Bordeaux 2019 En Primeur | Mr.Wheeler Wine

Spectacular Releases end the Campaign

24th June 2020

This week sees the final releases of this year’s campaign.

Starting Monday with one of the great Pauillac estates – Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. A winery on incredible form under the stewardship of Champagne Louis Roederer, it has produced a truly outstanding wine in 2019, receiving a number of potential 100-point scores from the critics. “Unbelievably precise all the way through to the finish, I admit staring at my glass trying to find fault with it... you are not looking at a modern-day 1982 or 2016, but something even better and more profound.” 98-100pts, Neal Martin

Monday continued with the with what Neal Martin describes as an “Outstanding” Pessac-Léognan in Smith Haut Lafitte, and "a wonderful Saint Emilion" in Troplong Mondot.

Tuesday saw three of the most sought-after releases of the whole campaign. Pomerol great Vieux Château Certain at 20% below the 2018 price, was joined by the Chanel owned estates of Saint Emilion’s Château Canon released at 23% down on 2018, and Margaux super-second Rauzan-Segla at 24% down on 2018. Three brilliant wines and unsurprisingly they sold out straight away.

Our Highlights of the Week

19th June 2020

Highlights this week included the fabulous and aromatically complex Margaux Classed Growth, Château Giscours. A snip at £211 per case of 6 bottles, it was universally enjoyed by the Mr.Wheeler Buying Team a fortnight ago and a wine we thoroughly endorse. A notable pair of releases from Saint-Julien stole the show on Wednesday, when Château Langoa-Barton and Château Talbot entered the fray. Again, the value here is impossible to ignore. For a hotspot in the 2019 vintage, Saint-Julien’s 'bang for your buck' simply couldn’t go further with these two exceptional wines.

Finally, a release tinged with sadness, as the Denis Durantou (pictured with a team of pickers at L’Eglise Clinet) collection found the market this week. Denis, one of Bordeaux’s most respected producers and owner of the legendary Pomerol Château, L’Eglise-Clinet, sadly passed away last month. These 2019 wines are his swansong… A fitting tribute to a great man, whilst equally delivering some of the region’s most characterful wines. Château Montlandrie is one such property. Its small price tag belies a wine of exceptional pedigree and exceptional value – if you pick up just one case this vintage, Montlandrie should be it!

Three of the Top Wines of the Vintage Released

18th June 2020

Ducru Beaucaillou, Pichon Baron, and Clinet are all in the top ten for “wine of the vintage”.

A huge release sees the potentially perfect Château Pichon-Longueville (Baron) hit the market yesterday at just £594 c/s (6x75cl). This reflects another 18% discount versus their outstanding 2018 which registered as many commentator’s “wine of the vintage”. Multiple critics have waxed lyrical of the quality achieved here, most recently this yesterday with Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Advocate blog posting that it was “an absolutely beguiling expression that is classic Pauillac and yet it is Pauillac like no other.”

And today we’ve seen one of Neal Martin’s top scorers, Pomerol’s Clinet, with a huge 97-99 score, commenting, “This is a stunning Clinet, the best that I have encountered in barrel over 20 years of tasting”. At just £325/6, demand for this wine is huge.

And lastly top ‘super-second’ Ducru Beaucaillou is praised across the board, with The Wine Advocate’s review summing up the quality here nicely: “layer upon layer of minerals, rich black fruits and floral notes, framed by very firm, exquisitely ripe tannins and electric freshness, finishing long and incredibly layered. WOW!”. With a 20% reduction in price on the 2018 at £720/6, this is one of the very top buys of the vintage.

Leoville Barton and Langoa Barton – terrific value

17th June 2020

A barnstorming day is starting to unfold, with numerous exceptional wines releasing at every turn.

The first pairing can be counted amongst the Mr.Wheeler team’s very favourite Châteaux; that of Château Leoville-Barton, and sibling Château Langoa-Barton. Classed Growth St Julien estates of exceptional pedigree and value, the 2019 vintage in both instances again shows discounted pricing (some 15% for Leoville-Barton) versus their 2018 releases.

