Adnams Southwold
Domaine de Chevalier
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Domaine de Chevalier has always been an impressive wine for the vintage. This has a superb bouquet with blackberry, graphite, sea spray and pressed roses, which are very well-defined and classy. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant, fine tannins, a keen line of acidity, fresh with white pepper and allspice towards the harmonious and precise finish. This is a Pessac-Léognan ratcheting through the gears - recommended. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 months ago
Clos Fourtet
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Clos Fourtet has a stubborn and backward bouquet with sultry black fruit, quite tertiary in style, antique bureau and woodbines. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent blackberry and blueberry fruit, maybe just a little cloying compared to its peers despite the velvety and caressing finish. One for those who like modern Saint-Émilion but it needs serious cellaring time. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — a year ago
Château Clerc Milon
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Clerc Milon has a vivacious and forward bouquet with cedar and graphite-infused black fruit, violet traces emerging with time, oozing with class. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, graphite once more defining the appellation. It's tensile and almost citrus-fresh on the finish. Plenty of energy is evident in this Pauillac, which should guarantee its longevity. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 months ago
Château Trotanoy
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Trotanoy has a more complex bouquet than the 2014 Gazin, with more Pomerol DNA in the mix, iron-tinged red berry fruit, black truffle and cedar. Fine delineation and quintessentially Pomerol. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and harmonious, soy-tinged black fruit with white pepper sprinkled over the finish. This has personality and class but needs time (comme d'habitude). One of the standouts in what is an inconsistent Pomerol vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 months ago
Château de La Tour
Clos Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2012
The 2012 Clos de Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru is fully mature on the nose, slightly earthy with light animal fur aromas. Fine lift. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm structure, impressive transparency and a slightly short, tart finish. But there is a breeziness to this Clos de Vougeot that is very seductive. Tasted at the Southwold Burgundy dinner at Hatched restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2023) — a year ago
Château Le Bon Pasteur
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Bon Pasteur has more fruit concentration than either the Gravette de Certan and La Fleur de Gay tasted alongside - blackberry and wild strawberry, truffle and a touch of smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity, firm backbone yet with plenty of freshness on its sappy finish. A fine Pomerol. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — a year ago
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of my favorite wines from the Left Bank in this vintage. Bright and vivacious blackberry, cedar and graphite scents soar from the glass with real purpose. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite tensile with ample depth. It has matured since I last tasted it four years ago. It is very fresh and has a saline finish. Recommended. Tasted at the Bordeaux Index 10-Year-On tasting. N.B. Two bottles tasted blind at Southwold showed oxidation on the first. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 months ago
Domaine des Comtes Lafon
Clos de la Barre Meursault Chardonnay 2015
The 2015 Meursault Clos de la Barre has a simple nose that gains intensity with aeration, offering light pithy pear and peach skin scents and just a touch of Vervain tea. The palate is cohesive, and the oak is nicely assimilated with a fine bead of acidity. This is turning into an elegant Clos de la Barre, and given that it is a mere Village Cru, there is commendable tension on the finish, perhaps having evolved a touch more mineralité than the previous bottle that I tasted. Tasted at the Southwold Burgundy dinner at Hatched restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2023) — a year ago
Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Canon-la-Gaffelière is quite punchy and bold on the nose. Blackberry and raspberry fruit, cedar and mint emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, quite plush yet cohesive, fanning out towards the velvety finish with a brush of white pepper on the aftertaste. One of the more approachable Saint-Émilion wines in this vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — a year ago
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The 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion offers bright and vivid scents that immediately captivate the olfactory scenes: black fruit, cedar, pencil box and light, minty aromas. It's much better than its First Growth neighbor. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, very harmonious, and has lovely depth with a gentle grip. This is a sophisticated and entrancing 2014, one of my favorites in Bordeaux. Highly recommended. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 months ago