‘We are looking at a vintage that can send tingles down the spine and back up again.’ - Neal Martin
In the list of clarets below, you'll find some of the wines that are closest to our hearts, and certainly nearer our budgets than last week's. Brane-Cantenac, Feytit-Clinet, Lafon-Rochet all fly below the radar and all over-perform on a regular basis. We always go long on these because they provide so much drinking pleasure.
We are continuing to mine Neal Martin's comprehensive 2016 Bordeaux report for quotes and the below are all his:
'There are three other Saint Estèphes that make the appellation more than this triumvirate and that is vital if it is to nurture an identity to rival that of Pauillac or Saint Julien. They are Lafon-Rochet, Phelan-Ségur and Haut-Marbuzet.'
'Most memorable Haut-Médoc or Médoc in 2016: La Lagune.'
'Jéremy Chasseuil has crafted a wonderful follow-up to the impressive 2015 Feytit-Clinet and I cannot wait to taste this from bottle.'
'Make sure Brane-Cantenac is on your primeur shopping list.'
'At Domaine de Chevalier Olivier Bernard has overseen a predictably sublime 2016.'
'2016 Grand-Puy-Lacoste exudes effortlessness this year, underpinned by very finessed tannins and beguiling purity of fruit.'
'It is still a fantastic Margaux. What Nicolas has imparted is a bit more ambition, more bravado in Rauzan-Segla that consistently made excellent wines but rarely reached for the stars.'
Offered subject to remaining unsold; available 2019
