Wines ( + denotes Released; * denotes Limited Allocation )
Alter Ego de Palmer +	Figeac +	Lynch Bages +
Armailhac +	Gazin +	Magdelaine +
Angelus +	Giscours +	Malartic Lagraviere +
Ausone + *	Grand Puy Lacoste +	Malescot St Exupery +
Beauséjour Duffau +	Gruaud Larose +	Margaux + *
Bellevue Mondotte +	Haut Bailly +	Montrose +
Beychevelle +	Haut Brion + *	Mouton + *
Branaire Ducru +	Hosanna +	Palmer +
Brane Cantenac +	L'Eglise Clinet +	Pape Clement +
Calon Segur - SOLD OUT	L'Evangile +	Pape Clement Blanc +
Canon +	La Fleur Petrus +	Pavie +
Canon La Gaffeliere +	La Mission Haut Brion +	Pavie Decesse +
Carruades de Lafite +	La Mission Haut Brion Blanc +	Pavie Macquin +
Certan De May +	La Tour Carnet +	Pavillon Blanc de Margaux
Certan Marzelle +	Lafite + *	Pavillon Rouge de Margaux +
Cheval Blanc +	Lagrange +	Petrus + *
Clerc Milon +	Langoa Barton +	Pichon Baron +
Clinet +	Larcis Ducasse +	Pichon Lalande +
Clos du Marquis +	Lascombes +	Pontet Canet +
Clos Fourtet +	Latour + *	Rauzan Segla +
Clos l'Eglise	Latour a Pomerol	Roc de Cambes +
La Conseillante +	Le Clarence de Haut Brion +	Smith-Haut-Lafitte +
Cos d'Estournel +	Le Clarte de Haut Brion +	Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc +
Cos d'Estournel Blanc +	Le Gay +	Suduiraut +
Coutet +	Le Petit Mouton	Talbot +
D'Issan +	Le Pin - SOLD OUT	Tertre Roteboeuf +
Domaine de Chevalier +	Leoville Barton +	Troplong Mondot +
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc +	Leoville Las Cases +	Trotanoy
Ducru Beaucaillou +	Leoville Poyferre	Vieux Chateau Certan +
Duhart Milon +	Les Forts de Latour +

St Estephe
Calon Segur (JH 17.5) (JS 91-92) (WA 92-94)	SOLD OUT
JH “Lightly dusty but sweet and fragrant cassis. Just a touch of cedary freshness. Deep and smoothly textured and with an elegant overlay of freshness. No dry tannins here. Scented on the mid palate. Delicate, not typically St-Estèphe. Lively and full of fresh energy. Cool August brought delicacy and aromatic power to the Cabernet Sauvignon. Tender and fresh on the finish. So drinkable. Finesse and freshness all round.” JS “This is well done and reminds me of the 1996 at this stage, which was excellent. Pretty aromas of spices, berry and earth follow through to a full body, with firm and silky tannins and a juicy finish. Very fresh.” WA “A very strong effort (this property was untouched by the hail storm that swept through the area on September 1), it boasts an opaque purple colour as well as surprisingly sweet tannin and abundant quantities of black cherry, black currant and dusty, loamy scents. Medium to full-bodied with beautifully integrated tannins and sensational purity and length, this super effort is a wonderful homage to the memory of Madame Gasqueton. Moreover, it is potentially one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage and should drink well for 25 or more years.”
Cos d'Estournel (JH 17+) (JS 92-93) (WA 90-92)	119 EURO per bottle
JH “Stunning colour. A touch of raisiny fruit. Dry, powdery tannins but quite dense and very firm. Powerful but cool. Long – the length is more structure than flavour or aroma. Needs to take on flesh. A bit hard on the finish.” JS “Very dense and structured with spices, currants and berries and an underlying spiciness. Full body, with chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Structured. Firm. Slightly hollow center palate. Excellent considering the difficulty St. Estephe had with hail and early harvesting.” WA “Notes of lead pencil shavings, black currants, boysenberries, cedar and earth. Made in a traditional style with more acidity and noticeable tannin than in recent years.”
Cos d'Estournel Blanc (JH 16.5) (JS 93)	46 EURO per bottle
JH “Fresh, grassy and green-apple aroma. Not as dense as the Aile d'Argent, more grip, more pear, more mineral. Dry, taut and long.” JS “Structured white with a lemon curd and orange peel character. Full and juicy, with a savory character and a dense structure. Serious. 67% Sauvignon Blanc and 33% Semillon.”
Montrose (JH 17.5) (JS 92-93) (WA 91-93)	78 EURO per bottle
JH “Not very aromatic, touch of coffee and graphite. Powder fine and elegant tannins. Fresh, dry but finely layered, lots of very fine layers. Dry finesse and long too but needs lots of time.” JS “Elegant and racy wine with blueberry, blackberry and mineral aromas. Full to medium body, with fine tannins. Pretty length. Like the 2008, but with less acidity.” WA “Abundant black currant and boysenberry fruit notes intermixed with white chocolate, damp earth, truffle and camphor. Medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin and impressive concentration.”
Pauillac
Armailhac (JH 17) (JS 91-92) (WA 90-92)	33 EURO per bottle
JH “Dark velvety crimson. Cedary cassis and oak spice. Marked freshness, lightish on the palate, delicate, elegant and finishes fresh and lively. Finesse on the tannin front.” JS “The wine has a lovely softness to it with a chocolate, currant and blueberry character. Full body, with velvety tannins and juicy finish. Savoury wine.” WA “Abundant aromas of black fruits, white chocolate, liquorice and flowers. Medium-bodied, expressive, savoury, pure and long with sweet tannins.”
Carruades de Lafite (JH 17) (JS 91-92) (WA 87-89)	128 EURO per bottle
JH “Lovely dark fragrance, pure, lightly spiced black fruit. Savoury and ripe but no sweetness at all to the fruit (that's not negative). Dense, dry, structured and upright but not stern or hard, just very masculine and still smooth.” JS “A wine with sweet tobacco and coffee character. Full body, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. The Petit Verdot comes out here with spices and hints of fresh herbs.” WA “Soft berry fruit, underbrush, fresh herb and bay leaf characteristics as well as soft tannins, a velvety texture, and a medium-bodied, slightly superficial, but satisfying style suggest this 2011 should be consumed over the next 10-15 years.”
Clerc Milon (JH 16.5) (JS 91-92) (WA 89-91+)	38.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Sweet, creamy, oaky, spicy nose, hint of coffee. Fresh and spicy on the palate too and a little cedary. Not the same freshness as the Armailhac, though it is fresh, but very silky tannins, seems you could almost drink it now.” JS “This is a racy young wine with currants and blueberries on the nose and palate. Full and very silky with fine tannins and a balanced finish. A little muscular and lean.” WA “The 2011 Clerc Milon is more tannic, tightly knit and structured than its sister chateau, d'Armailhac. With more acidity showing, it performed as if it had just come off malolactic fermentation. Possessing a dense colour along with copious notes of new saddle leather, black currants, mocha and wood spice, it will require several years of bottle age, and should keep well for 15+ years.”
Duhart Milon (JH 17) (JS 92-93) (WA 89-91)	65 EURO per bottle
JH “Inky with black core. Sweeter smelling than the Carruades. Light oak spice. Then cedary and so silky on the palate. Just glides though there's plenty of tannin there. Creamy long finish.” JS “This shows lots of sweet tobacco and blueberry character. Full and silky with fine tannins. Keeps fresh. Long. Well done.” WA “Tart acids give this dark ruby/purple-tinged wine a crunchy, fresh, lively feel on the palate. Composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, this medium-bodied 2011 reveals loads of finesse and purity, but is slightly superficial compared to recent vintages such as 2009 and 2010.”
Grand Puy Lacoste (JH 17-) (JS 91-92) (WA 89-91)	40 EURO per bottle
JH “Deep crimson. Fresh, cedary cassis. Cool, supple and again refreshing. Pretty light but well balanced within that context. 17 for harmony, minus for levity.” JS “This has lots of mineral and lemon peel character with dried flowers and currants. Full and very silky with fresh acidity. Long and intense. Racy and lean at the finish.” WA “Classic nose of smoky black currants and flowers are followed by a medium-bodied wine with more finesse and elegance than the blockbuster style seen in great vintages. Penetrating acidity gives the 2011 Grand Puy Lacoste excellent vibrancy as well as definition.”
