France
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2004 Pauillac
Refined and aromatic, with blackberry, graphite and cedar unfolding over dark currant fruit. The palate is medium-bodied and precise, shaped by silky tannins and fresh, well-judged acidity. Tobacco and subtle earth emerge with air, while the fruit remains clear and composed rather than heavy. The finish is long, polished and quietly persistent, carrying cassis, cedar and mineral detail. An elegant mature Pauillac with depth held firmly in reserve.
Chateau Margaux 2004
Polished and aromatic, with violets and dark red fruit joined by espresso, tobacco and gentle earth. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, balancing fresh cherry and blackberry with finely shaped tannins and an elegant, measured richness. Floral lift and spice keep the wine poised as it opens. The finish is long and composed, carrying ripe fruit, subtle oak and savoury detail without losing its characteristic delicacy.
Château de Ferrand 2019 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Fresh, radiant fruit leads the aroma, with plum, black cherry and violet joined by touches of cocoa and hazelnut. The palate is smooth and velvety, while Cabernet Franc brings a firmer line of tannin and welcome freshness. The fruit remains clear and energetic through the middle. The finish is refined and balanced, carrying floral lift, polished texture and lingering dark-fruit intensity.
Château Brown 2020 Pessac-Léognan
Blackcurrant, blackberry and plum lead with cedar and a quiet earthy note. The palate is rich but polished, carrying ripe dark fruit over velvety tannins and a fresh savoury line. Light iron, red tea and restrained toast add detail without masking the fruit. The finish is refined and persistent, leaving cassis, earth, cedar and fine tannins.
Château Cantenac Brown 2015 Margaux
Ripe dark berries and plum open with graphite and a cool stony edge. The palate is plush and supple, bringing concentrated fruit into polished structure and well-integrated oak. Freshness gives the richness energy and keeps the texture poised rather than broad. The finish is intense and persistent, returning to dark fruit, mineral notes and fine, smoothly woven tannins.
Doyac 2021 Le Pélican Haut-Médoc
Le Pélican is the special cuvée or second wine of Château Doyac, crafted to be open-knit and earlier-drinking while retaining the estate’s polished style. It shares Doyac’s modern, fruit-forward character with an extra level of approachability.
In the glass, Le Pélican offers vivid aromas of red and black berries (raspberry, currant, blackberry) along with hints of oak spice and floral notes. The palate is medium-bodied and smooth – expect juicy, punchy fruit flavors that are fresh and easy-going. The tannins here are softer and more immediately supple, allowing the wine’s creamy dark fruit and subtle vanilla-cocoa notes to take center stage. A touch of peppery spice or graphite from the terroir adds interest.
The wine has good balance, with a lively acidity keeping the ripe fruit in check, and a rounded, silky finish that leaves impressions of sweet blackberry and a whisper of oak. As a whole, Le Pélican de Doyac is seductive and crowd-pleasing – it delivers the essence of the Haut-Médoc (cassis, cedar, fine tannin) in a more relaxed, ready-to-enjoy package, making it perfect for drinking while the grand vin ages.
Doyac 2021 Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois
Château Doyac produces a charming, well-balanced Haut-Médoc that has garnered praise in recent years. The wine is fruit-rich and finely tuned – overflowing with plump dark fruits (black cherry, cassis) yet kept lively by good freshness and structure. On the nose it shows aromas of ripe blackberry and plum along with subtle notes of peppery spice, cedar, and cocoa.
The palate is rounded and rich, with a refined, silky texture and supple tannins that give gentle structure. Layers of juicy Merlot-driven fruit are complemented by hints of dark chocolate, sweet spice, and a touch of graphite minerality. Despite the ripeness of fruit, Doyac remains elegant and medium-bodied, not heavy. The finish is impressively long and smooth, with soft tannins and lingering blackcurrant and vanilla notes.
In short, Château Doyac offers lots of fruit, balance and finesse – a modern Haut-Médoc that is full of charm, approachable when young (thanks to its polished tannins), yet with enough depth and acidity to age a bit. The overall impression is one of harmony: a fine core of ripe fruit, gentle oak influence, and a long, elegant close.
Château de Pez 2014 Saint-Estèphe
Red and black fruit open with spice, cedar and a cool graphite note. The palate is medium-full and structured, carrying blackcurrant, plum and ripe strawberry through fine, present tannins. Toasted oak and black pepper add depth, while earthy herbs and tobacco emerge with air. The finish is long and savoury, leaving cassis, pencil lead, leather and a balanced mineral grip.
Château Sénilhac 2019 Haut-Médoc
Château Senilhac is a solid Cru Bourgeois that delivers a classic Left Bank profile with approachability. Grown on clay-limestone soils, it produces a wine with a smooth, rich character and plenty of structure. In the glass, look for aromas of ripe blackcurrant and red cherry accented by touches of oak spice (vanilla, toast) and a hint of cedar. There’s also an underlying earthy, graphite note marking its Médoc origin.
