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Single Vendor Unreserved Sydney Auction
25 May - 1 June, 6pm
Unless you live in Bordeaux, you probably don’t drink claret every day. On this side of the world, Bordeaux is associated almost exclusively with the top classified growths- which command great acclaim from wine critics and are sold for stratospheric prices. However there is a hidden side to Bordeaux, one that many Australians do not know about – they make a wonderful array of wines designed for earlier drinking that provide excellent value for money. The second wines of top estates, and the wines of less prestigious appellations such as Haut Medoc and Bordeaux Cotes de Francs, are largely ignored by wine writers and critics. Instead these wines are consumed locally. At brasseries and bistros across the Gironde, bottles of these food friendly wines – often referred to as “luncheon claret” are enjoyed daily by the Bordelais themselves. Usually these wines are not offered in Australia, however opening Friday May 25th, Langton’s is pleased to offer a single vendor auction featuring an attractive selection of these wines. All the wine featured in auction have outstanding provenance and are being offered unreserved. Among Andrew Caillard’s top picks are 2009 Chateau Peyredon Lagravette, Haut Medoc, 2009 Chateau Puygueraud, Francs Cotes de Bordeaux and 2009 La Gravette de Certan, Pomerol. The Single Vendor Unreserved Auction will run from Friday May 25th closing Friday 1st of June. With no vendor reserve in place, this is your chance to secure some luncheon claret for yourself – at exceptional prices.
2002 Chateau Merville, St. Estephe
Medium crimson. Fragrant redcurrant/ vanilla/ cedar aromas with some praline/ chestnut notes. A moderately concentrated, supple wine with redcurrant/ vanilla/ hazelnut flavours and fine loose-knit silky tannins. Finishes long and curranty. The second wine of Chateau Coutelin-Merville. A blend of roughly 50% cabernet sauvignon and 50% merlot. This is not a blockbuster, rather a lighter style, but it is drinking really well now.
Recommended to drink over the next few years. 87 points
2009 “Legende R” de Lafite Barons de Rothschild Collection, Medoc
Medium crimson. Fragrant cassis/ camomile/ herb/ cedar aromas. Medium concentrated cassis/ cherry flavours, with fine grained and supple tannins and plenty of flavour length. From a great Bordeaux vintage. A classical “luncheon style” claret from the makers of Chateau Lafite. The fruit is sourced principally around the northern Medoc and sub regions.
Drink now. 86 points
2008 “Legende R” de Lafite Barons de Rothschild Collection, Medoc
Medium crimson. Lifted red berry/ cassis aromas and flavours with supple sweet fruit flavours and fine silky tannins. Finishes long, chalky firm and sweet. Less alcohol than the 2009 at 12.5%. A medium-bodied, classical “luncheon style” claret from the makers of Chateau Lafite. The fruit is sourced principally around the northern Medoc and sub regions.
Drink now. 85 points
2009 Chateau Peyredon Lagravette, Haut Medoc
Medium crimson. Fresh red plum/ vanilla/ toasty/ cinnamon aromas. The palate is well concentrated with plummy/ red fruit/ star anise flavours, plenty of mid-palate fleshiness, lacy sweet tannins and underlying savoury complexity. Finishes long and cedary. This small 4.1 hectare estate is located between Moulis and Listrac; its neighbours are Chateau Chasse Spleen and Chateau Poujeaux. From one of the Haut Medoc’s smallest estates, with only 2100 cases made. From the great 2009 vintage. 91 points – *Caillard recommends.
2003 Chateau Dasvin-Bel-Air, Haut Medoc
Medium crimson. Redcurrant/ espresso/ roasted chestnut aromas and flavours. Medium concentrated wine with redcurrant/ cranberry herb aromas and fine savoury – touch al dente tannins. Finishes chalky firm. 2003 won a silver medal in the concours mondiale, Brussels (2007). Classified a Cru Bourgeois in 1932. Vineyards are located close to Blanquefort south of Margaux on a mixture of gravel, sands and clay. A high percentage of Merlot is typically found in this blend. Vinified in stainless steel and 16 months in a combination of new (15%) and seasoned oak barriques. From a top vintage. Ready to drink now – 3 years. 87 points
2001 Chateau Dasvin-Bel-Air, Haut Medoc
Medium crimson. Fragrant red currant/ violet/ sage/ forest floor aromas and flavours. Medium concentrated palate with redcurrant/ sage/ fresh earthy flavours and fine chalky tannins. Mineral and savoury finish. 2001 won a gold medal in Bordeaux. Classified a Cru Bourgeois in 1932. Vineyards are located close to Blanquefort south of Margaux on a mixture of gravel, sands and clay. A high percentage of Merlot is typically found in this blend. Vinified in stainless steel and 16 months in a combination of new (15%) and seasoned oak barriques. Tasted from half-bottle. Ready to drink now – 3 years. 86 points
2000 Chateau Dasvin-Bel-Air, Haut Medoc
Medium crimson. Lovely fresh mocha/ cassis aromas with some roasted chestnut notes. Palate is well-concentrated and sinuous with plenty of cassis/ red currant/ mocha flavours. Lovely richness on the mid-palate and fine loose-knit cedar tannins. Moderate density with obvious Merlot influence. Vineyards are located close to Blanquefort south of Margaux on a mixture of gravel, sands and clay. A high percentage of Merlot is typically found in this blend. Vinified in stainless steel and 16 months in a combination of new (15%) and seasoned oak barriques. Drink now – 7 years. 93 points. *Caillard recommends
1995 Chateau Dasvin-Bel-Air, Haut Medoc
Medium crimson. Fresh light tobacco/ red currant aromas with some cedar notes. The palate is light to medium concentrated, but buoyant and fresh with fine loose knit chalky/ touch leafy tannins. Finishes bitter-sweet. Vineyards are located close to Blanquefort south of Margaux on a mixture of gravel, sands and clay. A high percentage of merlot is typically found in this blend. Vinified in stainless steel and 16 months in a combination of new (15%) and seasoned oak barriques. Fully mature and drinking well. Drink now – 3 years + 85 points.
