Saint-Estèphe AOC, Bordeaux, France, 14% vol., 287€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 65%; Merlot 29%; Cabernet Franc 5%; Petit Verdot 1%

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A ripe, complex and harmonious nose of strong intensity; aromas of prune, blueberry, black raisin, dried herbs, a touch of bergamot and cinnamon. It is a big and masculine wine on the palate with astringent ample tannins, high warming alcohol and a full body; flavours of black rowan, prune and spices in a long finish. Needs further ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Saint-Estèphe AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13.5% vol., 125€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 61%; Merlot 30%; Cabernet Franc 8%; Petit Verdot 1%

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A ripe balanced, elegant and complex nose of strong intensity; aromas of blueberry, black plum, black currant, liquorice, cinnamon, a touch of leather and graphite. It is greatly structured and balanced on the palate with brisk acidity, fine ample tannins, moderate well integrated alcohol and a full body; flavours of blackberry, black rowan and cinnamon in quite a long finish. Needs further ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Margaux AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13% vol., 472€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 87%; Merlot 10%; Cabernet Franc 1.5%; Petit Verdot 1.5%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. A gentle, elegant and harmonious nose of good intensity; aromas of black currant, prune, dried blueberry, fried hazelnut, cinnamon, toast and a touch of dried herbs and tobacco. It is well structured on the palate with brisk acidity, moderate alcohol, fine quite ample tannins and a medium body; flavours of black currant, red cherry and dried herbs in quite a long finish. Ready for drinking with a potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Margaux AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13.5% vol., 43€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 55%; Merlot 33%; Cabernet Franc 8%; Petit Verdot 4%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. A complex, fresh, elegant and manysided nose of strong intensity; fruit is evident and oak ageing notes do not mask it; aromas of black cherry, black currant, blackberry, a touch of violet and cinnamon. Great texture, fruit concentration and balance on the palate with bountiful velvety tannins, gently warming alcohol and medium plus body; flavours of black cherry, blackberry and cinnamon in a long finish. Ready for drinking with a potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Pauillac AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13% vol., 42€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 75%; Merlot 25%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. Very good intensity, complexity and typisity on the nose; aromas of fried hazelnuts, graphite, tobacco, prune and vanilla. It is very well balanced on the palate with round firm tannins, well integrated alcohol and a full body; flavours of tobacco, prune, graphite in a long finish. Ready for drinking with a potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Cahors AOC, South West France, France, 14.5% vol., 25€

Grape variety: Malbec

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A developing, harmonious and complex nose of strong intensity; dried black berries, prune, liquorice, bay leaf, some balsamic notes, violet, black pepper and tobacco. It is a big, full-bodied wine on the palate, well-structured and balanced, meaty, with ample fine chewy tannins, gently warming alcohol and fresh acidity; flavours of spices, dried black berries and liquorice in quite a long finish. It will improve with further ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Margaux AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13.5% vol., 71€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 50%; Merlot 35%; Cabernet Franc 9%; Petit Verdot 6%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. Quite a complex and spicy nose of  very good intensity; aromas of black currant, prune, liquorice, black pepper, bay leaf, toast, fried hazelnut and a touch of leather. It is harmonious and quite masculine on the palate with fine ample tannins, warming alcohol and a full body; flavours of black currant, bay leaf and prune in quite a long finish. Ready for drinking with a potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Pauillac AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13.5% vol., 147€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 80%; Merlot 20%

The wine is deep ruby in colour. Strong intensity of a complex nose displaying the great typisity of Cabernet Sauvignon based blend; aromas of black currant, blackberry, graphite, dried herbs and a touch of propolis. Masculine and full-bodied with firm ample tannins and well integrated warming alcohol; flavours of black currant, dried herbs and graphite in a long finish. Ready for drinking with a potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Cahors AOC, South West France, France, 14% vol., 95€

Grape variety: Malbec

The wine is deep ruby in colour. An appealing and spicy nose of strong intensity; aromas of dried blueberries, prune, dried herbs, a touch of hay, cloves and white ground pepper.  There is juicy acidity on the palate, warming well integrated alcohol, plentiful still young and astringent tannins and a full body; flavours of black cherry, black rowan and white ground pepper in quite a long finish. Needs further ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Saint-Estèphe AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13.5% vol., 35€

Grape variety: Merlot 50%; Cabernet Sauvignon 45%; Petit Verdot 5%

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A ripe and harmonious nose of strong intensity; aromas of blueberry, blackberry, black plum, liquorice and cinnamon. There is juicy acidity on the palate, well integrated moderate alcohol, pronounced fruit concentration, a full body and firm meaty tannins; flavours of black rowan, liquorice and cinnamon in quite a long finish. Needs further ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Pauillac AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13.5% vol., 152€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 77%; Merlot 23%

