Pessac-Leognan
In 1986 a new communal district was created within Graves, based on the districts of Pessac and Léognan. Pessac-Léognan has the best soils of the region, very similar to those of the Médoc, although the depth of gravel is more variable, and contains all the classed growths of the region. Some of its great names, including Ch. Haut-Brion, even sit serenely and resolutely in Bordeaux's southern urban sprawl.
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Ch. Le Pape,
For laying down,
The Wilmers family – who also own the esteemed Château Haut-Bailly – purchased Château le Pape in 2012, and have since invested considerably in the property’s development. The nine hectares of vineyards surrounding the estate are planted exclusively to red grapes, producing wines that punch well above their price-point, a bright and generous style of Pessac.
This juicy red is full of berry fruit and a hint of cherry due to the high percentage of Merlot in the blend. The gentle oak ageing brings a smoky note to the palate, with a lick of spice and a hint of classic pencil lead. Drink now to 2024.
This juicy red is full of berry fruit and a hint of cherry due to the high percentage of Merlot in the blend. The gentle oak ageing brings a smoky note to the palate, with a lick of spice and a hint of classic pencil lead. Drink now to 2024.
Domaine de Chevalier,
Drink now,
70% Sauvignon, 30% Sémillon second wine of the famed Domaine de Chevalier, it is the selection of barrels which give this wine its richness and depth. Complex nose of lychee, lime flowers and white peaches the wine draws one in. The palate has great purity and length with a zingy acidity. Open to appreciation from a young age, Esprit is a wine of great elegance. Serve chilled. Perfect with seafood – also partners a leek tarte or crab mousse.
Chateau Latour-Martillac,
For laying down,
The 2014 Latour-Martillac has an attractive bouquet with intense blackberry, briary, warm gravel and balsamic notes that are very well defined and evoke Pessac-Léognan through and through. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe tannin. It feels gentle in the mouth, not structured but fleshy and full, fanning out with crushed strawberry, red cherry and white pepper towards the satisfying finish. This is early drinking compared to its peers, yet well crafted. Could it have striven for more? Yes, probably.
Neal Martin - 31/03/2017
Neal Martin - 31/03/2017
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere,
For laying down,
The 2014 Malartic-Lagravière has a crisp and focused bouquet with precise blackberry and briary scents, a lovely undercurrent of mineralité. The palate is beautifully balanced on the entry with rounded, quite concentrated black fruit. There is a lot of extraction here and I fear that they may have found a touch of under-ripe tannin towards the finish, which is a shame because the nose is so damn gorgeous! Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Neal Martin, vinous.com
Neal Martin, vinous.com
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere,
Ready, but will improve,
Vivid, expressive, juicy and concentrated, the 2011 Malartic Lagraviere comes from good-sized estate of 131 acres, of which 17 are dedicated to their excellent white wine. Made from a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color along with a supple, medium to full-bodied texture with no hard edges, an opulence and exuberance that provide lots of seductiveness, and tell-tale notes of burning embers, charcoal, kirsch liqueur and black currant fruit. Drink this impressive 2011 over the next two decades. Only 55% of the production made it into the grand vin. The natural alcohol is 13.5%.
Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate, 30th April 2014
Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate, 30th April 2014
For laying down,
Absolutely brilliant - again! The lovely and charming Veronique Sanders and the team at Ch. Haut-Bailly have done it once more. In a vintage where all the châteaux really did have to craft their babies and contend with more than problematic growing conditions, Ch. Haut-Bailly has come out almost on top of the pile, surpassing several First Growths in quality. Sadly the rigorous selection needed to make the Grand Vin so Grand will make a staggering effect on supply this year in what is an already tiny production.
Incredible intensity and deep red and black fruit with the finest tannins of the vintage coating the palate. It has precision, grace, complexity and power with an outstanding richness that fills the mouth completely. Better than 2009 or 2010? It sort of sits between the two. The power of 2009 and finesse of 2010. A real must have and I think the price will be down on last year, but I worry about being able to buy enough. Heavenly happiness!
Simon Staples, Berrys’ Fine Wine Director
Incredible intensity and deep red and black fruit with the finest tannins of the vintage coating the palate. It has precision, grace, complexity and power with an outstanding richness that fills the mouth completely. Better than 2009 or 2010? It sort of sits between the two. The power of 2009 and finesse of 2010. A real must have and I think the price will be down on last year, but I worry about being able to buy enough. Heavenly happiness!
Simon Staples, Berrys’ Fine Wine Director
For laying down,
Ch. Haut-Bailly has a genuine Pessac personality in 2014. Graceful and charming, it also appears to be delicate too, displaying a lightness of touch. There is a welcoming harmony to this wine. It just tastes as red Bordeaux should: attractive, a fleshy fruit nose, with helpings of alluring dark fruits - in particular cherry and plum - and a spicy, lingering finish.
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot
Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion,
For laying down,
Change continues apace at this estate, which has been under new ownership since 2010, with their new cellar and tasting room opening in summer 2015. Displaying a lighter, more ethereal style, the 2014 has notes of menthol, tobacco and sweet blackcurrants, with violets and floral aromatics. Medium-bodied with a dark, plum-like colour, there is some sour cherry in the mix too. Earthy, mineral and with plenty of acidity, the luscious fruit balances out really nicely alongside the savoury edge. Persistent on the finish, spice and green pepper linger on the palate. The wine is quite powerful and serious, with layers of complexity. The 2014 is a very good effort.
55% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot
55% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot
Chateau de Fieuzal,
Ready, but will improve,
Château de Fieuzal has a reputation for producing sturdy, long-lived savoury Graves, and this is no exception. At its zenith now, the 2001 is very tertiary, with aromas of saddle leather, cigar smoke and wet stone layered over bramble fruit. It's perfect for drinking this Christmas, ideally with a slab of roast beef.
Chateau Pape Clement,
For laying down,
Known to possess one of the best terroirs in Bordeaux, this historic estate has the potential and the capacity to produce first-rate wines. The 2014 is quite refined; there is some elegant charm, and juicy, sweet dark fruit in abundance, with dark cherries and plum in evidence. The mouth-feel is full, and there seems to be power here, but it is kept in check. A silky and suave finish completes the enjoyment.
For laying down,
The new cellar, winery and tasting room is now open at Les Carmes and it really is quite an astounding building. The 2015 is a pretty powerful wine, serious, complex and very interesting indeed. The floral bouquet is very pretty, layered with really ripe raspberries which are ever so attractive. My favourite aspect of the wine has to be the earthy, mineral character though, as well as the brilliant tannic structure.
The gravelly soils offer a lovely character and the wine has a sense of place, of terroir. Light in the mouth, the tobacco, sweet black fruits and creamy texture create a wonderful palate, but the savoury characteristics are what I enjoy most about this wine. It is another really promising wine for this up and coming estate.
Blend: 45% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
The gravelly soils offer a lovely character and the wine has a sense of place, of terroir. Light in the mouth, the tobacco, sweet black fruits and creamy texture create a wonderful palate, but the savoury characteristics are what I enjoy most about this wine. It is another really promising wine for this up and coming estate.
Blend: 45% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Ready, but will keep,
A classic effort, the 2000 Haut-Bailly exhibits notes of lead pencil shavings, raspberries, black currants, and loamy soil. Subtle hints of earth and smoke are also present in this medium-bodied, stylish, well-balanced, pure wine that emphasizes restraint and graciousness over power and blockbuster intensity. It has entered its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for another fifteen years.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate, June 2010
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate, June 2010
For laying down,
Dark ruby, there are pleasing notes of mocha, blackcurrant and wood smoke. On the palate this is very good, impressing with its textural feel. Swirling it around your mouth, you pick up a gravelly, smoky note and some lovely dark fruit. Powerful, there is a bold richness, yet despite all the concentration and density, it feels restrained. It's like a Rolls-Royce coasting down the Champs Élysée.
Blend: Merlot 57.5%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42.5%
Blend: Merlot 57.5%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42.5%
Chateau Haut-Brion,
For laying down,
Manager Jean-Philippe Delmas (Jean Delmas' son) has every right to be enormously proud of his wines this year, not least his jewel in the crown, First Growth Ch. Haut-Brion. The 2006 is as powerful and masculine as ever, a taut, brooding mass of seriously intense ripe plum, strawberry and damson fruit packed with earthy minerality and spice. The nose is rich and chocolatey, while the huge tannins on the palate suggest that this is one to lay down to enjoy in your dotage. Made from 57% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc this is a very serious, very impressive and very intense Ch. Haut-Brion.
For laying down,
This is a marvellously intense white wine. There is terrific depth and length on offer here. Lovely touches of butter and floral aromas dominate the nose. The palate is really flavoursome, but there is some quite obvious poise and elegance. It is multi-layered and very appealing indeed, earthy notes are evident, followed by a long, clean finish. This is rich, lovely, and classic white Bordeaux.
For laying down,
There is a marvellously intense expression of typical Sauvignon Blanc fruit here, despite the blend being dominated by Semillon. An abundance of grass shows through on the perfume, with hints of grapefruit and some stone fruit too. An excellent backbone of acidity follows before emerging into a finish of zesty fruit and some peach.
Chateau Haut-Brion,
For laying down,
Jean-Philippe Delmas has made a wine of extraordinary purity and elegance this year. Dark ruby in colour, the nose is delicate and reserved with notes of Morello cherry, damson and fruits of the forest. Once sipped, there is a deft, light touch to this wine. The palate is fresh, with mineral salts, ripe, crunchy tannins and smoky acidity. Bold and yet understated, this is a more gentlemanly wine than La Mission. It finishes very long, intense and persistent.
Blend: Merlot 56%, Cabernet Sauvignon 37.5%, Cabernet Franc 6.5%
Blend: Merlot 56%, Cabernet Sauvignon 37.5%, Cabernet Franc 6.5%
For laying down,
A pale hay-coloured wine, this is delicate and precise. The nose is very attractive with notes of lemon, lime fruit, lemongrass and spice. Once sipped, it is mouth coating and yet there is a laser-like flow and acidity, finishing quite rich with a long, mineral finish.
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc 62.7%, Sémillon 37.3%
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc 62.7%, Sémillon 37.3%
Chateau Haut-Brion,
For laying down,
Ch. Haut-Brion has yet gain produced a fabulous wine in 2009. With subtle red fruit aromas mingling with bramble fruits on the expressive palate, this is powerful stuff with ripe, firm tannins, glorious depth and resounding flavours. This is the masculine counterpart to the silky femininity of La Mission, and as such will require a few more years before its brooding power is clear for all to see.
Chateau Pape Clement,
For laying down,
Ch. Pape Clément is a very concentrated wine in 2015. The deep purple-coloured wine exhibits a fragrant bouquet of flowers, red as well as black fruits. Medium-bodied, well textured and rich, with attractive acidity, a long finish and moderate but sweet tannin, this is made in a textbook Pessac-Léognan style, with crunchy, dusty fruit. Good grip and polished tannins are present and there is plenty of weight here.
Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Max Lalondrelle, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd