France
Remoissenet 2019 Vosne-Romanee Mg
Rich red fruit notes of ripe cherries and wild strawberries intertwine with delicate floral undertones, evoking images of blooming rose petals and violet blossoms. Subtle hints of earth and spice, reminiscent of damp forest floor and exotic spices, add layers of complexity to the aromatic profile.
On the nose ripe red berries dance gracefully with hints of black tea, cinnamon, and clove, showcasing the wine's depth and complexity. There's a purity of fruit that shines through, reflecting the unique terroir of Vosne-Romanée. Well worth splurging on the large format of this wine.
Trotte Vieille 2005 St Emilion
Château Trotte Vieille is a historic St-Émilion known for a more classically styled, Cabernet Franc-leaning wine. Its profile emphasizes freshness, mineral nuance, and structure. The bouquet often has a distinctive limestone-derived minerality and a touch of “oceanic” freshness alongside aromas of crushed red berries, cherry, and subtle florals. You might also detect herbal and earthy notes – cedar, tea leaf, a hint of menthol – reflecting its old-vine Cab Franc component.
On the palate, Trotte Vieille is medium-bodied and firmly framed. It has bright, savory red fruit flavors (tart cherry, redcurrant) that are lively but not overly dense, supported by dry, fine-grained tannins that give it a serious backbone. The style here is more “old-school” Saint-Émilion: not overly sweet or plush, but rather elegant, with a certain austerity in youth. The finish highlights that tension between fruit and earth – you’ll note the fresh acidity, a touch of bitter cherry skin, graphite, and a gentle toastiness.
With some age, the wine gains softness and the tannins relax, revealing more round fruit and a lovely perfume of violet and forest floor. In essence, Château Trotte Vieille is fresh, mineral, and aristocratic – a wine of subtle complexity and classic balance, showcasing Saint-Émilion’s limestone terroir through its lifted aromatics and refined, persistent finish.
Chateau Haut Bailly Grand Cru Classe 2019
Château Haut-Bailly Grand Cru Classé is a refined Pessac-Léognan red with the estate’s characteristic balance of perfume, graphite and poise. Cabernet-led notes of cassis, black cherry, plum, violet, tobacco, cedar and crushed stone develop into a sleek, savoury palate.
Medium to full-bodied, it is defined by fine tannins, fresh acidity and a persistent mineral finish. Elegant rather than overtly showy, it rewards decanting and pairs well with roast beef, lamb or duck.
Leoville Barton 2005 Saint Julien
Château Léoville Barton is a textbook St-Julien – sturdy, structured, and profoundly age-worthy. It has a reputation for being traditional, “masculine and beefy” in style, requiring patience for its firm tannins to soften. The aromas lead with deep blackcurrant and black cherry intertwined with classic Médoc notes of cigar box, cedar wood, and graphite. There’s often a floral hint (violet) and a touch of earthy spice (tobacco, pencil lead) as well.
On the palate, Léoville Barton is full-bodied and tightly knit. The Cabernet Sauvignon-driven flavors of cassis and dark plum are concentrated and wrapped in a wall of fine but prominent tannins that give the wine a gripping structure. This wine is decidedly not about immediate charm – in youth it can be brooding, with the fruit hidden behind iron-like minerality, charcoal, and a hint of mint or herbs. Given enough cellar time, it blossoms beautifully: the blackcurrant fruit becomes expansive and sweetly ripe, the tannins turn velvety, and complex nuances of leather, truffle, and warm spices emerge. The finish is always long and authoritative, leaving savory blackcurrant, cedar, and a touch of peppery spice.
In short, Léoville Barton is a quintessential claret of power and pedigree – packed with intense Cabernet fruit and strong graphite-tobacco structure, it’s firmly classical and immensely satisfying for those who value depth over flash.
Clos De La Roilette 2021 Fleurie 3L
A beautifully lifted Cru Beaujolais with fragrant aromatics of red cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate layered with violet, peony, and a subtle earthy spice. The palate is more structured than typical Fleurie, offering a medium- to full-bodied frame with ripe acidity, fine-grained tannins, and a savoury mineral edge driven by its manganese-rich soils. Juicy yet serious, with impressive depth and a long, floral-tinged finish that will reward short to medium term cellaring.