On the Left Bank side of things we find wines of the greatest intensity and structure. Cabernet Sauvignon is the backbone of these long-lived expressions that inspired regions around the world (Napa, Chile, etc) to follow in Bordeaux’s footsteps with wines that delight with fruit and coat the palate. The four appellations we’ll feature in this sale are Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, St Julien, and Margaux. These are home to Bordeaux’s very top Chateau and some of the most legendary wines on the planet. The gravel-based soils of this area lend depth to the final blends and enable the wineries to produce world class bottlings year after year.
In Stock and On Sale From St. Estephe:Chateau Capbern, Saint-Estephe 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2018 Château Capbern checks in as a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 37% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 60% new barrels. It has a deep, dark, earthy, classic Saint-Estèphe bouquet that gives up lots of cassis and almost blue fruits as well as ample chocolate, damp earth, and leafy herb-like aromas and flavors. With a full-bodied, rich, opulent mouthfeel, loads of sumptuous dark fruits, sweet tannins, and a great finish, this brilliant 2018 brings lots of fruit and opulence, yet stays weightless and balanced, with solid underlying structure. A hidden gem in the vintage, this is every bit as good as the 2016, and it’s going to shine for two decades or more.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “This richly structured wine is layered with dense black fruits and serious tannins. A big wine in every sense, it is concentrated and juicy. The wine is made by the team from nearby classed growth Château Calon Ségur. Drink from 2026. -Roger Voss”
Chateau Le Crock, Saint-Estephe 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $41.90, that’s $39.81 at 5% off and $37.71 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock nowWine Enthusiast 94 points “Cellar Sellection. Under the same management as Château Léoville-Poyferré in Saint-Julien, this estate belongs to the Cuvelier family. With its structured Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is made to age. Big tannins and concentrated fruits are full and dense.”
Decanter 94 points “Clearly standing out in this line-up, an impressive, well-crafted wine with great tannic hold; a wine you would be thrilled to own. Cassis, bilberry, blackberry, hawthorn, black chocolate, slate. Great texture and balance, and full of St-Estèphe signature. Great stuff.”
Chateau Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estephe 2008 750ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
La Revue Du Vin de France 96 points “More classic, the 2008 is one of the great successes of the vintage (80% of grand vin), with a great intensity of fruit and a very good constitution.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The medium to deep garnet colored 2008 Cos d’Estournel is blended of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Pow! The nose explodes with notes of baked cherries, preserved plums, fried herbs, beef drippings and warm cassis with wafts of wood smoke, salami and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and earthy/savory in character, sporting beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. Drink: 2018-2035.”
Chateau Montrose, Saint-Estephe 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock nowVinous 100 points “The 2019 Montrose is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, inky and towering in concentration, the 2019 possesses off the charts intensity and tons of structure to back it up. Succulent black cherry, plum, tobacco, gravel and licorice infuse the 2019 with striking depth. The 2019 is not quite as opulent as some recent vintages, and that’s a good thing. Readers will find a regal wine that marries elegance with power. Unforgettable. Tasted two times.”
Decanter 99 points “A generous and abundant nose full of fruit and aromatic intensity followed by a gorgeous mouthfeel showcasing fruit density and concentration wrapped up in soft, velvety-smooth tannins. Just so much depth but also refinement here, it feels well made with just the right amount of fruit, toasty spice, tannins, freshness and acidity. The overall structure is gently framing all the elements – big and bold but quietly confident. The tannin impact is also enjoyable giving a feeling of approachability despite the long life ahead. Just superb – one of the best in 2019. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 12% press wine. 60% new oak. Drinking Window 2029 – 2046.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Montrose has turned out very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with a dramatic, perfumed bouquet of wild berries and cassis mingled with notions of lilac, violets, pencil shavings and warm spices, framed by nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied, layered and seamless, it’s deep and multidimensional, with lively acids, beautifully refined tannins and a long, resonant finish. Checking in at 14.4% alcohol (rather higher than, for example, the brilliant 2009’s 13.7% or the 2016’s 13.3%), this is an undeniably powerful, ripe Montrose, but for now everything appears to be kept in check.”
