Pebbles of Chateau Haut Brion Handford Wines Bordeaux En Primeur 2017 Offer “Frosty reception. Standing ovation” Page 1 of 16 Introduction Frost damage in April made the headlines. One night rarely defines a vintage; many of the great vineyards are planted in low risk areas and so damage was minimal. Through the rest of the season the more important weather events did not diminish the whole; a dry and fresh enough July and August was ideal for fruit set and development; rains in the first half of September were, by and large early enough to allow harvesting during the dry days following 20 th . These served to encourage growers to be patient before picking especially Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of the month. The best wines are the Cabernet dominated Medocs, often Saint Estephe. What’s it like? Weather stats suggest similarities to 2009, 2012 and 2014. Clearly there isn’t the ripeness of 2009, but there is the class and there is more poise and balance. The consensus seems to be 2014 with a few more horse power. That goes for right bank too where the vineyards on the plateau looked very healthy indeed in September. What’s best? Ask a good, honest wine merchant; it’s a year to focus on the few very good wines that are out there, and they need finding. The best have not been pressed to perdition, nor picked in the pouring rain. Selection of the best fruit is one important key to quality nowadays. Go with a winery that is prepared to sacrifice the average in order to stay the best. It’s difficult to persuade the accountant of such wine values when volumes have already been hit by frost. Saint Estephe (plenty of examples from le Boscq, through Lafon Rochet and Ormes de Pez, and up the chain to Calon and Cos); the high parts of Pauillac (Mouton, Clerc Milon, Grand Puy Lacoste and a few surprises in the lesser knowns too, Lacoste Borie and Grand Puy Ducasse); and Saint Julien gave us some very pretty examples (Langoa Barton, Talbot and Lagrange). The Graves suffered the double whammy of frost in April and then hail at the end of August. The latter didn’t affect Haut Brion so much as it turned in a near ‘wine of the vintage’ performance yet again. As in 2014 there are some truly fine examples in Pomerol, and perhaps more in Saint Emilion (Tertre Roteboeuf, La Croizille, Figeac, Clos Fourtet, Canon and Larcis Ducasse jump out of the note book). Again, we choose the silky, soft and earlier drinking reds as the ones to grab. At this point, it’s worth asking the question; is longevity and quality one and the same? If you would like a quote on a specific Chateau that is not included in this offer, please do ask James or Greg at any point and they will endeavour to give you an offer if prices have been released. Page 2 of 16 James Handford MW Pick of 2017 Chateau Clarke 2017 Listrac @ £115.00 per 6 This is a seductive dark purple, mulberry coloured wine. The nose flows with violets, sweet black Cabernet Sauvignon cassis fruits, black pastille, and ripe blueberry and caramelized plums. Having a large dollop of Merlot in the blend affords the 2017 an extra level of plumpness, fat, and concentration that is enjoyable from the start. The mid- palate is dense, very texturally suave, and impressively long. True to 2017, there are sleek, chalky, cherry skin tannins that are lifted up and serenaded beautifully by precise, piercing, fresh grape acids. Chateau Clarke has created another very attractive wine. Drink from 2020 to 2030+. (91-92/100) Greg Sherwood MW Picks of 2017 Chateau La Croizille 2017 St Emilion Grand Cru @ £180.00 per 6 The neighbour of Francois Mitjavile’s Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf, La Croizille is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has a showy, extroverted quality and indeed the 2017 La Croizille is certainly among the best wines produced to date. The 2017 has a nose that is seductively perfumed and lifted, packed full of cherry blossoms, violets and an exotic undertone of cherry kirsch liqueur. The caramelized oak notes add a wonderfully opulent gloss to the wine! The palate is dark, dense and powerful loaded with opulent flavours of hoisin sauce, tart cherry confit, bramble berries, sweet cassis and vanilla pod spice. The balance is impressive, spreading broad and wide across the palate. A classical, seductive St Emilion, plump yet fresh, dense, sweet fruited and gravelly, yet finely focused. Drink from 2020 to 2032. (92-94/100 Greg Sherwood MW) Chateau L’Ecuyer 2017 Pomerol @ £ tbc The 2017 Château L’Ecuyer has a perfumed and floral bouquet of crushed purple violets filtering through the dark