To reiterate, the 2010 Rauzan Segla is like a super-duper version of the 1986. Displaying fabulous density, an inky purple color and a superb nose of forest floor with a hint of menthol as well as loads of creme de cassis, mocha and touches of chocolate and subtle oak, this full-bodied, deep, concentrated wine represents only 45% of the estate’s production. It is certainly not for those who can’t wait a few years for it to round into shape, as I suspect it needs at least 5-8 years of bottle-age, but it should last for half a century or more.

A stunning wine from Rauzan Segla, kudos go to administrator John Kolasa for turning out this profound wine, which should prove to be a timeless classic from the appellation of Margaux.
95+
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate #205 February 2013

Tasted at the chateau, the Rauzan Segla has a delightful bouquet, tight at first but opening in the glass, offering gorgeous blackberry, cassis, violet and dark plum scents that are beautifully defined and are quintessential Margaux. The palate is very representative of how the wines showed in barrel. Svelte tannins, pitch perfect acidity, caressing texture, plenty of ripe black fruit infused with immense minerality. This is a magnificent Margaux, certainly one of the greatest Rauzan Segla’s to date...even if it does lack a crayon drawing on the label. Tasted November 2012.
96
Neal Martin – Wine Journal March 2013

Flashy style of Margaux, with alluring warm cocoa and black tea aromatics followed by cashmere-textured plum sauce, steeped fig and blackberry confiture notes. The well-integrated structure makes this seem almost accessible now, but the ample length and a smoldering tobacco note make a case for cellaring. Best from 2014 through 2030.
94
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

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No tasting notes available.

The final blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot has resulted in a wine of great power, stature, gravitas and density. The wine has a black purple color and a brilliant nose of scorched earth, creme de cassis, espresso roast, blackberries, truffles and licorice. Full-bodied, extremely powerful, yet with abundant sweet tannin, this stunning effort should prove sensational if given 7-10 years of cellaring. It should also last for 30-40 years.

This is another brilliant wine from Jean-Louis Triaud, who is also responsible for the brilliant resurrection of the cru bourgeois, Gloria. This is one of the smallest estates in St.-Julien, with only about 6,000 cases produced, and even less were produced in 2010 than in 2009.
97
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate #205 February 2013

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. Although the Saint Pierre does not have the same delineation as the Gloria, it offers lovely ripe blackberry and tarry notes that speak of Saint Julien. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent entry, crisp acidity and a svelte, caressing finish that is very harmonious and long. Very commendable. Tasted November 2012.
90
Neal Martin – Wine Journal March 2013

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Deep plum/purple, Haut-Bailly’s 2010 required some coaxing to appreciate its subtle notes of barbecue smoke, lead pencil shavings and creme de cassis as well as its touches of pomegranate and forest floor. The oak is pushed far into the background and the tannins are extremely silky, but the intensity of the wine is profound and the finish lingers for close to 55 seconds. This wine is ripe yet delicate, powerful yet stylish, and essentially resembles a remarkable fashion design from a house of haute couture. This wine needs a good 7-8 years of bottle age and should keep for 40-50+ years.

This quintessential example of pure finesse, elegance, harmony and delicacy is combined into a wine that lingers intensely with near-perfect poise and character. Haut-Bailly’s ethereal character is virtually unmatched in Bordeaux. Normally, winemaker/winemaker Veronique Sanders fashions a blend that approximates 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. That was the exact blend of her 2009, and I doubt the 2010 deviates significantly from that.
98
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate #205 February 2013

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru and at the estate. The Haut-Bailly 2010 has a sophisticated bouquet with ripe small dark cherries, bilberry, cedar and lots of lush dark plums, all with fine delineation. The palate is full bodied with a rounded smooth spicy entry. The layers of plush fruit somewhat obscure the backbone here, whilst the finish is imbued with great tension and depth. It is a mass of wine at the moment, spherical in the mouth and will need a decade to find its personality and express its terroir. Tasted November 2012.
95
Neal Martin – Wine Journal March 2013

Chewy and brambly, but integrated, this carries a very hefty core of espresso, ganache, mulled plum and blackberry fruit. The purity starts to shine through on the finish, which drips with cassis and is threaded with a long warm paving stone note. Tight and backward today, this extremely well-built wine will need substantial cellaring. Best from 2018 through 2035.
95
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

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The wine hits all cylinders in 2010. The average alcohol for the bottled wine is 14%. It has a gorgeously sweet nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers, subtle barbecue smoke and charcoal followed by full body, beautiful intensity, great purity, stature and length. The influence of any oak is minimal, despite the fact that 90% new French oak was used. Needless to say, this is an example of modern-styled winemaking at it’s finest, and arguments that such wines will not age well, do not represent their terroir , and are soul-less, are totally groundless. Give it 5 or so years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years. This is one of the great Margaux wines of the vintage.