Regarded by many as the epitome of classic Bordeaux. Château Leoville-Barton is consistently one of Bordeaux’s most reliable Classed Growth properties and although there have been changes over the years, the Grand Vin is still traditionally made with vinification taking place in large wooden vats - this timeless quality is part of Léoville Barton’s charm and one of the reasons why the wines are so widely appreciated.

Leoville-Barton’s sister property, Château Langoa-Barton has once again performed brilliantly in 2019. Also owned and operated by the Barton family, Langoa always requires a warm vintage to really draw the best out of its north facing slopes - and in 2019 it has absolutely excelled. As with 2019 Leoville-Barton, Neal Martin is a fan of Langoa this vintage, bestowing an impressive 93-95 points, and for a wine offered at just £177 per case of 6 bottles, it is without question one of the bargains of the campaign thus far…

Grand-Puy-Lacoste and Montrose Out

16th June 2020

Some outstanding wines have been released today, with Pauillac, Saint Estèphe and Saint Julien properties Château Grand Puy Lacoste, Château Montrose and Château Gloria taking the limelight.

Bordeaux goes through the gears during a notably active few days, with the highly lauded St Estèphe Classed Growth property, Château Montrose making an appearance today. It arrives into the market with an eye-catching 23% discount on last year’s 2018 release, and reaches the market together with its brilliantly price second wine, La Dame de Montrose.

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a star Pauillac Classed Growth property has been a perpetual over performer for what feels like decades. In recent times it has hit even greater highs, the wine produced at the property now being unquestionably the greatest in its long and illustrious history. Released with a 20% discount compared to the 2018 vintage, the 2019 has registered some outstanding critical reviews and is a top recommendation.

Bordeaux is alive - La Conseillante, Figeac & Talbot all released

15th June 2020

Another week begins and 2019 Bordeaux kicks off with a pair of Right Bank superstars – Pomerol’s Château La Conseillante and St Emilion’s Château Figeac. “This is pure bottled decadence that hits all your pleasure buttons. If you are seeking a deal closer, this Dionysian wine is the right choice!” 98-99pts, Jeff Leve (of 2019 La Conseillante)

A huge pairing by any stretch, 2019 is a vintage which has drawn the very best from both respective Châteaux. Huge critical praise has been heaped on both wines this year, with potential 100pt scores for each wine. As has been so often the way during this campaign, Figeac receiving a glowing endorsement from The Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown in a blog-post over-night. "This is a simply stunning, seemingly effortless, beautifully harmonious expression of the vineyard and the vintage - bravo!" 98-100pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown (of 2019 Figeac)

Pleasingly, Chateau Figeac has been released at a 30% reduction compared to the 2018 release prices and Chateau La Conseillante has been released at a 24% reduction compared to the 2018 release prices. Bordeaux’s discounts show no signs of letting up as we surge on through the campaign….

Domaine Clarence Dillon’s Château Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion

11th June 2020

Following the lead of Château Mouton-Rothschild, released earlier this week, Château Haut-Brion is offered today at £1,770 per case of 6 bottles, reflecting a 30% discount when compared to the 2018. It achieved the same 97-99+ point score from the Wine Advocate as the previous vintage, indeed, Lisa Perrotti-Brown writing in a blog post published early this morning announced that she “wouldn't be at all surprised if it goes atomic and eventually takes top place for the vintage”.

View 2019 Château Haut-Brion

La Mission Haut-Brion, too, has a fantastic track record. Regarded as an unofficial First Growth within much of the UK wine trade, it carries all of the credentials necessary to challenge the might of Bordeaux’s finest, year in, year out. As a “Super Second” it carries much weight, whilst its price tag falls someway below those of its peers… In this already discounted vintage, it offers unequivocal reasons to buy… 2019 La Mission may prove to be one of the vintage’s greatest performances, strengthening again its credentials as a First Growth in waiting.

