Bordeaux Region Report

St Julien, 4th Growth Classification

The 1981 Branaire is quite forward, precociously supple, and fruity. The bouquet is showing expansive, complex, chocolatey, cedary components.

About Chateau Branaire Ducru Château Branaire-Ducru is a renowned wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region in France. It is classified as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Grand Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, which highlights its longstanding reputation for quality. The estate spans approximately 60 hectares of vineyards, planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 11 in Stock

Listrac Cru Bourgeois

The 1981 Chateau Clarke Stoic and firm in character, the nose, with its tobacco, wet earth, spice, cassis and cherry aromatics are the best part of the wine. There is an austerity on the palate that will definitely appeal to lovers of older classic wine.

Château Clarke is a wine property of Bordeaux of 54 hectares (130 acres) based in the Listrac-Médoc AOC and classified as Cru Bourgeois. The vineyard is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon (48%), Merlot (42%), Cabernet Franc (8%), and Petit Verdot (2%), planted on a limestone ground calcareous eocene and calcareous clay (spacing: 6060 vines/ha).

About Chateau Clarke Château Clarke, …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 1 in Stock

St Estephe, 2nd Growth Classification

The 1981 Cos d'Estournel is a deep ruby colour, with a spicy, rich, briery, tightly knit bouquet, this wine is deeper and more promising than the 1983, but relatively light, compact, and lean.

Château Cos d'Estournel is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux, France. Established in the early 19th century by Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, the estate is renowned for its grand architectural style, including the iconic pagodas that distinguish its winery. Covering approximately 100 hectares, the vineyard benefits from a unique terroir of gravel and clay soils, ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

​Château Croizet-Bages, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, has a history dating back to the 18th century. The 1981 vintage, while not among the most celebrated years in Bordeaux, offers a unique opportunity to experience a mature expression of this estate's wine.​

Specific tasting notes for the 1981 Château Croizet-Bages are limited, reflecting the vintage's modest reputation. However, given the wine's age, it's likely to exhibit tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, and earthy notes, with softened tannins and a harmonious palate. It's important to note that individual bottle conditions can vary, especially with wines of this age. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 12 in Stock

St Julien, 2eme Growth Classification

The 1981 Ducru Beaucailiou has a very intense red; nose of berries, nice claret bouquet; good fruit on the palate, broad; initially quite green - not a great vintage but quite acceptable.

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, located in the renowned Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France, is an iconic estate celebrated for its exceptional wines and illustrious history. Dating back to the 18th century, this historic property has been meticulously tended by generations of the Borie family, who have upheld a tradition of excellence in winemaking. Situated on gravelly soils along the Gironde River, …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

St Julien 2me Growth Classification

A deep tawny rim with a mahogany core. This has a delightful nose, very good intensity with notes of cooked meats, roasted chestnut, toffee and a touch of marzipan. It smells as if it is from a hot vintage! After five minutes in the glass, it become a little muffled but develops a touch of mint. The palate certainly has more fruit concentration than the 1980, a rounded texture, quite sharp acidity with notes of sour cherry, a touch of leather and a dry, rather gamey, but attenuated finish. Not bad for a 1981.

Château Léoville Poyferré is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France. …
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Price: £165.00
Stock: 6 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

1980 Château Batailley – A Mature Pauillac from a Challenging Vintage
The 1980 Château Batailley comes from a vintage that tested Bordeaux winemakers due to cool, wet conditions throughout the growing season. Château Batailley, a fifth-growth estate in Pauillac, is known for producing structured, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines that traditionally age well. However, 1980 was not a strong vintage, with a late and difficult harvest leading to wines that were generally lighter in body and acidity-driven rather than deeply concentrated.

Now, more than 40 years later, any well-preserved bottle of 1980 Château Batailley will have evolved into a delicate, fully mature wine. …
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Price: £66.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Pauillac 1er Grand Cru Classe

The 1980 Château Latour from Pauillac, one of Bordeaux’s First Growth estates, comes from a less celebrated vintage. The 1980 growing season was challenging due to a cooler and wetter summer, resulting in less-than-ideal conditions for ripening. However, Château Latour is known for its ability to produce outstanding wines even in difficult years and the 1980 vintage is one of the top wines from the vintage, although lighter and less structured compared to more renowned vintages.

Tasting notes for the 1980 Château Latour: The wine is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot typical of Latour’s blend. …
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Price: £495.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Château Cormeil-Figeac is a family-owned estate located in the Saint-Émilion appellation of Bordeaux, France. Situated between the renowned Châteaux Figeac and Cheval Blanc, the estate benefits from an exceptional terroir. Currently managed by the fourth generation of the family, Victor and Coraline Moreaud, the vineyard spans approximately 10 hectares with vines averaging 45 years of age. The vineyard is planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.

