Winemaker Notes
The freshness of color, a rather dense purple makes one think of a year both vigorous and full-flavoured. In the mouth the structure of the wine reveals itself at once. The ripe tannins are immediately noticeable quickly giving way to sensations of smooth full-flavour. This is a well-balanced wine within a rather rigid framework. The wood is present though not in excess. Progressively the delicate and silky richness emerges but without blotting out the bittersweet trace of the well dissolved tannins.
Chateau La Mission Haut Brion
Château La Mission Haut-Brion is a world-renowned winery located in the prestigious Pessac-Léognan appellation in the Bordeaux region of France. It holds a special place in the history of Bordeaux wines due to its exceptional quality and long-standing heritage. The estate is known for producing top-tier red wines, and its wine is often regarded as one of the most sought-after in the region.
2002 | RP 92
A restrained, classic Bordeaux with cedar, graphite, and cassis. Solid but overshadowed by stronger vintages. Best for near-term drinking.
2005 | WE 96
Universally acclaimed, with deep cassis, graphite, and licorice notes. Dense tannins, superb delineation, and long finish. A wine for decades of aging.
2012 | WE 92
Elegant, mid-weight, with cassis, pencil shavings, and fine tannins. Approachable now, not a blockbuster but enjoyable.
2017 | WE 97
Impressive balance of plush fruit and firm tannins. Black fruits, graphite, cassis, and plum. Elegant, concentrated, and age-worthy.
About Winery
In 1826, Hugh Barton, already proprietor of Chateau Langoa, purchased part of the big Leoville estate. His part then became known as Léoville Barton. Six generations of Bartons have since followed, and continued to preserve the quality of the wine, classified as a Second Growth in 1855.
In 1983, Anthony Barton, the present owner, was given the property by his uncle Ronald Barton who had himself inherited it in 1929. Anthony Barton's daughter Lilian Barton Sartorius now helps her father in managing the estate. Together, they maintain the traditional methods of winemaking, producing a typical Saint-Julien of elegance and distinction. The Château Léoville Barton is the property of the Barton’s family and Lilian Barton Sartorius manages it with her two children, Mélanie and Damien.
PRE-ORDER
About Winery
Château Ausone, a Saint-Émilion estate with a rich history, is renowned as one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. Its history is intertwined with the Roman poet Ausonius, whose villa is believed to have stood on the site. The estate, now owned by the Vauthier family, has been producing exceptional wines for centuries, maintaining a reputation for density, complexity, and longevity.
Winemaker Notes
The wine is a deep, dazzling purple. Initially rather closed, the nose opens with airing to reveal elegant fresh fruit, blackcurrant bud and eucalyptus aromas. A fresh, clean attack leads into a full, powerful and silky mid-palate, building to an incredibly long finish on notes of brioche and liquorice. An intense and stylish vintage to come back to in a few years’ time.
About Winery
Second growth classified in 1855. With its terroir of big gravels located by the river Gironde, its classic and powerful style, Montrose is often called the Latour of Saint Estephe. Montrose needs time to express its incomparable delicacy. In the first decade, its fantastic potential is hidden behind a certain austerity. In the second decade, the wines open themselves. In the third decade, they explode, and the terroir expresses itself. In the hands of the family Charmolle from 1896 to 2006, it is now run by Martin and Olivier Bouygues.
Winemaker Notes
This delightful red wine hails from Bordeaux, France, where centuries of winemaking tradition have shaped some truly remarkable blends. you’ll encounter rich, dark fruit notes—perhaps blackberries and plums—alongside a touch of spice. The tannins provide structure, making it a well-rounded choice.
About Winery
Owned by the Cardarelli family since 1949. The Cardarelli brothers, 3rd generation, have never stopped, like their parents and grandparents, developing and modernizing, in order to improve the quality of the wines. Today they still continue in this approach, but we place as much importance on the ecological and respectful aspect of production to achieve the High Environmental Value (HVE) standard. The Cardarelli vineyards' motto: "Produce well, good, and in respect with nature".
Winemaker Notes
The wine displays a very attractive, intensely dark colour with purple glints. The nose adds to the appeal, offering a magical array of aromatics ranging from graphite and cedar-wood notes to aromas of wild fruit. The depth of flavour on the palate is underpinned by soft tannins and lovely acidity. The finish, which reveals subtle smoky notes, is amazingly long. In this vintage, Pontet-Canet shows once again that natural refinement is its finest jewel. 2019, without doubt, is a promise of voluptuousness for all wine lovers.
