June 4, 2026

Carmes Haut-Brion 2025 - 3x 100 Points - One of our favourites

2025 Carmes Haut-Brion releases En Primeur!

Today there are a lot of En Primeur releases, but we only have eyes for one wine, and that’s Carmes Haut-Brion. Let us tell you why we love this estate so much.

Carmes Haut-Brion has carved out a completely unique identity in Bordeaux, producing wines unlike anything else in the region. Through its high proportion of Cabernet Franc, whole-bunch fermentation and innovative cellar approach, the estate has created a style that combines remarkable perfume and texture. It often feels like a Burgundy from Bordeaux.

Potential 3x 100-Point Score

Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2025

100 Points - Falstaff
“lingers for minutes, already very convincing in its youth, cassis and ripe cherries on the finish, delicate and multi-faceted, great future potential”

96-98 Points - Antonio Galloni
“The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a huge, powerful wine that is going to need many years to come into its own. […] Readers will find an especially deep, potent Carmes, a wine that will need the better part of a decade to shed some of its considerable baby fat. It's a telling example of the vintage, with 1% less alcohol than in most recent years. Today the 2025 is a mere infant. It's another exceptional wine from Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier and his team”

Les Carmes Haut-Brion is one of Bordeaux’s most exciting and distinctive estates, a true insider’s wine. Located within the city limits of Bordeaux, the estate combines a unique terroir of deep gravel and iron-rich clay with one of the region’s most innovative winemaking philosophies. Under Guillaume Pouthier, Les Carmes has developed a cult following for wines that are perfumed, precise and unmistakably individual, pushing the boundaries of what modern Bordeaux can be.

Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2025 is one of the most captivating wines of the vintage. Produced from a record 54% Cabernet Franc and fermented with 65% whole clusters, it delivers haunting aromatics of peony, iris, violet, graphite and dark berries layered over a palate of remarkable freshness, energy and precision. Critics praised its elegance, complexity and balance, with multiple scores reaching 100 points and several suggesting it ranks among the finest wines ever produced at the estate.

Across Bordeaux, many winemakers told us that Cabernet Franc was the standout variety of the 2025 vintage, achieving exceptional ripeness while retaining freshness and aromatic lift. No estate showcases those qualities better than Les Carmes. The result is a wine that feels simultaneously powerful and weightless, combining floral perfume, mineral tension and extraordinary length.

Released today at €82.80 In Bond per bottle, this is another exceptional vintage from one of Bordeaux’s most exciting estates.

We love this wine and can't recommend it highly enough. If you want one of the most distinctive, thought-provoking and age-worthy wines of Bordeaux 2025 in your cellar, make sure Les Carmes is on your list.

Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2025

Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2025

€82.80 In Bond per bottle

Buy Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2025

100 Points | Falstaff, Peter Moser

Deep dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Ripe dark berry fruit, a hint of plums, floral touch, pleasant herbal spice, some nougat and orange zest. Complex, yet lively, ripe cherries and cranberries, fine, ripe tannins, literally opens up in the mouth, delicate extract sweetness, lingers for minutes, already very convincing in its youth, cassis and ripe cherries on the finish, delicate and multi-faceted, great future potential.

99-100 Points | James Suckling

The precision is so seductive and intellectual, with aromas of fresh flowers, iron, graphite, cedar, blood oranges and black fruit. It's medium-bodied with a compact palate of intense tannins that melt into the wine. Rather weightless in nature. It kicks in at the end with incredible intensity and focus. 13% alcohol. 65% whole cluster. 54% cabernet franc, 29% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot, mostly co-fermented.

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

Almost opaque in color, it takes no effort to dig into the floral display. From there you encounter black cherries, licorice, spice box, menthol, cigar wrappers, blackberries and crushed rocks in the aromas. The palate is what steals the show with its vivid display of black, with red fruits, elegant, silky textures, and most importantly, purity of fruit. The velvety finish spreads all over your palate with touches of sea-salt, cocoa, Indian spices and lingering, dark fruits. Clearly, this is in competition with the best vintages the estate has ever produced. The ability to manage the potential of hydric stress, due to their terroir is a large part of what helped make 2025 such a success. The wine was made using 65% whole bunch clusters, blending 54% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17% Merlot. It is interesting to note this is the highest percentage of Cabernet ever included in the blend. I think it really works here. 13% ABV, pH 3.59. The wine is aging in a combination of 70% new, French oak, 19% foudres, and 11% amphora. Picking took place September 7- September 19. Drink from 2029-2065.

96-98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Deeper-hued than the C des Carmes cuvée, with a gorgeous perfume of red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with graphite, leafy herbs, iris, and subtle floral, minty, and almost peppery nuances, the 2025 Château Carmes Haut-Brion is based on 54% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Merlot, vinified with 65% whole clusters. On the palate, it's wonderfully textured and medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered, expansive mouthfeel and ultra-fine tannins. I love its overall balance, it has no hard edges, and while there's plenty of tannins here (IPT 82), they're perfectly integrated and polished. It checks in at 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.59, and this is just loaded with charm and character.

96-98 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a huge, powerful wine that is going to need many years to come into its own. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, incense, melted road tar and licorice make a bold entrance. Fertility in the Merlots was low. As a result, the 2025 has the highest amount of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon ever, 83% in total as opposed to the more typical 70% or so. Whole clusters, always a part of the approach here, are 65%. Time on skins was 45 days at 27°C (80.6°F) compared to the 35 days at 30°C (86°F) that is more typical. Readers will find an especially deep, potent Carmes, a wine that will need the better part of a decade to shed some of its considerable baby fat. It's a telling example of the vintage, with 1% less alcohol than in most recent years. Today the 2025 is a mere infant. It's another exceptional wine from Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier and his team.

97 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

Gorgeously fragrant on the nose with so many perfumed scents – violets, iris, peonies, cinnamon, exotic spices, black chocolate, something slightly sweet and aromatic with blackcurrant and dark bramble berries. Succulent and juicy with a powdery element to the tannins that fills the mouth straight away. I love the integration of the acidity – this has brightness but is also quite calm and charming, softer than expected. Sleek, sophisticated, full of complexity and nuance yet with real depth, intensity, concentration and integrity. Very true to place and to Guillaume Pouthier’s style. Succulent and floral Cabernets, aromatic all the way through, super long, graceful and full of width and flavour while staying clean. Ripe with tannins that fill the mouth – fleshy, grippy but wide and lifted – giving a gorgeous texture. A little citrus tang to the acidity but overall full of life and focus. Brilliant. 3.59pH. A yield of 38hl/ha overall (29hl/ha Merlot, 45hl/ha Cabernet Sauvignon). 65% whole bunch fermentation.

95-98 Points | Wine Advocate, Yohan Castaing

The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot, one of the highest proportions of Cabernet Franc at the estate and comparable to 2016. It was vinified with 65% whole clusters and matured in 70% new oak. It reveals a complex, harmonious bouquet of pomegranate, iris and peony, intertwined with cassis, mulberries and dark berries. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and structured, it’s deep and layered, its concentrated core of fruit framed by velvety structuring tannins, concluding with a long, mineral-inflected finish. Combining tension with an ethereal profile, it delivers remarkable clarity, freshness and elegance. While slightly more overtly structured at this stage than the prodigious 2022, it remains impeccably balanced.

95-97 Points | Neal Martin

The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion comes from clay-limestone soils and was picked from September 7 to 19, with a high level of Cabernet Franc (54%) and lower Merlot (17%). This vintage has 65% whole cluster, similar to 2022, raised in 70% new oak barrels, 19% in 18hl foudres and 11% amphoras. This takes time to open on the nose: blacker, darker fruit than the Le C, black plum and touches of iris flower. Very pure, very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins on the entry, crunchy in the mouth, black fruit interlaced with Earl Grey, subtle ash-like notes. Linear towards the finish but very sustained in the mouth, there is plenty of energy in this Les Carmes-Haut-Brion and it should age with style and grace. More sapidity on the finish than the Dead Sea. 13.1% alcohol.

