K&L Newsletter - Featuring the Wines of Bordeaux

Now Available From K&L Wine Merchants... Wednesday Dec 20th, 2017 [View in Browser]( [Special Bordeaux Feature]( region, far or near, commands the attention of wine drinkers in quite the same way as Bordeaux. This was true over two hundred years ago and remains equally as true today. In surveying the superlative back to back vintages of 2015 and 2016, it is easy to see why Bordeaux enjoys such an illustrious reputation. This pair were early darlings of the critics and have already proven to be favorites among collectors, as both reveal the impressive range and depth that only Bordeaux can offer. While the hype surrounding these two hugely successive vintages may dominate the current conversation, Bordeaux also offers a treasure trove of back-vintage finds. Featured in this month’s newsletter are the best Bordeaux finds we’ve tracked down in 2017. From elite-blue chip bottlings to value-priced house pours, and everything in between, we have a bottle of Bordeaux to suit every taste and every budget. While the big named properties tend to capture the spotlight in Bordeaux, it still remains one of the most exciting regions for affordable, value-priced wines. At under $10, the [2014 Segonzac Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Vieilles Vignes]( is about an outstanding a deal as you’ll likely find. A crowd-pleaser through and through, it is an ideal bottle to open for any casual gathering of family and friends. Another sharp buy is the very open and approachable [2015 Jouanin.]( It is so well-crafted, it drinks like a much more expense St-Emilion, but for a fraction of the price. Also not to miss under the $20 mark, is the [2009 Coufran](. Hailing from one of the most thrilling vintages in a lifetime, this impeccable red has a blockbuster profile that puts it on par with some of the top names in the region. With prices climbing ever higher for the top properties in Bordeaux, a growing number of collectors have found the second labels from these revered estates offer much the same enjoyment, but for far less. Outstanding wines in their own right, in fact, there’s nothing “second” about them at all. [2015 Seigneurs d'Aiguilhe]( [2014 Medoc de Beychevelle]( and [2016 Alter Ego de Palmer]( are all profound efforts that have ability to age beautifully, but are also great candidates for early drinking. We are huge fans of second labels and you should be too! 2017 was the year of the OWC at K&L. Interest in Original Woods Cases of Bordeaux skyrocketed this year, with collectors becoming more and more savvy about selecting wines of perfect condition and provenance. We continue to work closes with the chateaux and our brokers to find the top wines and vintages in this highly collectible format. Some of our top picks in OWC include: [2016 Siran]( [2016 Léoville-Barton]( [2016 Pape Clément]( and [2016 Langoa-Barton.]( [View our electronic newsletter!]( Highlights this month include... Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2010 Andron, Haut-Médoc 91 $19.99 [View]( 2007 Labegorce Zede, Margaux 90 $29.99 [View]( 2000 Sarget de Gruaud-Larose, St-Julien 91 $49.99 [View]( 2009 Malartic-Lagravière Pessac-Léognan 94 $64.99 [View]( 2015 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien (Pre-Arrival) 97 $77.99 [View]( 2016 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien (Pre-Arrival) 99 $86.99 [View]( 2016 Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan (Pre-Arrival) 98 $89.99 [View]( 2014 Montrose, St-Estèphe 97 $129.99 [View]( 2016 Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan 6-pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) 98 $539.00 [View]( 2016 Palmer, Margaux 6-pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) 100 $1,850.00 [View]( [2010 Andron, Haut-Médoc]( [2010 Andron, Haut-Médoc]( ($19.99) 91 points Wine Spectator: "This has a large core of dark currant, plum and fig fruit rolled together and inlaid with baker's chocolate, dark tobacco and loam notes. The long, solid, muscular finish lets the fruit and loam play out nicely. Best from 2014 through 2020. (JM)" (03/2013) Wine Enthusiast: "This stalky, firmly tannic wine is still developing. Dominated by Merlot, it has black currant fruits in the background with acidity and crispness. Give this structured wine another few years and drink from 2016. (RV)" (09/2015) Moreira]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 06, 2017 Hard to believe it's been almost 8 years since the outstanding 2010 vintage, but it is, this wine is aging beautifully. The cocoa and sweet plums are joined by the gentle and round tannins. The woodsy notes are not quite yet forest floor, but it is there, and make this wine irresistible for me. Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 23, 2017 A fabulous value from the great 2010 vintage. It is showing beautiful right now. Lots of cinnamon and clove on the nose that follows to the palate. First time we had ever tasted this property and we said 100 cases for sure. As good as $40 wines out there and it has structure to age for several years. One of the great value 2010s that shows more fruit than tannin. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2007 Labegorce Zede, Margaux]( [2007 Labegorce Zede, Margaux]( ($29.99) 90 points Wine Enthusiast: "From 2009, Labégorce-Zédé will no longer exist, being amalgamated with Château Labégorce-Margaux. So this 2007 is one of the last vintages. The wine has solid but lively black fruits, the tannins dark, firm and full of blackberry juice flavors with a touch of cranberry dryness. It is definitely for aging. (RV)" (06/2010) Wine Spectator: "Delicate aromas of currant and flowers follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and an aftertaste of licorice and delicate berry. Fresh and elegant. (JS, Web Only-2010)" K&L Notes: This property does not exist anymore as its vineyards go into the Labegorce label. Garneau]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 01, 2016 One of the last vintages bottled under a separate label prior to its historic reunification with neighbor Château Labégorce in 2009. The wine is still quite youthful in character, deeply colored and marked by primary fruit flavors and firm tannins. It shows a great deal of promise, however, with a lovely weight and lush texture that make an immediate impression. Bearden]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 23, 2016 This is dark and refined with black cherry fruit, mineral, a touch of spice and scents of dried, crushed flowers. The middle is smooth and subtle on this traditionally styled wine which has a mineral streak on the elegant finish of red fruits and berries. Old school and very easy to like. Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 19, 2016 Another superb 2007 value wine-this one with more structure and power than most. Deep, dark color for a 2007-full throttle wine with a great core of fruit. Decant and enjoy. I believe this is the last vintage of this property as it has been folded into the Labegorce label. Cassis and some roses on the nose and palate. Enjoy with a big steak dinner. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2000 Sarget de Gruaud-Larose, St-Julien]( [2000 Sarget de Gruaud-Larose, St-Julien]( ($49.99) 91 points Wine Spectator: "This château made a classic grand vin and the second wine is outstanding. Very rich and plummy on the nose. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and plenty of fruit on the finish. Serious concentration here. (JS, Web Only-2003)" (03/2003) K&L Notes: Cabernet Sauvignon 57%, Merlot 31%, Cabernet Franc 7.5%, Petit Verdot 3% and Malbec 1.5%. Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 25, 2017 I may be partial to wines from St-Julien, but this particular bottle certainly outshines its price point by a long shot. It's drinking beautifully at present, but still shows plenty of structure to continue aging. On the palate, the wine shows plenty of bright, red fruit, elegant cigar box spice, and just the right amount of savory development. If you are in the market for a nicely aged Bordeaux that drinks beautifully, I wouldn't hesitate to try this wine. Sands]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 08, 2016 Finding perfectly stored older Bordeaux at a decent price from a good producer is extremely tough and one of the reasons we deal with so many different negociants in Bordeaux. The 1999 vintage was not one of power and concentration like 2000, it was far softer and easier to drink with nice soft-ripe fruit. My notes reflect exactly that as I told Clyde on the way home on the plane from the 1999 evaluation..."I don't think I have ever written down, tastes good so many times for young wines". The second wine of Gruaud Larose from 1999 is drinking beautifully now showing soft, warm, developed herbal fruit flavors with hints of earth and leather. The 2000 is a few years away from the perfect drinking window and is a much tighter, stronger and fresher expression with some nice red current fruit underneath the wood. Both wines are a steal for mature Bordeaux. Bearden]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 07, 2016 Darker in color and more closed aromatically than the 1999, this shows the power and structure of the vintage with sweeter fruit and a deeper core of richness. This is full-bodied, chewy and classically styled with ripe tannins embedded in the crunchy currant