About Winery
Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac 5th Grand Cru Classé, has enjoyed an irresistible rise to become one of the Médoc's most emblematic names. Managed by Justine and Alfred Tesseron, Château Pontet-Canet has established itself as one of the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in the Pauillac appellation, with results that exceed all expectations. Vintage after vintage, the estate has established itself as one of the finest references on Bordeaux's Left Bank.
Winemaker Notes
The Cuvelier family's flagship estate has been on fine form in recent years. Their style is sumptuous, velvety, quite modern St Julien, but with the underlying structure to age for many many years. There is a beautiful bouquet of decadent dark berries, gravelly minerality, humidor, cedar and flowers. It is quite heady and perfumed with a lovely seductive core of opulent fruit and large scale tannic structure.
About Winery
With origins dating back to 1638, Léoville was the largest vineyard in the Médoc region at the time of the French Revolution. Léoville Poyferré springs from various divisions and successions in 1840. Its outstanding quality wines gained early recognition when it was ranked 2nd Growth in the 1855 classification. Château Léoville Poyferré was acquired in 1920 by the Cuvelier family. Château Léoville Poyferré was the Léoville that got left in the starting blocks in terms of reputation and in the quality of its wines. Léoville Poyferré has been owned by the Cuvelier family (who also own Château Le Crock) since 1921, yet it was not until the 1970s, when Didier Cuvelier took control at the château, that quality began to improve. In the last 20 years, Didier, with the assistance of Michel Rolland since 1995, has turned Léoville-Poyferré into one of StJulien's finest estates. Now up with the best of the St-Juliens but still selling at nonscary prices. Léoville Poyferré is classified as a 2ème Cru Classé
Winemaker Notes
The 2005 Chateau Figeac is known for its elegant, restrained style with notes of dark fruit, tobacco, and leather. It is a medium-bodied wine with racy tannins, built on finesse and delicacy rather than power and concentration. The blend typically includes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
About Winery
Figeac is a very ancient property. In the 2nd century, the Figeacus family gave its name to the estate. Traces of this Gallo-Roman villa still exist today. In the 15th century, FIGEAC was one of five noble houses in Saint-Emilion and passed from the Lescours family, who at that time also owned Ausone, into the hands of the Cazes family, who transmitted it through marriage to the Carles in the 17th century. After the Manoncourt family acquired the property in 1892, FIGEAC was mainly managed by agricultural engineers.
However, in 1943, the year in which Thierry Manoncourt made his first vintage, a period of resurgencebegan for Figeac. Thierry Manoncourt realised in that year the huge potential of FIGEAC’s terroir and urged his mother, a Parisian, to hold on to the estate. In 1955 CHATEAU-FIGEAC became a First Great Classified Growth.
Today, Madame Manoncourt and her daughters are ably supported by highly skilled wine-growing teams and are as eager as ever to guarantee the long-term continuity of FIGEAC.
Winemaker Notes
A lovely dark-coloured wine with black plum and mulberry fruit aromas touched with lavender, ginger, smoke, and earth. The wine is approachable out of barrel, but there is no lack of structure or tannin. Anne’s son Paul proclaims it to be his favourite wine of the vintage, and it’s easy to see why. The vines on her hectare of vines in Grand Maupertui have been in the family since the time of her grandfather Louis Gros. They were originally planted in 1904 and since this time only single dead vines have been replaced (repiquage), thus the average age is over 80 years.
About Winery
Domaine Anne Gros traces its roots back to 1830 when Alphonse Gros first established the family’s viticultural presence in Vosne-Romanée. After generations of family stewardship—and the eventual division of the historic Gros estate among heirs—Anne Gros took over her father François's 3-hectare domaine in 1988 at just 25 years old. Initially releasing wines under Domaine Anne et François Gros, she officially established the estate under her own name in 1995, gradually expanding its holdings to roughly 6.5 hectares. Today, she crafts highly sought-after, terroir-driven Burgundies—including prized allocations in Richebourg, Clos Vougeot, and Échezeaux—celebrated globally for their purity, finesse, and velvety balance.