In Stock and On Sale From Pauillac: Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock nowJeb Dunnuck 98 points “One of the finest vintages I’ve ever tasted from this address, the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages has everything you look for in a great wine: incredible aromatics, richness without weight, perfect balance, and a purity of fruit that’s just about off the charts. Dense purple, it reveals a glorious perfume of blackcurrants and blackberry fruits, a deep, unctuous mouthfeel, building tannins, and a complex array of cedar pencil, tobacco, wood smoke, and chocolate. A true blockbuster in every sense, with masses of fruit and tannins as well as moderate acidity, it will probably merit a triple-digit score in a decade and is a 50+-year wine from this team. Drink: 2028-2078. (3/11/21)”
Wine Spectator 97 points “Vibrant, with a violet and cassis lead-in that then expands to include steeped black cherry and plum fruit as well as extra savory, iron and licorice root notes. Nice latent grip too, with a mouthwatering tug of earth at the very end. The fruit is so vibrant, it’s a tease now, but there’s structure here for the long haul, so be patient. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040. (3/31/21)”
Chateau Pichon Baron, Pauillac 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock nowJane Anson 98 points “Highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon on record, a reflection of how exceptionally well this grape did in 2019. The aromatics are all-enveloping, powerful and nuanced and totally delicious, drawing you in and refusing to let go. Slate, pencil lead, cassis, damson, layer upon layer of brilliance, if not quite the over-aweing concentration and enveloping character of the 2016. 80% new oak.”
Wine Advocate 97-100 points “The 2019 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, harvested from the 18th of September to the 11th of October. It is being aged in French oak barrels, 80% new, for 18 months. This grand vin represents 49% of the harvest. Very deep purple-black in color, the nose skyrockets from the glass with vibrant scents of freshly crushed blackberries, black raspberries and blackcurrant pastilles followed by perfumed sparks of fragrant earth, clove oil, lilacs, crushed rocks, molten chocolate and cinnamon toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with layer upon layer of black fruit, mineral and exotic spices, framed by beautifully ripe, finely-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing with a lingering soft-spoken whisper of floral and earth notions. This is an absolutely beguiling expression that is classic Pauillac, and yet it is Pauillac like no other.”
Chateau Pontet Canet, Pauillac 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock nowDecanter 97 points “A vindication of Jean-Michel Comme’s obsession with detail. A true Pauillac powerhouse, exploding with aromas of wild blackberries and Lapsang Souchong tea before the voluptuous, expressive palate unfolds. Peerless definition and gravitas, but have patience. Part matured in amphora.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Pontet-Canet comes charging out of the glass with fantastically expressive notes of black cherry preserves, black raspberries and blackcurrant pastilles plus touches of kirsch, wilted roses, tobacco, camphor and cinnamon stick with a waft of fragrant soil. Full bodied, the palate is laden with black and red fruit layers, supported by very firm, very finely grained tannins and provocative freshness, finishing with incredible length and stunningly perfumed.”
Vinous 97+ points “Proprietor Alfred Tesseron and winemaker Jean-Michel Comme produced an absolutely stellar Pontet-Canet in 2015. Sumptuous, racy and totally inviting, the 2015 is all class. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, spice and exotic floral notes build as the 2015 shows off its alluring personality. Even with all of its raciness, the 2015 speaks with authority and power. Fine tannins extend the persistent, highly nuanced finish.”
Chateau Pichon Lalande, Pauillac 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $279, that’s $265.05 at 5% off and $251.10 at 10% off, 27 bottles in stock now#2 WINE SPECTATOR – WINE OF THE YEAR IN 2021
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ points “The 2018 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande is a monster of a wine with an almost Château Latour-like stature and structure, offering deep, backward, slightly reductive notes of blackcurrants, crushed stone, scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, and tobacco leaf. Based largely on Cabernet Sauvignon mixed with 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, it’s full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful on the palate, with masses of tannins, beautiful mid-palate density, and a great finish. As I’ve commented previously, the up-front, sexy style of the past (due to the larger Merlot content, I believe) has been replaced by a more regal, at times austere profile. Nevertheless, it’s still its own wine and very Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in style. This 2018 is going to need 5-7 years of bottle age and will evolve for 40+ years.”