Tasting Notes:
Expect a garnet coloured wine with aromas of red berries (cherry, raspberry), dried herbs, earthy notes, hints of cedar and tobacco. …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 4 in Stock

St Estephe 5th Growth Classification
Magnum

Château Cos Labory, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Saint-Estèphe appellation, has a history of producing robust and age-worthy wines. The 1979 vintage experienced a cool growing season, leading to wines that were initially graceful and well-balanced but have since declined, often exhibiting lean tannins and diminished fruit. ​


After over four decades, the 1979 Château Cos Labory may present pronounced earthy and leathery notes, with a reduced fruit presence. Proper decanting is recommended to separate any sediment and to allow the wine to breathe, potentially unveiling subtle nuances that have developed over time. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

1979 Château Croizet-Bages – A Mature Pauillac from a Classic Era
Château Croizet-Bages, a fifth-growth estate in the Pauillac appellation, is known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon-led wines that offer a more approachable and elegant expression of the region. The 1979 vintage in Bordeaux was a moderate to good year, producing wines that were medium-bodied, well-structured, and capable of aging for several decades. While overshadowed by the more powerful 1978 and 1982 vintages, 1979 Bordeaux wines have proven to age gracefully, particularly from well-regarded estates.

Now at over 40 years of age, …
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Price: £69.95
Stock: 12 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

Château Lynch-Moussas, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, has a storied history dating back to the 18th century. The 1979 vintage, while not among the most celebrated years in Bordeaux, offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of this estate's wines over the decades.​

Specific tasting notes for the 1979 Château Lynch-Moussas are scarce, reflecting the vintage's overall modest reputation. However, given the wine's age, it's likely to exhibit tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, and earthy notes, with softened tannins and a harmonious palate. It's important to note that individual bottle conditions can vary, especially with wines of this age. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 3 in Stock

Graves Blanc

Excluded from our guarantee

This 1979 Malartic Lagravière Blanc is sold as a curiosity. While it was originally a superb Pessac with an elegant nose of yellow fruit and citrus, and a full-bodied palate with lovely acidity, it was designed to age up to fifteen years. As such, although it may be drinkable and rewarding, we cannot guarantee its condition. However, it could make a unique novelty gift for someone born in 1979.

Purchased by the family of Count Hippolite de Maurès de Malartic at the end of the eighteenth century, Château Malartic Lagravière has been renowned for centuries for the quality of its terroir. In 1997, the Bonnie family bought it from the Marly family. …
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Price: £30.00
Stock: 3 in Stock

Chateau Prince Larquey

Bordeaux, in the south-west of France, needs little introduction to anyone with an interest in wine. One of the world's most prolific wine regions, it also manages to rank among the most famous and prestigious. The secrets of Bordeaux's wine success (other than magical Bordeaux Blend) are its three trump cards: diversity, quality and quantity. The majority of Bordeaux wines are the dry, medium-bodied reds that made the region famous.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 10 in Stock

Chateau Balan

Bordeaux, in the south-west of France, needs little introduction to anyone with an interest in wine. One of the world's most prolific wine regions, it also manages to rank among the most famous and prestigious. The secrets of Bordeaux's wine success (other than magical Bordeaux Blend) are its three trump cards: diversity, quality and quantity. The majority of Bordeaux wines are the dry, medium-bodied reds that made the region famous.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 10 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

Château Batailley, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, has a longstanding reputation for producing robust and age-worthy wines. The 1978 vintage, while not among the most celebrated years, has matured gracefully over the decades, offering a unique tasting experience for enthusiasts of aged Bordeaux.​

Tasting notes from this vintage reveal a wine that has developed classic aged claret characteristics. Earthy notes, tobacco, and moss are prominent on the nose, indicative of its maturity. On the palate, it presents as quite light and elegant, showcasing the subtlety that can come with extended aging. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

Haut-Medoc, 5th Growth Classification

The 1978 Château Belgrave hails from a vintage that saw a cool, wet spring followed by a hot and dry summer, leading to uneven ripening across Bordeaux. As a fifth-growth estate in the Haut-Médoc, Château Belgrave has long been known for its classic Bordeaux blends, primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with smaller portions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. While some 1978 Bordeaux wines showed promise in their youth, their longevity has varied depending on storage conditions and individual château vinification styles.

At nearly 50 years old, the 1978 Château Belgrave has likely developed complex, aged characteristics, with earthy, leathery, and dried fruit notes taking center stage. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 2 in Stock

Margaux 3me Cru Classe
Bin soiled labels
Sale Offer | Bin Soiled Labels | was £129 | Now £75

From the good 1978 vintage, this wine still has a quite dark colour with a moderate amount of age showing
around the rim. The bouquet is a little earthy at first but reveals some complexity. The taste is much better than the bouquet reavealing some typical cassis fruit and medium length finish.

