Bordeaux
La Croix de Beaucaillou 2010 Saint-Julien 750 mL
Dark cherry, boysenberry and cassis open with crushed violet, dark plum and a touch of date. The palate is rich and generous, with cigar box, pencil lead, iron and warm spice adding classical Left Bank detail. Firm, integrated tannins give the wine shape, while fresh acidity keeps the finish precise and persistent. Decant before serving with roast lamb, beef tenderloin, duck or mature cheese.
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.
Château de Fargues 1999 Sauternes 750 mL
Fresh apricot and passion fruit open with saffron, vanilla and a fine roasted-botrytis character. The palate is rich and generous, bringing candied fruit and warm spice around a smooth, flowing texture. Acidity is measured rather than sharp, and the wine gains freshness and aromatic precision with air. The finish is expansive and persistent, returning to passion fruit, roasted notes and a subtle hint of orange peel.
Château Haut-Marbuzet 1986 Saint-Estèphe
Cassis and spicy berry fruit open with smoke, cedar, tobacco and espresso, followed by earthy and savoury tones. The palate is full-bodied and supple, its mature fruit layered with vanilla, dark chocolate and sweet toast. Structured tannins remain composed, carrying the wine into a long, gently meaty finish.
Chateau Talbot 2012 Saint-Julien
Cassis, blackcurrant and red currant lead a polished aroma, joined by plum, roasted herbs and a restrained tarry note. The palate is juicy and rounded, with soft tannins, fresh acidity and a medium-bodied sense of balance. Cedar, liquorice and spice add savoury depth. The finish is persistent and composed, leaving dark berries, dried herbs and gentle mineral lift.
Feret Lambert 2018 Bordeaux Superieur 3L
Blackcurrant, black cherry and plum open with measured notes of cedar, graphite and dried herbs. The palate is medium to full in weight, with ripe fruit held by fine tannins and a fresh, savoury line. Balanced rather than heavy, it finishes with dark fruit and gentle spice. Give it air before serving with roast beef or lamb.
Château La Gaffelière 2010 Saint-Émilion
Baked raspberry, kirsch and dried mulberry unfold with plum pudding, pencil shavings and forest floor. The palate is medium to full-bodied, layering ripe red, blue and black fruit over savoury earth and crushed-rock detail. Chewy tannins and well-knit freshness give the rich core precision, with an herbal lift on the finish.
Château L’Église-Clinet 1999 Pomerol 750 mL
Mature and understated, with black cherry, smoke and forest floor leading the nose. Earth and leather add depth, while a thread of freshness keeps the profile from feeling tired. The palate is medium-bodied and supple, its fruit now fully integrated with soft tannins and restrained savoury detail. Subtle spice appears toward the close, and the finish is measured rather than forceful, leaving dark cherry, smoke and underbrush behind.
Chateau Leoville Barton 2005 Saint-Julien
Blackberry, cassis and kirsch lead a deep, structured profile, joined by candied violet, wood smoke and cardamom. The palate is full and concentrated, with grainy tannins and fresh acidity framing the dark fruit. Cedar, graphite and leather bring classic savoury depth. The finish is long and persistent, returning to blackcurrant, spice and polished mineral tension rather than overt sweetness.
Leoville Poyferre 2003 Saint-Julien 750 mL
Ripe blackcurrant and dark plum lead a broad, mature profile, with tobacco ash, cedar and graphite bringing classic savoury detail. The palate is full and generous, shaped by powdery tannins and a measured mineral line. Warm-vintage richness is present, yet the wine remains clean and composed, with enough freshness to keep the fruit defined. The finish is long and complex, carrying cassis, plum skin and fine earthy spice.
Chateau Haut Bailly Grand Cru Classe 2019
A refined Cabernet-led Pessac-Léognan with cassis, black cherry and plum, layered with violet, tobacco, cedar, graphite and crushed stone. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, yet sleek and composed, with fine tannins and fresh acidity carrying the fruit into a persistent mineral finish. Decant before serving with roast beef, lamb or duck.
Château Beychevelle 1986 Saint-Julien 750 mL
Kirsch, cassis and damson rise from a mature bouquet edged with eucalyptus, sandalwood and light smoke. The palate is concentrated and broad, with earth-streaked black fruit held by a firm tannic frame and fresh acidity. Cedar, fennel and a subtle truffle note add complexity as the wine opens. Medium-bodied yet persistent, it closes with focus, savoury depth and composed balance.
Chateau Trotte Vieille 2005 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Black cherry, plum and blackcurrant lead a complex, mineral profile, joined by liquorice, earth and truffle. The palate is medium to full in body, with fine tannins and fresh acidity keeping the fruit precise. Cedar, tea leaf and a measured chocolate note add savoury depth. The finish is long and layered, returning to plum, herbs and limestone-like mineral tension.
Château Haut-Bailly 2005 Pessac-Léognan 750 mL
Mature and composed, with blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum framed by graphite, tobacco and worn leather. The palate is generous without becoming heavy, its ripe fruit held in place by fine, persistent tannins and a savoury mineral line. Cedar and earth emerge with air, while measured acidity keeps the texture fresh. The finish is long and quietly complex, carrying dark fruit, pencil lead and gentle spice.
Chateau Rieussec 2003 Sauternes
Marmalade, quince and vanilla open a rich, aromatic profile, followed by coconut, candied orange peel and dried mango. The palate is medium to full in body, with honeyed sweetness held in check by lively acidity and a fine mineral line. Spiced pear and toasted almond deepen the centre. The finish is long and precise, leaving citrus, stone fruit and warm spice.
Château Montrose 2006 Saint-Estephe
Dense and still tightly wound, with red berries, currant and morello cherry set against cedar, graphite, tobacco and dark mineral notes. The palate is concentrated and firm, carrying substantial extract and tannin with a measured sweetness of fruit on the finish. Decant generously to reveal its savoury detail, then serve with braised beef, venison or roast lamb.
Chateau La Fleur-Petrus 2008 Pomerol
Dark cherry and plum lead a generous but controlled profile, joined by black tea, earth, cedar and a discreet note of truffle. The palate is medium to full in body, with silky tannins and fresh acidity carrying the fruit without heaviness. Graphite and dark chocolate deepen the middle. The finish is long and harmonious, returning to plum, savoury earth and polished cedar.
Château Brane-Cantenac 2009 Margaux 750 mL
Warm black plum, Morello cherry and mulberry lead an expressive, mature profile. Blackberry and dark cherry remain clear through the palate, joined by earth, cedar and a restrained touch of vanilla. The texture is polished and balanced, with fresh acidity and resolved tannins carrying the fruit rather than masking it. Gentle spice builds toward a composed, savoury finish with lingering dark berries and fine mineral detail.
Château Léoville Barton 2003 Saint-Julien
Blackberry, black cherry and cassis lead into liquorice, dark chocolate and sweet tobacco. The palate is full and concentrated, with firm yet integrated tannins carrying ripe fruit, leather and forest-floor complexity. Floral notes and mineral freshness keep the structure balanced through a long, focused and quietly powerful finish.