With all the excitement of Lafleur and the other Guinaudeau wines on Wednesday, we were rather remiss and omitted to send out our offer on the wonderful Beychevelle 2020. We have been extremely enthusiastic about the wines in recent vintages and 2020 ranks amongst their best. Beychevelle always incorporates a substantial element of Merlot, so successful in 2020, and it is this varietal that provides a plushness and velveteen texture, which makes this so alluring. It’s a beautifully constructed wine, full of verve and detail, wrapped in a modern, quite plush veneer of tannins.
“Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Beychevelle offers up vibrant notes of black raspberries, fresh black cherries and cassis, plus hints of wild sage, chocolate mint, rose hip tea and fallen leaves, with an exotic hint of Indian spices. The medium to full-bodied palate offers layers of crunchy black fruits with a firm, grainy texture and just enough freshness, finishing long and perfumed. 2026-2046. 94-96/100” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
Read MoreAnd onwards to today’s releases… First up, we have an exceptional Malartic Lagravière, with a 94-96 point score from Neal Martin. We thought this was a top-notch Pessac and it represents excellent value for money at £173.50/6.
“The 2020 Malartic Lagravière, whose picking was completed on September 24, before the rains, has a bright, vivid nose of mineral-infused red fruit mixed with hints of blueberry and cassis. Very focused and precise, this is an aromatically sophisticated Pessac-Léognan. The palate is medium-bodied with graphite-tinged black fruit, hints of wild mint coming through, and lively and tensile toward the finish. This is one of the best vintages of Malartic Lagravière that I have encountered out of bottle. Ignore at your peril. Drink 2025-2050. 94-96/100” - Neal Martin, Vinous.com
From the Medoc, we have a brace of Delon wines: Clos du Maquis (£225/6) and Potensac (£98/6). Unfortunately, we weren’t able to taste these, but the form guide tells us these will be classically styled, chiselled clarets, which will reward time in the cellar. Those who have tasted the Clos du Marquis have given it a unanimous thumbs up (92-94/100 Neal Martin, 93-95/100 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, 94-95/100 James Suckling, 91-93+/100 Antonio Galloni, 92/100 Jane Anson, 17+/20 James Lawther MW, 90-92 Michael Schuster).
Moving up the Medoc to St Estèphe, we have one of the success stories of the last decade, Château Meyney. For years, this rather unassuming château, wonderfully situated between Montrose and Calon Segur, produced underwhelming wines. Then, from 2014, Hubert de Bouard started consulting and a transformation occurred. At £120/6, this represents one the best value buys from Bordeaux, a grand-scale, impressive, powerhouse St Estèphe packed with cassis and minerals. It promises to be another giant toppler!
And finally, we have La Petite Eglise 2020 (£207/6). Sadly, there will be fewer than 400 cases produced, so this will be on allocation.
The wines listed are abroad and are expected to ship late 2023.