96 Points | Jane Anson

I was a little nervous to be honest about Carmes Haut-Brion, worried that this would be too sliced-through with steel acidity this year with the high Cabernet Franc, but I was worrying unnecessarily. It's totally beautiful, sleek, grilled campfire, a ton of momentum and there is a spherical feel through the mid palate, expanding and deepening the fruit flavours. High floral as you would expect, a crush of peony, iris, violet right on the first nose, chalky and slate edge to the tannins, full of energy, 14%abv at picking then whole cluster brought it down to 13%, 3.6ph, 65% whole bunch during fermentation. 38hl/h yield (compared to 24hl/ha yield last year after selection), 70% new oak. 3.59 pH. Harvest September 7 to 19, this is highest levels of Cabernet Franc to date.

*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 →

Explore our full range of Buy Les Carmes Haut-Brion wines available in bond and for immediate delivery

June 3, 2026

Haut-Bailly 2025 - 98-100 Pointed

2025 Haut-Bailly Release En Primeur!

98-100 Points - Jane Anson
“Super slow and steady expansion as it goes through the palate, this absolutely makes you smile and is right up at the top of my expectations for how Haut-Bailly would perform in this often-conflicting vintage. Beautiful, crushed rose petals, wet stones, iris flowers, squid ink, shows finesse but also generosity, a wine with so many dimensions and layers to experience”

Haut-Bailly is one of Pessac-Léognan’s most refined and consistently elegant estates. Nestled atop a gravelly ridge just outside Bordeaux, the property has built a reputation for producing Cabernet-led wines of finesse, precision, and longevity. Now under the direction of Véronique Sanders, Haut-Bailly combines classical structure with modern polish. Low yields, meticulous vineyard work, and a state-of-the-art gravity-flow cellar ensure each vintage reflects the unique terroir - resulting in wines that age gracefully and are adored by collectors worldwide. Haut-Bailly is one of those wineries that seems to do everything right.

Haut-Bailly 2025 is a masterclass in finesse, purity and terroir expression. Aromas of crushed flowers, black cherry, cassis, tobacco and wet stone lead into a beautifully layered palate of silky tannins, vibrant freshness and remarkable precision. Critics praised its elegance, harmony and mineral complexity, with Jane Anson awarding 98-100 points. Not the most powerful Haut-Bailly, perhaps one of the most refined and complete.

Released today at €74* In Bond per bottle.

We expect this to become one of the most admired and sought-after vintages the estate has produced in recent years.

Haut-Bailly 2025

Chateau Haut-Bailly 2025

€74* In Bond per bottle

Buy Haut-Bailly 2025

98-100 Points | Jane Anson

Super slow and steady expansion as it goes through the palate, this absolutely makes you smile and is right up at the top of my expectations for how Haut-Bailly would perform in this often-conflicting vintage. Beautiful, crushed rose petals, wet stones, iris flowers, squid ink, shows finesse but also generosity, a wine with so many dimensions and layers to experience. Sit back, give it a good 6 to 8 years in bottle, then get ready to celebrate. 55% in first wine, 50% new oak, 3.6ph. harvest September 4 to 22.

98-99 Points | James Suckling

A beautiful fruit to this delicate and refined wine. The tannins are perfectly integrated into the wine and almost give it a pinot texture. The finest silk. It’s medium-bodied with precise and focused fruit and an endless finish. The exceptional harmony of this young wine makes you want to drink it. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 13.3% alcohol. pH 3.67.

97-99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Checking in as a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2025 Château Haut-Bailly is a sensational Haut-Bailly all about finesse and elegance. Ripe black cherries, currants, smoky tobacco, violets, spice, and flowers all define the bouquet, and on the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, graceful mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a very long, elegant finish. It's not a blockbuster, but it's exactly what this terroir yields with its complex, nuanced, layered, graceful style. You should buy this.

96-98 Points | Neal Martin

The 2025 Haut-Bailly was picked between September 4 and 22 at 26.6 hl/ha, raised in 50% new oak. Similar to elsewhere this year, I found a distinct difference between the Grand and Deuxième Vins, this possessing greater delineation and complexity. A mixture of brambly red fruit, briar, a touch of cassis and orange rind that is beautifully delineated. The palate is exquisite: very fine tannins, tangible minéralité, very cohesive and focused, with a very complex, peppery finish that goes on and on and on. Svelte, harmonious and tender, this ranks amongst the best vintages from Haut-Bailly in recent years.

96-98 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Initially, you notice a mélange of red, with black cherries, before diving into the flowers, black raspberries, tobacco, and smoke. The palate is the showstopper, with its sweetness, elegance, and gorgeous purity in the fruit. Light on its feet, long, and vibrant, it offers lift, balance, and refinement. While this is not the most powerful vintage of Haut Bailly, it could be the most elegant. With just a few years in the cellar, it will be gorgeous to savor for at least two to three decades of evolution with pleasure. The key to the vintage was the hot, dry summer, paired with the late August rains. The wine blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. pH 3.67. The harvest took place from September 4 to September 22. Yields were quite low at 26 hectoliters per hectare. 3% press wine. Drink from 2030-2060.

95-97 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Haut-Bailly is fabulous. Here, too, the purity of the fruit is remarkable. Dried herbs, crushed flowers, blood orange, pomegranate, mint and star anise give the 2025 a gorgeous and palpable sense of exoticism. The 2025 impresses with its elegance and finesse. Floral and savory overtones linger on the clean, supremely polished finish. Very fine.

*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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June 3, 2026

Mouton Rothschild 2025 - 3x 100-Point scores

2025 Mouton Rothschild releases En Primeur!

When we tasted it, there was no doubt in our mind that this would not be a 100-Pointed vintage of Mouton Rothschild.. Looks like there are three wine critics who all scored it a potential 100-point score.

100 Points - Falstaff
“Complex, tightly meshed, fresh dark berry fruit, fine, silky, tannins, delicate blueberries, lively structure, mineral-salty finish, elegant and precise, shows length and assured ageing potential.”

99-100 Points - James Suckling
“A glamorous wine for the vintage, with mesmerizing perfumes of flowers, al dente fruit and citrus flowers”

98-100 Points - Jane Anson
“Highest Cabernet Sauvignon on record (since 94% for the 2010 vintage), stately and reserved at first, then totally joyful. The right austerity, coupled with squid ink character and fabulous hidden depths that are going to take their time to fully unroll, with the incense of the oak coming through only after a good 10 minutes in the glass, you barely perceive it on the first tasting. What a beautiful Mouton, great stuff from wine director Jean-Philippe Danjoy”

97-99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
”It's unquestionably a beautiful Mouton in the making, and this château continues to fire on all cylinders”

Chateau Mouton Rothschild is Bordeaux’s great showman, a First Growth renowned for combining Pauillac power with extraordinary opulence and flair. Since the Rothschild family transformed the estate in the twentieth century, Mouton has become one of the world’s most collectible wines, celebrated for its artist-designed labels, exceptional terroir and unmistakable ability to marry concentration, charisma and longevity.

Mouton Rothschild 2025 is a magnificent return to form, built from the highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon ever used in the Grand Vin. The unique conditions of the vintage resulted in exceptionally small Cabernet Sauvignon berries, often weighing less than one gram, even on the estate's oldest vines, helping to create remarkable concentration and intensity.

The 2025 was harvested between 5 and 20 September and matured entirely in new oak. Comprising 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, it delivers a wonderfully pure and controlled bouquet of cool black fruits, blackberry and cassis, complemented by subtle mineral nuances that Neal Martin likened to the freshness of oyster shells on the Atlantic coast. The precision and delineation are particularly striking.

Layers of cassis, graphite, cedar, cigar box and violet unfold across a powerful yet beautifully controlled palate. Despite its concentration and power, there is freshness, refinement and balance throughout. This feels quintessentially Mouton, combining flamboyance and charm with the structure and pedigree to reward decades in the cellar.

Comparison of top-scoring vintages of Mouton Rothschild:

Critics praised its precision, structure and depth, with several awarding potential 100-point scores. A classical yet hedonistic Mouton that looks destined for greatness.