View 2019 Château La Mission Haut-Brion

2019 Château Lynch Bages Released

10th June 2020

Today sees a top Bordeaux 2019 release from the highly popular, quintessential Pauillac estate, Chateau Lynch Bages. Released at £395 per six bottles in bond, a staggering 26% below the 2018 vintage, the price makes this an even more enticing purchase…

"This takes hold from the first moment and powers along, delivering a ton of black brambly fruit, liquorice, grilled cedar and Pauillac confidence." Jane Anson, Decanter

The whole range of wines from the wider Cazes family of estates is outstanding in 2019 and Chateau Lynch Bages is the star attraction. It exudes everything that is so great about the 2019 vintage. The concentration and purity of fruit, beautifully married to a graphite mineral freshness, is sublime. This is pure Pauillac power and structure but with a richness on the mid-palate that adds real flesh and finesse.

In addition to Château Lynch-Bages, the Cazes family produces several other wines including the excellent second wine Echo de Lynch-Bages. Château Les Ormes de Pez, sited in St Estephé under the stewardship of the Caze family is producing wines of Grand Cru Classé standard and in 2019 is offered for a song.

View 2019 Chateau Les Ormes-de-Pez

View 2019 Château Lynch-Bages

Château Mouton-Rothschild Released

9th June 2020

Excitement about Château Mouton-Rothschild’s performance in 2019 was already reaching the UK trade some weeks ago and it seems well founded. The 2019 vintage has burst onto the scene this morning accompanied by a blog posted 98-100pts from The Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown. Cooing over the release, she calls the Grand Vin “without a doubt a legend in the making” adding that it offers “epic length and perfume”.

This potentially perfect Mouton is due to see the market for the first time today, accompanied by stablemates Château Clerc-Milon, Château d’Armailhac and Mouton’s Second Wine; Le Petit Mouton. Offering value and fine Pauillac terroir expression, the Mouton stable has not put a foot wrong this vintage, indeed, it appears to have created something quite supreme… Add to this a further price reductions for both officially released wines thus far (Clerc-Milon and d’Armailhac) and we have a rather compelling reason to buy…

View 2019 Château Mouton-Rothschild

View 2019 Le Petit Mouton

Two of the four St Emilion Grand Cru Classé "A" out

8th June 2020

Cheval-Blanc and Angélus released. The former is priced at £2,250 per 6 bottles IB, 30% below the 2018 release – that’s a whopping £1,000 per 6! - and the lowest release price since the 2014 vintage. The high percentage of Cabernet Franc in the vineyards have made this legendary Château a bit of a unique wine in Bordeaux (until now – see below). One of the top winemakers in the region, Pierre Lurton, is at the helm, and with the LVMH pockets investment in the vineyard and winery has been extensive, so this already fabulous property is going from strength to strength.

Angélus is also going from strength to strength since promotion to the top of the St Emilion tree back in 2012. This 2019 is joining Cheval on the Cabernet Franc bandwagon, and boy what a good move that is! While the property haven’t quite followed the deep discounting that others have adopted released at £1422 per 6 bottles IB, there is no doubt in our minds that Angélus produced a superb wine this year, having tasted the wine last week, with impressive richness and depth, plenty of velvety texture from the perfectly ripe merlot but also fabulous opened aromatics and precision at the core thanks to the cabernet franc element. Long, with pitch-perfect balance, this is a wonderful wine and very much worthy of consideration.

View 2019 Château Cheval Blanc

View 2019 Château Angélus

First growth Lafite released, along with Carruades, l’Evangile and Duhart Milon – l’Evangile our star buy

5th June 2020

Ideally situated between Pétrus and Cheval-Blanc, managed by the Rothschilds of Château Lafite who lavish care and attention on the vineyard and winery, Château L’Evangile is always a stunning wine, but with a 25% discount on last year’s price and quite possibly the best tasting notes we have seen for this wine in a decade (quite possibly due to the slightly higher percentage of the cabernets in the blend bringing extra depth to the already stunning merlot fruit), it is very much worthy of consideration this year.