Les Forts de Latour (JH 17) (JS 92-93) (WA 90-92)	125 EURO per bottle
JH “Initial impression of toast and char. Dark and savoury. Unexpectedly fluid on the palate even though it has a firm framework but the framework is transparent to the purity of the fruit. Not in the least luscious. Short pile so it is firm but carpeted on the palate.” JS “This is really excellent. Love the nose of minerals, violets and berries. Full body, with super fine tannins and a long, long finish. Slightly lean but seamless tannins.” WA “A big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, underbrush, liquorice and incense. Medium to full-bodied, deep, fleshy and already appealing, this 2011 should gain complexity over the next 5-7 years, and last for 15-20.”
Lafite* (JH 18.5) (JS 94-95) (WA 90-93)	495 EURO per bottle
JH “Deep dark crimson with rich purple rim. Delicate, pure cassis dark fragrance, the merest hint of oak spice. Tannins are a conundrum, feeling dense and savoury at first and then gliding over the finish line. Polar opposite of Mouton style.” JS “A bit chewy but shows an impressive intensity of spice, sweet tobacco, and currant character. Full, dense and structured. Muscular for the vintage for Lafite. Tobacco box aftertaste. Some wet earth too.” WA “Lots of crushed rock, red and black currant, forest floor and underbrush characteristics, moderate tannin and medium body, it is built somewhat along the lines of the 1999 and 2001. It should be a 20- to 25-year wine, but it is not at the level of the 2008, 2009 and 2010. Fresh acids give the wine a somewhat more clipped feeling than most great Lafites have exhibited. Nevertheless, there is a lot of freshness and vibrancy to this vintage.”
Latour* (JH 18) (JS 95-96) (WA 93-95)	495 EURO per bottle
JH “Reticent cassis perfume, not very forthcoming. Intense, deep, dry and long. Very refined and it feels as if it is all texture at the moment, no spare flesh but it's more a question of no fat not leanness. It opens up to very pure cassis fruit but remains restrained. A slight dustiness increases the freshness. Dry purity and refinement. It's not even reined in, the constraint is built in. 'Super-bon élégant', opines Frédéric Engerer.” JS “A Latour with a steely backbone and a savory character. Blueberries and currants with hints of violets. Full body, with a long and racy finish. The texture is very tight and racy. Classy for the vintage.” WA “One of the vintage-s most compelling wines, it possesses a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet, open-knit personality with ripe tannin, superb intensity, good purity and harmony, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and lots of crushed rock, floral and black as well as blue fruit notes in addition to hints of ink and forest floor. This beautifully rich, savory Latour will be surprisingly drinkable in 4-5 years, and should age easily for two decades or more.”
Lynch Bages (JH 16+) (JS 93-94) (WA 90-93)	76 EURO per bottle
JH “Extremely sweet dark fruit, more damson than cassis. Firm, dry, grippy tannins seem to overwhelm the fruit. Need to prize your mouth apart on the finish. Needs a lot of time and I hope the flesh will emerge.” JS “This is quite wonderful with a beautiful balance of ultra-fine tannins and pretty fruits from currant to blueberries. Full-bodied. Delicious to taste. Deft winemaking here for the vintage.” WA “Copious aromas of black currants, incense, forest floor and ink. Deep, rich, medium to full-bodied and layered with supple tannins as well as the vintage-s freshness and vibrancy, it should age easily for 20 years.”
Mouton* (JH 17.5) (JS 94-95) (WA 93-96)	395 EURO per bottle
JH “Deep crimson. Exotically spiced, warm red fruits. Exotic, prettily aromatic, delicate and pretty gentle on the palate. Subtle and harmonious. Cedary freshness and a fluidity on the finish and a note of oak char at the very end. It seems just so soft but Philippe Dhalluin assures us the tannins (or at least the polyphenol index) is very similar to last year so I am giving it the benefit of the doubt.” JS “This is delicious with a gorgeous ripe fruit with hints of chocolate, lightly toasted oak and blueberries. Salty and savoury. Long and very caressing. But then it goes on for a long, long time with firm tannins. Is it a baby 1986, one of the greats of Mouton? 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.” WA “Mouton's classic note of creme de cassis is well-displayed in this inky purple-coloured wine. Significantly more powerful, rich and textured than its nearby neighbour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton boasts superb intensity, stunning concentration, and plenty of sweet tannin. This is an impressively built, full-throttle wine that will require 5-8 years of cellaring and should keep for 25-30 years thereafter. It should prove to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage.”
Le Petit Mouton (JH 16.5) (JS 89-90) (WA 87-89)
JH “Cedary aroma and a touch of graphite plus red fruits. Juicy, fresh with just the right (gentle) firmness on the finish. Gentle and pleasant.” JS “The wine shows a pretty richness and softness with plenty of blueberry and chocolate character. Medium finish. Very soft.” WA “Attractive, fresh black currant fruit intermixed with notions of forest floor, liquorice and wood smoke. It is a lovely, round, fresh wine to drink in its first decade of life.”
Pichon Baron (JH 17.5) (JS 92-93) (WA 90-92+)	78 EURO per bottle
JH “Slight dusty note on the nose, touch of cedar freshness and underlying cassis purity and an attractive savoury dark edge even though there's a slight note of dark chocolate too. Lots of pure cassis through the heart of the wine. Relatively stern but not at all hard. Lithe, fresh, graphite scented. Deft, full of fruit but not overly fruity. No excess of weight but not thin. Actually quite rich for the vintage. Finely balanced.” JS “Very pretty aromas of currants and blueberries with hints of flowers. Full body with silky tannins and a fruity finish. Refined. Very polished tannins.” WA “Notes of spring flowers interwoven with creme de cassis, liquorice and background incense and toasty oak. The tannins are firm and the wine is medium-bodied and rich with layers of fruit and extract as well as a long finish. An outstanding example of the vintage.”
Pichon Lalande (JH 16.5) (JS 93-94) (WA 92-94)	78 EURO per bottle
JH “Cedary and dark and pure. Bright, fresh fruit aromas. A little bit herbaceous on nose and the palate. Pretty leafy and quite green on the palate, the Cabernets making themselves felt. Very fresh, lightly structured, savoury, elegant. Not a great deal of depth but juicy in the middle and it is harmonious. Lingers though it really is a little bit green on the finish. Firm and pretty dry.” JS “This is really fantastic for the vintage with a wonderful balance and finesse, yet a firm impressive tannin structure. It's very long and pretty.” WA “Abundant aromas of black currants intermixed with unsmoked cigar tobacco, serious body, more concentration than most of the classified growths, and a bigger, more structured style that may suggest a subtle change in the winemaking philosophy at this estate. This impressive wine is one of the vintage's most interesting efforts.”
Pontet Canet (JH 17) (JS 92-93) (WA 93-95)	72 EURO per bottle
JH “Unusual woody sort of nose. Gentle, rounded, complex already – there's a savoury freshness without specific fruit flavours that you can pick out, though the wine is rounded out by its fruit. As it opens, there's a bramble fruit character. Smoky bacon, not unlike northern Rhône Syrah (!), quite ripe, really does have a sort of Rhône note. A lot of spice, black pepper, particularly on the palate, a tension and energy from the freshness but not juicy fruit. Refined tannins that are also spiced and deep but smoothed. Very long. Not clear cut, not precise but lots of pleasure.” JS “A wine with very clear fruit definition and minerals with hints of flowers. Full body with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Mineral and dried flowers. Long and crisp. Lovely quality of tannins here. Racy.” WA “Once again proprietor Alfred Tesseron has produced a wine of first-growth potential. One of the superstars of the vintage, Pontet-Canet's 2011 exhibits an opaque purple colour and a glorious bouquet of incense, subtle toast and copious quantities of creme de cassis. There is a floral underpinning, decent acidity and ripe tannin to this full-bodied effort. Big, rich, round and generously endowed, it should drink well for 20-25+ years.”
St Julien
Beychevelle (JH 16) (JS 90-91) (WA 87-89)	49.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Delicately, leafily fragrant. On the lighter side but the tannins reined in to keep the balance. Finishes dry but still fragrant.” JS “Plenty of blueberry and currant character with soft and velvety tannins and a pretty balance of fruit, alcohol and bright acidity. Nicely done.” WA “Notes of strawberries, black cherries, new saddle leather and hints of herbs and earth. Refreshing and delicate, it should drink well for 10-15 years.”