1998 Chateau Vieux Robin, Medoc
Medium colour. Light cassis/ black olive aromas with touches of cinnamon/ tobacco notes. Sweet supple wine with cassis/ redcurrant flavours and underlying walnut/ savoury nuances. Finishes chalky firm. Still buoyant and fresh. The 18 hectare Château Vieux Robin, a family-owned Cru Bourgeois estate, is located at Begadan in the far north of the Médoc, past St Estephe. It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot and aged exclusively in 2nd year barrels for 12 months. Drink now – soon. 86 points
2009 Guillotiere de Guillot Clauzel, Pomerol
Medium crimson. Intense plummy/ red cherry/ herb aromas. The palate is loose knit and fleshy with red cherry/ plum/ musky flavours, toasted chestnut notes and slinky long tannins. Very savoury and minerally at the finish. From the Theinpont family, owners of Vieux Chateau Certan and Le Pin in Pomerol. The vines (50% Merlot/ 50% Cabernet Franc), anchored in clay/ gravel soils are roughly 40 years old. The wine is vinified in stainless steel and matured in oak barriques for around 12 months before bottling. From a great Pomerol vintage. Drink now – 4 years. 90 points
2009 Chateau Puygueraud, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs
Medium deep crimson. Very fresh modern dark plum/mulberry aromas with some herb garden notes. The palate is well concentrated and juicy with plum/ mulberry/ elderberry flavours, plentiful fresh touch al-dente tannins and chocolaty finish. Lovely long juicy sweet finish. Another of the Theinpont family estates, acquired in 1946 and located in the tiny 450 hectare sub-region of the Cotes de Francs on the right bank. A Merlot dominant wine comprising a small proportion of Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Modern vinification techniques including whole bunch fermentation and 16 months barrel maturation. Superstar oenologist Stephan Deroncourt is the consultant winemaker.
Drink now -5 years. + 94 points – *Caillard recommends.
2008 Chateau Puygueraud, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs
Medium deep crimson. Fresh red plum/ tobacco leaf/ liquorice/ sage aromas. Smooth velvet textured wine with red plum/ praline flavours and underlying mineral acidity. Finishes long and flavourful. Another of the Theinpont family estates, acquired in 1946 and located in the tiny 450 hectare sub-region of the Cotes de Francs on the right bank. A Merlot dominant wine comprising a small proportion of Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Modern vinification techniques including whole bunch fermentation and 16 months barrel maturation. Superstar oenologist Stephan Deroncourt is the consultant winemaker.
Drink now – 4 years. 91 points
2004 Chateau Puygueraud, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs
Medium deep crimson. An expressive wine with fresh, complex plum/ mocha/ vanilla/ touch paneforte aromas. Richly textured palate with red plum/ mocha flavours, and chocolaty dry tannins. Finishes firm and long with a tannin plume. Another of the Theinpont family estates, acquired in 1946 and located in the tiny 450 hectare sub-region of the Cotes de Francs on the right bank. A Merlot dominant wine comprising a small proportion of Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Modern vinification techniques including whole bunch fermentation and 16 months barrel maturation. Drink now – 5 years. 93 points – *Caillard recommends
2007 Chateau Laclaverie, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs
Medium colour. Fresh herb garden/ sage/ red cherry/ red plum aromas. Well balanced savoury sweet wine with red plum/ cherry/ musky/Parma violet/ roasted flavours, and fine grained/ velvet tannins. Finishes chocolaty and long.
A Merlot driven wine from the Nicolas Thienpoint stable. Superstar oenologist Stephan Deroncourt is the consultant winemaker. Not overly complex but delicious to drink now or soon. Drink now – 4 years. 87 points
2009 La Gravette de Certan, Pomerol
Medium deep colour. Intense plummy/ praline/ violet aromas with underlying savoury complexity. The palate is silky smooth and buoyant with fresh red plum/ blackcurrant flavours, lovely mid-palate richness, loose-knit chocolaty tannins and underlying spicy/ mocha oak. Builds up firm and chalky at the finish. The second wine of Vieux Chateau Certan, one of Pomerol’s greatest estates. Roughly 50% Merlot 50% Cabernet Franc, this wine is vinified in seasoned oak fermenters before maturation in oak barrels for around 12-14 months. Lovely vinosity and freshness. Drink now – 5 years + 94 points –* Caillard recommends
2007 La Gravette de Certan, Pomerol
Medium deep colour. Fragrant plum/ cranberry/ chocolate/ herb garden aromas. Supple sweet fruit/ plum/ chocolate flavours and plentiful firm chalky tannins. Lovely mid-palate fleshiness and richness. Finishes long and chalky. The second wine of Vieux Chateau Certan, one of Pomerol’s greatest estates. Roughly 50% Merlot 50% Cabernet Franc, this wine is vinified in seasoned oak fermenters before maturation in oak barrels for around 12-14 months.
Drink now – soon. 93 points – *Caillard recommends
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