Château Barde-Haut 2013, GCC St Emilion

Château Barde-Haut 2013, a medium ruby with a tight garnet rim, offers a unique blend of ripe back fruits(berries and plums) and cassis. Its soft tannins and hints of liquorice add a delightful complexity. On the palate, you'll discover a symphony of flavours-black cherry, raspberry, blueberry, mint, toast, and graphite, all leading to a medium finish. The 13% alcohol content is balanced, leaving a slightly sweetish aftertaste. For a more pronounced acidity, chill it down. But what truly sets this wine apart is its potential to age beautifully for another five years, promising even more depth and complexity. 

Barde Haut 2013, following the highly acclaimed 2012 vintage and its elevation to the title of Grand Cru Classé, continues to impress as a consistent and esteemed property on the right bank, standing among the most respected references of Saint Emilion. Its promotion to the rank of Grand Cru Classe in 2012 was a testament to its exceptional quality, surpassing other St Emilion Grand Crus. The wine has consistently scored between 94 and 96 in recent years, a testament to its excellence. Our understanding of this wine is not recent; we have been tasting and appreciating it since 1996 in a tasting hosted by the local chapter Commanderie de Bordeaux, further solidifying its reputation. 

The result of a meticulous blend dominated by Merlot (90%) and supplemented by Cabernet Franc, Château Barde-Haut 2013 was aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 80% of which were new. The soil of seventeen hectares is composed of the classic clay and chalk soils of St Emilion, providing the perfect conditions for the grapes to thrive. 2013 is awarded NM92 (Wine Journal) and also WS91, further confirming its exceptional quality. Also, 91 points Wine Spectator during Barrel Tasting confirmed as 'fleshy and inviting, with plum paste, blackberry coulis, and black tea notes woven together and backed by a twinge of iron on the finish. Features some showy toast.'

Chateau Rahoul Blanc 2018

Classic Graves colour and tones: attractive pale yellow with green tints, revealing elegant aromas of white peach and lemony verbena, reflecting the tasting of Frédéric Bonnaffous, the DOURTHE ESTATES DIRECTOR. With some 2- year plus bottle ageing, there is a generous and perfumed on the palate from the outset. Semillon 77%, the predominant grape variety, imparts richness and body to the wine, balanced by the 23% sauvignon and culminating in a fresh, citrus-laden finish—eight months of wood ageing with 15% new oak- particular spice and creaminess—a classy, little white in style and packaging.

Scores in the range of 90 to 92. For example:

Jamessuckling.com; 91-92/100

This is mostly Semillon, and it shows wonderful, silky and dried-fruit character, such as lemon zest. Medium-to full-bodied. Fresh and bright finish.

Batailley 2015 Revisited

Uniquely, this bottle presents an intense nose of black fruit, violets, sweet vanilla, roasted coffee, leather, and smoked meat. Its taste is even more intriguing, with a tighter and more packed profile than the nose suggests. Ripe and round cassis and plum juicy, with a burst of other blue and black fruit on the mid-palate, followed by tones of chocolate, textured tannins, and coffee beans. The finish is long, leaving a lasting impression.

 This wine is not just for immediate enjoyment and will improve over a fine glass. Thanks to its sweet tannins, weight, density, opulence, and richness, it has the potential to age gracefully for several years. These qualities are rare for a Médoc Cru 2015, making it a valuable addition to any collection. 

Rest assured, this wine has garnered excellent scores and comments. JS95, RP95.  

RP said the 2015 Batailley is a wine of exceptional depth and complexity. From the outset, it presents with a rich and smoky aroma, perfectly complementing the ripe blackberries, blueberries and red plums. The wine boasts an attractive spicy oak flavour that adds to its allure. The wine is composed and linear on the mid-weight palate, with a succulent, regal finish that lingers long after the last sip. The excellent polish, balance, and superb structure make it a wine worth trying from 2022 onwards. 

With a rating of 95 JS, the blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot cropped at 48 hl/ha picked between 17-30 September and matured in around 55-60% new oak, the wine has a very focused and intense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar, and mineral notes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well-judged acidity, and a touch of white pepper lending edginess, gradually building to a very composed and structured finish. This is an excellent Batailley, meliorated by introducing a second wine that continues the upswing in quality over the last six or seven years. 

With quality at the 95-point level, this wine is expected to be a top choice for wine lovers, and it is recommended to be enjoyed from 2022 to 2050.