Winemaker Notes
Sourced from high-altitude parcel plantings in Concoeur—perched just above Vosne-Romanée—Domaine Anne Gros Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Rouge displays a brilliant ruby hue and opens with an immediate, expressive bouquet of fresh red berries, wild raspberries, crushed red cherries, and delicate violet florality. On the palate, this cool-climate Pinot Noir showcases Anne Gros's signature supple refinement, marrying juicy dark fruit with light notes of forest floor, subtle white pepper, and well-integrated oak spice. Driven by a bright, refreshing spine of acidity and fine, velvety tannins, it offers a harmonious, linear structure and a clean, mineral-driven finish that makes it beautifully accessible and energetic in its youth.
About Winery
Domaine Anne Gros traces its roots back to 1830 when Alphonse Gros first established the family’s viticultural presence in Vosne-Romanée. After generations of family stewardship—and the eventual division of the historic Gros estate among heirs—Anne Gros took over her father François's 3-hectare domaine in 1988 at just 25 years old. Initially releasing wines under Domaine Anne et François Gros, she officially established the estate under her own name in 1995, gradually expanding its holdings to roughly 6.5 hectares. Today, she crafts highly sought-after, terroir-driven Burgundies—including prized allocations in Richebourg, Clos Vougeot, and Échezeaux—celebrated globally for their purity, finesse, and velvety balance.
Winemaker Notes
The robe of Sir Winston Churchill's 21st vintage features a beautiful shiny gold and a bead of very fine bubbles, both characteristic of the long aging lavished on this cuvée.
The nose is of a beautiful expression and opens immediately on notes of spices and pepper accompanied by menthol nuances. The complexity is obvious: aromas of candied fruit and dried fruit complemented by hazelnut are mixed with notes of exotic fruits such as papaya or mango. The nose is particularly open and generous.
The palate is also very generous, where the aromas of candied fruit are supported by notes of pastries, brioche and cocoa. It presents a beautiful structure and the large proportion of Pinot Noir gives it the roundness and the shoulders that one expects from the cuvée. The mouth is also marked by a very good length which makes you want to associate it with moments of great gastronomy.
About Winery
Champagne Pol Roger was founded in 1849 in Épernay, France, by a 17-year-old Pol Roger, who began by selling wine and soon focused on producing drier, brut styles favored in Britain. The independent, family-run house survived major historical crises and became famously known as the favorite champagne of Winston Churchill.
Winemaker Notes
Pale salmon with delicate pink hues. Great intensity of color with a fine and persistent effervescence. The nose is intense and reminiscent of a basket of red fruits where raspberry, redcurrant and blackcurrant mingle, with the added nuances of exotic mango and papaya. With time and air, the floral aromas of rose and honeysuckle then dominate. Mouth-filling on the palate with some sophistication and an impressive length. Despite the obvious ripeness on the palate, the wine has a terrific freshness and very present acidity suggesting a bright future for this cuvée.
About Winery
Champagne Pol Roger was founded in 1849 in Épernay, France, by a 17-year-old Pol Roger, who began by selling wine and soon focused on producing drier, brut styles favored in Britain. The independent, family-run house survived major historical crises and became famously known as the favorite champagne of Winston Churchill.
Winemaker Notes
A crystal-clear appearance with silvery tints complements the delicate bubbles. Initially shy on the nose, the wine reveals a fine minerality (chalk and flint) with notes of white flowers, yellow cherries and dried nuts. On aeration, aromas of citrus, exotic fruits and cocoa butter come together to complete the whole. The bouquet is very fine, direct and pure. On entry to the palate, the wine is crisp and exceptionally fresh. The texture of this Blanc de Blancs 2016 is delicate and almost crunchy. It reveals a pronounced minerality with subtle hints of citrus zest (lemon and orange) and toasted overtones. The saline finish is long and persistent. Sustained by a remarkable freshness that creates a graceful backbone throughout, this finely balanced champagne shows great promise.
About Winery
Champagne Pol Roger was founded in 1849 in Épernay, France, by a 17-year-old Pol Roger, who began by selling wine and soon focused on producing drier, brut styles favored in Britain. The independent, family-run house survived major historical crises and became famously known as the favorite champagne of Winston Churchill.
