For Margaux fans, a couple of important releases. Yesterday, the steadily improving Malescot St-Exupery, which we've liked a lot over the past few vintages:
'This dense ruby/purple-colored, opulently-styled 2011 displays 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. It should drink nicely for 15 or more years. 91-93 points.' - Robert Parker, erobertparker.com
This morning, Giscours, not an easy wine to judge young, but we think the 2011 looks very promising:
'Bright glossy purplish crimson with garnet hue. Elegant nose defined by scents of ripe fruit and a lovely floral touch. Pretty and soft entry leading to a fleshy and yet delicate tactile feel on the palate. Smooth and sapid from the mid-palate, the expression of fruit going crescendo on finish. Beautiful, pure, lingering length laced with fine-grained tannins. Very good structure. A beauty. 90 points.' - Jean-Marc Quarin, quarin.com
Also this morning, Fombrauge and Pape-Clement Rouge to complete the trio of Bordeaux grands crus owned by the self-made and perfectionist Bernard Magrez, who now owns a remarkable 35 wine estates around the world.
Well done to those who succeeded in grabbing a drop of Pontet-Canet. Our final allocation was 20% down on last year and it becomes the first wine to be labelled "sold out" of our 2011 campaign. /AR
Halves & magnums £10 extra per 9 litre case; other formats on request
