Adnams Southwold
Domaine des Comtes Lafon
Clos de la Barre Meursault Chardonnay 2015
The 2015 Meursault Clos de la Barre has a simple nose that gains intensity with aeration, offering light pithy pear and peach skin scents and just a touch of Vervain tea. The palate is cohesive, and the oak is nicely assimilated with a fine bead of acidity. This is turning into an elegant Clos de la Barre, and given that it is a mere Village Cru, there is commendable tension on the finish, perhaps having evolved a touch more mineralité than the previous bottle that I tasted. Tasted at the Southwold Burgundy dinner at Hatched restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2023) — 3 years ago
Château Le Bon Pasteur
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Bon Pasteur has more fruit concentration than either the Gravette de Certan and La Fleur de Gay tasted alongside - blackberry and wild strawberry, truffle and a touch of smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity, firm backbone yet with plenty of freshness on its sappy finish. A fine Pomerol. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 3 years ago
Château Ausone
Saint Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Ausone has a perfumed nose with another Cabernet Franc-driven set of aromas, gravel and loam infusing the black fruit. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a beautifully sculpted wine with a killer line of acidity and immense precision on the finish. This just sashays along with style. Fabulous. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 3 years ago
Château Cheval Blanc
St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
The 2012 Cheval Blanc has a lovely bouquet with raspberry coulis, hints of marmalade and just a touch of espresso, nicely detailed though not intense. The palate is medium-bodied with a strict entry. This is quite backward and tight, lightly spiced with a touch of sour cherry and cracked black pepper on the finish. This is a delicious, well-crafted Cheval Blanc. A second bottle demonstrates just a little more backbone and persistence. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
— 4 years ago
Château Siran
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Siran has a well-defined bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, rose petal and crushed violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, and quite saline in the mouth. The nicely proportioned finish displays very well-integrated oak. This is a gorgeous, sensual Margaux that should offer 20–30 years of drinking pleasure. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2020)
— 6 years ago
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of my favorite wines from the Left Bank in this vintage. Bright and vivacious blackberry, cedar and graphite scents soar from the glass with real purpose. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite tensile with ample depth. It has matured since I last tasted it four years ago. It is very fresh and has a saline finish. Recommended. Tasted at the Bordeaux Index 10-Year-On tasting. N.B. Two bottles tasted blind at Southwold showed oxidation on the first. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 years ago
Château de La Tour
Clos Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2012
The 2012 Clos de Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru is fully mature on the nose, slightly earthy with light animal fur aromas. Fine lift. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm structure, impressive transparency and a slightly short, tart finish. But there is a breeziness to this Clos de Vougeot that is very seductive. Tasted at the Southwold Burgundy dinner at Hatched restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2023) — 3 years ago
Clos Fourtet
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Clos Fourtet has a stubborn and backward bouquet with sultry black fruit, quite tertiary in style, antique bureau and woodbines. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent blackberry and blueberry fruit, maybe just a little cloying compared to its peers despite the velvety and caressing finish. One for those who like modern Saint-Émilion but it needs serious cellaring time. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 3 years ago
Château Barde-Haut
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Barde-Haut has a very precise and focused bouquet, wonderfully integrated oak, very characterful and a little retro in style. The palate is medium-bodied, cool and fresh and fine tannins. A brisk saline finish has the sappiness to urge another sip. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 3 years ago
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Grand Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012
The 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte has an intense, well-defined and quite complex bouquet with blackberry, briary and cigar humidor scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, cohesive and poised with quite a firm grip towards the finish. This is another classy Pessac-Léognan and a wonderful example from Pessac-Léognan that might well be leading the pack at this stage. Bon vin. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
— 4 years ago
Château Batailley
Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
The 2012 Batailley has plenty of fruit on the nose: blackberry, raspberry, a touch of shoe leather and sage. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight bitterness on the entry, nicely balanced though, cedar and tobacco infusing the black fruit with a touch more fruit on the finish compared to Haut-Batailley. It just needs more time in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
— 4 years ago
Château Palmer
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Palmer has a generous, slightly lactic bouquet of opulent red fruit infused with touches of dark chocolate, although it calms down and gains more grace with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and well-judged acidity. Very harmonious, revealing cedar and mint toward the extraordinarily persistent finish. This is another classy, persistent Margaux with a long future ahead. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2020)
— 6 years ago
Domaine de Chevalier
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Domaine de Chevalier has always been an impressive wine for the vintage. This has a superb bouquet with blackberry, graphite, sea spray and pressed roses, which are very well-defined and classy. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant, fine tannins, a keen line of acidity, fresh with white pepper and allspice towards the harmonious and precise finish. This is a Pessac-Léognan ratcheting through the gears - recommended. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 years ago
Château Clerc Milon
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Clerc Milon has a vivacious and forward bouquet with cedar and graphite-infused black fruit, violet traces emerging with time, oozing with class. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, graphite once more defining the appellation. It's tensile and almost citrus-fresh on the finish. Plenty of energy is evident in this Pauillac, which should guarantee its longevity. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 years ago
Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Canon-la-Gaffelière is quite punchy and bold on the nose. Blackberry and raspberry fruit, cedar and mint emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, quite plush yet cohesive, fanning out towards the velvety finish with a brush of white pepper on the aftertaste. One of the more approachable Saint-Émilion wines in this vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 3 years ago
Château Beauséjour
Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarosse has a composed and more backward nose with blackberry, raspberry coulis and cedar, quite airy yet focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite stern and structured, backward and unyielding towards the finish laced with graphite that lingers on the aftertaste. This seriously requires time. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 3 years ago
Château Montrose
Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012
The 2012 Montrose has a taut and focused bouquet with crisp blackberry, tobacco and light earthy scents on the nose. Fine vigour and class evident here. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins on the entry, fine acidity, lightly spiced with a nicely proportioned and focused finish. This is a solid, almost swarthy Montrose, though it is surpassed by more recent vintages. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
— 4 years ago
Chateau Valandraud
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Valandraud is inky black in color. It has a very pure, precocious bouquet of intense black cherries mixed with cassis and blueberry, but after a couple of minutes’ aeration it develops more refinement and harmony. The palate is medium-bodied, offering supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, gentle grip and great precision on the persistent finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2020)
— 6 years ago
Château Franc-Mayne
Saint-Emilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Franc-Mayne has a detailed bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberry and floral (rose petal) aromas that gain intensity with just a few swirls of the glass. Very sensual! The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins and well-judged acidity, tightening up toward the finish but delivering plenty of substance and body. This seems to have gained the persistence that I was looking for 12 months ago. Great potential. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2020)
— 6 years ago
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The 2014 Trotanoy has a more complex bouquet than the 2014 Gazin, with more Pomerol DNA in the mix, iron-tinged red berry fruit, black truffle and cedar. Fine delineation and quintessentially Pomerol. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and harmonious, soy-tinged black fruit with white pepper sprinkled over the finish. This has personality and class but needs time (comme d'habitude). One of the standouts in what is an inconsistent Pomerol vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 years ago