and dark plum fruit. Decant this for an hour and enjoy with hearty food. Pross]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 07, 2016 Great structure and balance! A wine with great length and complexity with firm tannins and good acidity the 2000 Sarget de Gruaud Larose. This wine has dark berry fruit, underbrush and bitter chocolate notes unfold on the palate as this youthful 2nd wine begins to spread its wings. Garneau]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 07, 2016 The second label of second growth Chateau Gruaud-Larose, named for one of the property's most prominent 19th century owners. The 2000 Sarget de Gruaud Larose, St-Julien shows off the strength of this millennial vintage. Big and round in the mouth with admirable weight. Lightly floral nose with characteristic tobacco notes. Lively fresh-picked blackberry fruit. Finishes firm with tannins still noticeably present. Drink or hold. Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 07, 2016 I just tasted this wine (July 7, 2016). A smoky, toasty, rich and concentrated nose of red fruits. Like the 1999 but richer on nose and on the palate. This has some tannins but with decanting you can enjoy now with a rich meal. I would save this wine for a few years and enjoy the 1999 now. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2009 Malartic-Lagravière Pessac-Léognan]( [2009 Malartic-Lagravière Pessac-Léognan]( ($64.99) 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Malartic-Lagraviere 09 is evolving into one of the finest wines that the estate has ever produced. It has a more introverted bouquet with dark berry fruit, undergrowth and iodine. With rigorous swirling it still refuses to unfurl. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins. It builds nicely towards a lovely black olive and spice tinged finish that exudes finesse. Superb. (NM)" (07/2013) 94 points Wine Enthusiast: "Almost sweet in its richness, this is a deliciously fruity wine. The structure and tannins are almost buried among all of the velvety fruits, ripe berry flavors and layered wood notes. That said, it still has complexity and richness that promise aging, with the final acidity giving some brightness. (RV)" (09/2012) 93 points James Suckling: "Aromas of blueberries, spices and bark follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a long silky textured finish. Very fine indeed. Best ever from here. Try it in 2017." (02/2012) 92 points Wine Spectator: "Packed and very backward, with taut tobacco, iron and bittersweet cocoa notes up front, while the core of crushed plum, roasted fig and cassis flavors is held in reserve. Lots of chalky grip marks the finish, where the fruit drips in the background. (JM)" (03/2012) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Good medium red-ruby. Complex aromas and flavors of red and black cherry, dark plum, mocha, licorice pastille, tar and hot rocks. Supple, suave and broad but not overly sweet, with an edge of acidity keeping the wine fresh throughout and leavening its thickness of texture. With its firm, buildng tannins, this concentrated, youthful wine calls for at least five years of patience. (ST) 90+" (07/2012) Garneau]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 05, 2017 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the purchase of Chateau Malartic-Lagravière by the Bonnie family. In the past two decades they have spared no expense in the restoration of this historic property, from the replanting of vineyards to the construction of an innovative gravity-fed winery. The estate was one of only six awarded cru classé status for both red and white wine in the Graves classification of 1959. The quality of both has continued to improve in remarkable fashion even in the past few years, making Chateau Malartic-Lagravière one of the better values in Pessac-Léognan, and a property to watch in the future. The 2009 vintage in particular was a great success here. All the hard work since 1997 was amply rewarded in a vintage with near perfect growing conditions, yielding a wine of great refinement and character. Hints of violets and black fruits on the nose with slightly smoky, toasted notes (80% new oak). On the palate, rich dark fruit. Lovely weight with positively silky tannins. Wonderfully ripe but very lively and fresh with a nice touch of minerality. Overall a very balanced effort. Highly recommended. 