View 2019 Château L’Evangile

View 2019 Château Duhart-Milon

Château Batailley & Domaine de Chevalier

4th June 2020

Always one of the star buys from Pauillac, Château Batailley is a Classed Growth of high regard, somehow managing to exude classicism in a most progressive, modern way. The Mr.Wheeler team welcomed this morning’s release and significant 18% discount on last year’s price. This makes the 2019 an absolute must-buy and one of their most affordable vintages of modern times (with only the 2013 vintage on the market at a lower price than this).

Following Château Batailley is a wine close to the heart of our Buying Team, Pessac-Léognan’s Domaine de Chevalier. The estate is famed for its consistent ability to produce some of Bordeaux's star wines whilst retaining a great quality to price ratio. They are also one of only a handful of Châteaux that can produce both exceptional white and red wines from the vineyards of Pessac Léognan. Their white wine is often one of the finest produced in Bordeaux whilst their red cuvée is fast becoming one of Bordeaux’s most consistent performers.

View 2019 Château Batailley

View 2019 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge

View 2019 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc

Château Cos D'estournel – A Vinous Masterpiece In The Making

3rd June 2020

Continuing the run of exceptional 2019 Bordeaux releases this week, today sees the much anticipated arrival of Château Cos d'Estournel and its sibling, Les Pagodes de Cos. At £684 per case of 6 bottles, the 2019 Grand Vin is some 23% less than the 2018 release. The wines have also been blessed with a blog tasting note overnight from The Wine Advocate, with star critic Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW utterly bowled over by Cos’s achievement in the vintage. Add to this a star studded review from American commentator James Suckling and a picture of the estate’s success in 2019 becomes clear. Lisa Perrotti-Brown hails the Grand Vin as “a vinous masterpiece in the making” and awarded it the potentially near perfect 97-99+pt score.

“I promise you, in 20, 30, 40+ years’ time, it is this incredible story that unfolds in the glass that will steal the hearts of true lovers of the vine” Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate

View 2019 Château Cos D'estournel

Château Palmer Released

2nd June 2020

Following in the footsteps of Pontet-Canet at the tail end of last week, we are delighted to see the 2019 Château Palmer arriving into the market at a great price. Reflecting a discount of 30% compared to the 2018 Palmer, at a mere £999 c/s (6x75cl) this becomes a most attractive of offers; a sub-£1000 Palmer is a rare thing indeed, especially given the highly lauded nature of the 2019 vintage.

View Château Palmer

2019 Château Pontet-Canet Released

28th May 2020

Offered to the market at the lowest release price in 12 years, Château Pontet-Canet has exploded onto the scene this morning with a huge 2019 release. Even the troubled 2013 vintage was priced higher than this 2019, and I should reiterate that 2019 is a shaping up to be a sensational vintage. As yet unscored by the major critics, we have world from Bordeaux that this year Pontet-Canet shows impressive aromatic complexity, the flesh is very velvety thanks to very fine tannins, the finish is long and sapid, which lends a freshness and elegance to the impressive structural core.

View 2019 Château Pontet-Canet

The Early Releases

27th May 2020

We are pleased to present the very first brace of 2019 Clarets below. A rarity in the current social climate, 2019 Angludet has in fact been tasted and enjoyed by Mr.Wheeler Buyer, Ben Godfrey, however 2019 Beaumont has sadly eluded us thus far. We can, however, vouch for the Château’s exceptional value for money. Both wines, it should be noted, offer discounts compared to their 2018 counterparts.

View The Early Releases

Our Vintage Review

27th May 2020

In advance of our official Mr.Wheeler communication we wanted to let you know that exciting news has started to surface from Bordeaux regarding this year’s delayed En Primeur release. In a nutshell the campaign is officially underway, with a number of notable wines already starting to find their way to the market. Though at this point in time we are witnessing Petite Chateau releases, with speculation that the region’s star wines will start to appear across June and July, the message from the region is clear... There will be a 2019 Bordeaux En Primeur Campaign this year.