The palate is medium-bodied to full, offering sweet dark berry and plum flavors up front, followed by notes of cocoa and tobacco toward the back. The texture is generous and balanced – the fruit is plush and forward, while the tannins are present but relatively refined (not harsh). As a young wine, Senilhac can show firm, dry tannins in the core (typical of its structure). but they are surrounded by ample fruit and a hint of spice, so the wine remains drinkable and satisfying.
The finish brings a mix of spice, oak, and lingering blackberries. Overall, Château Senilhac is an honest, well-structured Haut-Médoc with ripe fruit, a touch of oak, and a classic backbone, drinking well in its first decade while also holding a bit for further softening.
Petrus 1999 Pomerol
Fragrant and finely drawn, with red berries, black truffle and sage leading into plum, blackberry and a savoury touch of olive. The palate is medium-bodied and supple, balancing a velvety texture with fresh definition and finely grained tannins. Chocolate shavings and earthy detail emerge through the middle, while the finish stays poised, lyrical and persistent. A mature Pomerol of elegance rather than sheer weight, ready to enjoy with careful decanting.
Château Pierrousselle 2022 Bordeaux Magnum
Redcurrant, cherry and plum lead an open, perfumed aroma, with vanilla and sweet spice adding gentle warmth. The palate is medium-bodied and rounded, balancing ripe raspberry and dark fruit with soft tannins and fresh acidity. Hints of cocoa, smoke and dried herbs add depth without making the wine heavy. The finish is mellow and fruit-led, leaving berries, spice and a light savoury note.
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2013 Pauillac
Fine-boned and restrained, with tobacco, cassis and crushed gravel leading into fresh red cherry. The palate is medium-bodied and polished, favouring clarity and precision over weight. Firm but refined tannins frame the fruit, while subtle cedar and mineral notes give the wine a classical, savoury shape. The finish is clean and measured, tapering through cherry, tobacco and cool stone with an understated, composed persistence.
Chateau Haut-Brion 2008 Pessac-Leognan
Silky and layered, with black raspberry, ripe cassis and dark plum set against tar, spice and warm gravel. The palate is polished and concentrated, yet the tannins remain fine and elegant, giving the fruit a seamless, measured flow. Tobacco and subtle smoke emerge through the middle, adding savoury complexity without obscuring the freshness. The finish is long, balanced and persistent, carrying pure dark fruit, mineral depth and refined structure.
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2017 Pauillac
Graceful and steadily unfolding, with sweet red fruit moving toward plum and dark cherry as the wine opens. The palate is refined and silky, building intensity without heaviness and showing remarkable purity through the middle. Fine tannins and fresh acidity hold the fruit in precise balance, while graphite and cedar add discreet savoury depth. The finish is long, calm and persistent, leaving polished fruit and mineral detail.
Château Tour Pibran 2019 Pauillac
Plum and sweet berry aromas lead, joined by loamy earth and a clear note of licorice. The palate is medium to full-bodied, ample and velvety, with polished tannins supporting a succulent core of fruit. Sweet berry and plum stay at the centre, while soil and licorice provide contrast. The final impression is generous and fruit-led, with the earthy notes remaining clearly defined.
Hennessy XO Cognac 1.5 L
Deep, rounded and warming, with candied fruit unfolding into pepper, dark chocolate and polished oak. The palate is full and voluptuous, balancing rich sweetness with a firm spicy edge and an increasingly intense wave of warmth. Vanilla softens the wood without muting its structure. The finish is exceptionally persistent, echoing oak, chocolate, spice and fruit in a long, composed fade.
Hennessy X.O Cognac 1L
Deep amber and richly aromatic, with candied fruit, orange peel and cocoa opening over warm oak. The palate is broad and silky, moving through dried fig, cinnamon and black pepper with a measured sweetness at its centre. Layers of fruit and spice remain composed rather than heavy. The finish is long and warming, carrying dark chocolate, polished wood and a final echo of orange.
Palmer Rose Solera NV
A pale copper rosé Champagne with gingerbread, spiced apple and pink grapefruit, joined by truffle and a light saline note. The palate is tight, focused and spicy, with salty undertones and very fine bubbles giving the fruit precision. Complex but controlled through the finish, it is an excellent aperitif and a fine match for smoked salmon or charcuterie.
Pétrus 2004 Pomerol
Refined and structured, with black cherry, plum and cassis supported by earth, truffle, graphite, dark chocolate and gentle spice. Rich and full-bodied, the palate brings ripe black fruit, well-integrated tannins, balanced acidity and a smooth texture into a long, lingering finish. Give it about three hours in a decanter and serve with duck, roast lamb or mushrooms.