Wine Spectator 98 points “Offers a deep well of dark currant, blackberry paste and plum preserves fruit that needs time to unwind fully, as it’s shrouded in warm earth, tobacco, singed cedar, sweet bay leaf and savory notes. A ramrod of graphite adds to the strident, structured feel. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2030 through 2050. 13,000 cases made. — JM”
In Stock and On Sale From St. Julien:Chateau Gloria, St Julien 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Vinous 96 points “The 2019 Gloria has a compelling nose: black fruit, crushed rocks, tobacco and very subtle marine scents that are all beautifully combined. Perhaps the most precise and delineated nose among an impressive array of Saint-Julien’s this year. The palate is medium-bodied with a lively opening. A touch of soy infuses the black fruit; fine-boned with wonderful sapidity on the finish. Extraordinary length. Serious. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.”
Jane Anson 95 points “So good, this is a vibrant mix of young and exuberant, luxurious, seriously creamy in texture, crushed stone, baked earth, smoked caramel, damson, sweet blackberry and damson fruits. This is pure pleasure, hard to resist.”
Chateau Leoville Barton, St Julien 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock nowWine Spectator 2019 #1 Wine of The Year 97 points “This is so vivid as it brims with pastis-soaked plum, blackberry, black currant and blueberry paste flavors, all carried by a perfectly integrated brambly spine. Tar and ganache notes give the finish an extra kick while everything stays within the mouthwatering roasted apple wood frame. Both regal and rambunctious, this is St.-Julien to a T.”
Decanter 96 points “I love this – there’s concentrated cassis on the nose with a strong, smoky edging. On the palate the coffee and dark chocolate is clear, a little bitter in an extremely attractive way, leaning against the rich, sweet black fruits. There’s no question those tannins are in full play. An excellent wine with a great life ahead. Matured in 60% new oak. Drinking Window 2024 – 2040”
Chateau Leoville Poyferre, St Julien 2014 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock nowVinous 95 points “The 2014 Léoville Poyferré is gorgeous. Dark, sumptuous and ample on the palate, it possesses remarkable depth. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, scorched earth, licorice and menthol all flesh out as this radiant, deeply expressive wine shows off its considerable pedigree. The 2014 is going to need time to fully come together, but it is super-impressive. Tasted two times.”
Chateau Saint Pierre, St Julien 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.07 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock nowVinous 95 points “The 2018 Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) is a powerful, muscular wine. Black cherry, gravel, dark spice, menthol, licorice and espresso add to an impression of brooding intensity. Saint-Pierre was so compelling from barrel. It is all that and more from bottle. The tannins are going to need a number of years to soften, but there is so much to look forward to here. Readers should expect a virile, imposing Saint-Julien.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, the 2018 Saint-Pierre bursts from the glass with a glorious perfume of kirsch, blackcurrant pastilles, black raspberries and cedar chest with hints of red roses, pencil shavings and spice box. The medium to full-bodied palate coats the mouth with velvety tannins and beautifully knit freshness, supporting the generous black and red berry layers, finishing long and perfumed. It needs a good four years for the oak to marry and the fruit to really hit its stride, then should drink a further 20+ years.”
In Stock and On Sale From Margaux:Chateau Giscours, Margaux 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock nowJames Suckling 96 points “This has attractive, glossy, ripe red-plum and licorice aromas with cedar, flowers and red berries, as well as a stony edge. A very fragrant, cabernet-driven nose. The palate has elegance and grace with sleek and charming, balanced style and a discreet tannin structure that holds the finish long and fresh. A blend of 81 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 19 per cent merlot. Try from 2023.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Cellar SelectionThis nearly 200-acre estate lies in the south of the Margaux appellation. The wine is another great success in a series of superb years. It is rich but the structure and finely textured fruit give it style and longevity. Drink the wine from 2026.”
Chateau D’Issan, Margaux 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock nowDecanter 96 points “Wonderfully intense on the nose, so ripe and concentrated with some toasted oak aromas. Supple and vibrant on the palate, the fruit is clean and crisp with tannins that are fine but firm, just giving the expression some tension and linearity. Cinnamon and clove edge the bright blackcurrant and black cherry fruit with lovely acidity. This is plush, and firm at the same time, clean and clear, fragrant and ripe. Lots going on here with bitter dark chocolate too. It’s all happening. Needs time to relax but this is wonderfully nuanced and really quite captivating. Grippy and refreshing, leaves a lingering impression.