The wine is deep ruby in colour. Strong intensity on the complex and ripe nose; a dominant aroma of black currant switching into pencil lead, freshly cut wood, black pepper. Well-structured on the palate with firm tannins, a full body, well integrated moderate alcohol and a very good fruit concentration; flavours of black currant, black pepper and black raisin in quite a long finish. Ready for drinking with a potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Saint-Estèphe AOC, Bordeaux, France, 14.5% vol., 35€

Grape variety: Merlot 56%; Cabernet Sauvignon 37%; Petit Verdot 6%; Cabernet Franc 1%

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A spicy nose of strong intensity; aromas of black currant, graphite, blackberry, black pepper and cinnamon. Masculine on the palate, with firm tannins, high warm alcohol and a full body; flavours of black berries, spices and graphite in a medium finish. Needs further ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Saint-Estèphe AOC, Bordeaux, France, 14% vol., 57€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 64%; Merlot 36%

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A ripe nose of strong intensity displaying aromas of black fruits (black rowan, blackberry), prune, spices and fried hazelnuts. It is masculine and full-bodied on the palate with bountiful firm tannins, high warming alcohol; flavours of prune, dried black berries and spices in a medium finish. Needs further ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Margaux AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13% vol., 197€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 63%; Merlot 33%; Petit Verdot 3%; Cabernet Franc 1%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. A fragrant, elegant nose of very good intensity; aromas of ripe black berries: black currant, blackberry; cinnamon, a touch of bay leaf, dry hay and dry black cherry. There is brisk acidity on the palate, warming alcohol, moderate fine tannins (still a bit astringent) and a medium body; flavours of black currant, red cherry, bay leaf in a medium finish. Ready for drinking with some potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Margaux AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13% vol., 29€

Grape variety: Merlot 46%; Cabernet Sauvignon 41%; Cabernet Franc 7%; Petit Verdot 6%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. An appealing, elegant and fruit-driven nose of good intensity; aromas of blueberry, black cherry, cinnamon, some dry herbs. It has a good level of concentration on the palate, it is well balanced with gently warming alcohol, round supple tannins and a medium body; flavours of blueberry, black cherry and some spices in a medium finish. Ready for drinking with some potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Haut-Médoc AOC, Bordeaux, France, 13.5% vol., 18€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 75%; Merlot 25%

The wine is medium ruby in colour. Moderate intensity on the nose displaying the typicity of Cabernet Sauvignon based wine from Haut-Médoc; aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, black currant, coffee, smoke and bacon. Full-bodied on the palate with firm tannins and warming alcohol; flavours of cedar, black currant and tobacco in a medium finish. Ready for drinking with a potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Cahors AOC, South West France, France, 14.5% vol., 25€

Grape variety: Malbec

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A fresh and elegant nose of ripe black fruits and strong intensity; aromas of bramble, blackberry, black plum, violet, bay leaf and spices. It is a masculine and full-bodied wine with vivid acidity, well integrated warming alcohol, plentiful still young tannins; flavours of black rowan, black plum and spices in a medium finish. Needs further ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Cahors AOC, South West France, France, 13% vol., 14.50€

Grape variety: Malbec

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A spicy nose of good intensity; aromas of dried blackberry and black cherry, black plum, black pepper, a touch of hay and leather starting to appear. There is juicy acidity, abundant astringent tannins a bit drying the palate, moderate well integrated alcohol and a full body; flavours of red cherry, black rowan and plum in a medium finish. Needs further ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Saint-Estèphe AOC, Bordeaux, France, 12.5% vol., 124€

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 62%; Merlot 30%; Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc 8%

The wine is deep garnet in colour. An already developed nose of strong intensity with lots of tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, pine, forest floor, coffee and a touch of barnyard. It is well structured on the palate with still firm tannins, moderate alcohol and a full body; flavours of dried black berries, leather and tobacco in quite a long lasting finish. Ready for drinking with a potential for ageing.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019

Cahors AOC, South West France, France, 13% vol., 14.50€

Grape variety: Malbec

The wine is deep ruby in colour. A spicy and developing nose of strong intensity; aromas of dried blackberry, prune, leather, black pepper and dry herbs. There is moderate acidity and alcohol, lots of astringent tannins (a bit drying) and a full body; flavours of dried blackberry, leather and black pepper in a medium finish. Passing its peak.

Country of purchase: France

Tasted on 14/03/2019