Winemaker Notes
Pale yellow with silver highlights, the wine produces an alluring effervescence that rises from a cord of fine persistent bubbles. An especially open and expressive nose begins with notes of dried fruit, cocoa, almond and coconut. Allowed to breathe, notes of yellow fruits such as Mirabelle plum and eau de vie add to the nose which, though young, is rich and promising. The palate is exceedingly fresh. Crisp acidity gives it a strong backbone that carries right through to the finish. Those aromas of dried fruits from the first nose persist, with nuances of citrus, lemon and bitter orange completing the palate and reinforcing the youth of the wine. On the finish, subtle notes of confected fruits come through, in particular candied orange peel.
About Winery
Champagne Pol Roger was founded in 1849 in Épernay, France, by a 17-year-old Pol Roger, who began by selling wine and soon focused on producing drier, brut styles favored in Britain. The independent, family-run house survived major historical crises and became famously known as the favorite champagne of Winston Churchill.
Winemaker Notes
The Pol Roger Pure Extra Brut NV is a zero-dosage champagne featuring equal parts Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, showcasing aromas of clove flowers and bread crumbs with a straight, chalky, and bone-dry palate.
About Winery
Champagne Pol Roger was founded in 1849 in Épernay, France, by a 17-year-old Pol Roger, who began by selling wine and soon focused on producing drier, brut styles favored in Britain. The independent, family-run house survived major historical crises and became famously known as the favorite champagne of Winston Churchill.
Winemaker Notes
Pol Roger Brut Réserve diplays a beautiful golden straw colored hue, as well as abundant and fine bubbles. With a powerful and attractive nose, it first delivers aromas of fruit (pear, mango ...) and then releases light flavors of honeysuckle and white jasmine, lingering on vanilla and brioche notes. Behind a frank and dynamic attack, the wine encompasses a nice harmony and a pleasant freshness, whilst preserving some structure. On the palate, flavors of cooked fruit (quince jelly, apricot jam) happily mingle with fragrances of beeswax and acacia honey. The long-lasting aromas, composed of both fruity (candied orange peel, tangerine...) and spicy notes (cardamom, anis) is outstanding.
About Winery
Champagne Pol Roger was founded in 1849 in Épernay, France, by a 17-year-old Pol Roger, who began by selling wine and soon focused on producing drier, brut styles favored in Britain. The independent, family-run house survived major historical crises and became famously known as the favorite champagne of Winston Churchill.
Winemaker Notes
The Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2023 is an elegant, cool, and mineral-driven white wine featuring aromas of ripe citrus, white orchard fruit, and flinty sea-shell elements.
About Winery
Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.
Winemaker Notes
The Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots Vieilles Vignes 2024 features a bright hue with green glimmers, a delicate nose of white flowers and honey, and a rich, dense palate balanced by a long, mineral finish.
About Winery
Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.
Winemaker Notes
The 2023 Billaud-Simon Chablis Bougros Grand Cru features rich, demonstrative aromas of candied fruits, apple pie spice, and intense minerals, balanced by a powerful, unctuous palate with hints of gingerbread and a long, saline finish.
About Winery
Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.
Winemaker Notes
The 2023 Billaud Simon Chablis 1ER Cru Montee De Tonnerre is a complex, elegant wine featuring lemon peel, green apple, and salty oyster-shell minerality. It is made from a blend of old vines fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks.
About Winery
Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.
Winemaker Notes
The 2023 Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume presents an elegant, fruit-forward profile with a richer, more generous texture balanced by trademark salinity and precision. Sourced from the estate's south-facing Vaupulans parcel and vinified under winemaker Olivier Bailly, it highlights the distinct typicity of Chablis.
About Winery
Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.
Winemaker Notes
Clear, bright hue with light green tinges. This Premier Cru reveals a remarkably rich aromatic profile with ripe citrus fruits and white flowers. The palate is rich and round with exceptional length.
About Winery
Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.
Winemaker Notes
There is excellent density, especially for the vintage, to the middle weight flavors that are rich and caressing while maintaining good verve that carries over to the clean, dry and youthfully austere finale. This could use more depth but the fine potential is evident. Lovely.
About Winery
Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.
Winemaker Notes
This wine has a beautiful white gold hue with delicate pale green glimmers. The seductive and classic Chablis nose offers notes of vine peach, banana, citrus fruits, and brioche. The palate is well-balanced, rich, fresh, and elegant, with a smooth, rich structure that lingers on the finish. Ripe fruits combine harmoniously with mineral notes to create a soft mouthfeel.
About Winery
Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.
