One of the several wines in the Jean-Hubert Delon (Léoville Las Cases) stable, Ch. Potensac is a great little wine. It holds its own when tasted alongside its more illustrious siblings, displaying a powerful underbelly and precise structure. It usually offers exceptional value and rewards five to 10 years’ cellaring – I expect both aspects to be true this year. Spicy green peppers greet the nose, combined with dark fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant and cherry. There is some sweet fruit on the finish, which is well balanced, quite long and intermixed with earthy spice, fresh acidity and ripe tannins.

40% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

This is another 2014 second wine which does a wonderful job of impersonating its Grand Vin. Vibrant red and black fruit dances on the palate while a really charming creaminess makes it extremely quaffable. This is a delightful wine and will reward early drinking very well. Sleek and fresh, it is also lightly perfumed and very pretty on the nose. This is a really good wine and a perennial favourite of our Fine Wine team, who often buy it for themselves.

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot

A reigned in savoury plum and damson appeal upfront. Smooth fruit tannins and thick chocolaty depths come through with the 5% Petit Verdot lending real depth and length. Another attractive offering from this value estate.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager

65% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot 5% Petit Verdot

A beautiful savoury nose that's rich and enticing. Black fruit dominance which is slightly different to other years. Not better or worse because of it but different and still moreish and will offer relatively early access to its undoubted charms. Will be a bargain too. Come one. Come all.
Simon Staples, Sales Director - Asia

The rejuvenated Ch. du Tertre is steadily building a reputation for excellent value for money. The 2014 has a lovely expressive nose, with sweet red fruits combining effortlessly with aromas of floral cassis and dried fruit. There are generous helpings of blackberries and cream on the palate which sit wonderfully alongside the elegant Margaux femininity. Fine tannins, crunchy black fruit and excellent length. The Cabernet Franc provides a really strong backbone and the Cabernet Sauvignon a structure and texture, which is typical of this commune. There is a lovely peppery focus here, courtesy of the Cabernet Franc. Focused and direct, it is a real pleasure to taste this wine, even at such an early stage, straight from barrel. It's one of the best du Tertre wines we have tasted in many years.

Giscours was one of my favourite wines of the week. It is multi-layered with an ultra-fine tannic structure that makes you really fancy drinking it now! It has a great, juicy density that's completely compelling. Not as complex as 2010 but definitely up there with the 2009 Giscours. A favourable euro rate, a bountiful crop and a savvy head honcho at the Château will see this coming in at a great price and early release. No pressure there then.
Simon Staples, Sales Director - Asia

Round and seductive, Ch. Giscours is brimming with dark fruit this year, showing an inky colour. It is neatly packed with dense fruit, with good concentration and luscious tannins. Black fruit dominates the nose and palate. There is an elegance here, alongside a structure which demonstrates the super terroir of this property and indeed the appellation. Cool, refreshing acidity appears on the finish and textured tannins complete a really attractive mouth-feel. A broad, fleshy fruit profile really appeals.

A very solid performer both in terms of quality and pricing. It is very difficult to find any cheap back vintages of Ch. Talbot and when we do it is always at a higher price than at release. The 2014 was made under the watchful eyes of the famous consultant Stephane Derenoncourt and it is a stunner. Blackcurrant and cherries on the nose with a touch of cedar, one of the most focused and fresh wines of the appellation, lovely concentration and depth on the palate, bags of black fruits in the middle and and an excellent finish with firm but ripe tannins. Serious and structured, it will provide customers with generous fresh early drinking while having all the ingredients for long term cellaring. Definitely one to watch.
Max Lalondrelle, Fine Wine Buying Director/Bordeaux Buyer

The easy-going charm of 2014 as a vintage suits Talbot’s cheerful character well. Displaying a plethora of ripe, plump dark fruits with a depth of flavour this is going to delight followers of this perennially popular château.
Tom Cave, Cellar Plan Manager A very solid performer both in terms of quality and pricing. It is very difficult to find any cheap back vintage of Ch. Talbot and when we do it is always at a higher price that release. The 2014 made under the watchful eyes of the famous consultant Stephane Derenoncourt is a stunner. Blackcurrant and cherries on the nose with a touch of cedar, one of the most focused and fresh wine of the appellation, lovely concentration and depth on the palate, bags of black fruits in the middle and and excellent finish with firm but ripe tannins. Serious and structured it will provide customers with generous fresh early drinking while having all the ingredients for long term cellaring. Definitely one to watch.
Max Lalondrelle, Fine Wine Buying Director/Bordeaux Buyer

