Wine Region: Bordeaux

(2024) The Sichel family are synonymous with Bordeaux, and especially with Margaux where they own various properties at classed growth and cru bourgeois level. The source of this declassified wine is not revealed, but the blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot is said to come from one of the appellations most famous addresses. Beautiful nose, touched by violet and black cherry, but more about cedar and plush blackcurrant. The palate has a silky texture, the fruit supple and composed, but filling the mouth. Tannins are quite powerful and spicy here, as is the plum-skin edge of acidity, suggesting this should cellar for a few years too.

(2024) Tasted earlier in the year I wrote: "A crowd-pleasing, easy-drinking and thoroughly pleasant blend," and having tasted it again, that sums up this approachable blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Semillon. The maximum dosage for Brut of 12g/l means it verges on being perceptibly sweet, but sharper apple and lemon to the fruit and acid balance peachy and lightly toasty note. The rolling mousse keeping everything fresh enough in a stylish fizz for a lowly £10.

(2024) A well-regarded Cru Bourgeois located between St Julien and Margaux, Beaumont's 2016 is more or less equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with 9% Petit Verdot. Youthful in appearance, notes of blackcurrant, plum, game and cedar are classically framed, spice and tapenade/herbal notes too. In the mouth the fruit is surprisngly ripe, sweet and fleshy, rippling blackcurrant moving into a spicy finish with a bit of dark cocoa and a pert cherry skin bite to the acidity. Watch my video review for more information.

(2024) This Cabernet Sauvignon dominated 3ème Cru Classé from Margaux has a good depth of colour and opens with attractive fragrance: earthy, ripe and plummy aromas, plenty of cedar and notes of tapenade. The palate is firm, arguably even a touch unyielding, certainly plenty of tannin making its presence felt. There is some juiciness there too, the mid-palate showing ripeness. Good length, acid well-judged. A little more about density and power than perfume or finesse.

(2024) The Rosé is a new addition to the Mouton-Cadet line-up, from a vineyard of organically farmed Merlot in Bordeaux. It's a crunchy and aromatic wine, very dry and gastronomic, with a burst of Seville orange to the fruit. The palate has some intense small red berry savouriness and very good acidity. This 2021 drinking very nicely.

(2024) A crowd-pleasing, easy-drinking and thoroughly pleasant blend of 90% merlot and 10% semillon. 12g/l dosage gives an edge of sweetness, though the acid balance is good. Toasty, creamy and peachy, the generous mousse and fresh apple zip works well.

(2024) Made by Château Clinet of Pomerol, but from Right Bank vineyards outside of the appellation, this Merlot-based wine is another I've enjoyed in various vintages. There's a smooth and plush plum and chocolate character on the nose, dark and touched by espresso. It's all about swirling darkness really, but there are delightful little perfumed violet hints. On the palate the creamy, suave depth of the black fruit cashes the cheque promised by the nose: crushed black berries, a meaty and charry edge but well into the background, and a lovely support from the quite richly-framed tannins and acidity. Well-priced. Watch the video for more information.

(2024) The is the second of Château Rauzan-Ségla, the famous Margaux second growth is now under the ownership of the Chanel luxury goods family. The vineyards here are around 95% composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. A very youthful crimson colour, there's a floral touch to the cedar and quite pastille-like fruit. It is very correct; medium-bodied and fresh, with moderate tannins and nicely focused acidity, and the fruit flitting between black and red as I always think befits the appellation. Nicely balanced and satisfying, I'd say this is ready to go.

(2023) A wine I've enjoyed in previous vintages, but arguably this is the best so far. I remember a fabulous dry white from Château Doisy Daëne that I tasted many years ago that so fragrant with peach down elegance, hints of guava exoticism and a juicy, crisp but not aggresive pink grapefruit clarity and acidity. This reminds me of it so much, any barrel ageing adding a subtle sheen of almond, but almost disappearing into the shimmering elegance of the finish. 54% Semillon, 46% Sauvignon Blanc, 50% aged in barrel for six months.

(2023) It's well over a year since I last tasted an early bottling of this 80% Merlot Bordeaux which was aged in both clay amphora and different sized barrels. Then I scored it 89/100 and commented on its smooth and fruit driven character, edged with bloody and gamy notes and spicy black fruit. This bottle shows the gamy side a little more, hessian and dried fruit, and hinting at pencil shavings. In the mouth it remains creamy and juicy, a slick of cassis over resolving tannins and nice cherry acidity.