Branaire Ducru (JH 16) (JS 92-93) (WA 91-93)	33.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Perfumed with cassis, vanilla and spice with a slight green note. More dry and savoury on the palate but there's a cool freshness and balance that leaves the mouth fresh.” JS “A very pretty red with flowers, blackberries, and blueberries. Full and silky with racy tannins and a long finish. Some hints of cocoa and pleasant bitterness. Well structured.” WA “Exotic perfume of lead pencil shavings, white chocolate, raspberry jam and red as well as black currants. Loads of fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and velvety tannin suggest this beauty will drink well for 15+ years. It is one of the stars of the appellation in this vintage. Bravo!”
Clos du Marquis (JR 17.5) (JS 90-91) (WA 90-93)	34 EURO per bottle
JH “Wonderfully refined cassis fruit purity with just the slightest hint of cedar. Lovely elegance with fine fruit fragrance on the palate. Refined dry texture without any dryness. Top-class Cabernet character. Great length with finesse in the tannins to the very end. Classic St-Julien.” JS “This is very structured for the vintage with firm yet polished tannins and bright acidity. Lemony finish. Minerally. Full and dense. Nose is bright and floral.” WA “Representing 40% of the entire production, this is a seriously endowed, deep purple-colored 2011 with lots of pure creme de cassis and black cherry liqueur notes intermixed with notions of cedar, vanillin and spice box. With good acidity, ripe tannin and surprising concentration as well as depth, this classic St.-Julien has once again over-performed.”
Ducru Beaucaillou (JH 17.5) (JS 94-95) (WA 93-95)	82.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Seductive fruit on the nose. Warm and dry and the tannins have great finesse and zero dryness. Puts the many dry Margaux tasted this morning into perspective. Dense but really supple and has a juicy flourish on the finish. Long. And very pure cassis through the middle.” JS “Fabulous aromas of blackberries, plums, meat and rose petals. Full body, with special richness for the vintage with a sweetness not seen in many wines. Velvety tannins that are polished and beautiful. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. Little more Merlot than normal.” WA “One of the vintage's stars. Extraordinary nose of creme de cassis, liquorice, subtle wood smoke and spring flowers, a surprising, full-bodied mouthfeel, and stunning intensity, purity, symmetry and length. The 2011 has considerable tannin, but it is soft and well-integrated.”
Gruaud Larose (JH 15.5) (JS 92-93) (WA 89-91)	39.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Exotically spiced, black fruit, even a little leathery. Purest phase of ripeness. Then more savoury on the palate. Both earthy and juicy. Very rounded but rich in the mouth, too, good amount of flesh – more flesh than many – filling out the tannins so that they are well hidden.” JS “A very harmonious wine for the vintage with currants, spices and stones. Full body, with ultra fine tannins and a pretty finish. Delicate yet structured for the vintage.” WA “Notes of unsmoked, high quality cigar tobacco are intertwined with plum, black currant and dusty, earthy, loamy soil characteristics. The wine reveals good richness, medium body and a structured, somewhat formidable level of tannin that needs to melt away before this 2011 can be fully enjoyed.
Lagrange (JR 16.5) (JS 88-89) (WA 85-87)	30 EURO per bottle
JH “Gentle, dark, small-berried fruit, blackberry more than cassis. Hint of cedar. Much more cedary on the palate. Taut and firm but not dry. Embryonic rather than dry tannins. Long, fresh, juicy finish.” JS “A wine with mineral and blueberry character with hints of sandalwood. Medium body, with firm tannins and a medium finish. Balanced for the vintage but needs a little more depth.” WA “Extracted and oaky with dry, astringent tannins, the 2011 Lagrange is disjointed and not totally harmonious at present.”
Langoa Barton (JH 16) (JS 92-93) (WA 86-88+)	34 EURO per bottle
JH “Not much on the nose. Some oak char and savour on the palate and a slight herbaceous note. Tannins are rounded but there's just not a lot of flavour even though the structure is kept in its place. Juicy finish.” JS “This is dense with a lovely blueberry and mineral character. Full body, with silky tannins and a long finish. It is dense and very pretty. Well done.” WA “It is difficult to find any sweet fruit in this firmly structured, backward, austere, astringently tannic, dry 2011. The colour is a healthy dense ruby/purple and the wine is earthy, but charmless at present. This will be more interesting to taste once it has been bottled.”
Leoville Barton (JH 16.5) (JS 92-93) (WA 90-92+)	48 EURO per bottle
JH “Touch of oak char on the nose with sweet dark fruit hiding underneath. Cool and lithe and on the lean side yet fresh and fluid. Not forcing the vintage. Finishes fresh and really lively.” JS “Very floral with blueberry and blackberry on the nose. Mineral undertones. Full body, with chewy tannins and long intense finish. Serious structure and balance for the vintage.” WA “Aromas of damp earth, underbrush, black currants, cedar and hints of vanillin and incense. Medium to full-bodied and moderately tannic with good acidity as well as excellent delineation and purity, it should be forgotten for 4-5 years, and drunk over the following two decades.”
Leoville Las Cases (JH 18) (JS 93-94) (WA 93-95+)	108 EURO per bottle
JH “Not as open on the nose as the Clos du Marquis. 'Very Léoville Las Cases.' Deep and dark and closed on the nose though you know it is intense. Great power and structure in the mouth but the structure is less obdurate than in many years. Dense but not heavy. Very firm.” JS “Intense aromas of currants and blackberries with minerals. Full body, with an serious density for the vintage, and racy tannin and acidity. It goes on very long. Reminds me a little of 1996. Very classic style.” WA “One of the thrilling successes of the vintage,gloriously pure aromas of creme de cassis, black raspberries, vanillin and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied with abundant glycerin and ripe but noticeable tannin, this beauty is potentially one of the longest lived and finest wines of the vintage.”
Leoville Poyferre (JH 16+) (JS 91-92) (WA 91-94)
JH “Chocolate and char on the nose. Furry and dry on the palate with sweetness of oak as well as cherry fruit. Pretty drying finish but there is some stuffing in the frame.” JS “This shows a currant and berries with dark chocolate character. Full and chewy with a bright acidity. Structured too. A little austere. Wait and see.” WA “Ripe, fragrant nose of black currant fruit, cedar, white chocolate and a touch of oak. Rich, layered and medium to full-bodied with unmistakable elegance and purity, vibrant acids and a fresh, lively personality.”
Talbot (JH 16.5) (JS 92-93) (WA 87-89)	29.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Cassis aroma, a touch dusty. Furry texture with thick tannins, freshness pulling it through on the finish. Nice density of fruit should fill out the frame as the tannins soften/clarify.” JS “This is very fine for the vintage with a lovely blueberry and currants and spice character. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and a pretty finish.” WA “Copious black currant, olive, unroasted coffee bean, forest floor and underbrush characteristics are present in this attractive, dark plum/ruby/purple-tinged offering. One of the lighter-styled 2011 St.-Juliens, the well-made Talbot can be drunk over the next decade.”
Margaux
Alter Ego de Palmer (JH 17) (JS 90-91) (WA 88-90)	43 EURO per bottle
JH “Rich and floral and fragrant on the mid palate. Soft, deep velvety tannins. Lovely pure cherry and dark fruit, so clean and fresh. Open and fresh. Fully ripe and yet so fresh. Dry but in a good way. Perfume and exactitude.” JS “This wine shows an inviting fruit with orangey acidity and a crispy finish. Juicy. So attractive already. This has a little more Petit Verdot in the blend. Gives it lively and interesting character.” WA “Velvety textured, pure and impressively endowed with a lovely fragrance. It should drink beautifully for 10-15 years.”
Brane Cantenac (JH 16.5) (JS 88-89) (WA 90-93)	34 EURO per bottle
JH “Deep cherry red. Leafily aromatic. Lifted red-cherry fruit, almost minty/herbal. Lots of oak sweetness on the palate, dampening down that brightness of fruit. Though the brightness re-emerges on the sweet-fruited finish. Fresh and lithe and although the tannins are dry and powdery, the whole thing is refreshing on the finish.” JS “Sweet tobacco with blueberries and spices. Full body, with round tannins and a straightforward finish. Nicely done.” WA “Made in a sexy, perfumed style, this 2011 seduces the taster with its wonderful aromatics of blue, red and black fruits, flowers, damp earth and forest floor. With excellent to outstanding concentration, fresh acidity and velvety tannins, this plush Margaux is atypically opulent/flamboyant for the vintage.”
