Domaine de Cambes
Les Forts de Latour Pauillac
Les Forts de Latour is the wonderful second label of the famous Château Latour of Pauillac. Les Forts lacks none of the legendary power and concentration of its elder brother although it is approachable at a much earlier age. Rich Cabernet influence dominates this wine that comes from Latour fruit that doesn't make the grand vin as well as the younger vine material. The 2009 is considered one of the truly great vintages in living memory and it is in these years that secondary wines like this Forst de Latour really shine. Value and pedigree all wrapped in one package!
Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan Rouge
Originating from the southern Bordeaux region of Pessac-Léognan, Domaine de Chevalier is known for reds that are deep in colour, a nose that is restrained at first, but full of complexity and a palate that has power and length of flavour. Some are of the beleif that their wines are verging on the reputation of Haut-Brion and La Mission ... and with wines like this amazing 2009 it isn't hard to see why. Classic Pessac characters of red currants, cedar and asiatic spices are all in evidence in a wine that isn't the boldest of the vintage, but more classical and restrained. Pure Bordeaux.
Château Tertre Roteboeuf Saint-Émilion
Château Tertre Roteboeuf may have a quirky sounding name that at first has no connection to grand wines of Saint-Émilion, yet the wines produced here of utmost elegance, purity and not surprising for Saint-Émilion, plushness. With the blend consisting of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Roteboeuf's wines are smooth, voluptuous and with tannins that are attractively loose-knit. The 1990 is a vintage for the ages and has proven to be one of the great cellaring vintages as well. Already 20 years in the bottle has not turned down the volume on this remarkable right bank Bordeaux.
Château Chasse-Spleen Moulis-en-Médoc
Château Chasse-Spleen is one of the leading producers of the Moulis and many believe is deserving of cru classé status. Now a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wine with much more subtle use of new oak, Chasse-Spleen is a fantastic value wine which keeps well vary rarely disappoints.
Château Montrose
France's Bordeaux, is the spiritual home of the Cabernet family of grapes, which extends beyond Sauvignon and Franc to Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. If you love Margaret River Cabernet blends, or indeed the Merlot dominant reds of Hawkes Bay, NZ, then you must look at the wines upon which many of them have been modelled. This wine is Cabernet and Merlot, deep and rich, cassis and earthy cedar, structure and uncommon length - all hallmarks of Grand Cru Bordeaux.
Château Phélan-Ségur Saint-Estèphe
Château Phélan-Ségur continue to challenge the very best unclassified wines of Saint-Estèphe with a line of impressive vintages after a ownership change in the mid 1980s. Phélan makes fine, long lasting Bordeaux's dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with a third of the blend being Merlot. The wine has been no more fine than the 2009 release which is probably the best wine from Phélan-Ségur for the past 20 or so years. Swathes of depth with deep concentrated purple and blue fruits that will see the wine live comfortably for the next 10-15 years.
Château Gloria Saint-Julien
A very individualistic Bordeaux, Château Gloria is the lifes work of Henri Martin. Henri's Cabernet based wines are a little quirky as the Château never joined the Syndicat des Crus Bourgeois. That has allowed Henri to be a little more creative and produce wines of great concentration for prices that are easily approachable. The United States have been a great supporter of Château Gloria's wines and it seems that Australia is beginning to cotton on. The 2009 will prove to one of the estate's finest with the vintage providing conditions that bordered on pristine. Dark fruits abound along with secondary flavours of coffee and forest floor. All supported by quality oak, this is an affordable quality Bordeaux that everyone can sink their teeth into.
Château Montrose St-Estèphe
The balancing act of Chateau Montrose sees 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot and for the first time an inclusion from the recently purchased vineyard parcel of Phelan Segur. Chateau Montrose is considered a top producer from St-Estephe, known for potential in cellaring and considered unique for its style, which is set to 'vin de garde' wines. The estate property is set on gravel-based soils and sits in what is conisdered a microclimate, also conspiring in the unique perfumes, composition and forimdable structure of these wines. 2010 has been spectacular for Montrose power and presence, and will be a worthy wine to drink in a decade to 75 years.
Clos Beauregard Pomerol
Clos Beauregard 2013 has an intense red colour with purple tints. The nose, elegant and complex, delivers ripe black fruit scents with a woody note. On the palate, the wine is ample and well-balanced. The attack, greedy and nice, delivers blueberry jam aromas and a vanilla touch.