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2020 Château D’Issan is a stunningly good Margaux, and this is another estate that seems to producer brilliant wines every vintage. Pulling from 51.04 hectares of vines and a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec, it’s a selection of just 45% of the total production and spent 18 months in 50% new and 50% once-used French oak. Beautiful, spiced-laced red and black fruits, chocolate, smoked tobacco, and incense notes define the aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied restrained, elegant 2020 with terrific mid-palate density, ripe, velvety tannins, and terrific overall balance. This is one of those beautiful, classic wines that grows on you with time in the glass, and hats off to Emmanuel Cruse for yet another incredible wine. It’s going to evolve for another 25-30 years if well-stored.”
Chateau Rauzan Segla, Margaux 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off and $143.10 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock nowJeb Dunnuck 98 points “I continue to love the 2016 Rauzan-Ségla, a thrillingly complete, flawlessly balanced, and borderline perfect Margaux that should be snatched up by readers. Notes of cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, and earth all give way to a full-bodied effort that has building tannins, no hard edges, and a level of purity and elegance that’s just about off the charts. Given its purity and balance, it’s accessible today, but it will be best with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Rauzan-Ségla drifts effortlessly from the glass with fragrant rose hip tea, candied violets and chocolate box scents over a core of fresh blackcurrants and black cherry compote plus wafts of tobacco and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers a great mid-palate of softly textured black and blue fruits with loads of floral nuances and a refreshing lift on the finish. The blend this year is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, harvested between September 20th and October 15th at an average yield of 45 hectoliters per hectare. It was aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new. The alcohol is 13.5%, and the pH is 3.6.”
Chateau Malescot St Exupery, Margaux 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock nowVinous 95 points “The 2018 Malescot Saint Exupéry is every bit as compelling as it was from barrel. Powerful and incisive, the 2018 is a driving, potent Margaux that dazzles from the first taste. Iron, smoke, new leather, licorice, pressed rose petal and cedar all open in the glass, conveying tremendous nuance and a ton of character.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Malescot St. Exupery leaps from the glass with expressive scents of baked blackberries, Morello cherries and boysenberries with hints of blackcurrant cordial, dark chocolate, licorice and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate has impressive intensity without heaviness, delivering mouth-coating black fruits and a firm, grainy texture, finishing with a refreshing earthy lift.”
SALE APPLIES TO THE WINES OF SAINT ESTEPHE, PAUILLAC, ST JULIEN, & MARGAUX
| LEFT BANK WINES AVAILABLE NOW |
APPELLATION |
VWS PRICE |
AVAILABLE |
LINK |
| CAPBERN SAINT-ESTEPHE 2018 |