Giscours (JH 16) (JS 92-93) (WA 88-90)	32.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Deepest crimson. Fragrant with cherries and a hint of violets. Rich and soft and very rounded but perhaps a little short on acidity, surprisingly. Easy going, lacks a bit of edge and energy.” JS “This is very precise and pure with very fine tannins and a lovely currant and light citrus undertone. Balanced and very pretty. Long finish.” WA “Scents of charcoal, underbrush, forest floor, liquorice, black currants and a hint of wood smoke. This rich, medium to full-bodied, dense effort should be consumed over the next 10-15 years.”
D'Issan (JH 17) (WA 91-93)	35 EURO per bottle
JH “Less graphite on the nose, a little darker and riper but still fragrant and pure and fresh. Smooth and elegant and fresh, pure cassis. Quite closed and dry on the mid palate, very fine tannic structure. Nice harmony and finesse. Glides across the palate.” WA “Classic Margaux perfume of sweet blueberries, black currants, spring flowers and liquorice. Ripe and deep with impressive intensity, it is one of the stars of the 2011 vintage. The wine's silky tannins, fresh acids and stunning length suggest it will drink well for 15-20 years.”
Lascombes (JH 15.5) (JS 88-89) (WA 91-93)	46 EURO per bottle
JH “Richly aromatic – cassis, vanilla, violets. Much less aromatic on the palate and the tannins, though fine grained, seem to bring it to an abrupt halt and there's a loss of freshness at the very end.” JS “Straightforward with currant and berry character, medium to full body, and a delicate finish. Like to see more of a middle palate.” WA “Made in a more modern style with plenty of toasty oak intermixed with blueberry and black currant fruit as well as hints of licorice and camphor, the wine-s textured lushness on the mid-palate, sweet, well-integrated tannins and full-throttle finish result in an impressive Margaux to drink over the next 15 years.”
Malescot St Exupery (JH 16) (JS 91-92) (WA 91-93)	37 EURO per bottle
JH “Elderberry juice, black core. Sweet damson fruit. Gently inviting though there's no sense of excitement. A bit lean on the palate, fresh enough but the structure overpowers the fruit so the tannins finish dry – though maybe it will gain flesh? Score assumes so.” JS “Black licorice and blueberries on the nose and palate. Medium to full body, with fine tannins and a juicy finish. Delicate and caressing.” WA “Terrific fruit intensity, velvety, well-integrated tannins, surprising density and richness as well as decent acidity. Notes of ink, blueberry liqueur and creme de cassis are present in this medium to full-bodied, flamboyant Margaux.”
Margaux* (JH 17.5) (JS 94-95) (WA 94-96+)	395 EURO per bottle
JH “Rich, dark and intense fruit on the nose. Floral note of violets too – open and expressive with plenty of fruit. Expressive on the palate – open and approachable and soft. Balanced and harmonious but almost too soft. 'Nothing sticks out', Paul Pontallier said, with a positive intention, but somehow it was a negative to me, all rather too safe and unexciting. Moderate length.” JS “Very elegant and ethereal with ultra-fine tannins and delicate fruit. Full body. I love the floral and aromatic quality to this. Then the tannins kick in. This has more tannins than 2010, according to technical director Paul Pontallier, and others, but you can't tell when tasting it.” WA “A candidate for wine of the vintage. The wine offers an inky/purple colour, barely noticeable sweet tannin, and a beautiful nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers and lead pencil shavings backed up by fresh acids and good overall structure. This medium to full-bodied effort possesses tremendous personality and character. It rivals what they achieved in both 2010 and 2009, which is virtually impossible to contemplate given the quality of those two vintages.”
Palmer (JH 18.5) (JS 95-96) (WA 92-94+)	175 EURO per bottle
JH “Again aromatic, less floral than the Alter Ego, graphite and dark, elegant fruit, not in the least leafy. Really mineral. Tannins are so polished and so fine though they coat the mouth with a very fine layer and add to the freshness. Cool and utterly long and clear. Tannins are very hard to describe because there is a dry finesse but also a creamy roundness that comes later in the mouth. No spicy exoticism in this vintage, plenty of classicism.” JS “Palmer only made 20 hectoliters of wine a hectare. That must be the record for the smallest production in the vintage. Extraordinary concentration for the vintage with full body and rich velvety tannins yet it's fresh and intense. Really impressive and powerful. Wow. One of the wines of the vintage.” WA “Possesses huge tannins, but they are remarkably velvety and sweet. This opaque purple-coloured, dense, concentrated, full-bodied wine will need time to totally form its personality. A big, boisterous, concentrated wine that should age for 25-30 or more years.”
Pavillon Blanc de Margaux (JH 17) (JS 95-96)
JH “Intensely aromatic – some spice, green fruit, mineral and creamy. Aromatic and complex. More savoury on the palate, mineral, dry and very long.” JS “The density and crispiness of this white is fabulous with dried lemons, oranges and mangos. Full body with fabulous acidity that drives to the finish. Mineraly. Turn to white pepper!”
Pavillon Rouge de Margaux (JH 16.5) (JS 89-90) (WA 91-93)	95 EURO per bottle
JH “Rich deep crimson. Bright aromatic cherry fruit. Full in the mouth even though the fruit is very pure. Tannins have a sort of flattened finesse, smooth but dry and carpet-like. Rounded and lots of clear fruit. Long, too, but overall lacks energy.” JS “The second wine of first growth Margaux shows some strength with muscular tannins and pretty fruit with hints of flowers and minerals. Slightly hollow in the mid-palate but very pretty.” WA “One of the finest examples of this cuvee I have ever tasted. Reveals more structure than most vintages in addition to lots of dark berry fruit intermixed with hints of wood smoke, forest floor and spring flowers. Very pure with striking minerality as well as a long finish.”
Rauzan Segla (JH 15.5) (JS 93-94) (WA 91-94)	60 EURO per bottle
JH “Bright black cherry colour. Black core. A little dustiness over the dark pure fruit. Pretty dusty on the palate too with tannins rather dry, very dry on the finish.” JS “This is very racy and intense with a orange peel and stone character. Full and super lively on the palate with a long, long finish. Excellent. Only 27% of the production went into this. I like the punch at the end.” WA “The 2011 possesses some characteristics reminiscent of the estate's fabulous 1986, both wines sharing great intensity, structure and formidable aging potential. The wine is full-bodied, but this 2011 will require patience as it needs a minimum of 5-6 years to become drinkable. It should keep for two decades or more.”
Pessac Leognan and Graves
Le Clarence de Haut Brion (JH 16.5) (JS 91-92) (WA 89-91)	78 EURO per bottle
JH “Less aromatic than La Chapelle and darker fruited. Very soft tannins but thicker in texture than La Chapelle, more chocolate textured. Gentler all round though the acidity is still very fresh. Gentle softness on the finish without falling away. Denser in the middle and richer all round, though that may be the lower acidity.” JS “Lovely second wine of Haut Brion with tobacco, chocolate and dark fruits. Earth too. Full body with fine tannins and pretty finish. Very balanced. Nicely done.” WA “The Clarence de Haut-Brion possesses a deep ruby/purple color along with copious notes of black cherries and black currants intermixed with hints of crushed rocks and wet gravel. It's easy to tell it is from the Haut-Brion vineyard. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.”
Le Clarte de Haut Brion (JH 16.5) (JS 94-95) (WA 90-92)	65 EURO per bottle
JH “The latter suffered more than the former in the hot, dry spring. Ripe and creamy on the nose. Very full and rich across the palate, lots of spice and weight and just enough freshness, so spicy on the finish.” JS “This shows a wonderful mango and dried pineapple with hints of meringue. Full and fruity with super fresh acidity and a long, long finish.”
Domaine de Chevalier (JH 17) (JS 92-93) (WA 87-89)	32.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Sweet, warm inviting cherry fruit plus a balancing graphite note. Dry, powder fine, quite gentle on the palate. Although the tannins are dry there's still a fluidity to the wine as a whole. A bit abrupt at the end.” JS “Very polished tannins to this refined and beautiful red with minerals and blackberries. Some wet earth too. Full and very integrated now.” WA “Medium body, attractive sweet red and black currant fruit, a round, supple texture, and hints of roasted herbs and damp earth. Drink this pretty, elegant effort during its first 10-15 years of life.”