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Driscoll]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 04, 2017 MAN....is this wine in a great place right now!! Everything is congealed, moving in and out of focus, as the symphony of fruit, forest, spice and earth sings across the palate; each element getting a brief solo, but ultimately contributing to the immense texture and harmony. This is a great bottle of wine, period, but it's more than that for those who are looking to understand the merit of aging your claret. Five years ago this wine didn't have anywhere near this level of complexity, but today its showing like you wouldn't believe. I'm glad I waited to pop my bottles, but luckily for those of you who didn't buy on pre-order back in the day, we've got another shipment of perfectly aged 2009 Malartic-Lagraviere for you to buy and open today. Bearden]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 26, 2017 This is ripe and earthy with an almost sappy quality to the warm red fruit flavors. This rich and approachable wine showcases the Pessac Leognan appellation at its gravely best. Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 23, 2015 More earth and plenty of extraction. Good mid-palate texture. Very nice. Good length. At UGC: Classic, with tons of mineral notes. Very rich and fresh.One of the best value 2009s from the Pessac area. Earthy style but toasty and sweet. Charming wine. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien (Pre-Arrival)]( ($77.99) 97 points Jeb Dunnuck: "I absolutely loved the 2015 Léoville-Barton and this has everything you could want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. Cassis, smoked earth, graphite, tobacco leaf, and thrilling amounts of minerality all emerge from this inky colored, full-bodied, power-packed, brut of a Saint-Julien that holds everything together and stays pure, balanced and elegant on the palate. It has a lot of tannins, yet more than enough fruit. The 2015 is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, brought up in 60% new French oak, and it needs 7-8 years of bottle age and will shine for 2-3 decades. Bravo!" (12/2017) 94-96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2015 Leoville Barton is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot picked between 19-22 September and 28 September until 5 October for the Merlot and Cabernet respectively. Matured in 60% new oak, it has a more compelling and intense bouquet than the 2015 Langoa Barton at this early stage, whereas in other years I have found the siblings closer together. It delivers some lovely blackberry, sage and cigar box scents. The palate is very refined with edgy tannin, beautifully balanced with seamlessly integrated oak. It is the classic Léoville-Barton style, full of energy and showing more breeding than the Langoa on the finish. This is just an outstanding, classic, drop-dead gorgeous Léoville Barton that is destined to give immense pleasure over the coming years. Bravo Anthony, Lilian et al. (NM)" (04/2016) 93-96 points Vinous: "The 2015 Léoville-Barton is superb. Vivid and wonderfully nuanced in the glass, the 2015 offers exceptional purity in its aromas and flavors. As always, the house style favors finesse over pure power, but in 2015 there is a good bit of both. Graphite, pencil shavings and crème de cassis, herbs and mocha meld into a rich, textured, beautifully persistent finish. The tannins are there, but they are nearly buried. Léoville-Barton is not the most powerful or showy Saint-Julien in 2015, but it is class personified. Don't miss it. (AG)" (04/2016) 94-96 points Wine Enthusiast: "While the spicy wood is prominent at this stage, the wine also has weight. As the black currant fruits come through slowly, the wine shows a rich potential. The texture is dense and firm. (RV)" (04/2016) Sands]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 20, 2016 Leoville Barton- 86% Cabernet 14M Very strong and linear Cabernet fruit for Leoville Barton on display here. Good freshness and purity and feels like lower alcohol. Good wine and an elegant Leoville Barton. 2 Stars Bohorfoush]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 19, 2016 **Dont Miss** Classic, firm and intense with brooding dark fruits, brambly blackberry, coffee, and scorched earth. Excellent depth and old vine clarity. Solid. Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 19, 2016 This wine is always good and this year it is a big, rich, powerful Cabernet dominated wine. Creamy, red currant aromas and jammy black currant and licorice flavors. Lush on the palate with plenty of tannins at the back end. Like the huge 2010, this one needs time. Great value always and about 1/2 the price of their 2009. Production down here so the wine is highly allocated in Bordeaux. We will run out so act quickly. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien (Pre-Arrival)]( ($86.99) 97-99 points Wine Enthusiast: " Barrel Sample. This is a powerful wine, with superb tannins and blackberry fruits. It has a dense texture allied to stylish fruitiness and acidity. The result is a wine with the potential to age over a long period of time, while probably showing well starting in 2028. (RV)" (04/2017) 96-99 points Wine Spectator: "This packs some serious punch and drive, with a terrific core of blueberry, açai and plum reduction notes, backed by waves of graphite and roasted apple wood. Has the pleasantly chewy feel typical of St.-Julien, along with an extra-racy graphite edge. (JM)" (04/2017) 93-96 points Vinous: "The 2016 Léoville-Barton is superb. Precision, nuance and delineation are the signatures in a wine that speaks to class above all else. Eloquent and nuanced to the core, the 2016 is simply magnificent. There is a fair bit of tannin, but the grain is very, very fine. The 2016 is not a huge Léoville-Barton, but it is a wine of nobility and pedigree. (AG)" (04/2017) 96 points Decanter: "Restrained but textured, a confident delivery of lashings of cassis, bilberry and blackberry fruits. This is an exceptional Léoville-Barton that sacrifices none of its St-Julien signature while delivering a powerful, beautifully sculpted wine. This is a total triumph, my favourite for years at this property. (JA)" (04/2017) 95-96 points James Suckling: "Tight and chewy with a solid tannin structure and depth of fruit. Full body and lots of depth and texture. A Barton with lots happening already. Develops beautifully on the palate. Should be better than the 2015." (04/2017) 93-95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Leoville-Barton is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot picked from 29 September until 13 October, matured in 60% new oak and delivering 13% alcohol. It has a more intense bouquet compared to the Langoa-Barton, plenty of intense blackberry and raspberry fruit, minerals, cedar and a hint of licorice. The palate is a little chewy on the entry with good grip in the mouth. This demonstrates the backbone of the finish, just the right amount of spiciness with excellent salinity on the long finish. It is not a once-in-a-lifetime Leoville Barton, but (as usual) it just seems to do everything right. Maybe it's not quite up there with the stellar 2015 Léoville Barton, which I re-tasted at the time, but it is not far off. (NM)" (04/2017) Jancis Robinson: "Dark blackish purple. Less obviously aromatic than Langoa. Tea-leaf notes. Round texture with gloriously ripe tannins. Really a standout Barton. So unusually supple! Yet with masses of tannins underneath. This will surely be one of the vintage's longer-living wines. Glorious texture and flavour. Utterly minerally dry, but not drying. Very good freshness much fresher than many of its peers. Real energy. 18/20 points (JR)" (04/2017) Beffa]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2017 The 2016 Leoville Barton shows dark concentrated fruits, minerals, cedar, allspice and a firm structure. This is a sturdy wine with lots of power. A good cellar candidate! Garneau]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 06, 2017 Year on year, Leoville Barton continues to deliver wines that are firm, structured, and uncompromisingly tannic in their youth. The 2016 is very much on point with substantial, though very fine, tannins. What is particularly striking is the sheer intensity of the color, from palate-staining purple to nearly inky black. Loads of black fruit here as well. Superbly ripe with notes of fresh blackberry and hints of richer cassis. Like many of the Left Bank wines in 2016, Cabernet Sauvignon very much takes the lead here. Patience will be required but this ought to age magnificently. Bearden]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 19, 2017 All the brooding potential and massive power you expect from this wine but tempered by a roundness of the edges and a fresh lift to the middle. This is dark and dense looking with a chewy blackberry middle of surprising finesse and a super sweet finish of grainy tannin showing ample tug. This will need time but it screams potential. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan (Pre-Arrival)]( ($89.99) 97-98 points James Suckling: "This is phenomenal with a density and finesse that are hard to remember for this wine. Full-bodied, tight and polished. Seamless texture and salty undertones. Goes on for minutes. Truly great. What a barrel sample." (04/2017) 95-97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Pape Clement is a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon this year, picked from 30 September until 19 October at 48 hectoliters per hectare. The first bottle that I tasted with Bernard Magrez and his team felt a little overdone, but I had a strong suspicion that it was not a representative bottle. A second bottle was