Selection
Mark Haisma 2020 Cornas
Domaine de Beaurenard 2019 Rasteau
Intense black fruit and blueberry aromas are lifted by cracked pepper, dried herbs and a hint of cocoa. The palate is rich and concentrated, built around ripe Grenache fruit, firm but polished tannins and a clear mineral line. Blackberry, cherry and savoury spice persist through a focused, energetic finish. Serve with braised lamb, grilled sausages, roast aubergine or hard cheese.
Domaine Mouton Père et Fils 2015 Côte-Rôtie Maison Rouge
Saint Cosme 2023 Crozes-Hermitage
Black fruit, smoked bacon, cracked pepper and incense lead a savoury, aromatic nose. The palate has more structure than the appellation's flatter-ground examples, with dark Syrah fruit, firm tannins and a mineral line carrying through the finish. Meaty, peppery and composed rather than heavy, it is a strong match for grilled lamb, mushrooms or slow-cooked onions.
Paul Jaboulet Aîné 2017 Saint-Joseph La Croix des Vignes
Xavier Gérard 2018 Côte-Rôtie
Dark violet in colour, with ripe blackberry, cassis and bitter cherry framed by pungent flowers, black pepper and a savoury trace of smoked meat. The palate is concentrated yet agile, its dark fruit gaining licorice and smoky mineral detail with air. Fine dusty tannins give measured grip, carrying pepper, fruit and earth through a long, composed finish.
Chapoutier 2016 Cote Rotie Mordoree
Raspberry and violet give the nose an aromatic lift, followed by spice, rosemary, black olive and tapenade. The palate is ample and concentrated, balancing ripe red and dark fruit with firm, velvety tannins. Leather, cedar and a light espresso note add savoury depth to the long finish. Decant for roasted lamb or game.
Domaine Saint-Patrice 2016 Clos Saint-Patrice Monopole Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Black cherry, blackberry and violet open with generous aromatic depth, followed by licorice, warm spice and a faint savoury note. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe fruit held in shape by polished tannins and fresh mineral tension. Opulent yet composed, it finishes long and layered, with dark fruit and spice lingering.
Domaine Raspail-Ay 2022 Gigondas
Domaine René Rostaing 2013 Côte Blonde Côte-Rôtie
Fresh raspberry and boysenberry rise with potpourri, floral oils and smoky mineral notes. Lively red and dark berry flavours fill the palate, gaining depth from peppery spice, olive, truffle and a savoury forest-floor nuance. Fine, gently firm tannins frame the concentrated fruit, while clear mineral energy drives the long, precise and persistent finish.
Escaravailles 2022 Les Coteaux Rasteau
Red, blue and black fruits lead, edged by cracked pepper and delicate floral notes. The palate is creamy and supple, with medium-to-full body, ripe concentration and excellent tannins. Freshness keeps the generous fruit beautifully balanced, carrying gentle spice and a savoury mineral touch through the rounded, elegant finish.
Pétrus 2000 Pomerol
Deeply concentrated and complex, with blackberry, wild strawberry and plum layered with cedar, pencil box, mocha, cocoa, vanilla, liquorice and earthy truffle. The palate is rich and seamless, combining sweet tannins with a dense, silky texture and a long, savoury finish. Decant for about three hours and serve with roast leg of lamb or slow-braised beef.
Château Lafite Rothschild 2003 Pauillac
Generous and expressive, with ripe red berries, cassis and roasted dark fruit layered with cedar, herbs, tobacco leaf, truffle and spice. The palate is full and concentrated, combining silky polish with opulent richness and a long, harmonious finish. Bottle variation is possible, so stand upright and decant carefully, tasting as it opens. Excellent with roast beef or game.
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.
Château Montrose 2000 Saint-Estèphe
Blueberry, black cherry and cassis lead with crushed rock, tobacco and a restrained floral lift. The palate is rich, powerful and full, with firm tannins framing dense dark fruit. Liquorice, graphite and savoury spice build through the long finish, which remains precise, youthful and impressively composed.
Château Latour 1990 Pauillac
Open and expressive for a mature first growth, with red currant, cassis and black cherry joined by liquorice, tobacco, leather and cedar. The full-bodied palate is lush and concentrated, its ripe tannins carrying savoury earth, herbs, espresso and kirsch through a powerful, spicy finish. Decant for about two hours and serve at cellar temperature with lamb, beef or game.
Château Margaux 1995 Margaux
Restrained and sophisticated, with blackcurrant and black olive framed by roasted coffee, cedar, toast and a mineral lift. The medium-bodied palate shows real density without heaviness, combining concentrated ripe fruit with aristocratic acidity, firm tannins and finely integrated oak. Long, dry and precise on the finish, it rewards a two-hour decant and pairs beautifully with roast lamb.
Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2005 Pessac-Léognan
Sweet blackberry, cassis and spring flowers open over crushed rock and earthy mineral notes. Full-bodied and richly layered, the palate combines warm dark fruit with velvety yet firm tannins and an energetic backbone. Tobacco, cedar and savoury spice add depth before the exceptionally long, textured and precise finish.
Château Lafite Rothschild 2005 Pauillac
Youthful and classically structured, with pure red fruit, cassis and flowers layered with lead pencil, cigar box, thyme and a saline mineral note. The palate is full-bodied, bright and firm, combining chewy tannins with impressive freshness and length. Best held for further development; if opened now, give it four to six hours in a decanter and serve with roast beef or lamb.