This Second Growth has produced a really complex wine in 2014. It is really well-balanced and displays a nice tannic structure. An exuberant and open nose displays juicy red fruits and a racy floral edge. The palate offers good acidity, juicy fruit, and grippy tannins complete the picture. There is decent aging potential here, but it is already showing a depth of flavour and racy freshness at this young age. It is a wine of great potential, with good length, volume of fruit and really considered. The 2014 is an impressive effort.

77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc

Dark is the watchword here when describing the fruit. Plums, cassis, black cherries and blackberries all vie for attention. There are hints of spice too and a pleasing sweetness emerges, especially on the finish. Well balanced, the soft, ripe tannins contribute to a silky result and the wine is long, charming and pure. This is another wine of some class from the Bartons in 2014 and, yet again, a great benchmark Claret.

83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc

This year the blend is 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet, 1% Cabernet Franc and just 4,750 cases will be produced. The nose is elegant, refined and pure. Beautifully streamlined. Spicy, almost sweet Asian spice in style. The fruit explodes in the mouth but is restrained by the beautiful structure (almost the highest total acidity on record). A very linear wine showing a very fine, silky tannin structure and great integration of oak. Clinet 2014 is well balanced and has a long, pure finish. Recommended!

There is real energy on the nose of the Grand Vin. Sweet, succulent and beautifully-perfumed with floral aromas and a touch of vanilla-spice. There is focus here, but a rewarding elegance too, even at this young age. Like La Conseillante and Ch. Figeac, this great estate has used its famous terroir to create a special wine in 2014. Light, silky, yet generous and lifting on the finish, it is a splendid result this year. Minerality follows on the lingering finish, with carefully- and well-managed tannins rounding things off. This is really good St Emilion.

A savoury style of rosé from Giscours this year. With a gloriously deep, rich colour and an intense nose of bell pepper, white currants and black cherry. The initial attack is fresh and pure, then the flavours broaden on the mid-palate, with clean red fruit and a long, creamy finish. Full of life, and with real depth and detail, this is a fabulous example made with top-notch fruit.
Philip Moulin, Fine Wine Buying Department

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Palmer acquiring the estate, Ch. Palmer have made two outstanding Margaux wines this year and it is the first vintage which has been biodynamically farmed. The Petit Verdot in the blend offers wonderful aromatics and the red fruit is really singing on the nose. This is lush, approachable, intensely juicy and incredibly attractive. Fine, fresh and pure, is has nice crunchy fruit on the finish. This wine is very good indeed. The length is quite astonishing for a second wine; but then this has been honed into the Grand Vin style for many years now and has long been one of the top wines in its class. Oh la la!

52% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot

Richly-perfumed, charming and delicious, Vieux Château Certan has been a favourite of mine in previous years and the 2014 is really tasty. Alexandre Thienpont told us that September and October saved the vintage, and we are all thankful for that. Strong acidity provides freshness, complexity and generosity. It is really seamless, gloriously sweet and focused on purity. There is not much weight or power here, but everything is carefully integrated. Clean and precise, it offers excellent length on the finish too. This is quite simply delicious.

80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon

One of the contestants for wine of the vintage, Palmer is one of the only Chateaux in 2014 to show this incredible level of complexity. Sweet and intense on the nose, vibrant with lots of blueberries and black cherries. Sweet and precise on the palate, with waves of concentrated black fruits. The richness is accompanied by some lovely freshness and the tannins are there to support the wines but they are ripe and supple. The finish is long and complex with some pure focused black fruits. A tour de force in this vintage.
Max Lalondrelle - Fine Wine Buying Director

Chateau Cantemerle was the last wine to be added to the famous 1855 classification in Bordeaux but it is always one of the first wines to consider when it comes to value for money. It really shows its class in 2014, with some classic claret characteristics (try saying that when you’ve had a few glasses). Fragrant with well-defined blackcurrant aromas, notes of cigar box , black tea and vanilla. There is good substance here with ample length. A lovely example of a more ‘old school’ style Bordeaux.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot 6 Cabernet Franc 4% Petit Verdot