Catalog

Haut-Bailly is the most delicate of the Graves wines with a particularly silky tannic structure.

The Revue du Vin de France noted 16/20 on 2004 (to be tasted again in 2014) "round, very open, full and dense fruit, unspeakable ageing" and 18/20 on 2017 "all the refinement of the cru is found in this bottle of admirable definition and very fine balance".

Haut-Brion is the most famous of all the Bordeaux growths, having twice been classified as 1er grand cru, in 1855 and again in 1959 (Graves classification). Haut-Brion is both the oldest of the Grands Crus, with more than five centuries (since 1509) behind it, and the most innovative, introducing stainless steel vats as early as 1960 and green harvesting as early as 1980.
Its particular situation within the Bordeaux agglomeration makes it the earliest Premier Cru on the left bank, a clear advantage in less mature vintages. For this reason, Haut-Brion's consistency is a benchmark for the whole of Bordeaux, with the intense bouquet of fresh earth, smoke and pine resin so characteristic of the appellation.
Fortunately, the unique silhouette of its bottle has disrupted the Asian market and has not triggered the same speculative interest there as it has for the other 1er grands crus classés. Haut-Brion is today without question the most qualitative and the least expensive of the premiers.

The third wine jewel of Bernard Magrez (after Pape Clément and Fombrauge), bought in 1999. After a complete overhaul of the vineyard (it is now the largest Grand Cru Classé in the Médoc with 225 ha of vineyards), La Tour Carnet displays a modern, smooth and powerful style. A formidable competitor in blind tastings.

In 2000, Malescot Saint-Exupéry woke up under the leadership of Michel Rolland. Since then, in a generous and serene style, very rich for a Margaux, he has never ceased to distinguish himself. As the Revue du Vin de France wrote: "In 10 years, it is the wine that has made the most progress among the Margaux wines".

By the quality of the selections, and the creation of a 3rd wine from 2009, Pavillon Rouge would have easily been considered as the Great Wine of Château Margaux only 20 years ago.

No other vintage can better express the magical association that is so difficult to obtain simultaneously finesse and power. A first growth without rival in its style!

No other vintage can better express the magical association that is so difficult to obtain simultaneously finesse and power. A first growth without rival in its style!

Saint-Pierre's obvious progress since 2003 now places it as a great rival to its peers in Saint-Julien, even surpassing them in depth of flesh. Magnificent in recent vintages, such as the 2019 rated 95/100 by the Revue des Vins de France "Great success" or the 2020 rated 96/100 "one of the most accomplished and refined ever".

Emblematic cru of the Médoc by its architecture as well as by the delicacy of its wines, internationally sought-after. Beychevelle has taken another step up in finesse and aromatic precision with the commissioning in 2018 of its new vat room, and is now on first-name terms with the commune's second growths.

Even if their evolution always involves a period of austerity, Léoville-Barton wines have a supreme class and elegance, due as much to the advanced age of the vines as to meticulous work.

Even if their evolution always involves a period of austerity, Léoville-Barton wines have a supreme class and elegance, due as much to the advanced age of the vines as to meticulous work.

Apart from the first great classified growths, no other Bordeaux wine is as world famous as Lynch-Bages. Its worldwide success comes as much from its opulent, full-bodied and robust style, from its unfailing regularity since 1975, and from its media promotion orchestrated by Jean-Michel Cazes. Lynch-Bages was the first wine sent into space (Discovery shuttle in 1985). It is even said that it is him who gave the taste of Bordeaux to the Americans!

The young vines of Latour being reserved for the simple 'Pauillac' of the estate, the second wine, Les Forts de Latour, can be qualified as a great wine in its own right, coming from the plots of land outside the enclosure of Château Latour.

Mouton-Rothschild's upgrade in 1973 from second to first grand cru classé was as legitimate as it was deserved in view of the quality of its terroir, a plateau of 90 hectares of deep gravel to the north of Pauillac, with Lafite-Rothschild as a neighbor. Despite this promotion, and even though it regularly tops the rankings in tastings, Mouton-Rothschild remains to this day the least expensive of the Médoc's premier crus classés. Its powerful, full-bodied style and its ability to age well have led Mr. Bettane to write "perhaps the most formally perfect wine in the Médoc...".

On the terroir of Pez, known to be the best in St-Estèphe (excluding classified growths), the Cazes family uses the same recipes here as those that made Lynch-Bages so successful: generous fruit and opulent texture. Ormes de Pez is an'almost' Lynch-Bages but at a quarter of the price!

Second wine of Cos d'Estournel, probably the best second wine of the Médoc after those of the first classified growths (for half or even a quarter of the price).

Always of a high level for a reasonable price (in Pomerol), Gazin wines, moderately full-bodied and marked by truffles, are the archetype of the appellation.

Delicately perfumed (the aromatic bouquet is always very floral, with violets and peonies in the lead) and elegantly suave whatever the vintage, La Conseillante occupies a special place among the greatest Pomerols, perhaps the most endearing of them. Its finesse and superiorly sensual and refined texture are reminiscent of the great wines of the Côte de Nuits (on the Vosne-Romanée side). However, behind the apparent friendliness of La Conseillante lies a wine of great energy and excellent ageing potential.

Vieux Château Certan is certainly, with a high proportion of Cabernet Franc (30% on average), the most classic, firm and distinguished Pomerol wine. It does not have the softness and immediate charm of other great Pomerol, but still keeps all these promises as it ages. Very classy!

A talented and perfectionist winemaker, Denis Durantou, at the service of a great terroir on the edge of the church of Pomerol between Lafleur and Clinet. L'Église-Clinet is one of the most subtle Pomerols in terms of its aromatic precision, fine grain and satiny texture. Mr. Durantou passed away far too soon in 2020, but fortunately he has three daughters who are united and determined to continue their father's work.

A talented and perfectionist winemaker, Denis Durantou, at the service of a great terroir on the edge of the church of Pomerol between Lafleur and Clinet. L'Église-Clinet is one of the most subtle Pomerols in terms of its aromatic precision, fine grain and satiny texture. Mr. Durantou passed away far too soon in 2020, but fortunately he has three daughters who are united and determined to continue their father's work.

Second wine of Cheval Blanc. Elegant, refined in fruit and texture, the airy balance and harmony of its 2009 make this wine obvious. As the young vines that make up Le Petit Cheval age, they are gradually being integrated into the grand vin, leading to the disappearance of the second wine by 2030.

On a subsoil of deep gravel (alluvium of the Isle), Figeac has logically opted for a grape variety more Medoc than Libourne: 70% Cabernet (half Sauvignon and half Franc), 30% Merlot. Hence a naturalness, a freshness and a distinction unparalleled in Saint-Emilion. The latest 2022 classification has rightly corrected the omission of the previous one by granting Figeac the title of 1er grand cru classé A.

Brilliant even in small vintages (1992 was a masterpiece), Angélus has become a world star in 20 years by producing dense, fleshy and superbly velvety wines while remaining distinguished. Great class!