GPL, Cos, a quartet of St-Emilions, Baron, SHL
Just after we hit send on yesterday's offer came Grand-Puy-Lacoste. For the eighth consecutive year, it topped Liv-ex's poll of expected best value wine, which is a bit embarrassing. Lovely wine, but we still have the vastly superior 2016 available for only £43 more.
First out of the blocks this morning was Carmes Haut-Brion, which we are currently allocating but are unlikely to have any for general sale. Then came Cos d`Estournel with a price tag commensurate with its plethora of starry scores and rhapsodic tasting notes. Credit where it's due: for us, this was the best wine in an appellation that's done very well in 2017.
Then a quartet of top St-Emilions - Clos Fourtet, Larcis Ducasse, Pavie Macquin and La Gaffeliere of which, surprisingly, the last is the most interesting. That's because it comes mainly from the slope next to Ausone since their vines on flatter land were hit by the frost, and it's an unusually high 45% Cabernet Franc. Stephane Derenoncourt is the consultant but this is one of the oldest, family-owned vineyards in St-Emilion.
'The 2017 La Gaffeliere is without question one of the wines of the vintage in Saint-Emilion. Bright, precise and wonderfully lifted, the 2017 is all precision. Exquisite aromatics and lively, red-toned fruit infuse this mid-weight, remarkably pure Saint-Emilion. Spice, blood orange and floral notes add the closing layers of nuance. The 2017 really dazzles. Don't miss it.' - 94-97 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com
This afternoon we have two wines scored 93-95 by Neal Martin - AXA's Pichon-Baron and the Cathiard family's Smith-Haut-Lafitte. /AR
Offered subject to remaining unsold; available 2020
