Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of the finest, most consistent and classic wines in Pauillac. The wine rarely gets the recognition it deserves from our friend across the pond but is a long-term favourite of those with a more European palate looking for great value-qualité-prix.
In contrast, Domaine de Chevalier has certainly caught the eye of Parker in recent vintages and this year is no exception with a score only a whisker behind fellow Graves megastar Haut-Brion. Now reaping the benefits of its extensive replanting in the '80s and '90s, with the vines now reaching maturity, the wine rivals many super-seconds in quality - though not in price.
'One of the stars of the vintage, it boasts a dense purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of red and black currants, graphite, subtle flowers and well-integrated, toasty oak. Impressively built rich and medium to full-bodied without losing the quintessential elegance and finesse for which this famous estate is renowned, the 2012 Domaine de Chevalier is filled with purity, equilibrium and balance. The tannins are sweet enough that this wine should be accessible when released, and will last for 15-20 years. Is this a modern day clone of their brilliant 1953? 92-95 points.' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, April 2013
For long-term keeping, there's rarely a better option than Montrose. The 2012 will be one of the longer-lived wines of the vintage, but it combines that attribute with a surprising amount of charm and this will be unusually seductive at an early age. With a mark equal to Haut-Brion's, it is one of Jean-Marc Quarin's four highest-scoring wines of the vintage:
'Lovely deep, intense colour. Intense, elegant nose that is complex and ripe. Soft and smooth attack, rich development and juicy in the middle, then ample and deep, this very aromatic, subtle wine melts in the mouth and ends up powerful, sappy, noble and long on a grand, complex finish. This is great wine. A very fine achievement. Tasted several times at this level. Alcohol: 13.2°. pH: 3.7. IPT: 89. Blend: 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Yield: 38 hectolitres per hectare. Proportion selected: 53% of total produced. 95 points.' - Jean-Marc Quarin, quarin.com
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Offered subject to availability for shipment spring 2015
Halves & magnums £10 extra per 9 litre case; other formats on request
