Klaxon alert! Would all claret lovers please form an orderly queue? Esme Johnstone and the FromVineyardsDirect gang are clearing their cobwebbed cellars to make room for newer vintages and are offering us a brilliant baker’s dozen of Bordeaux bin-ends at a special, Spectator-only knockdown price. Hurrah!
The wines from 2014 and 2015 (cracking vintages) are in that glorious mid-maturity stage, great to knock back now yet still worthy of salting away. There are limited stocks, though, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
The 2014 Ch. Méaume ‘Réserve du Château’ (1) is from a much-loved Bordeaux Supérieur estate between St Emilion and Pomerol. Merlot-dominant, the approachable, well-priced wines are invariably soft and mellow. £12.56 down from £13.95.
The above’s younger sibling, the 2015 Ch. Méaume ‘Réserve du Château’ (2), is similarly quaffable with perhaps a touch more finesse and elegance. Again, it’s a fine, everyday claret. £13.46 down from £14.95.
The 2015 Ch. Puygueraud (3) from Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux is owned by the fabled Thienpont family. With plenty of Merlot, it’s rewardingly soft, spicy, juicy and concentrated. £14.36 down from £15.95.
The 2015 Ch. Sainte-Marie ‘Alios’ (4) is a Premières Côtes de Bordeaux with, again, Merlot to the fore plus a small amount of Cab Sauv and Petit Verdot for complexity. £16.16 down from £17.95.
The 2015 Ch. d’Escurac (5) is a hugely popular Cru Bourgeois that flew out the door when last we offered it. An equal blend of Cab Sauv and Merlot, it’s full of brooding cassis flavours and a whisper of spice. £17.96 down from £19.95.
The 2014 Ch. Breillan (6) is a resolutely Right Bank blend of 90 per cent Merlot/10 per cent Cabernet Franc despite coming from the Haut-Médoc. Available in magnums only, it’s perfect for shirt-popping Sunday lunches.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in