Released this morning at €353* In Bond per bottle.

We have 1x75cl OWC & 3x75cl OWC available on the website.

Mouton Rothschild 2025

€353* In Bond per bottle

Buy Mouton Rothschild 2025

Available in 1x75cl OWC & 3x75cl OWC

100 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Fine precious wood spice, nuances of cassis and liquorice, delicate hints of nougat and orange zest, seductive bouquet. Complex, tightly meshed, fresh dark berry fruit, fine, silky, tannins, delicate blueberries, lively structure, mineral-salty finish, elegant and precise, shows length and assured ageing potential. (98% Cabernet Sauvignon)

99-100 Points | James Suckling

A glamorous wine for the vintage, with mesmerizing perfumes of flowers, al dente fruit and citrus flowers. Black currants with some mineral and stone undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and an endless finish. The tannins lead you on a great trip. It is the most cabernet sauvignon ever used in the blend in recent memory. Balanced and structured. 98% cabernet sauvignon and 2% merlot.

98-100 Points | Jane Anson

Highest Cabernet Sauvignon on record (since 94% for the 2010 vintage), stately and reserved at first, then totally joyful. The right austerity, coupled with squid ink character and fabulous hidden depths that are going to take their time to fully unroll, with the incense of the oak coming through only after a good 10 minutes in the glass, you barely perceive it on the first tasting. What a beautiful Mouton, great stuff from wine director Jean-Philippe Danjoy. 52% Grand Vin, basically pure old vine Cabernet. And an interesting side note - in September there was no weekend picking, a clear indication that there was no stress about the harvest dates. 3.76pH. Harvest September 5 to 20. 100% new oak.

98-100 Points | Fine Wine Library

After 2024 was a bit on the lighter side, Mouton 2025 is back to being hedonistic with great structure and lots of body. Classic nose of blackberry, damson, cassis, cedar, floral and graphite. Lots of tension with a little tobacco leaf and mineral finish.

97-99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Deep purple-hued, the 2025 Château Mouton Rothschild is based on 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot that's resting in 100% new barrels. A blockbuster nose of crème de cassis, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and graphite gives way to a rich, powerful, yet focused and precise Mouton on the palate, with the signature texture this estate is known for, flawless balance, ripe, silky tannins, integrated acidity, and a gorgeous finish. It hit 13.1% alcohol with a pH of 3.76. It's unquestionably a beautiful Mouton in the making, and this château continues to fire on all cylinders.

97-99 Points | Wine Advocate

A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, the 2025 Mouton Rothschild is a dense, powerful wine, unwinding in the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, blueberries, espresso roast, cigar wrapper and violet. Full-bodied, deep and dense, it's rich, layered and concentrated, with prodigious mid-palate presence and a long, youthfully structured finish. Small berries in Cabernet Sauvignon, below one gram even in the older vines, explain this Mouton's remarkable intensity of flavor. The grand vin represents 52% of the production and checks in at 13.1% alcohol.

97-99 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Smoke, cigar box, flowers, Indian spices, cassis, blackberries, espresso, licorice, forest leaves and mint fill the aromatic profile. But here, it is the palate that owns the night with its opulent, flamboyant, luscious, and vibrant personality. Even with all those showy characteristics, concentration, and intensity, the wine manages to feel light on its feet. By the time you have emptied your glass, the wine somehow gained weight, and the tannins turned to velvet, which is perfect to allow you to enjoy the seemingly, never ending finish. The keys to the vintage came from the combination of summer draught, paired with the rains arriving in late August at the perfect moment, helping to aid in the maturity in the grapes, which shaped the vintage characteristics. The wine consists of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, making this the highest percentage Cabernet Sauvignon ever used in the blend.13.1% ABV, 3.76 pH. 52% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. The harvest took place September 5 - September 20. Drink from 2032-2075.

96-98 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Mouton Rothschild is dense and brooding. Although naturally very, very young, all the elements are so well put together. The 2025 is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, the most Cabernet ever in the Grand Vin, and that very much comes through in the wine's structure and overall presence. Graphite, lavender, rose petal and menthol build into the rich, heady finish. There's a ton of potential here.

95-97 Points | Neal Martin

The 2025 Mouton Rothschild was picked between September 5 and 20 and matured entirely in new oak. It contains the highest Cabernet Sauvignon ever, at 98%. This has a very pure and controlled bouquet, "cool" black fruit, a light estuarine influence (oyster shells shucked down on the beach in Arcachon?) that filter through the blackberry and cassis fruit. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins that feel a little more rounded and suppler than the 2025 Lafite Rothschild tasted just prior. There is a luxuriant aspect, the signature of Mouton Rothschild that differentiates it from the other First Growths, not plush but perhaps a little more flattering at this very early stage thanks to its patina of creaminess. In a sense, it is quintessential Mouton Rothschild and should age extremely well in bottle. 13.1% alcohol

*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 Mouton Rothschild wines available in bond and for immediate delivery

June 3, 2026

Brane Cantenac 2025 - Wow! Released below the 2019 price

2025 Brane-Cantenac Release En Primeur!

Brane-Cantenac has released at a price lower than their 2019 price!

A release that really delivers on both quality and value. The wine has attracted outstanding critical acclaim, including a 98-100 point score, yet is released at just €45.50 In Bond per bottle. That's particularly impressive when you consider that the highly regarded 2019 vintage, itself released at an attractive price, now trades at around €58 In Bond per bottle.

2025 - €45.50* IB per bottle

2022 - €71 IB per bottle

2020 - €57 IB per bottle

2019 - €58 IB per bottle

Brane-Cantenac has long been one of the smartest buys in Margaux, and the 2025 looks set to reinforce that reputation. Well done to Henri Lurton and his team for producing a superb wine and releasing it at a price that genuinely rewards collectors.

Added bonus, special label celebrating 100 years.

“The 2025 is in competition with the 2022 as the best vintage ever produced at the estate.”

“it's a brilliant success in the vintage and should be snatched up by reader”

“Not powerful like the 2022, yet pixelated with a mineral, tensile, complex finish. Another feather in the cap for Lurton and, moreover, this is often one of the best values on release.”

“This is luscious and full of wonderfully bright fruits, great concentration, cushion of air underneath, high Cabernet and it comes through in the floral aromatics, clearly a plentiful tannic structure but luscious and layered damson and black cherry. Yes yes yes.”

“The aromatics alone are so compelling, but everything about the 2025 speaks to balance. It’s a magnificent effort from proprietor Henri Lurton and his team. One of the highlights of the vintage”

Often dubbed “Margaux’s best-kept secret,” Brane-Cantenac has quietly ascended to the top tier of the appellation. A Second Growth in the 1855 Classification, the estate benefits from an enviable location on the deep gravel plateau of Cantenac. Under the meticulous guidance of Henri Lurton, Brane-Cantenac is now producing wines of remarkable finesse, freshness, and aromatic complexity. With a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and precision viticulture, Brane is a true connoisseur’s choice in Margaux.

Brane-Cantenac 2025 is a stunning expression of Margaux, combining perfume, purity and precision in equal measure. Aromas of cassis, black cherry, violets and crushed stone lead into a beautifully layered palate framed by silky tannins and remarkable freshness. Critics praised its balance, elegance and classical proportions, with several calling it one of the highlights of the vintage. A fitting wine to celebrate the Lurton family’s 100th year at the estate.

This is always a great value release, and the 2025 is arguably their best ever release with top scores. Released today at €45.50* In Bond per bottle.

If you like the more classical-styled Margauxs, then this is for you.

Brane-Cantenac 2025

Chateau Brane-Cantenac 2025

€45.50* In Bond per bottle

Buy Brane-Cantenac 2025

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

Black cherries, currants, roses, violets, spice, and forest floor create the aromatics. On the palate, the elegance and purity of the fruit are instantly recognizable. The lift and vibrancy, paired with concentration and sensuality, set this apart. The finish starts strong and continues seamlessly. 2025 marks the Lurton family's 100th anniversary of owning the vineyard. You can expect to see a special label celebrating the occasion. The 2025 is in competition with the 2022 as the best vintage ever produced at the estate. The wine blends 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 1% Carmenere, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13.3% ABV, 3.62 pH. Harvesting took place September 2 - September 19. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2029-2065.

