This morning we launched our new offers for May, just in time for the coming bank holiday weekend. We have 20% off New Zealand, Chile, Italy and Beaujolais, as well as loads of Champagne deals (for example Veuve Clicquot for £24.99) and a range of offers from Spain, Australia and on summery rosé wines. I [...]
Monthly Archives: April 2009
Bordeaux 2008: great value releases
Tuesday 28 April 2009 – 11:30
A slight lull has descended over the major Bordeaux châteaux after last week’s excitement, presumably in anticipation of Robert Parker’s marks which are due any day now. This gives us the opportunity to focus on some less exalted but great value releases that are ideal for those looking to spend a little less a case. [...]
New Zealand Winery Visit February 2009
Tuesday 28 April 2009 – 9:14
Rachel Walne – Leeds Manager. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular here on South Island, New Zealand. Marlborough is situated on a wide, flat river valley flanked on one side by the golden Wither Hills and on the other by the green and luscious Richmond range. Being positioned on the same latitude to that [...]
Bordeaux 2008: Margaux, Mouton and Haut-Brion
Thursday 23 April 2009 – 13:24
A big day today, with first growths Margaux, Mouton and Haut-Brion available. Quantities are miniscule and the wines are offered on a first-come-first-served basis – be quick! In addition, we have some of Haut-Brion’s stablemates. Le Clarence de Haut-Brion (the second wine of Haut-Brion) is a successfully sleek and polished 2008, whilst La Mission is [...]
Bordeaux 2008: Calon-Ségur and Beychevelle
Tuesday 21 April 2009 – 15:20
More new releases today, the most exciting being an extremely well-priced Calon-Ségur. Always attractive en primeur, the 2008 is an impressive effort (17.5+ points from Jancis Robinson), and at less than £300 a case we expect this to be very popular. Also good value, Beychevelle at £249 offers a soft, elegant style of St-Julien. Also [...]
Bordeaux 2008: Lynch-Bages, Duhart-Milon and Margaux’s Pavillons
Friday 17 April 2009 – 10:13
More new releases this morning; this campaign is really happening quickly. With Pavillon Rouge and Pavillon Blanc (the second and white wines of Margaux respectively) released today, that leaves Haut-Brion alone among the first growths to dip their toe in the water. First among today’s releases is Duhart-Milon, a notable success in 2008, and likely [...]
Bordeaux 2008: Léoville-Poyferré, Gruaud Larose, d’Armailhac
Thursday 16 April 2009 – 12:26
There’s a fair old buzz building about the 2008 campaign as commentators’ scores and reviews continue to express pleasant surprise at the quality of the vintage, and the wines continue to be released quickly and at sensible prices. Following a very well received release of Léoville-Barton yesterday, today we have three other well-priced left-bank properties [...]
Bordeaux 2008: Les Forts and Léoville-Barton
Wednesday 15 April 2009 – 8:23
After yesterday’s exciting release of Latour (which sold out in very short order) this morning we have the second wine of that property, Les Forts de Latour. Nowadays this wine competes as much with second growths as with second wines, although with a much higher proportion of Merlot in the blend this year it is [...]
Bordeaux 2008: Latour released
Tuesday 14 April 2009 – 9:51
In a move clearly designed to kickstart the Bordeaux 2008 en primeur campaign, Château Latour has been released this morning. The great news is the rumours were largely true – the price is extremely reasonable, being considerably less than the current market value of equivalent vintages such as 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006. Château Latour [...]
Bordeaux 2008: first wines available
Monday 6 April 2009 – 16:23
Hot on the heels of last week’s tastings, the 2008 Bordeaux en primeur campaign has immediately sprung into life with the release of four top right-bank wines. This bodes well for a short and active campaign rather than last year’s drawn out affair. As I write, we have not yet finished our full vintage report, [...]