cherry and cassis fruit, which gains more complexity as it opens up in the glass. The palate is medium bodied with fine mineral tannins that are cloaked in layers of lightly toasted oak spice and dark bramble berry fruits. Another exemplary Pomerol from this super 3 hectare estate that continues to threaten to break into the big league and join the top table along side close neighbours such as Chateau Petrus. Drink from 2020 to 2035. (92-94/100 Greg Sherwood MW) Page 3 of 16 How the Offer Works Prices are quoted per case of 6 (unless stated) in bond (i.e. duty free) at London City Bond. Wines may be stored by us or transferred in bond. Most wines will be shipped in the spring of 2020 for onward delivery. When you choose to receive wines the duty (currently £25.99 per 9 litre case or £12.99 per case of 6 bottles) and V.A.T. on the total value (including duty) must be paid prior to delivery. Due to the unique nature of en primeur sales we regret that orders cannot be cancelled unless delivery takes place within 30 days of the order. Transfer under bond and delivery to the UK mainland are free for orders over £500 (in bond value). Otherwise delivery charged at £20.00 per address. Wines may be collected from 105 Old Brompton Road. Storage with us at LCB is £0.80 per case per month ex-VAT. Drinking dates give an idea of when the wines will be ready. There are never fixed rules and wines should be enjoyed at as many stages of their life as possible. Orders will be invoiced for payment by return. All wines offered subject to availability and subject to Handford Wines standard En- Primeur Terms & conditions of sale. Many wines are subject to allocation. Wines will be shipped to arrive Under Bond UK Spring/Autumn 2020. Free onward delivery or transfer (IB) for orders over £500. Contact James Handford MW or Greg Sherwood MW to discuss your portfolio requirements - 020 7589 6113 [email protected] [email protected] Page 4 of 16 The Wines Saint-Estephe Chateau Capbern 2017 £ 95.00 per 6 The tentative blend for the 2017 Capbern is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple coloured, it gives exuberant red cherries, blackberries and black raspberries on the nose with touches of bay leaves and dusty soil. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and fresh with chewy tannins and an earthy finish. Chateau le Boscq 2017 £105.00 per 6 St Estephe seems the place to be for these less expensive reds. Pure, grainy acids well entrenched into lifted, black fruits. This will become very attractive in the medium term and likely to be happy in the cellar well into the 2030s. Chateau Ormes de Pez 2017 £ 125.00 per 6 Small red cherries and kirsch form a pretty bouquet thats quite forward and perfumed with touches of lavender emerging with continued aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, the tannins succulent for Les Ormes de Pez and imparting a fleshier and more approachable texture. This is nicely balanced with a touch of graphite on the finish lending it an almost Pauillac-like personality. Chateau Lafon-Rochet 2017 £ tbc Medium to deep garnet-purple coloured, the 2017 Lafon-Rochet gives up subtle cassis and black cherry notes with hints of sautéed herbs, damp soil and pencil lead. Medium-bodied and slightly thin in the mouth, it has a well-played chewy texture and nice freshness, finishing with an herbal lift. Page 5 of 16 Chateau Calon Segur 2017 £ tbc The 2017 Calon-Ségur is tentatively blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in colour, it opens with pronounced black currants, crushed blackberries and fresh black plums with hints of cigar box, sandalwood and cinnamon stick plus a waft of mossy bark. The palate is medium- bodied, elegant, energetic and fresh with layers of black fruit, perfumed incense and fragrant earth notions, lingering nicely with exotic spices coming through on the finish. Pauillac Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse 2017 £ tbc The 2017 Grand-Puy-Ducasse is deep garnet-purple in colour with a nose of fresh blueberries and black currants plus touches of underbrush, pencil lead and mocha spice. The palate is medium-bodied with firm chewy tannins and something of a roasted bruleed note on the finish. Les Haut de Pontet Canet 2017 £ tbc Not tasted at En-primeur but always a great value second wine. Lacoste Borie 2017 £ tbc The 2017 Lacoste-Borie showed a little earthiness on the nose with lovely purity and definition. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy mineral tannin, a grainy texture with brambly red fruits laced with baking powder and white pepper towards a light, elegant finish.