96-98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and tobacco all define the 2025 Château Brane-Cantenac, a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 1% each Cabernet Franc, Carménère, and Petit Verdot that's being raised in 100% new French oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a focused, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful concentration and depth, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Hitting 13.5% alcohol, it's a brilliant success in the vintage and should be snatched up by readers.

97 Points | Jane Anson

This is luscious and full of wonderfully bright fruits, great concentration, cushion of air underneath, high Cabernet and it comes through in the floral aromatics, clearly a plentiful tannic structure but luscious and layered damson and black cherry. Yes yes yes. 12.10% press wine. 3.62 pH. Tasted twice. 100 years of the Lurtons at Brane.

95-97 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Brane-Cantenac is incredibly polished right out of the gate. Floral overtones lead into a core of blue/purplish fruit, spice, new leather, tobacco, lavender and a kiss of French oak. Silky tannins lend shape and finesse. The aromatics alone are so compelling, but everything about the 2025 speaks to balance. It’s a magnificent effort from proprietor Henri Lurton and his team. One of the highlights of the vintage.

95-97 Points | Neal Martin

The 2025 Brane-Cantenac was picked from September 2 to 29, finishing with that 1% of late-ripening Carménère, cropped at 32.2 hl/ha. It has impressive purity on the nose, an aspect of the Grand Vin that Henri Lurton and his team have improved immensely over the last decade. Black cherries, bilberry, violet and crushed stone unfold in the glass, classical in style, which is Brane-Cantenac's signature. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, finely sculpted tannins allied with disarming sapidity and brightness. Not powerful like the 2022, yet pixelated with a mineral, tensile, complex finish. Another feather in the cap for Lurton and, moreover, this is often one of the best values on release.

93-96 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenère (the latter harvested by the winery team after everything else has been picked), the 2025 Brane-Cantenac offers up a rich bouquet of crème de cassis, plums and spices, framed by a deft touch of new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and lively, with powdery tannins that contribute youthful grip on the finish, it checks in at a very classical 13.3% alcohol and pH of 3.62.

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

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June 2, 2026

La Mission Haut-Brion 2025 - Galloni's wine of the vintage

2025 La Mission Haut-Brion Release En Primeur!

La Mission has been released at the same price as the 2024 vintage, but with a significant step up in quality. The critics have taken notice, with both Wine Advocate and Antonio Galloni awarding 97-99 points. Galloni went even further, naming it one of his wines of the vintage, underlining the exceptional quality on offer in 2025.

99 Points - Jeff Leve
“Concentrated, long, deep, and voluptuous, the wine is almost palate staining in its delivery, coating your palate, yet, somehow it remains energetic, and vibrant. Packed with ripe, powerful fruits, the finish builds as it lingers, and expands seamlessly on your palate”

97-99 Points - Antonio Galloni
“The 2025 La Mission Haut-Brion is one of my early favorites in this vintage. Aromatic and vibrant, with striking purity, the Grand Vin is magnificent. […] In a word: compelling. One of the wines of the vintage.

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is one of Bordeaux’s most historic and revered estates, producing powerful yet refined wines from the heart of Pessac-Leognan. Long regarded as the sibling estate to Haut-Brion, La Mission combines deep gravel soils with a distinctive personality built around richness, smoky complexity and remarkable ageing potential. At its best, it ranks among the greatest wines of the Left Bank.

La Mission Haut-Brion 2025 is a captivating blend of power, perfume and precision. Aromas of black cherry, violet, tobacco, graphite and crushed stone lead into a concentrated yet vibrant palate framed by polished tannins and remarkable freshness. Critics praised its purity, balance and floral character, with Antonio Galloni calling it “one of the wines of the vintage.” A beautifully judged La Mission with decades ahead of it.

Top scores from all the wine critics, La Mission Haut-Brion 2025 released this morning at €168* In Bond per bottle, which is the same low price they came out at in 2024.

For us, this is a clear winner of the campaign so far. Grab your allocation in either 3x75cl or 6x75cl OWC on the website.

La Mission Haut-Brion 2025

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2025

€168* In Bond per bottle

Buy La Mission Haut-Brion 2025

99 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Burning campfire embers, smoke, flowers, black cherries, blackberries, and licorice are on display in the aromatics. Texturally, you find a creamy-freshness that hits all the right notes. Concentrated, long, deep, and voluptuous, the wine is almost palate staining in its delivery, coating your palate, yet, somehow it remains energetic, and vibrant. Packed with ripe, powerful fruits, the finish builds as it lingers, and expands seamlessly on your palate. For La Mission Haut Brion , this should start drinking well with just 5-7 years of age, yet, it promises to age for decades. The wine blends 58.3% Merlot, 38.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3.4% Cabernet Franc, 13.6% ABV, 3.73 pH. Harvesting took place, September 1-September 18. Yields were low at 23 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2030-2075.

97-99 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2025 La Mission Haut-Brion is one of my early favorites in this vintage. Aromatic and vibrant, with striking purity, the Grand Vin is magnificent. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, pomegranate, mint and cinnamon soar from the glass. Beams of supporting tannin lend energy and shape. In a word: compelling. One of the wines of the vintage.

97-99 Points | Wine Advocate

A blend of 58.3% Merlot, 38.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3.4% Cabernet Franc, the 2025 La Mission Haut-Brion reveals a refined bouquet of smoky cassis, dark berries, spices and lead pencil, framed by a deft touch of new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and layered, it’s built around a multidimensional core of fruit underpinned by fine, velvety tannins, concluding with a long, perfumed and precise finish. Combining depth with energy, it delivers a textural yet controlled expression of power, with a real sense of freshness. The result is a particularly faithful, charming rendition of La Mission, defined by its elegance and overall precision.

96-98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

A Merlot-heavy blend of 58.3% Merlot, 38.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc that's being raised in 60% new French oak, the 2025 Château La Mission Haut-Brion sports a dense ruby/purple hue as well as juicy black raspberries, currants, smoky tobacco, freshly sharpened pencils, and liquid violet nuances on the nose. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, concentrated, layered mouthfeel, focusing tannins, and beautiful overall balance and length. It's a slightly more inward, focused expression of this cuvée, but that's the vintage, and this has tons to love. I suspect the cellar will be your friend.

96-97 Points | James Suckling

A red with lots of muscular tannins that are polished and velvety. It's full-bodied with a chewy mouthfeel and a long and intense finish. Crushed stones, dark fruit and bark at the end. 58.3% merlot, 38.3% cabernet sauvignon and 3.4% cabernet franc.

96 Points | Jane Anson

Signature finesse coupled with clear intensity and concentration, muscular with a juicy frame and crushed red rose petals on the finish. Huge ageing potential, this stretches out through the palate and delivers finesse and hidden power. 69% 1st wine. 27hl/ha yield. Harvest August 27 to September 19. 59% new oak. 3.73ph

96 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

Gorgeous floral fragrance on the nose, perfumed with blackcurrants and black cherries, delicate but with real purity. Supple, round and generous, filling the mouth – chewy and grippy yet with fleshy and ripe red fruit, nothing drying, underpinned by liquorice and salty stones giving a chalky grip on the finish. Structured and intensely concentrated with energy, focus, depth and layering of texture. Full of mass, vibrancy and character. Not pristinely perfect but fun, plump and hedonistic.

94-96 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 La Mission Haut-Brion was picked from August 28 until September 19 at around 23 hl/ha, lower than Haut-Brion, perhaps due to higher density of planting and less competition between vines. There is less new oak, at around 59%, the same as Haut-Brion, down from around 80% in recent years. This has a perfumed bouquet, one of the most floral that I can recall, beautifully defined with black cherries, blueberry and crushed violet scents. The palate is medium-bodied with chiselled tannins, a silver thread of acidity, quite linear in style with a strict, tensile, graphite-tinged finish. Yeah, it has to play second fiddle to Haut-Brion this year, but it is still a great La Mission. 13.6% alcohol.