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc (JH 17.5) (JS 97-98)	63 EURO per bottle
JH “Inviting, creamy mealy citrus aroma. Lemon tart, oak delicate on the nose. Reassuring. Firm and savoury and rich on the palate but with great acidity. Greengage and grapefruit complementing each other. Power and freshness combined. Concentrated citrus purity on the end. Good length.” JS “Amazing nose of dried fruits from peaches to apples to mangos. Pink grapefruit too. Full and very powerful white with an incredible length and intensity. It's like a beautiful block of velvet in your mouth. It goes on for minutes. It becomes so mineraly and subtly fruity at the end. Turns just to honey. Wow.”
Haut Bailly (JH 17) (JS 92-93) (WA 91-93)	58 EURO per bottle
JH “Toasty but the oak doesn't cover the bright cassis and minerally freshness. Dense, pretty dry but very fine tannins and ones that suggest they will not overwhelm the fruit as it ages. Refined and more to come.” JS “Intense aromas of stones in the sun and dark fruits with hints of orange peel. Full to medium body, with ultra-fine and long tannins. A lovely line to this. Winery says its a baby 2000.” WA “Classic red and black currant aromas interspersed with notions of wet stones/crushed rocks, tobacco leaf and spice box are followed by a medium-bodied, well-balanced, impressively pure wine built on finesse and understatement. This beauty is capable of drinking well young or over the next 15+ years.”
Haut Brion* (JH 18.5) (JS 94-95) (WA 92-95)	395 EURO per bottle
JH “Warm sweet cherry fruit, with the most chocolate-smooth (and in no way thick) tannins but also the acidity of fresh fruit too, fresh cherry. Very fine, intense and aromatic red fruit with just a touch of graphite. There's density and richness on the middle but such amazing softness though the tannins give tension underneath like closely packed bed springs. Like falling into a deep feather cover on a firm bed. So long.” JS “Complex aromas of brown sugar, sweet tobacco and dark fruits. Turns to hints of prunes and cocoa. Full-bodied, with ultra fine tannins and a wonderful length. Refined and silky. Beautiful balance. Such wonderful length. Turns chewy yet very polished.” WA “Undeniably elegant, distinctive and original, it exhibits notes of mulberries, plums, blueberries and raspberries. Jean-Philippe Delmas told me that in many ways the 2011 reminds him of the 2008 from an aromatic and structural profile. There is plenty of tannin, and the 2011 has 25-30 years of aging potential. It may be more reminiscent of a vintage such as 1988, but it is better made as well as being the product of a far stricter selection process.”
Malartic Lagraviere (JR 16.5) (JS 88-89) (WA 87-88)	29.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Nose is difficult to describe, there's dark fruit, oak sweetness, and then a slightly smoky note, a little cedary too. Chewy and fresh on the palate, the fruit a little underwhelming for the structure but still some juicy fresh fruit emerges on the finish.” JS “Bright wine with currant, mineral, stoney and citrus character. Medium to full body, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Balance wine. Little more flesh on the bones would be better.” WA “Slightly tannic, rigid and spicy, it exhibits notes of black currants, bay leaf and loamy soil. In the mouth, the wine is mid-weight with moderate body and a structured mouthfeel.”
La Mission Haut Brion (JH 17.5) (JS 94-95) (WA 93-95)	230 EURO per bottle
JH “Initially a little dusty on the nose, a touch of vanilla. Quite reticent but opens up to spicy dark cherry. Lovely enveloping texture, deep and smooth, so fine you can't feel any grain. Some of that smoky warm brick. Rich and open-armed.” JS “What a beautiful nose of Cabernet Sauvignon with currants, berries and hints of dark chocolate. Full and super silky with fine tannins and a very firm and long finish. Very long.” WA “A big, sexy, smoky, classic La Mission displaying lots of road tar, graphite, barbecue, meats, mulberry, black currant and blueberry notes. It is full-bodied with sweet tannin as well as an expansive, fleshy style. The harvest was late in 2011 despite the fact that this micro-climate is one of the warmest and most precocious in all of Bordeaux since it is essentially in the city of Bordeaux. This brilliant wine, one of the vintage-s superstars, should drink reasonably well in 3-4 years and keep for 25 or more.”
La Mission Haut Brion Blanc (JH 17.5) (JS 99-100)	650 EURO per bottle
JH “Clear and citrusy on the nose, zesty and aromatic – grapefruit and greengage. A little less intense in the middle perhaps, or maybe it seems so because the attack and finish are powerful. So much spice, it almost feels like spritz. Lovely creamy texture and very rich, hiding the acidity though it is clearly brightly there. A real fine spine down the middle. Really long and so not ready to drink.” JS “This is phenomenal white with an iodine and salty character with dried lemon and papaya with hints of oyster shell. Layered and intense. This is amazing. Full and intense. It goes on for minutes. Can't believe it. Structure of a red wine. This has a little more Sauvignon Blanc from new plantings in the best parcels in the blend than in the past.”
Pape Clement (JH 16.5) (JS 90-91) (WA 92-94)	63 EURO per bottle
JH “Ripe red fruit, bright and juicy on the palate too even though the tannins are firm and deep. Some savoury graphite and spice notes so not a simple fruit wine – though there is plenty of that. Full flavoured and full in the mouth. Deep-pile tannins. Generous rather than elegant.” JS “The nose of violets, warm stone and blueberries is very impressive. Full body, with chewy tannins and a firm finish. Outstanding but like to see a little more fruit in the mid-palate. Chewy.” WA “Notes of lead pencil shavings, charcoal, barbecue meat, black cherries, black currants and plum sauce. This is a medium to full-bodied, dense as well as strikingly elegant and precise wine. The purity, palate presence and potentially complex aromatics always stand out in Pape Clement.”
Pape Clement Blanc (JH 16) (JS 95-96)	102.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Very pale. Ripe, oily mineral nose. Plenty of oak spice. Then unexpectedly lean on the palate. Very dry, very tight, stony finish.” JS “A white with fabulous depth and structure that shows layers of sliced apple, mineral, chalk, and mango character. It's layered and powerful like a top red. The line of acidity is wonderful. Grand cru Burgundy style.”
Smith Haut Lafitte (JH 16.5+) (JS 92-93) (WA 91-93)	48 EURO per bottle
JH “Ripe, even minty, dark fruit. Plenty of sweet oak too. Upright, firm and tightly structured, with a strong graphite core and just enough fruit. No lack of freshness but it is a little drying now. Hope it will come round.” JS “Perfumed and very pretty with delicate spices, berries and flowers. Medium to full body, with ultra fine tannins and a lovely finish. Balanced and delicious. Not a big wine but shows finesse.” WA “Lots of graphite, black currant and camphor notes, medium to full body, and surprising depth, richness and length. Tannins are present, but they are relatively sweet and unobtrusive. A crisp character gives the wine vibrancy as well as impressive delineation.”
Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc (JH 17.5) (JS 95-96)	62 EURO per bottle
JH “Clear pale straw. Smokily and attractively (lightly) reductive. Rich and full and concentrated with great freshness. Citrus purity rounded out by the creamy oak texture. Alive and really long.” JS “Wow. This shows a beautiful density of fruit for this white with mango, papaya, mineral and light honey character. Long and subtle with plenty of gorgeous fruit. Grand cru Burgundy quality. Salty and mineraly. Lively.”
St Emilion
Angelus (JH 16) (JS 93-94) (WA 92-95)	148 EURO per bottle
JH “Very toasty, oaky on the nose. Oak overrules the fruit. Dense but dry and just so aggressive with the wood. Wait for it to die back.” JS “Very elegant Angelus with blueberry and chocolate character. Full to medium body, with fine tannins. Lovely and delicious. Reminds me of the 2001 but better. 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc.” WA “Wonderful notes of black raspberries, blueberries, flowers, vanillin and spice box. With authority, velvety tannin, good extract and glycerin, this rich, pure, beautifully textured St.-Emilion should drink well for 20+ years.”
Ausone (JH 17+) (JS 95-96) (WA 96-100)	550 EURO per bottle
JH “Restrained, dry and finely built. Richer in the mouth than some. Fresh and balanced and fruit more expressive on the finish with the Cabernet Franc showing through.” JS “This is a wonderful young red with orange peel, mineral, spice and berry. Full and super fine. Great length. A gorgeous wine. The old vines of Cabernet Franc make the difference here. Great harmony.” WA “Probably the wine of the vintage, the 2011 exhibits a murky, inky, blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of creme de cassis, plum sauce, crushed rocks (primarily chalk), acacia flowers and hints of graphite, truffles and damp forest floor. The riveting aromatics are followed by a wine that does not let the taster down in the mouth. Full-bodied with extraordinary purity, oozing richness and well-integrated velvety tannins, acidity, oak and alcohol, this is another superb achievement by Vauthier from this phenomenal site on the decomposed limestone hillsides of St.-Emilion. Possibly the longest-lived wine of the vintage, it should evolve for 30-40 years.”
