowly unfurls with fragrant notes of juicy blueberries, black raspberries, and fresh black plums, followed by nuances of violets, cedar chest, and chalk dust. The medium-bodied palate is bright and shimmery with energetic black and blue fruit and very fine-grained tannins, delivering a crisp line and a very long, mineral-laced finish.

96 Points | Decanter, Georgie Hindle

Really aromatically complex. Ripe and pristine black bramble berries on the nose, perfumed and nicely fragrant. Lovely aromatic purity. Smooth and so silky, svelte as Laroque does so well. Mouthwatering with bright acidity but so juicy - strawberry and cherry with a hint of cranberry and soft accents of dried herbs, liquorice and wet stones. Grippy but so charming even at this point. Tension with freshness, perfectly polished and friendly.

94-96 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

The estate's signature floral aromatics are on full display, followed by black raspberries, licorice, spice, espresso, and cherry nuances fill the perfume. Fresh, juicy, vibrant, creamy, and concentrated on the palate, the finish delivers its clean, lifted, salty-edged berries with precision from start to finish. Drink from 2030-2050.

93-95 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

Vibrant, salivating acids and beams of tannin are the first signs we are on the clay/limestone plateau in Saint-Emilion's Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes sector. Blood orange, mint, chalk and white pepper bleed into a core of red-toned fruit. Medium in body, with striking energy and tension, Laroque is positively stellar in 2025. This is another superb showing from the team led by Technical Director David Suire. Drink 2033-2055.

 

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

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Bordeaux 2025 Vintage Report → | Buy 2025 Wines → | En Primeur Explained →

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Porseleinberg 2023 - South African 1st Growth

We’ve been eagerly awaiting this allocation for a while…!

The top-scoring wine and the only one to receive a perfect 100 points in Tim Atkin’s latest South Africa report. Winemaker Callie Louw, who makes this wine iconic, will depart after the 2025 vintage. Could this be one of the finest wines of his two-decade tenure? Do both yourself and Callie proud by adding it to your collection.

100 Points - Tim Atkin MW

“Fermented with 90% whole clusters, with 70% of the wine using thesubmerged cap technique, it's one of the most sublime Porseleinbergs yet, pairing aromas of incense, thyme and black pepper with firm, age-worthy tannins, blackberry, red berry and liquorice flavours and a stony, mineral core. Truly world class”

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Perched on the rugged slopes of the Porseleinberg mountain in the Swartland, Porseleinberg is one of South Africa’s most compelling Syrah estates. Founded by Boekenhoutskloof and guided by winemaker Callie Louw, the focus is on a single, windswept vineyard of schist soils. Farming is meticulous and low-intervention, with whole-bunch fermentation and restrained élevage. The result is Syrah of striking purity, structure and mineral precision, capturing both place and vintage with remarkable clarity.

The 2023 Porseleinberg is a powerful yet finely tuned expression of Swartland Syrah, shaped by a dry, challenging season that delivered small, concentrated berries. Fermented largely with whole clusters and aged in large-format oak, it shows incense, black pepper and wild herbs layered over dark berry fruit. The palate is structured and mineral, with firm, age-worthy tannins and a focused, energetic finish that promises excellent development in bottle.

Scoring a perfect 100 points from Tim Atkin, the 2023 Porseleinberg was the only wine to achieve this mark in his latest South Africa report, placing it firmly as the standout wine of the vintage. A remarkable endorsement that reflects both the precision of the winemaking and the unique character of this exceptional site.

The only other vintage of Porseleinberg to receive the perfect 100-Point score was the 2018, which, according to wine-searcher, is not available any more in Europe.

Porseleinberg is a must-have for any serious South African wine collector. Don’t miss this iconic vintage.

“Let’s keep it simple: it’s one of the Cape’s best Syrah wines, and you need to have it in your cellar, preferably allowing several years of maturation in bottle” - Neal Martin, Vinous

 

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Porseleinberg 2023

 

€57.50* In Bond per bottle

Buy Porseleinberg 2023

100 Points | Tim Atkin MW

The 2023 growing season was "dry and difficult", according to Callie Louw, at least in this wild and starkly beautiful corner of the Swartland, but you wouldn’t know it from the quality of this superlative Syrah. Picked late, right up to March 8th, it has the concentration and intensity of a small crop. Fermented with 90% whole clusters, with 70% of the wine using thesubmerged cap technique, it's one of the most sublime Porseleinbergs yet, pairing aromas of incense, thyme and black pepper with firm, age-worthy tannins, blackberry, red berry and liquorice flavours and a stony, mineral core. Truly world class. 2027-35

 

95 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2023 Porseleinberg was made by Callie Louw, although it was announced that he will depart after the 2025 vintage for a new venture. See my producer profile for details. This vintage utilised 100% whole bunch and is raised for 12 months in 90% Stockinger 2,500-litre foudre and 10% concrete egg. It has an outstanding nose with fragrant raspberry, wild strawberry, rooibos and light bay leaf scents that blossom in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins, a dash of cracked black pepper intermixed with Five Spice and used tea leaves. Quite feisty yet focused on the finish, this is a wonderful Porseleinberg that will benefit from several years in bottle, as usual.

 

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

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