Notes

The Six – 2019 Single Quinta Ports from the Symington Family
The Six
2019 Single Quinta Ports from the Symington Family
2019 was an unusually dry year, with half of the normal winter rainfall and very little during the summer. The harvest was one of the longest of all time - over six weeks. Yields were average, 1.27kg per vine. Freshness and liveliness are the watchwords here. There are no Classic Ports…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 25 – Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarrosse
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 25 - Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarrosse
A late entry to my 2020 Report, which will miss my first edition, but will be included in the second. I couldn't keep this note to myself so I have decided to publish it free to view for Friends & Members in the meantime.
2020 Château Beauséjour - Héritiers…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 24 – Margaux
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 24 - Margaux
2020 Château Margaux, 1er Cru Margaux
89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
100% new oak
13.5% alc
36 hL/ha
36% of the harvest was used for this wine
80 IPT
3.67pH
Philippe Bascaules is a fascinating chap and his commentary and frankness…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 23 – Canon
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 23 - Canon
2020 Château Canon, Premier Grand Cru Classé, Saint-Émilion
68% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc
50% new oak for 18 months
14.5% alc
40 hL/ha
3.53pH
Merlot was harvested from 4th – 21st September and Cabernet Franc was harvested from 18th – 23rd September
In common with a handful…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 22 – Léoville-Las Cases
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 22 - Léoville-Las Cases
2020 Château Léoville-Las Cases, Grand Vin de Léoville du Marquis de Las Cases, 2ème Cru Saint-Julien
81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot
80% new oak
13.68% alc
79 IPT
3.80 pH
Merlot was harvested from 12th – 15th September, Cabernet Sauvignon…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 21 – Haut-Bailly
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 21 - Haut-Bailly
2020 Château Haut-Bailly Rouge, Pessac-Léognan
52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
50% new oak
Harvested between 9th – 25th September.
Véronique Sanders told me that in the past, so-called ‘great vintages’ used to come from relatively…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 20 – Figeac
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 20 - Figeac
2020 Château Figeac, Premier Grand Cru Classé, Saint-Émilion
37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon
100% new oak
13.9% alc
40 hL/ha
3.7pH
Harvested between 4th September – 1st October
2020 Figeac is a tour de force. Every possible variable is considered…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 19 – La Conseillante
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 19 - La Conseillante
2020 Château La Conseillante, Pomerol
87% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc
70% new oak, 27% older oak and 3% amphorae
14% alc
39 hl/ha
3.67 pH
9.77ha of the overall 11.79ha went into the Grand Vin
Organically certified
Winemaker Marielle Cazaux explained that she will…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 18 – La Fleur-Pétrus
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 18 - La Fleur-Pétrus
2020 Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol
93% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
16-18 months in 50% new oak
There is a full chorus and orchestra crammed into this beautiful wine given the complexity of its perfume and the depth of its prodigious flavour. With…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 17 – La Lagune
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 17 - La Lagune
2020 Château La Lagune, 3ème Cru Ludon, Haut-Médoc
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
50% new oak
14% alc
35 hL/ha
This is a stunning La Lagune with sensational energy, grandeur and poise. The fruit is lusty, dark and resonant and the oak adds to this wine’s…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 16 – Léoville, Langoa & Mauvesin Barton
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 16 - Léoville Barton & Family
2020 Château Léoville Barton, 2ème Cru Saint-Julien
85.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot
60% new oak
13.6% alc
34 hL/ha
Harvested 14th – 15th September and 21st – 28th September
Like its sibling, Langoa, the nose on this wine is jaw-droppingly…

2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report – Episode 15 – Calon Ségur & Family
2020 Bordeaux En Primeur Report
Episode 15 - Calon Ségur & Family
2020 Château Calon Ségur, 3ème Cru Saint-Estèphe
This is a completely single-minded Calon with the most amazingly determined cassis flavour I can remember on both the nose and palate. The oak is extraordinary - so discreet and yet so critical to this wine’s…