Probably the greatest Lascombes made to date, the 2010 is a blend of 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot. The production from this huge estate totals nearly 400,000 bottles.
96
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate #205 February 2013

While this large property is composed of a huge number of small parcels that must require military-like precision to harvest, the quality of the wines over the last decade has been remarkable. The 2010 may turn out to be the greatest Lascombes ever made. It boasts a dense purple color along with an extraordinarily uplifted set of aromatics consisting of blueberry liqueur, black cherries, subtle smoke, crushed rocks and restrained oak. Massive fruit, an unctuous texture, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and stunning definition (because of good acids and a modest pH) have resulted in a formidable wine that will benefit from 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep for 30 years. A brilliant effort!
94-97
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate #194 May 2011

Dark and nicely toasty, with ample espresso and ganache up front, followed by steeped fig, blackberry and black currant fruit that rumbles through the finish. Features ample tarry grip, but eschews minerality and finesse for a direct and toast-driven approach. Best from 2014 through 2026.
91
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

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The inky/purple-colored 2012 offers up scents of white chocolate, creme de cassis, acacia flowers, crushed rocks and forest floor. The tannins are surprisingly soft as the pH is about 3.7, which is slightly higher than the 2010's 3.6. This dense, full-bodied wine is still somewhat monolithic, but it is loaded with concentration and power as well as a long finish. While not totally formed, all the component parts are present. The 2012 will not match the level of the 2009 and 2010, but it should stand out as one of the highlights of 2012.

Only 52% of the production made it into the 2012 Montrose, a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon (harvested between October 13 and 20), 37% Merlot (picked during the third week of September) and a tiny amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The pH was 3.7 and I suspect the alcohol level pushes 14%. It is one of the top successes of the vintage. As new administrator Herve Berland indicated, the severe six-week drought caused the Cabernet skins to become very thick, thus resisting the huge rainfall that fell between October 7 and 9. The late harvest dates suggest very ripe Cabernet Sauvignon, which appears to be exactly what has occurred.
92-94
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate #206 April 2013

This shows a lovely finish with ultra-fine tannins and pretty fruit. Refined and long. Plenty of ripe and clean fruit. Tangy and fresh. Shows careful viticulture and winemaking.
93-94
James Suckling

Delivers a solid core of black cherry and tobacco leaf, with a briary backdrop on the finish. A bit chewy overall, but this maintains good intensity and a mouthwatering chalky edge. Backward, displaying fine length.
90-93
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Conditions of Pre Arrival Offer:
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5. Payment in full is required at time of order to secure these wines at the En Primeurs pricing.
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A gorgeous effort, the 2012 Domaine de Chevalier, made from a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon that reached 13.5% natural alcohol, boasts abundant notes of creme brulee, lemon custard, candle wax and oranges in its beautifully rich, honeyed personality. Great acidity gives laser-like precision to its component parts. Drink this full-bodied white wine over the next 2-3 decades.
93-95
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate #206 April 2013

This is very tender and pretty with very fine elements. Dried lemons, minerals and lilac as well as character of oyster shell and iodine. Full body, yet refined and long. You normally see this sort complex character in reds from Pessac-Leognan. Fascinating young white.
94-95
James Suckling

Good, floral-framed style, with honeysuckle and chamomile notes followed by Meyer lemon, meringue and shortbread flavors. Very juicy through the finish, with a nice stony backdrop for added cut.
91-94
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

MINIMUM ORDER OF 6 BOTTLES

Conditions of Pre Arrival Offer:
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One of the stars of the vintage, it boasts a dense purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of red and black currants, graphite, subtle flowers and well-integrated, toasty oak. Impressively built rich and medium to full-bodied without losing the quintessential elegance and finesse for which this famous estate is renowned, the 2012 Domaine de Chevalier is filled with purity, equilibrium and balance. The tannins are sweet enough that this wine should be accessible when released, and will last for 15-20 years. Is this a modern day clone of their brilliant 1953 (which I drank from magnum at Bern’s Steak House in November for less than $500!)?

I was joking with proprietor Olivier Bernard, who is now the president of the Union des Grands Crus, that his position seems to be accompanied by much higher scores from wine critics. Nevertheless, there is no question that Domaine de Chevalier has been on a relatively hot streak lately, and this 2012 is a beauty.
92-95
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate #206 April 2013

This shows wonderful depth of fruit with blackberries, blueberry and spice. Minerals too. Full body, with beautiful and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Superb finish. Sensational for the vintage.
93-94
James Suckling

Fresh and nicely polished, with a rounded feel to the mix of plum skin, cherry preserve and currant notes. Alluring spice and dark tea notes fill in the finish. Sneakily long.
90-93
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Conditions of Pre Arrival Offer:
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Composed of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and, intriguingly, 5% Carmenere, the straightforward 2012 Boutisse exhibits lots of red and black fruits as well as hints of tapenade, underbrush and new oak, good density, medium body and a slightly angular, abrupt finish. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.
86-88
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate #206 April 2013

Very good fruit here with blueberry and chocolate. Full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. New wood is really showing now but has a long finish and should come together nicely.
90-91
James Suckling

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5. Payment in full is required at time of order to secure these wines at the En Primeurs pricing.
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Lots of fruit for the vintage with well-integrated tannins. Full body, outstanding core. Well done. Look forward to tasting it in bottle.
89-90
James Suckling

Conditions of Pre Arrival Offer:
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2. all wines are 750ml unless indicated otherwise.
3. once received, all orders will be confirmed with suppliers and then an invoices issued; Payment will be due on receipt of this invoice.
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5. Payment in full is required at time of order to secure these wines at the En Primeurs pricing.
6. Nicks Wine Merchants reserve the right to pass on any changes in Government duties and taxes and delivery charges from the date of order to the date of final delivery of the wine.
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