Beausejour Duffau (JH 17) (JS 92-93) (WA 92-94)	55 EURO per bottle
JH “Gorgeously ripe but fresh damsons as well as fresher small dark berries. So perfumed even though there is some chocolatey oak in there too. Bright, deep and long but full of life and intensity with no excess of weight or ripeness and excellent freshness all the way along. Lovely wine.” JS “What a beautiful nose of forest floor, dark fruits, sweet tobacco, and blackberries. Full body, with firm and silky tannins and a minerally refined finish. Very polished and well made.” WA “Notes of crushed rocks, blackberry and blueberry liqueur and hints of charcoal and incense, this full-bodied, rich, dense offering admirably displays its exquisite terroir.”
Bellevue Mondotte (JH 16.5) (JS 91-92) (WA 92-94+)	115 EURO per bottle
JH “Still on calcaire plateau. Two hectares of old vines. Dark and rich and pure. Lots of oak but texture more silky than the Pavie Decesse. Needs a lot of time but it isn't bitter or hard. Just very dense and dark and not ready.” JS “This is concentrated and very tannic. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins. Seems slightly hollow in the mid-palate. But should be outstanding.” WA “This backward, primary wine may have just finished malolactic fermentation. The 2011 Bellevue Mondotte is the most powerful wine in the Perse portfolio, coming in at 14.5% natural alcohol. The wine exhibits massive, full-bodied power, extraordinary depth and richness as well as a boatload of tannins that have yet to soften and mellow. This appears to be a long-term proposition for most readers. I suspect it will soften considerably during its upbringing in oak barrels, and will undoubtedly require 5-6 years of cellaring after its release in 2014.”
Canon (JH 16.5) (JS 92-93) (WA 87-89)	68 EURO per bottle
JH “Not very expressive on the nose yet there's purity of black fruit rather than too much oak. Juicy red fruit on the palate. Quite a bit lighter and gentler than some, moderate length. Tannins are tight, fine, not overworked.” JS “A wine with balance and freshness with an orange peel and blueberry character. Medium to full body, with firm tannins and clean, bright finish.” WA “Sweet plum, black currant and mossy/forest floor-like notes, a hint of crushed chalk, and a medium-bodied, zesty finish displaying sweet tannin as well as vibrant acidity. This wine will require 2-4 years of cellaring and should drink well for 15 or more.”
Canon La Gaffeliere (JH 17) (JS 90-91) (WA 90-92)	43 EURO per bottle
JH “Lovely aroma. Chocolate over Cabernet Franc freshness. Some oaky char but fluid freshness in the mouth. Fine, fine dense tannins. Violet notes.” JS “Racy and fine with a lovely pure fruit. The Cabernet Franc in this is really coming through. Minerally and fine. Pretty wine.” WA “The 2011 reveals a soft, sexy style with lots of Christmas fruitcake notes intermixed with cedarwood, spice box, black currants and kirsch. Fleshy and fat with impressive purity, texture and length, it can be enjoyed over the next 10-14 years.”
Cheval Blanc (JH 19) (JS 93-94) (WA 94-96)	450 EURO per bottle
JH “Delicately floral and fruity, so subtle but gently aromatic. A touch of oak sweetness and spice but very restrained. Very very fine grained, you can feel the tannins but they melt across the palate. There's intensity but it's so TENDER. It's dark-fruited rather than savoury. There's minerality in both taste and texture.” JS “A really beautiful wine with super silky tannins with chocolate, spice, berries and spices. Full body, with super polished tannins and a long, long finish. The first wine from the new winery of Cheval. Very precise. Very polished.” WA “Hints of blueberry confiture intermixed with raspberries, mocha, damp forest and a hint of mint. Exhibiting a velvety, opulent texture along with considerable class and flesh as well as sweet tannin, this flavourful, forward 2011 should drink beautifully for two decades or more.”
Clos Fourtet (JH 16.5) (JS 91-92) (WA 91-94)	54 EURO per bottle
JH “Dusty mineral and savoury but with a supple sweetness then more savoury and fresh on the finish. Complete and with a fine and lively wholeness. Tannins are firm but not overpowering.” JS “A wine with super fine tannins and a wonderful depth of fruit for the vintage. Very polished and gorgeous. Full-bodied, yet lovely for the year.” WA “The 2011, one of the stars of the vintage, is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Its opaque purple colour is accompanied by notes of graphite, truffles, blackberries and blueberries. Rich and medium to full-bodied with good acidity, sweet, well-integrated tannin and a hint of forest floor, this big, fleshy St.-Emilion should drink well for two decades.”
Figeac (JH 17) (JS 93-94)	75 EURO per bottle
JH “Floral dark fruit on the nose and palate. Warm bricks too. A little medicinal. Pretty chewy but not tough like so many. Much more complete and well balanced. Freshness well integrated too. Well done!” JS “A like the quality of the tannins in this with plenty of subtle berry and chocolate character. Full body, with a lovely acidity. Wonderful length to it. This is really pretty.”
Larcis Ducasse (JH 16) (JS 91-93) (WA 89-93)	36.5 EURO per bottle
JH “Ribena incarnate on the nose. Very sweet blackcurrant, not very French! Ripe and fruit forward but it does finish fresh. In the way that blackcurrant juice does. Rounded, quite dense tannins. Flattering but too sweet for my taste.” JS “Blackberries and black truffles on the nose. Complex. Full body, with a lively acidity that turns to orange peel and dark fruits. Minerally and chalky on the palate. Lively finish.” WA “The wine exhibits a distinctive peppery, slightly herbaceous, exotic nose that initially is difficult to fathom. This rich, medium-bodied 2011 continues with a certain herbaceous streak that runs through the flavors. Nevertheless, there is impressive ripeness, concentration and density, and the tannins are velvety and well-integrated. If the green, peppery character calms down somewhat, my score should climb into the low 90s.”
Magdelaine (JH 16) (JS 91-92) (WA 88-90)	45 EURO per bottle
JH “Ripe cherry fruit on the nose. A little more leafy on the palate. Fine, dry tannins, leafy finish. Lingers. Finishes dry.” JS “Pretty and balanced with delicious ripe fruit and fine tannins. Fresh acidity too. A nice density for the vintage.” WA “Fresh black cherry, liquorice, kirsch and chalk-like notes are present in this medium-bodied, dark ruby-coloured, classic effort.”
Pavie (JH 17) (JS 94-95) (WA 93-95)	120 EURO per bottle
JH “Gentle aroma of sweet dark, dusty fruit pure with evident oak char and chocolate. Very firm and chewy grip but there's a softness in the mouth that is striking for Pavie. Dense and dark but with a fluid flourish at the end and good length. Enough freshness to balance. Lots of matière then the oak char comes back on the finish. A bit too dense for pleasure at the moment.” JS “Fabulous aromas of blackberries and cassis. A purity of fruit here. Full body, with silky tannins. Powerful finish. Muscular for the vintage. Gorgeous. I like the brightness and clarity to it.” WA “May be the biggest, richest, most massive wine of the vintage. With thrilling levels of concentration, tremendous purity, high but sweet tannin, a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, and terrific intensity, depth and palate presence, this larger-than-life effort will require 5-8 years of cellaring, and should age effortlessly over the following 25-30 years.”
Pavie Decesse (JH 16.5) (JS 93-94) (WA 92-94)	90 EURO per bottle
JH “Very dark with a rich black cherry rim. Anthocynanins came out easily. Powerful and dark and dense. Very ripe but no overripeness and really nice acidity. Not as dry as the Monbousquet, a little more rounded. Very dense but not hard. Lots of chew but has fruit depth too, and persistence.” JS “This is wonderful on the nose with floral, blackberry and blue berry aromas. Full and very silky with a long finish. This was very late harvested around the third week of October. Excellent wine for the vintage.” WA “The 2011 Pavie Decesse exhibits an inky/purple color along with notes of crushed chalk, black raspberries, blackberries, licorice, charcoal and toasty oak. Full-bodied, thick and unctuous (atypical for this vintage) with high tannin, this cuvee had just come out of malolactic fermentation when I tasted it, which undoubtedly accounts for its primary, infantile showing. Nevertheless, it is loaded, multidimensional and impressive, and will require 6-8 years of cellaring. It should keep for 25-30 years.”
