Today have certainly seen two of the most hotly-anticipated names in the form of Canon and Rauzan Segla, both released at prices which, whilst up on the 2016 releases, are well below the prices those vintages fetch now – the true sign of smart pricing at EP. These are brilliant wines, simple as that, and it will be no surprise that they are both sold out to pre-orders.
Their ‘other’ new wine, Berliquet, has been released at GBP 396 and with a raft of decent scores and the power and skill of the same winemaking group behind them, we think this is an estate to watch.
Gruaud Larose has been released today at GBP 660. We liked the wine enormously – it’s the best Gruaud we’ve tasted from barrel for many a year, possibly ever. Those of you who, like us, have had the good fortune to taste the brilliant 2009, 2000, 1986 or even 1982 will know just how good this estate can be – and the 2018 is a fitting addition to that canon of quality. Indeed Lisa Perrotti-Brown in The Wine Advocate (95-97pts) gives it potential to be the highest-scored Gruaud since the venerable ’82. Like the very fine 2018 St Juliens which have preceded this release this week, Gruaud is the epitome of classic, high quality claret and the conditions in 2018 have elevated it to the highest level.
This afternoon one of the most consistent – and by that we mean consistently excellent – estates in Bordeaux, Domaine de Chevalier released at GBP 650. Their 2018 red is flat out brilliant, scoring a massive 99-100 from James Suckling (“I can’t get over the pureness of fruit in this wine”) and garnering extremely impressive scores from across a broad range of critics. Jeb Dunnuck (96-98pts) calls it “a heavenly Graves that will keep for 30+ years” and Antonio Galloni (94-97pts) says “The 2018 is simply majestic - that's all there is to it.”
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc impresses year on year and 2018 was no exception, this was released today at GBP 860 with James Suckling commenting 'this is one to watch'.