SAINT-ESTEPHE |
36.00 |
23 |
Link |
| CAPBERN SAINT-ESTEPHE 2018 CS-6 |
SAINT-ESTEPHE |
199.00 |
3 |
Link |
| COS D’ESTOURNEL ST ESTEPHE 2008 |
SAINT-ESTEPHE |
219.00 |
8 |
Link |
| COS D’ESTOURNEL ST ESTEPHE 2016 |
SAINT-ESTEPHE |
299.00 |
3 |
Link |
| COS D’ESTOURNEL ST ESTEPHE 2019 |
SAINT-ESTEPHE |
199.00 |
6 |
Link |
| LE CROCK ST ESTEPHE 2016 750ML |
SAINT-ESTEPHE |
41.90 |
16 |
Link |
| MONTROSE ST ESTEPHE 2016 |
SAINT-ESTEPHE |
249.00 |
3 |
Link |
| MONTROSE ST ESTEPHE 2019 |
SAINT-ESTEPHE |
219.00 |
13 |
Link |
| LYNCH BAGES PAUILLAC 2018 |
PAUILLAC |
189.00 |
5 |
Link |
| PICHON BARON PAUILLAC 2016 |
PAUILLAC |
199.00 |
7 |
Link |
| PICHON BARON PAUILLAC 2019 |
PAUILLAC |
199.00 |
11 |
Link |
| PICHON LALANDE PAUILLAC 18 MAG |
PAUILLAC |
499.00 |
3 |
Link |
| PICHON LALANDE PAUILLAC 2018 |
PAUILLAC |
279.00 |
27 |
Link |
| PICHON LALANDE PAUILLAC 2019 |
PAUILLAC |
249.00 |
16 |
Link |
| PONTET CANET PAUILLAC 2015 |
PAUILLAC |
189.00 |
10 |
Link |
| PONTET CANET PAUILLAC 2016 |
PAUILLAC |
199.00 |
3 |
Link |
| CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD PAUILLAC 2010 |
PAUILLAC |
999.00 |
1 |
Link |
| GRAND PUY DUCASSE PAUILLAC 2010 |
PAUILLAC |
99.00 |
10 |
Link |
| GRAND PUY LACOSTE 2018 |
PAUILLAC |
99.00 |
16 |
Link |
| GRAND PUY LACOSTE 2019 |
PAUILLAC |
89.00 |
29 |
Link |
| CHATEAU GISCOURS MARGAUX 16 750 |
MARGAUX |
89.00 |
11 |
Link |
| CHATEAU GISCOURS MARGAUX 2018 |
MARGAUX |
89.00 |
4 |
Link |
| D’ISSAN MARGAUX 2018 750ML |
MARGAUX |
89.00 |
1 |
Link |
| D’ISSAN MARGAUX 2020 750ML |
MARGAUX |
79.00 |
24 |
Link |
| RAUZAN SEGLA MARGAUX 2016 750ML |
MARGAUX |
159.00 |
21 |
Link |
| RAUZAN SEGLA MARGAUX 2017 750ML |
MARGAUX |
109.00 |
1 |
Link |
| MALESCOT ST EXUPERY MARGAUX 2018 |
MARGAUX |
89.00 |
15 |
Link |
| MALESCOT ST EXUPERY MARGAUX 2019 |
MARGAUX |
79.00 |
6 |
Link |
| BRANAIRE DUCRU ST JULIEN 15 |
ST JULIEN |
89.00 |
1 |
Link |
| BRANAIRE DUCRU ST JULIEN 16 750 |
ST JULIEN |
89.00 |
7 |
Link |
| CHATEAU BEYCHEVELLE ST JULIEN 15 |
ST JULIEN |
149.00 |
8 |
Link |
| GLORIA ST JULIEN 2019 |
ST JULIEN |
49.00 |
22 |
Link |
| GLORIA ST JULIEN 2020 |
ST JULIEN |
49.00 |
7 |
Link |
| LEOVILLE BARTON ST JULIEN 2016 |
ST JULIEN |
189.00 |
10 |
Link |
| LEOVILLE BARTON ST JULIEN 2018 |
ST JULIEN |
135.00 |
17 |
Link |
| LEOVILLE BARTON ST JULIEN 2019 |
ST JULIEN |
119.00 |
3 |
Link |
| LEOVILLE LAS CASES ST JULIEN 12 |
ST JULIEN |
219.00 |
3 |
Link |
| LEOVILLE POYFERRE ST JULIEN 2014 |
ST JULIEN |
99.00 |
36+ |
Link |
| LEOVILLE POYFERRE ST JULIEN 2016 |
ST JULIEN |
135.00 |
7 |
Link |
| SAINT PIERRE ST JULIEN 2018 |
ST JULIEN |
79.00 |
13 |
Link |
| SAINT PIERRE ST JULIEN 2019 |
ST JULIEN |
79.00 |
11 |
Link |
The winemaking here is all traditional. Despite a brief trial with modern techniques in the 90’s, the wines undergo gentle pump over and cap submersion during the weeks-long maceration. The wines then undergo an extended aging in neutral barrels and botti from Slavonia and Austria for up to three years.
The winemaking here is all traditional. Despite a brief trial with modern techniques in the 90’s, the wines undergo gentle pump over and cap submersion during the weeks-long maceration. The wines then undergo an extended aging in neutral barrels and botti from Slavonia and Austria for up to three years.