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

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June 2, 2026

Pavie 2025: Precision Over Power - 98-99 Points

2025 Pavie releases En Primeur!

Pavie 2025 scores 98 points consistently from all the critics.

96-98 Points - Antonio Galloni
“The 2025 Pavie is a total stunner. What a wine. Rich and dazzling in its intensity, the 2025 hits all the right notes. […] This is the first time Cabernet Franc is the dominant variety in the Grand Vin. The 2025 has plenty of the textural intensity readers have come to expect, but with less of the heavy extraction that marked the earlier years.

Chateau Pavie is one of Saint-Emilion’s most powerful and iconic estates, perched on the appellation’s famous limestone plateau and south-facing slopes. Under Gerard Perse’s ownership, the estate has undergone a remarkable transformation, rising to Premier Grand Cru Classé A status and becoming one of Bordeaux’s most sought-after wines. Pavie is renowned for combining immense concentration with limestone-driven freshness, producing wines built for decades of ageing.

Pavie 2025 marks a fascinating new chapter for the estate, with Cabernet Franc becoming the dominant grape in the Grand Vin for the first time. Aromas of cassis, violets, graphite and exotic spice unfold into a powerful yet remarkably precise palate, framed by chalky minerality and exceptional tension.

Across the board, Cabernet Franc flourished on the right bank in 2025, and the critics have been very complimentary of Pavie 2025 with big scores. James Suckling summarises it nicely for us: “The most cabernet franc-driven Pavie ever. And it works so well. Precise is the word”.

Released today at €180* In Bond per bottle, representing a 12% increase on the 2024 vintage, where the estate drastically cut the price. Even so, when compared with the 2023 and 2022 vintages, the 2025 remains attractively priced, making the pricing look fair in the context of the estate's recent releases and the quality on offer.

2025 - €180 IB per bottle

2024 - €161 IB per bottle

2023 - €240 IB per bottle

2022 - €295 IB per bottle

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

Chateau Pavie 2025

€180* In Bond per bottle

Buy Chateau Pavie 2025

98-99 Points | James Suckling

The cabernet franc really comes through, with fine, intense, racy tannins and great length. Chalky and focused. More restrained than past vintages, with superb tension at the end. The most cabernet franc-driven Pavie ever. And it works so well. Precise is the word.

98 Points | Jane Anson

Fragrant apple blossom, iris and violet flowers on the nose, brings its A-game from the first moments; coupling bright greengage plums, rose stems, and an intense grip of slate, with creamier blackberries, damson and creme patissiere. A ton of grip and length, this is in it for the long game, with pulses of oyster shell minerality to close things out. Brilliant. Here they did 8 weeks maceration, longer than most, but they felt that the wines needed a little longer to fill out through the mid palate, and for sure this is showing exceptional expansion and tension. Harvest September 15 to 29, first time in the Perse era that this has been entirely in September - and the final vintage under Gerard Perse. Pavie Decesse and Bellevue Mondot are now included in the main wine, bringing their limestone soils to the blend, and this is the highest amount of Cabernet to date. 21hl/ha yield, 3.58ph.

98 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Showing one of the deepest colors of the vintage, the perfume kicks off with black raspberries, mint leaves, black cherries, flowers, tobacco wrappers, licorice, spice, and espresso aromas. The palate is intensely concentrated, yet, there is so much lift, and energy, the wine feels almost relaxed on your palate. The waves of rich, dense, opulent, lush, and salty, mineral-infused berries start off strong, and keep on going. The mid-palate, and finish delivers its message of ripe, deep, black, with red fruits, spice, crushed stones, camphor, licorice, and dark chocolate without hesitation through to its endnotes that get close to the 60-second mark. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, making this the highest percentage of Cabernet ever used in the blend. 14.3% ABV. 3.58 pH. Harvesting took place September 15 - September 26. Yields were 21 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2030-2065.

98 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, subtle edge brightening. Fine black berry fruit, a hint of cassis, black cherries, hints of candied orange zest, some nougat, underlaid with subtle precious wood. Powerful, but very juicy, round and elegant, great freshness, ripe, fine tannins, extract sweet and long-lasting, modern, yet very connected to the terroir, great length, sure maturity potential.

96-98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

The first time this château has included this much Cabernet Franc in the blend, the 2025 Château Pavie sports a saturated purple hue as well as a pure, focused bouquet of crème de cassis and assorted blue fruits intermixed with graphite, violets, leafy herbs, and freshly sharpened pencil notes. It's a different beast from the classic Pavie style, with a more focused, straight mouthfeel, building yet beautiful tannins, and a layered, seamless texture on the palate. It might miss a touch of the classic Pavie sexiness, but it's incredibly impressive, balanced, and remarkably long. Hitting 14.34% alcohol with a pH of 3.58, this Saint-Émilion was harvested between September 15th and 26th.

96-98 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Pavie is a total stunner. What a wine. Rich and dazzling in its intensity, the 2025 hits all the right notes. Inky dark red/purplish fruit, exotic spice, mocha, espresso and pomegranate literally stain the palate. The 2025 is going to require the better part of a decade to unwind, but it has a ton of potential and a very bright future. This is the first time Cabernet Franc is the dominant variety in the Grand Vin. The 2025 has plenty of the textural intensity readers have come to expect, but with less of the heavy extraction that marked the earlier years.

97 Points | Decanter

Intensely fragrant nose, full of black fruit, chocolate, perfumed violets and cassis. Heady and concentrated. Ripe and fleshy fruit on the palate, the tannins have a really chewy aspect that fills the mouth with texture and grip but with a vein of cooling acidity through the middle. Ends soft and cool, with a long minty, liquorice core. Chewy, fleshy, but cool, I quite like the upfront nature, it’s filling and wide but not overly intrusive or dry. Cool blue fruits and a long slightly chalky powdery finish. All the makings of a great Pavie and feels hands off for what It could have been. 3.58pH. A yield of 21hl/ha.

92-95 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 Pavie was picked at just 21 hl/ha, the lowest ever, plus this is the first vintage with 60% Cabernet Franc from plantings in the 2000s. Matured in 65% new oak, the aromatics are far superior, more cohesive and purer than the Arômes cuvée. Still very plush and luxuriant, it has that purity, although it needs more delineation and terroir expression to come through. The palate is actually better than the nose and I appreciate the contribution that the Cabernet Franc makes in this wine, delivering fine structure and tension that I believe you would not have obtained if there were higher Merlot. Satisfying precision on the finish, this feels long in the mouth with cracked black pepper on the aftertaste. It is a different take on Pavie due to the different blend and if the aromatics can gain more complexity and nuance, then it could be an interesting proposition once in bottle.

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

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June 2, 2026

Pichon Comtesse Lalande 2025 - Potential 100-Points

2025 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Release!

Our customers love the style of Pichon Comtesse de Lalande which one of the Super Seconds. 2025 is as good as it gets on this one.

98-100 Points - Jeff Leve
“As good as that is, the palate steals the show with its opulent, showy display of sweet, silky, perfectly ripe berries, with touches of cocoa, and sea salt. The intense finish is long, velvety, and vibrant. In short, everything is exactly where it should be”

97-99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
“It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, has a flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and an incredible finish. The balance, length, complexity, and pure class here are exceptional. […] Hats off to director Nicolas Glumineau for another absolutely sensational Comtesse!”

96-98 Points - Antonio Galloni
“The 2025 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a total stunner. A wine of depth and intensity, it soars out of the glass with layers of nuance and complexity. The 2025 has it all: aromatics, fruit density and structure to match. Pichon Comtesse is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage”

Pichon Comtesse de Lalande is Pauillac’s queen of elegance, producing some of the most sensuous wines on the Left Bank. Known for its higher Merlot content and signature silky texture, the estate consistently delivers wines that balance power with grace. In recent years, under the guidance of Nicolas Glumineau, quality has soared - firmly re-establishing Pichon Lalande among Bordeaux’s elite. A Super Second in every sense.