Pavie Macquin (JH 14.5) (JS 92-93) (WA 92-94)	42 EURO per bottle
JH “Pure damson jam on the nose. Fresher on the palate but a bit lean for the sturdiness of the tannins. A hard chew with the acidity marked and accentuating the tannins. Really tart on the finish.” JS “Fascinating nose of black truffles, fresh citrus fruit, and minerals. Cocoa too. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and a medium chewy finish. This has an impressive finish for the vintage.” WA “A very classic wine, the 2011 is inky purple, with a superb aromatic display of black raspberry, cassis, chocolate, forest floor and some vague smoky, barbecue scents. Full-bodied, powerful, pure and impressively rich.”
Tertre Roteboeuf (JH 17.5)	119 EURO per bottle
JH “Lovely aroma of red fruits, cherry and a touch of mocha. Smells (as I often find with TR) not a little burgundian. Denser on the palate but the tannins are very fine and although there are some dried fruit notes it is still very fresh. An intelligent tannin structure.”
Troplong Mondot (JH 16.5) (JS 93-94) (WA 91-93+)	62 EURO per bottle
JH “Sweet but not overripe damson and plum. A touch floral and toasty/tarry too. Bags of black fruit, chocolate texture and flavour on the palate.” JS “I love the aromas of blackberries with hints of minerals and flowers. Hints of subtle sandalwood. Full body, with a beautiful balance of juicy fruit and bright acidity. Long and spicy with intense character.” WA “Aromas of black raspberries, blackberries, acacia flowers, espresso, toasty oak, and a sweet, mossy, foresty character that ranges from an autumnal, vegetative smell to minerality. Opulent, dense and strikingly rich and extracted with moderately high tannins, this is one of the bigger, richer wines of the vintage.”
Pomerol
Certan de May (JH 16.5) (JS 90-91) (WA 89-91)	54 EURO per bottle
JH “Chocolate and cherry but fresh too. Very very fine, dry tannins, fresh and minerally on the palate. Completely unshowy but long and just a touch of chocolate coming back on the finish. More depth in the mid palate.” JS “Aromas and flavours of dark berries and chocolate follow through to a a full body, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Well done for the vintage.” WA “Hints of bay leaf, creme de cassis, incense, damp earth and graphite are present in this ripe, medium to full-bodied, soft, evolved Pomerol. Deep plum/crimson, it should drink nicely for 12-15+ years.”
Certan Marzelle	35 EURO per bottle
Clinet (JH 16) (JS 92-93) (WA 92-94)	55 EURO per bottle
JH “Warm, spicy damsons on the nose. A bit dusty. Pretty ripe on the palate, the fruit more raisined. Dense, dry and quite juicy, thick in the mouth.” JS “A silky wine with dark chocolate and currant character. Chewy tannins but polished. Full and complete. Very velvety textured. Hand crafted wine for the vintage.” WA “Exhibits notes of blackberries, blueberries, espresso roast and subtle oak. Full-bodied, layered, opulent and flamboyant for a 2011, with loads of concentration and glycerin as well as a long finish, this is one of the most impressive wines of the vintage. It should drink well for two decades.”
La Conseillante (JH 17) (JS 91-92) (WA 88-91)	78 EURO per bottle
JH “Aromatic, ripe fruit with a leaning toward cough linctus. Lovely freshness on the palate, juicy and fresh and lively and leaves your mouth revitalised. One of the most attractive Pomerols I've tasted so far in this vintage. Tannins well judged.” JS “Pretty blueberry and chocolate character. Medium to full body, with fine tannins and a chocolate, spice and almond. Delicate style.” WA “Made in the elegant, finesse-filled Bordeaux style, the 2011 La Conseillante displays a deep ruby/purple color along with hints of acacia blossoms intermixed with sweet cherry and mulberry fruit backed up by subtle toasty oak. Attractive on the attack and medium-bodied with good acidity, the 2011 is not a blockbuster such as we saw in 2009 and 2010, but it may resemble the estate's top-flight 1981 (a so-so year in which La Conseillante produced a delicious wine).”
Clos l'Eglise (JH 16) (WA 90-93)
JH “Very slight greenness on the nose though it well hidden by riper dark fruit too. Tannins are pretty dry as there's a lack of fruit depth in the middle and lightly bitter on the finish.” WA “Fleshy black cherry and black raspberry aromas intermixed with notions of barrique, earth and spice. Medium to full-bodied, pure and savoury, this delicious fruit-forward effort reveals surprising flesh as well as length.”
L'Eglise Clinet (JH 16.5++) (JS 92-93) (WA 92-95)	120 EURO per bottle
JH “Lots of toasty oak on the nose. On top of ripe red plums, spicy too. Juicy fruit on the mid palate. Richer but still pretty dry overall. There's a slight bitterness from the oak char on the finish. Needs a lot of time. Very tight, closed and not wanting to make friends.” JS “A balanced wine with lovely floral and berry character and hints of dark chocolate. Full body, with a creamy tannin structure and lovely length. Lively acidity.” WA “One of the most densely packed and stacked wines of Pomerol. Inky ruby/purple-coloured with a classic bouquet of black currants, black cherries, creme caramel and vanillin, it reveals great fruit on the attack and mid-palate, medium to full body, lavish extraction, no bitterness, sweet, well-integrated tannins, and enough acidity for vibrancy and definition.”
L'Evangile (JH 17) (JS 93-94) (WA 88-90)	105 EURO per bottle
JH “Dark and savoury – both fruit and oak flavours - and the tannins are fine but pretty dense. Quite unexpectedly juicy in the middle (like a dark chocolates with a liquid fruit centre) but then markedly dark fruited on the finish. Lively though dark. Good length, too. Nice balance between density of tannins and liveliness. Finishes fresh.” JS “Love the nose of flowers, blackberries and minerals. Full and very silky with fresh acidity and a clean, long finish. Sexy. 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc.” WA “Exhibits a dark ruby color with purple nuances as well as noticeable acidity, a streamlined, crisp, elegant, mid-weight style, red and black fruits, light tannin and a fresh, vibrant mouthfeel.”
La Fleur Petrus (JH 17) (JS 92-93) (WA 89-92)	99 EURO per bottle
JH “Smells riper and darker than the Hosanna but still with the Cab Franc freshness showing through. More obviously oaky on the palate than some in this Moueix line up but has the richness of fruit to handle. Good fruit depth with a dry, moreish finish.” JS “A wine with well-integrated fruit and tannins with chocolate, orange peel and berries. Full body yet polished and reserved.” WA “Made in a distinctive style, the 2011 La Fleur-Petrus is similar to Petrus in weight, richness and overall personality. A dense ruby/purple/plum colour is accompanied by notes of creme caramel, sweet black cherries and raspberries. Medium-bodied, stylish and potentially complex as well as concentrated, it should drink nicely for 15 or more years.”
Le Gay (JH 16.5) (JS 91-92) (WA 92-94)	58 EURO per bottle
JH “Dark and fragrant. Red cherry fruit aroma. Nicely aromatic. Already supple. Fine and fresh and gently handled. Shorter vatting than usual. Moreish and harmonious. Really fresh and scented on the mid palate. More friendly than La Violette. Silky. Smooth, rounded and finely textured. Relatively lightweight.” JS “Soft and velvety with lovely ripe tannins and a citrus, mineral and blueberry character. Long and intense. Nicely done for the vintage.” WA “Notes of truffles, roasted meats, black fruits, graphite and flowers. It is a powerful, rich Pomerol with stunning intensity and a long finish. This burly, full-throttle effort has a lot in common with the style of Trotanoy (even though the terroirs are different).”
Gazin (JH 16) (WA 88-91+)	45 EURO per bottle
JH “Ripe dark fruit with violets and chocolates. Pretty intense on the nose. Very floral. Leaner on the palate than I expected but has just enough flesh for the structure. Not overly generous. Drying finish.” WA “A softer, more gentle effort with a deep plum/purple colour and a sweet bouquet of balsam wood, damp earth, black cherry jam, liquorice and a hint of tomato skin. Medium to full-bodied and deep, this Gazin is closed and slightly unformed. I suspect there is more to this wine than it revealed on the several occasions I tasted it.”