Château d'Issan stands as a historic wine estate located in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a legacy spanning over 800 years, the estate has garnered recognition for producing exceptional red wines. Encompassing around 44 hectares, the vineyard benefits from a diverse terroir of gravelly and sandy soils, ideal for nurturing Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. …
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Price: £75.00
Stock: 4 in Stock

Pessac-Leognan Cru Classe

With a vibrant medium garnet colour the 1978 Pape Clement shows a lifted bouquet of spice, graphite, subtle tobacco and dried herbs. On the palate blackcurrant, plum and sour cherry interwoven with subtle dried herbs, tobacco and earth. Smooth and seamless mid-palate with lively acidity and a long and satisfying finish with hints of menthol and fine grain tannins. At its peak now.

About Chateau Pape Clement Château Pape Clément, located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation of Bordeaux, France, is one of the oldest Grands Crus vineyards in the region, with a history dating back to the 13th century. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 1 in Stock

Sauternes 1er Cru Classe
Sweet White Wine

Beautiful copper in colour with bouquet that can fill a room with apricots and gardenia with a hint of ocean breeze. In the mouth it is wonderfully delicious as most desert wines are but what set this apart is it's not so sweet with good firm tannin structure and a bit of honeydew and cinnamon on the back end. Also as with most desert wines the finish lingers for (seemingly) hours and butter, honey, and citrus coating your throat. This wine is absolutely wonderful.

Château Rieussec, located in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux, France, is renowned for its prestigious history and exceptional sweet wines. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Sauternes 1er Cru Classe
Sweet White Wine

Beautiful copper in colour with bouquet that can fill a room with apricots and gardenia with a hint of ocean breeze. In the mouth it is wonderfully delicious as most desert wines are but what set this apart is it's not so sweet with good firm tannin structure and a bit of honeydew and cinnamon on the back end. Also as with most desert wines the finish lingers for (seemingly) hours and butter, honey, and citrus coating your throat. This wine is absolutely wonderful.

Château Rieussec, located in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux, France, is renowned for its prestigious history and exceptional sweet wines. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 4 in Stock

Pauillac, 1st growth Classification
Upper shoulder / glue striped label

A very rare 1977 first growth wine - the bottles have been stored well and the condition is good. Probably the best wine of a poor Bordeaux vintage. Cellar Tracker reviews mention notes of earthy, mushroom truffles. There are some recommendations not to decant (open and reseal).

Château Latour, located in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, France, is one of the most prestigious and historically significant wine estates in the world. Classified as a First Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Château Latour is renowned for its powerful, long-lived red wines primarily made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other classic Bordeaux varietals. …
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Price: £425.00
Stock: 3 in Stock

Pauillac, 1st growth Classification
top shoulder

A very rare 1977 first growth wine - the bottles have been stored well and the condition is good. Probably the best wine of a poor Bordeaux vintage. Cellar Tracker reviews mention notes of earthy, mushroom truffles. There are some recommendations not to decant (open and reseal).

About Chateau Latour Château Latour, located in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, France, is one of the most prestigious and historically significant wine estates in the world. Classified as a First Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Château Latour is renowned for its powerful, long-lived red wines primarily made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other classic Bordeaux varietals. …
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Price: £495.00
Stock: 3 in Stock

Pauillac, 1st growth Classification
Clearance Offer | Upper shoulder | Was £345 | Now £200

A very rare 1977 first growth wine - the bottles have been stored well and the condition is good. Probably the best wine of a poor Bordeaux vintage. Cellar Tracker reviews mention notes of earthy, mushroom truffles. There are some recommendations not to decant (open and reseal).

Château Latour, located in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, France, is one of the most prestigious and historically significant wine estates in the world. Classified as a First Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Château Latour is renowned for its powerful, long-lived red wines primarily made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other classic Bordeaux varietals. …
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Price: £200.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Pauillac, 1st Growth Classification
High shoulder

At the invitation of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother spent three days at Mouton on the occasion of her official visit to Bordeaux in April 1977.

To commemorate the visit, and with her permission, Baron Philippe dedicated the 1977 Mouton Rothschild label to her as a personal tribute.

Despite the vintage this wine still has a majestic color and nose given its age. As with most Bordeaux from 1977, this is a tad past its prime but you can tell this was a wine of elegance. Very interesting flavors of earth, a little leather, and berries. a little short lived on the palate but very interesting. …
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Price: £395.00
Stock: 1 in Stock