Pichon Comtesse de Lalande 2025 is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Explosive aromatics of cassis, graphite, violets and spring flowers soar from the glass before giving way to a palate of extraordinary precision, silky tannins and remarkable energy. Critics repeatedly praised its purity, balance and sophistication, with several placing it among the finest wines of 2025. A breathtaking Pauillac that captures everything collectors love about this great Super Second.

We have always loved this wine, and in 2025, it shows its trademark sexy and velvety body with good concentration and silky tannins. Blackberry, good use of oak and wood spice and so much potential here. Needs time to shine. A very thought-provoking wine.

Released at €115 In Bond per bottle, we have cases of 3x75cl and 6x75cl OWC available on the website.

Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2025

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2025

€115 In Bond per bottle

Buy Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2025

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

The intense floral bouquet kicks off the nose before getting to all of its cigar wrappers, blackberries, cocoa, cassis, chocolate, black cherries, and gentle spices in the aromas. As good as that is, the palate steals the show with its opulent, showy display of sweet, silky, perfectly ripe berries, with touches of cocoa, and sea salt. The intense finish is long, velvety, and vibrant. In short, everything is exactly where it should be. Due to its creamy nature, the wine can be enjoyed young. But it can age for 30-40 years easily. With 2025, the top three things to keep track of was staying focused and ready to pick once the grapes achieved their ideal ripeness was imperative. Picking the Merlot al dente was another key factor. Lastly, being patient for the Cabernet Sauvignon to achieve full, phenolic ripeness sealed the deal. In the cellars, less pump overs early in the fermentation, followed by an infusion of the berries was another key point. The wine blends 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV. 3.7 pH. The harvest took place August 28 - September 24. This is the earliest start to a harvest in the history of Pichon Lalande. Yields were a paltry 24 hectoliters per hectare. Only 55% of the harvest went into the Grand Vin. The wine is aging in 65% new, French oak barrels. Drink from 2032-2070.

99 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate spicy notes, dark cherries, ripe blackberry confit, some nougat, fine precious wood spice. Juicy, complex, fine extract sweetness, ripe tannins, shows great charm, freshly structured, heart cherries, lingers for a long time, sure maturity potential, very seductive style.

97-99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Pure cassis, leafy herbs, spring flowers, and graphite all emerge from the 2025 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande, a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, has a flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and an incredible finish. The balance, length, complexity, and pure class here are exceptional. It hit 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and an IPT of 73. Hats off to director Nicolas Glumineau for another absolutely sensational Comtesse!

96-98 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a total stunner. A wine of depth and intensity, it soars out of the glass with layers of nuance and complexity. The 2025 has it all: aromatics, fruit density and structure to match. Pichon Comtesse is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage.

97 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

What a stunning Pichon Comtesse. A salty element on the nose, fragrant blackcurrant. Ripe and softly fleshy, this fills the mouth straight away with the most gorgeous juicy, rich and also cool tannins that are so comforting. Accomplished winemaking where every element adds to the overall impression. Long, muscular but sinewy too. Just a simply gorgeous wine. Almost lightly framed, saline-edged tannins, a grip to the liquorice, cola, mint and crushed stones. Pauillac through and through but with energy, focus and clear detail. Ageing will surely elongate the expression and give depth. A yield of 24hl/ha.

95-97 Points | Neal Martin

The 2025 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande was picked from August 28, the earliest ever, finishing on September 23, matured in 66% new oak, the rest one-year-old. It has a taut and linear nose, very classic in style, graphite/pencil lead scents that permeate the black fruit. Beautiful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins. A little more structured and austere than the more Merlot-driven vintages of old. Yet as it unfurls in the glass, it reveals the level of sophistication and precision you now come to expect from this Pauillac Second Growth. At 13.1% alcohol, this is lower than other recent vintages.

96 Points | Jane Anson

Expands through the palate from beginning to end, raspberry puree, blackberry, loganberry, crushed rocks and bitter black chocolate, wrapped up in smoky coffee beans. Excellent build and architecture, has tension and grip, with a mouthwatering finish, and delivers a joyful expression of the vintage. 73 IPT. Cabernet Sauvignon only for the press wine. Harvest began August 28 (earliest on record) until September 24. 52% 1st wine, 48% Réserve. 3.7 pH. Harvest August 28 to September 24.

94-96 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

The 2025 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is showing well, opening in the glass with notes of cassis, blackberries, cigar wrapper and iris, becoming more fragrant with aeration. Medium- to full-bodied, deep and layered, with plenty of powdery tannin that asserts itself on the youthfully structured finish, it's a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.

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

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June 1, 2026

Giscours 2025 - "pure and total sensuality"

2025 Giscours Releases En Primeur!

When we tasted the 2025 wines, Giscours 2025 stood out immediately. Of all the Margaux wines, a commune famed for its aromatic elegance, Giscours took the crown as the most perfumed wine of the day. It was genuinely intoxicating, with each return to the glass revealing something new. Decanter summarised it perfectly: “Extremely Margaux without any extremes.”

95-97+ Points - Antonio Galloni
“The 2025 Giscours is another magnificent wine for a château that has made giant steps in the last handful of years. Plush and succulent in the glass, with silky, exceptionally polished tannins and stunning mid-palate richness, the Giscours is pure and total sensuality”

96 Points - Decanter
“Really refined aromatics. So sleek and silky with perfectly balanced tannins that give support but don't overwhelm. Amazing depth and layering here, so well balanced and executed with plenty of concentration but dark and brooding, not heavy or sunny – cool and calm but focused and determined too. Extremely Margaux without any extremes. This really represents the personality of the vintage with Bordeaux energy, tension, focus, juiciness, freshness, ripe and structured ripeness carried by acidity.”

Chateau Giscours, a Third Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, is now one of the most esteemed estates in Margaux. Though it fell short of its classification in the late 1980s, Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma’s acquisition in 1995 marked a new era of revitalisation. With significant investments in vineyard management and winemaking, Jelgersma and his team restored Giscours to its former glory. Today, Chateau Giscours produces some of Margaux’s finest wines, reflecting a legacy of excellence and elegance.

Giscours 2025 is another outstanding success from one of Margaux’s most resurgent estates. A Cabernet-led blend, it combines violets, cassis, graphite and rose petal aromatics with silky tannins and remarkable freshness. Critics praised its precision, energy and purity, with James Suckling awarding 97-98 points. Refined, layered and unmistakably Margaux, this is a beautifully judged wine with excellent ageing potential and a bright future ahead.

Across the board, critics have been highly enthusiastic about Giscours 2025, both in their scores and their written assessments, and we strongly recommend reading the full tasting notes below.

When we analysed the major critics' scores, Giscours ranked comfortably among the top 5 performing wines of Margaux. That was particularly pleasing to see, as it was also one of the wines that impressed us most during our En Primeur tastings.

Released today at €47* In Bond per bottle, we have both 3x75cl and 6x75cl OWC cases available on the website.

This comes very strongly recommended by the team. It was one of our favourite wines during En Primeur tastings and, with the critics also placing it among the leading wines of Margaux, we believe it offers a compelling combination of quality, pedigree and value.

If you're looking to add a top-performing Margaux to the cellar, this is a release well worth considering.

Chateau Giscours 2025

€47* In Bond per bottle

Buy Chateau Giscours 2025

97-98 Points | James Suckling

Such a balanced and harmonious red with control, texture and length. It has aromas of red berries, cedar, pebbles and baking spices. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Velvety and attractive, with a long, flavorful, precise finish. A blend of 64% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 5% cabernet franc.

97 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

Vibrant, and silky in the mouth, the wine delivers its multiple layers of sweet, lifted, black cherries, dark cocoa, refreshing mint, spice, and strawberries. There is elegance, and length, with a fruit-filled, refined, energetic finish. Give it a year or two in the bottle, and the wine will be even better. The wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. 13% ABV, pH 3.71. Harvesting took place September 18 - October 11. Drink from 2030-2060.