Hosanna (JH 17.5) (JS 93-94) (WA 92-94)	92 EURO per bottle
JH “Lovely restrained purity of dark fruit with the clarity and graphite note of Cabernet Franc singing out. Lovely mineral tension and freshness. Fine, fine yet smooth dry tannins. Vivacious in a conservative sort of way. Like well-cut cloth. A beautiful wine.” JS “Aromas of citrus fruit such as red oranges and chocolate follow through to a full body, with lovely velvety tannins and a long finish. Extremely well done for the vintage.” WA “One of the superstars of the vintage, this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc smelled and tasted better than the great Petrus. A stunning opaque ruby/purple colour is followed by aromas of spring flowers, black raspberries and liquorice. This opulent, velvety textured, full-bodied wine possesses dazzling concentration, adequate acidity and a long finish. What a brilliant effort!”
Latour a Pomerol (JS 89-90) (WA 88-90)
JS “Aromas of blueberries, chocolate and blackberries follow through to a full to medium body with firm tannins and a pleasing finish. Juicy.” WA “Abundant notes of black cherries and black currants intertwined with hints of mulberries, damp earth, liquorice and cedar. Evolved, ripe, medium-bodied and surprisingly rich, intense and savoury for the vintage, it should drink nicely for 10-15 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage.”
Petrus (JH 18.5) (JS 93-94) (WA 90-93)	1400 EURO per bottle
JH “Deep glossy dark crimson. Warm, restrained hedgerow fruit, a little biscuity note, a little spicy. Really tangy and so full of energy and life, the fruit sings. Very expressive and the oak firmly in the back seat. Juicy and soft at the front and mid palate, though there is a density under there, a firm foundation, an underground concentration. Very very long and real volume building in the mouth. Builds and builds in the mouth. Caressing and long.” JS “This is very racy and long with full body, silky tannins and an intense minerally, citrus rind character. It lasts for minutes. Goes to a pleasant bitterness. Dark chocolate too. Muscular with tension.” WA “Atypically forward and already appealing. It reveals lots of mulberry and dark cherry fruit along with surprising tannin. However, the latter component does not interfere with the wine's classic, structured style. Tipping the scales at 13.5% natural alcohol, it is made from 100% Merlot and is aged in 55% new oak. An excellent to outstanding Petrus.”
Le Pin (JH 18) (JS 92-93) (WA 94-96)	SOLD OUT
JH “Deep rich black cherry colour. Gently toasty nose, essentially red fruited and just a little perfumed. Fine, seemingly gentle tannins. Marked by scented freshness, making it hard not to make some reference to burgundy, though the tannins are denser. As with so many in 2011, alcohol was almost 1% lower than in 2010, changing the balance and increasing the wine's approachability.” JS “Gorgeous nose of blueberries and flowers such as roses. Full-bodied, with racy tannins and citrus acidity. Minerally too. This is firm and lanky for Le Pin. Normally a little more voluptuous but not an easy vintage for Merlot.” WA “Coming in at 13.3% natural alcohol, this 2011 is a blockbuster Pomerol revealing loads of black currant, kirsch, and raspberry fruit intermixed with hints of licorice, spring flowers and spicy, smoky oak. As always, there is an exoticism to this dense purple-colored offering, and its opulence and flamboyance are hard to resist. This stunningly proportioned, flamboyant Pomerol is somewhat atypical for the vintage. It should drink well for 15+ years.”
Trotanoy (JH 17.5) (JS 93-94) (WA 91-93)
JH “Lovely pure rich fruit, both red and black. A touch floral too and a hint of oak sweetness over all that. Restrained but very persistent and refined to the finish. Earthy mineral aftertaste.” JS “Very pretty aromas of blueberries, spices and orange peel follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a long and pretty finish. Polished and refined.” WA “A big, virile, masculine-styled wine, the 2011 Trotanoy is one of the more concentrated efforts of the vintage. Some rugged tannins are still present, but the wine possesses a dense plum/purple colour as well as lots of damp earth, truffle, black currant and black cherry fruit. Ripe and medium to full-bodied with impressive intensity, depth and length, it will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and should drink well over the following two decades. Bravo!”
Vieux Chateau Certan (JH 18) (JS 95-96) (WA 94-96)	109 EURO per bottle
JH “Camomile (though I am not sure I would have spotted this if Alexandre hadn't mentioned it) plus fine dark fruit and graphite freshness. Closed on the nose but scented on the palate. Very fine tannins. Crunchy. Fresh and long. Great purity and line and length. Absolutely lovely.” JS “What a nose. Such beautiful aromas of Cabernet Franc here with licorice and tea and ark fruits. Wet earth too. Full body, with firm and racy tannins and a beautiful finish of chocolate and berries. Intense. Cashmere texture. 29% Cabernet Franc in this with the rest in Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Franc comes mostly from a parcel from planted in 1958.” WA “Stunning perfume of graphite, mulberries, black currants, kirsch, liquorice and forest floor. This full-bodied, dense Pomerol transcends the overall vintage character. Thienpont compared the style of the 2011 with their 2000, but with more density to its core because of the extremely low yields. Only 60% of the crop made it into this cuvee. It will need 5-8 years of cellaring, and should still be intact and drinking beautifully at age 30.”
Haut Medoc
La Tour Carnet (JH 14.5) (JS 86-87) (WA 89-92)	22 EURO per bottle
JH “Noticeable oak spice and sweetness – dominates the aroma. So dry, like food with no juice. Thick finish. Freshness seems to exacerbate the tannins.” JS “A little lean but some attractive minerally tannins, with fresh acidity and a medium fruit concentration on the palate. May fill out with elevage.” WA “Exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of black cherries, black currants, graphite and smoky oak. Medium-bodied with excellent density and fruit, good acidity and silky tannins, this striking 2011 should drink well for 15 or more years. La Tour Carnet is usually priced very fairly.”
Cotes de Bourg
Roc de Cambes (JH 17)	39 EURO per bottle
JH “Freshly crushed blackcurrants and plums – explosive fruit – which is why François Mitjavile wanted us to taste the Tertre Roteboeuf before this. Amazing range of aromas – not just the dark fruit but also orange, possibly even mango and lavender and garrigue. 'Spéctaculaire', says Mitjavile, summing it up nicely. Super smooth, rich and explosive. Doesn't have the intelligent elegance of Roteboeuf but it is a terrific full-on tasting experience.”
Barsac and Sauternes
Coutet (JH 17) (JS 93-94) (WA 94-96)	45 EURO per bottle
JH “Slightly reductive note, and not very giving on the nose. Delicately fragrant lemon and apricot. Savoury/sour concentration lacking immediate appeal but has lovely depth of orange and apricot on the mid palate and lingers with a zesty, spicy freshness. A stayer.” JS “This white is thick and rich with lots of dried fruit character as well as spices. Full body, medium sweet and a spicy finish. Lovely intensity. Classy.” WA “Mineral aromas and traces of apricot and white peach that remain very subtle and yet tangibly there. The palate is medium-bodied with exceptional balance. There is a real sense of synergy between component parts; nothing out of place, everything focused and succinctly composed, with its trademark sense of thrilling tension on the finish. This is sheer class and a classic Coutet to add to the canon of great recent vintages.”
Suduiraut (JH 17.5) (JS 95-96) (WA 93-95)	48 EURO per bottle
JH “Fragrant, light spice, creamy lemon and a touch of pineapple. Subtle first impression. Some green fruits as well as lemon and orange-rind freshness. Vital and long and utterly clean. Rich but beautifully fresh so it seems less than its 150 g/l. Very viscous and spicy on the palate. Intense and concentrated and long. Deep too. All through there is a tension that seems to be mineral rather than fruit. Mouthwatering finish.” JS “Grows on the palate with beautiful dried pineapple, honey and spice character. Full and compacted with a dense palate and a sweet palate. 150 grams of residual sugar. Long and very intense with so much going on. Lively. Subtle and changes all the time in the glass.” WA “It has an intense nose, albeit one that takes time to unfurl in the glass, offering attractive notes of citrus lemon, minerals, apricot and quince suffused with great tension. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, citrus-led fruit mingling with apricot and quince. It has less bravura and ambition than the 2009 or 2010, and you might consider it a Barsac-like Suduiraut due to its racy acidity. It has wonderful focus and satisfying length, and it should drink well both early and with age.”
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