The grand vin, the 2012 Beychevelle, is one of the stars of St. Julien. Opaque purple, with beautiful crème de cassis notes, the wine has floral underpinnings, sweet tannin and a nice layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel. This is elegant and powerful, rich and intense, but light on its feet. This is a great Beychevelle and certainly seems to exceed the vintage’s character and expectations.

Country : France | Region : Saint-Julien

Château de Sales is located in the north-west of the Pomerol appellation. With 47.6 hectares (117 acres) under vine out of the 90 hectares (222 acres) that make up the property, it is the largest vineyard in the Pomerol appellation. Except for three hectares (7 acres) that were lost during the French Revolution, the property limits are the same as they were in 1578.

Country: France | Origin: Pomerol

The Château Lafite-Rothschild 2014 is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, picked from 22 September until 10 October with the Petit Verdot, the Cabernet finished two days earlier.

The Grand Vin is adorned with surprising richness and opulence on the nose: layers of ripe black plum and juniper, fine definition with even a hint of fig developing with continued aeration. After 5 minutes it turns volte face and becomes much more graphite and cedary – more Pauillac in essence. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin, a potent core of black and blue fruit with a bullish (for Lafite) peacock’s tail on the finish.

Country : France | Region : Bordeaux

The 2011 La Chapelle de La Mission reveals abundant quantities of round, generous, black cherry and black currant fruit intermixed with hints of gravel and earth, sweet tannin, decent but unobtrusive acidity, and a nicely textured, lush mouthfeel.Again, Merlot dominates this second wine with 68% of the blend, and this imparts the notes of black berry and black cherry which dominate the nose. The palate shows spicy red fruit, with a fair density and length, and abundant tannins which should ensure good ageing potential.

Country: France | Origin: Pauillac

Margaux du Château Margaux 2012 is more open today than the 2011. It is a very dense wine that blossoms after a few moments, revealing complex aromas of spice, black fruits and flowers. Following this very pure nose, it is fresh and smooth on the palate, with balance and finesse. Although the tightly-knit tannins are present, their silkiness is so remarkable that they are forgotten, even in such a young wine. It does not have the depth and complexity of the Pavillon Rouge, but this wine is no less a reflection of our terroir, which has the ability to produce wines that combine softness and power, freshness and maturity; wines that are delicious to drink young, but that can be kept for several decades.

Country: France | Region: Margaux