96 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

Excellent depth on the aromatics here, plenty of energy, plum and cassis bud, savoury with edge, great depths to the fruit, cocoa bean and incense adds a gourmet smile and a slow build, with oak adding structure and weight. Such good work being done at Giscours over the last few years, with director Alexander van Beek on a roll. Not easy when you've been heading up an estate for so long to make such a transformation but there is undoubtedly a sense of renewal at this estate right now, and this is one to watch. Tasted twice.

96 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Attractive fresh heart cherries, nuances of cassis, fine wild berry confit, floral nuances, underlaid with candied orange zest. Juicy, elegant, pleasant fruit sweetness, fresh acidity, very precise wine, supporting, silky tannins, cherries on the finish, very good length, sure aging potential.

96 Points | Decanter

A fabulous Giscours this year really showcasing the effort and work that's been going on at this estate. Deep and dark nose with blackcurrant leaf, dark chocolate, violets, purple flowers, a medicinal herbal element, mint and cinnamon - but so delicate and precise. Really refined aromatics. So sleek and silky with perfectly balanced tannins that give support but don't overwhelm. Amazing depth and layering here, so well balanced and executed with plenty of concentration but dark and brooding, not heavy or sunny – cool and calm but focused and determined too. Extremely Margaux without any extremes. This really represents the personality of the vintage with Bordeaux energy, tension, focus, juiciness, freshness, ripe and structured ripeness carried by acidity. 3.68pH. A yield of 30hl/ha.

95-97+ Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2025 Giscours is another magnificent wine for a château that has made giant steps in the last handful of years. Plush and succulent in the glass, with silky, exceptionally polished tannins and stunning mid-palate richness, the Giscours is pure and total sensuality. Dark red-toned fruit, pomegranate, spice, new leather, incense and dried flowers all race across the palate. The purity of the flavors is just remarkable. Tasted two times.

94-97 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

As to the Grand Vin, red, blue, and black fruits, intermixed with spring flowers, iris, graphite, and sappy tobacco, all define the 2025 Château Giscours, giving it a beautiful Cabernet-driven style. Based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc that's resting in 50% new oak, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a focused, pure, precise mouthfeel, beautiful yet building tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. It checks in at 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.68.

94-96 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 Giscours was picked at around 31 hl/ha, just above the average for the Margaux appellation, and matured in around 50% new oak for a planned 16 or 17 months from nine cooperages. This has a quintessential Margaux nose, floral in style, violets and iris flower that infuse the quite lush but well defined mixture of black and blueberry fruit. The oak is very well integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with velvety tannins on the entry matched by a keen thread of acidity. There is a touch of graphite on the back palate, a pleasing crescendo that leads to quite a structured and saline finish. This is one of the finest Giscours in recent years but it will deserve five or six years in bottle to show its mettle and it may well settle at the top of my banded score. 13.3% alcohol.

94-96 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

The 2025 Giscours is another brilliant wine from this resurgent property, unwinding in the glass with aromas of wild berries, violets, rose petals and pencil shavings. Medium- to full-bodied, deep and perfumed, it's suave and seamless, with ultra-refined tannins, vibrant acids and a long, perfumed finish. This classy and precise blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc was produced in Giscour's functional temporary winery, which makes temperature control easier than in the estate's old facilities.

La Sirene de Giscours 2025

€23.10 In Bond per bottle

Buy La Sirene de Giscours 2025

La Sirène de Giscours 2025 is far more than a typical second wine, benefiting from the highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in its history. Dark berries, graphite, tobacco and black pepper are layered over a structured yet polished palate with impressive depth and freshness. Antonio Galloni called it “a very serious second wine”, praising its concentration, complexity and remarkable value within the Giscours portfolio.

92-94 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2025 La Sirène de Giscours is a very serious second wine, if that term can even be used here. Cabernet Sauvignon is the highest ever here, and that results in an especially structured, assertive Sirène that is packed with fruit and tannin. Dark-toned fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and grilled herbs are all dialed up. I suppose there is a bit of edginess in the contours, but that is a relatively small critique for a wine that delivers. Don't miss it. Tasted two times.

93 Points | Jane Anson

Beautiful juicy depths, a ton of black pepper and capsicum. Grainy tannins, bright but deep, floral character. Highest Cabernet Sauvignon to date, and far more than the Giscours itself, this is around 25% of overall production. Thomas Duclos consultant, Jerome Poisson estate director, Didier Foret technical director, harvest September 3 to 25.

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

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June 1, 2026

Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2025 - a big overachiever from Pauilac

2025 Grand-Puy-Lacoste Releases En Primeur!

A big overachiever this year!

Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of the big overachievers of the 2025 campaign and, in our view, a must-buy. Not only is this shaping up to be one of the finest GPLs produced to date, helped by the debut of the estate’s new winery, but the Borie family has also chosen to maintain the attractive pricing seen in 2024. In a market where many estates have struggled to find the right price point, GPL deserves credit for delivering both quality and value.

95-97 Points - Wine Advocate
“The 2025 Grand-Puy-Lacoste reveals a classic, refined bouquet of cassis, dark berries, cedar and lead pencil, with discreet floral nuances. […] Less demonstrative than some of its peers in Pauillac, it privileges balance and typicity over sheer power, concluding with a long, elegant and mineral finish”

94-96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
“the 2025 Château Grand Puy Lacoste is gorgeous, with ultra-classic Pauillac aromatics of red and black fruits, lead pencil, graphite, and crushed stone. […] It's up there with the top vintages of this cuvée, and it doesn't get more Pauillac than this.

Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of Pauillac’s benchmark estates, renowned for producing classically styled Cabernet Sauvignon-led wines that combine precision, longevity and exceptional value. Owned by the Borie family since 1978, the estate occupies one of the commune’s finest gravel ridges, surrounded by neighbours including Chateau Pontet-Canet, Chateau Lynch-Bages and Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Sharing similarly privileged terroir with estates commanding far higher prices, GPL has long been a favourite among collectors seeking outstanding value in Pauillac.

The 2025 vintage marks an important milestone for Grand-Puy-Lacoste as the first wine produced in the estate’s new gravity-fed winery. Designed to allow more precise parcel selection and gentler handling of fruit, the facility has already made an impact. Critics repeatedly noted increased refinement, purity and harmony, suggesting the new cellar is helping elevate an already highly respected estate to another level. When we tasted the wine, the step up in quality from previous years.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2025 is a beautifully classical Pauillac that combines cassis, graphite, cedar and crushed stone with remarkable freshness and precision. Produced from 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, it offers fine-grained tannins, vibrant fruit and impressive mineral tension. Critics praised its refinement, balance and terroir expression, with many noting the influence of the new winery. A pure, elegant and age-worthy GPL that captures the essence of Pauillac.

Released this morning at €44* In Bond per bottle, offering an incredible price-to-quality ratio, especially compared to its neighbours.

This is a strong recommendation. If you love classical Pauillac and buying quality ahead of the crowd, we'd be adding a few cases to the cellar.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2025

Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2025

€44* In Bond per bottle

Buy Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2025

97 Points | Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Fresh, ripe heart cherries, a hint of cassis and blackberry confit, a hint of mandarin zest, red berry nuances underneath, floral touch. Juicy, lively, red forest berry confit, fine tannins, mineral-salty, an elegant, well adhering food companion, delicate and long lasting.

96-97 Points | James Suckling

Excellent GPL, medium- to full-bodied with a great expression of dark fruit that is evenly distributed. It’s fresh and precise with grainy, integrated tannins that should only integrate more. A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon and 24% merlot.

95-97 Points | Wine Advocate, Yohan Castaing

The 2025 Grand-Puy-Lacoste reveals a classic, refined bouquet of cassis, dark berries, cedar and lead pencil, with discreet floral nuances. Medium- to full-bodied, structured and precise, it’s built around a well-defined core of fruit framed by finely grained, youthful, filigreed tannins with a tensile profile. Less demonstrative than some of its peers in Pauillac, it privileges balance and typicity over sheer power, concluding with a long, elegant and mineral finish. Produced from a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, this is the first vintage vinified in the estate’s new gravity-fed cellar, enabling more precise parcel selection—an evolution that appears to reinforce the wine’s precision and coherence.

