Finding a parcel of 2010 claret nine years after this 5-Star vintage was a coup for our Buyer Jean-Marc Sauboua. Critic Michael Schuster described the wines of 2010 on release as “massively elegant, fresher, firmer, more tannic”, Suckling praised them for being “very precise, focused and fresh to taste”, “dangerously good” said Jancis Robinson MW.
Médoc wines that year proved particularly good value too. The 40 hectare estate Château Carcanieux has very gravelly soils, hence its original name Carcanieux Les Graves. This encourages superb concentration and ripeness in the wines. Cabernet with Merlot, and aged in barrel, this silky claret has a fine balance of fruit and maturity, with spice from the oak. Decant and serve with steak au poivre.
only 19 left
Fronsac's fine Château Dalem perches high on a hill, surrounded by its 14 hectares of sloping vineyards. It's an historic estate, with records dating back to 1610, that stayed in the same family until 1955. Michel Rullier then took it over and today it's run with great success by his descendant, Brigitte Rullier-Loussert. Its vineyards are nearly all planted to Merlot, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc, and tended with meticulous care.
As you can see from critics' scores (92 points from James Suckling and 94 from Vertedevin), it is an admired claret and one that ages very well too. Matured in French oak (50% new), it has structure and length, but above all an appealing fruity depth. Perfect with roast meat or wild mushroom risotto.
only 5 left
only 2 left
From the 4th-generation De Martino family, this is a rich, ripe red using Chile's speciality grape, Carmenère. It shows what elegance and richness can be achieved in Chile's best sites. The family are Italian, but left their homeland for South America in 1934. They made the Cachapoal Valley their new home and now have the largest holdings of organic vineyards in Chile.
Their wines always show a great sense of "place, purity and balance". Twice named 'Chilean Winery of the Year', they specialise in using sustainable practices in the vineyard and carefully match each grape to its optimum region. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in cool Limari, while Carmenère excels in the warmer Maipo Valley. Silky solo, it's tasty too with chicken or veggie bake.
Awarded 98pts by a top Italian critic for the previous 4 years and with over 400 top customer reviews, Saracosa Governo is a gorgeous, rich Italian red. Black cherry intensity, mocha and spice, turbo charged by dried Sangiovese and Merlot grapes.