more restrained on the nose with blackberries, red plum, a touch of cloves and a light iodine influence. I love the delineation and detail here. The palate is medium-bodied with a graphite-infused entry, plenty of black fruit, saline in the mouth with great depth and cohesion on the long and tender finish. It continues Pape-Clement/Bernard Magrez' move towards a more classic style compared to the previous decade. Tasted four times, once as I mentioned, unnecessarily richer in style, but the other three consistent. (NM)" (04/2017) 95-97 points Wine Enthusiast: "This is a serious, structured wine with fine tannins as well as acidity. There is a depth of flavor in this elegant wine, with black currant fruit and great structure. A wine for the long haul. (RV)" (04/2017) 94-97 points Wine Spectator: "Intense, with vivacious cassis, blueberry and boysenberry confiture notes, while tar, anise and warm fruitcake flavors pulse underneath. Offers seriously flashy toast at the end, but has the density to soak it up. A big wine. (JM)" (04/2017) 93-96 points Vinous: "The 2016 Pape Clément exudes class and is one of the raciest, silkiest wines I have ever tasted here. The purity and intensity of the flavors is striking. Dark cherry, chocolate, spice and leather open up first. The full range of aromatics has not developed yet - that will come with time. Today, it is the wine's balance that is most remarkable. (AG)" (04/2017) 94 points Decanter: "Pape Clément retains its customary oak and black fruit impact on the nose in 2016, but without doubt they have sculpted the body. This has thrillingly bright dark berry fruits and a sharp shot of vitality that takes you through from beginning to end. Beautiful touches of minerality on the powerful palate, wrought into an elegant style without losing its texture and sense of depth. This is a step-change in many ways from the vintages where Pape Clément went all-out for power. (JA)" (04/2017) Sands]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 16, 2017 Love it! 2 stars for now and possibly 3 for Pape Clement Rouge (Very impressive all 3 times tasted. Layers of dark grapey fruit all in good focus and with nice freshness, fine tannins,lenght and great taste!). Garneau]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 15, 2017 One of the great properties in Pessac-Léognan, historic, renowned, a near neighbor of Chateau Haut-Brion. In recent years, the estate has been moving towards a more terroir-driven style, taking full advantage of its exceptional position in the northernmost part of the appellation. The 2016 Pape Clément is a nuanced effort, complex and layered with good concentration and length. Deeply colored, intense. Lovely weight with perfectly ripe, sweet fruit and fine tannins. Deftly seasoned with spicy oak that enhances rather than overwhelms the wine. Very well done. Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 15, 2017 Another winner for Bernard Magrez and his team. His 2015 was one of our best selling wines and 2016 is just as good. Earthy elements in the nose and on the palate. Quite spicy and some fine tannins on the finish. This wine will need some time even though it is lush on the palate. They released 20% less than normal this year because they were severely affected by the late April frost. Just a warning to he who hesitates-you know what happens. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2014 Montrose, St-Estèphe]( [2014 Montrose, St-Estèphe]( ($129.99) 97 points James Suckling: "Incredible aromas of currants, blackberries, slate and flowers. Full-bodied yet so tight and beautiful with superb polish and brightness. The length is fantastic. Truly superb." (02/2017) 97 points Vinous: "The 2014 Montrose is without question one of the standout wines of the vintage. Black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and lavender are some of the many aromas and flavors that open up in the glass. But the 2014 is a much deeper wine than just a bunch of descriptors can conjure. In 2014, Montrose is a wine of exceptional finesse and polish. The late-ripening vintage allowed for perfect maturation of the tannins and resulted in a silky wine that exudes class and pedigree. The 2014 is not an obvious or bombastic Montrose, but rather a wine of sublime enchantment. Don't miss it! (AG)" (02/2017) 97 points Wine Enthusiast: "This is a very fine wine showing a new level of quality at Montrose. With its almost velvet tannins inside the intense black fruits, the wine is rich, smooth and generous. Blackberry and black-plum fruits are to the fore along with the fine acidity and great structure. A wine to age for decades, it will be ready to drink from 2027. *Cellar Selection* (RV)" (02/2017) 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Tasted at the château, the 2014 Montrose builds on the promise it showed in barrel with gorgeous blackberry, raspberry, cedar and orange sorbet scents that are extremely pure and refined. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very precise acidity and layers of crisp black fruit laced with vanilla from the new oak at the moment. That will be subsumed in time. What you have here is a very precise, multi-layered, almost sensual Montrose that is going to delight many for years to come. This is highly recommended--one of the finest Left Bank wines this vintage. (NM)" (03/2017) 95 points Wine Spectator: "This is seriously built, with an admirable core of red and black currant paste and bitter plum fruit inlaid with notes of tobacco, bay and smoldering charcoal. The finish is ramrod straight thanks to an iron girder supporting everything with ease. A tremendous effort for the vintage. (JM)" (03/2017) 95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "I loved the 2014 Montrose and it has an incredible purity and elegance that sets it apart from its peers. A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it offers a deeper, richer profile with gorgeous cassis and currant fruits intermixed with licorice, chocolate, graphite and beautiful minerality. A spitting image of class on the palate, with fine tannin, integrated acidity, and medium to full-bodied richness, this terrific 2014 is up with the crème de la crème of the Médoc and keep for two to three decades." (11/2017) K&L Notes: Saturated, sweet black-red fruits with hints of black licorice. Features a powerful attack of fruit, with great texture and a long finish. We love the 2014 Montrose -- more so than their 2015. A must for the serious Bordeaux collector. Bearden]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 28, 2017 The 2014 Montrose is refined, classy and substantial with balanced structure and a depth of fruit. This is one of the best Left Bank wines of the vintage and is just beginning to reveal the complexity of red and black fruits embedded in the taut and poised body. The gloriously warm Indian summer and ideal harvest conditions are evident in every sip of this sophisticated powerhouse. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan 6-pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival)]( ($539.00) 97-98 points James Suckling: "This is phenomenal with a density and finesse that are hard to remember for this wine. Full-bodied, tight and polished. Seamless texture and salty undertones. Goes on for minutes. Truly great. What a barrel sample." (04/2017) 95-97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Pape Clement is a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon this year, picked from 30 September until 19 October at 48 hectoliters per hectare. The first bottle that I tasted with Bernard Magrez and his team felt a little overdone, but I had a strong suspicion that it was not a representative bottle. A second bottle was more restrained on the nose with blackberries, red plum, a touch of cloves and a light iodine influence. I love the delineation and detail here. The palate is medium-bodied with a graphite-infused entry, plenty of black fruit, saline in the mouth with great depth and cohesion on the long and tender finish. It continues Pape-Clement/Bernard Magrez' move towards a more classic style compared to the previous decade. Tasted four times, once as I mentioned, unnecessarily richer in style, but the other three consistent. (NM)" (04/2017) 95-97 points Wine Enthusiast: "This is a serious, structured wine with fine tannins as well as acidity. There is a depth of flavor in this elegant wine, with black currant fruit and great structure. A wine for the long haul. (RV)" (04/2017) 93-96 points Vinous: "The 2016 Pape Clément exudes class and is one of the raciest, silkiest wines I have ever tasted here. The purity and intensity of the flavors is striking. Dark cherry, chocolate, spice and leather open up first. The full range of aromatics has not developed yet - that will come with time. Today, it is the wine's balance that is most remarkable. (AG)" (04/2017) 94 points Decanter: "Pape Clément retains its customary oak and black fruit impact on the nose in 2016, but without doubt they have sculpted the body. This has thrillingly bright dark berry fruits and a sharp shot of vitality that takes you through from beginning to end. Beautiful touches of minerality on the powerful palate, wrought into an elegant style without losing its texture and sense of depth. This is a step-change in many ways from the vintages where Pape Clément went all-out for power. (JA)" (04/2017) K&L Notes: PLEASE NOTE: This product is 6 bottles in its Original Wooden Case (OWC), sold only as a 6-bottle case to protect ideal provenance. If the wines must be shipped, they will be sent in styrofoam to protect the bottles, with the wood case shipped separately. Will call or local delivery orders can be handled as intact OWCs. Please detail any special handling requests at checkout online, or call us with specific instructions. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Palmer, Margaux 6-pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival)]( - 8 available ($1,850.00) 99-100 points James Suckling: "I wrote that the 2015 was incredible, and this 2016 is again. Its equally structured and powerful as the 2015, yet theres an underlying intellectual serenity to this wine. You taste it, and you want to know and experience it even more. Full and tannic yet ever so polished and beautiful. Mesmerizing. Made from biodynamically grown grapes." (04/2017) 98-100 points Wine Enthusiast: "Potentially an 100-point wine, this is beautifully ripe and rich, with sweet tannins as well as opulent black fruit tones. A higher than usual proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend gives the wine its density, sophistication and great sense of presence. (RV)" (04/2017) 98 points Decanter: "The grand vin represents 65% of production in 2016, the highest ever. It has many similarities in style with the 2001 and 1986, being a classically styled wine full of soft slate, fern, liquorice and cassis, but from the modern era where you can achieve so much more precision. This is a wine that makes you smile from the first sip, and keeps on getting better, caressing you gently across the palate. There is never any let up through the mid-palate, and the biodynamics that have been practised here for the past few years are clearly paying off. Elegant, utterly silky and precise, the structure is just effortless with reasonably fresh alcohols that are the result of late ripening. A perfect example of the appellation, it has the florality, density and slow tannic pace that means it takes you right along with it as the flavours build. The blend is 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Intellectual without being overbearing, and built to age. This is impressive stuff. (JA)" (04/2017) 95-98 points Vinous: "Sophisticated and polished from the outset, the 2016 Palmer is utterly captivating. Dark shades of fruit, accented by hints of smoke, leather and discreet French oak open up in the glass, but it is the wine'e effortless, gracious personality that stands out most. The 2016 literally hovers on the palate with exquisite grace. I can't wait to see how it ages. (AG)" (04/2017) 95-97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Palmer is a blend of 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot cropped at 29 hectoliters per hectare between 3 and 18 October. Matured in 65% new oak (my sample coming from a used barrel), the bouquet is perhaps not quite as intense as some of its peers and takes time to click into fifth gear. Eventually it offers tightly wound blackberry, briary and mineral scents; it is very focused, but maybe less extrovert and more classic in style compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip on the entry, quite firm in the mouth with slightly tarry black fruit, hints of black truffle developing towards the finish that feels masculine and linear. It has very impressive length, completing what is an intellectual Palmer, one that I suspect will really blossom in bottle. (NM)" (04/2017) K&L Notes: PLEASE NOTE: This product is 6 bottles in its Original Wooden Case (OWC), sold only as a 6-bottle case to protect ideal provenance. If the wines must be shipped, they will be sent in styrofoam to protect the bottles, with the wood case shipped separately. Will call or local delivery orders can be handled as intact OWCs. Please detail any special handling requests at checkout online, or call us with specific instructions. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on: Check Out Our Blog: [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [On the Trail (K&L Blog)]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [My Account]( | [Wine Clubs]( | [Events]( |[Gift Cards]( | [Accessories]( | [Shipping]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Missed an offer? Check out recent opportunities at our [Email Archive]( page. Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637) Email: wine@klwines.com K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA Click here to manage your e-mail settings with K&L Wine Merchants or alternatively, [click here to unsubscribe from all mailings]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [K&L](