96 Points | The Wine Cellar Insider, Jeff Leve

This textbook Pauillac opens with aromas of cassis, flowers, blackberries, tobacco, and a lead pencil. The palate is lifted, powerful, juicy, and chewy. The wine is long, fresh, and creamy, and, most importantly, packed with round fruit and tobacco leaves that linger. This is a modern, classically styled vintage. The wine is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon with 24% Merlot, 13.2% ABV. Picking took place September 4 - September 18. Yields were 30 hectoliters, per hectare. Drink from 2028 - 2060.

94-96 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

A Cabernet-dominant blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot from yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare, the 2025 Château Grand Puy Lacoste is gorgeous, with ultra-classic Pauillac aromatics of red and black fruits, lead pencil, graphite, and crushed stone. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's up there with the top vintages of this cuvée, and it doesn't get more Pauillac than this.

94-96 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is the first to be made in the new gravity-fed winery. It was picked between September 4 and 18 at 30 hl/ha, much lower than normal, with a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (76%). Matured in 65% new oak, it has a perfumed bouquet with blackberry and raspberry fruit, touches of graphite emerging with aeration, beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with edgy tannins. Definitely one of the most refined GPLs that I have tasted at this stage, very harmonious, complex and engaging. Superb persistence on the finish, this is a complete Pauillac that is going to give immense pleasure.

95 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

Deep violets and heady blackcurrants on the nose, fresh though, inviting and crystalline – aromatically expressive. Supple and sapid with a real hands-off feeling. Approachable with a clean, clear grip to the fine tannins, mint, cool blueberries, graphite and wet stones. The terroir really shines in the glass. Feels very modern with mouthwatering acidity setting the tone – bright, lively and upfront. Delicious, crunchy and leaves a lasting impression with grip, tension, energy and focus. Maybe a little less dense than usual but more refined. 13%. A yield of 30hl/ha.

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

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May 20, 2026

Leoville Barton 2025 - the best yet?

2025 Leoville Barton Released En Primeur!

When we tasted them last month, we thought that it was the best Leoville Barton we’d ever tasted En Primeur. Looks like we weren’t the only ones…

97-99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

“an incredible sense of graphite all define the aromatics of this brilliant, deep, pure, and layered beauty. On the palate, it's full-bodied, inward, and powerfully structured, and reminds me slightly of the 2010 with its deep, concentrated style. It has enormous potential”

95-97 Points |Jeb Dunnuck

“Darker currants, smoky tobacco, graphite, and tons of violet and floral nuances all shine on the nose, and it has remarkable purity, full-bodied richness, a broad, layered mouthfeel, and ripe, polished tannins on the palate. The finish is a blockbuster. It's probably the greatest Langoa ever.”

The Barton family has been crafting some of Saint-Julien’s most classical and age-worthy wines for nearly three centuries. Both Chateau Leoville Barton and Chateau Langoa Barton are benchmarks for traditional Left Bank Bordeaux, combining Cabernet-driven structure with remarkable freshness, restraint and terroir expression. With deep gravel soils, low yields and a hands-off philosophy in the cellar, the wines consistently deliver purity, balance and exceptional long-term ageing potential.

Langoa Barton 2025 is one of the standout value wines of Saint-Julien this year, combining dark berry fruit, graphite, violet and tobacco with remarkable freshness and precision. Produced from tiny yields of just 20hl/ha, the wine delivers serious concentration while retaining a classical, energetic style. Jeb Dunnuck called it “probably the greatest Langoa ever”, while critics praised its purity, balance and beautifully polished tannins.

Leoville Barton 2025 is a brilliantly judged Saint-Julien that captures the estate’s classical identity with exceptional precision and depth. Aromas of cassis, graphite, violets, cigar box and crushed stone unfold into a layered palate framed by powerful yet refined tannins. Critics consistently highlighted the wine’s balance, terroir transparency and ageing potential, with Jane Anson calling it “right at the top of the vintage” and Jeb Dunnuck awarding 97-99 points.

Together, Langoa Barton and Leoville Barton are two of the clearest reminders of why Saint-Julien remains one of Bordeaux’s great sweet spots. Both wines capture the classical restraint, graphite minerality and effortless balance that collectors look for in top Left Bank Bordeaux, while still offering compelling value relative to many of their peers in the appellation.

Both were released today and come strongly recommended.

Leoville Barton 2025

Chateau Leoville Barton 2025

€61.50* In Bond per bottle

Buy Leoville Barton 2025

97-99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

A Cabernet-dominant blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2025 Château Léoville Barton checks in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.6. Crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, liquid violets, iron, and an incredible sense of graphite all define the aromatics of this brilliant, deep, pure, and layered beauty. On the palate, it's full-bodied, inward, and powerfully structured, and reminds me slightly of the 2010 with its deep, concentrated style. It has enormous potential.

97 Points | Jane Anson

Beautiful vintage at Léoville Barton, delivers layer upon layer of crayon, graphite, textural interest and character, we are on another level of St Julien and right at the top of the vintage. Black chocolate and espresso coupled with finesse and fragrance that takes you into the heart of St Julien. A flood of flavour, what a brilliantly judged wine, powerful with air in all the right places. Just a breath below the brilliant 2023 for me.

97 Points | Decanter

Beautiful aromas, expressive and open, really fragrant with bright purple flowers and dark cherries. Supple and so energetic, you can feel some tension here with the tension coming from the really quite high acidity matching the soft fleshiness of the dark blackcurrant and raspberry fruit. I love the character, this has personality and focus. Quite a fun and really engaging wine with great balance and plenty of structure and outer bones that should soften and maybe thicken a little over ageing. I’m sure this will be a beauty. Crushed stone minerality on the finish. One of the lowest yields ever at 22hl/ha.

95-97 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 Léoville Barton was picked between 4 September and 18 September and matured in 60% new oak barrels. This has an exquisite bouquet already, with ebullient blackberry and bilberry scents, beautifully integrated oak, keeping the DNA of Léoville Barton despite the warm summer. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, gentle grip, very pure fruit and a "cool" and focused finish. With lower alcohol, between 13.0 and 13.5%, the terroir really shows through here. Superb.

Langoa Barton 2025

Chateau Langoa Barton 2025

€33.60* In Bond per bottle

Buy Langoa Barton 2025

95-97 Points |Jeb Dunnuck

The 2025 Château Langoa Barton is based on 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc, checking in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.55. Darker currants, smoky tobacco, graphite, and tons of violet and floral nuances all shine on the nose, and it has remarkable purity, full-bodied richness, a broad, layered mouthfeel, and ripe, polished tannins on the palate. The finish is a blockbuster. It's probably the greatest Langoa ever.

95-96 Points |James Suckling

Focused, with volume and drive, it shows aromas of berries, warm spices and some leather. Medium- to full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Structured and compact, with bright fruit at its core. Long, focused finish. 45%merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 15% cabernet franc. 3.2 pH.

95 Points | Decanter

Liquorice and blackcurrant aromas on the nose, smells quite dark and heady and seductive. Almost a sweet, sticky liquorice aspect with some wet stone salinity. Supple and filling with a really wide and ample expression, firm not overly fleshy tannins with a dark vanilla, cedar, tobacco and blackcurrant edge. I like the serious, quite firm concentration here – it still has acidity to lift but this is focused and really quite determined. An impressive Langoa this year with some wood spice on the finish. Really a cool, classic, fresh, hands-off kind of style. This will be great. A yield of 20hl/ha.

92-94 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2025 Langoa-Barton was picked between September 4 and 18 and matured in 60% new oak barrels. It has a lively bouquet with the Merlot in full effect, blueberry and cassis scents, and just a background touch of peppermint. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a lovely caressing texture, very well balanced with a touch of pepperiness towards the persistent finish. What a gorgeous Langoa!

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

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