Bordeaux for the Holidays—Our Top Picks from a Hallowed Region

Now Available from K&L Wine Merchants... Monday Dec 10th, 2018 [View in Browser]( [KL-emailheader.gif]( is a very special place. No region in the world produces such a diversity of wines of such high quality. Regardless of expertise or budget, there’s a Bordeaux for everyone. For this reason, Bordeaux is always a perfect pick come the holidays. Whether you are looking for gift-giving, a bottle to open for your next holiday gathering, or a collectible treasure to add to your cellar, there’s a Bordeaux that will fit the bill. In the pages of this month’s newsletter, you’ll find a range of Bordeaux in a array of styles and categories. Included are in-stock picks from the historic back-to-back vintages of 2009 and 2010, highlights from the stellar 2015s, hard-to-find back vintage rarities, and, of course, the sizzling hot 2016s. The bounty that Bordeaux offers is nothing short of breathtaking, but such abundance can also be overwhelming. This newsletter narrows down the scope and zeros in on the picks we think will make your holidays all the more special. [Click here for the newsletter]( and scroll below for some of our top selections from this hallowed region. Happy Holidays! Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2015 Hyot, Côtes de Castillon 90 $13.99 [View]( 2001 Coufran, Haut-Médoc $19.99 [View]( 2015 Puy-Blanquet, St-Emilion 92 $26.99 [View]( 2015 Poujeaux, Moulis 94 $34.99 [View]( 2003 Clarke, Listrac 90 $36.99 [View]( 2015 Barde-Haut, St-Emilion 95 $44.99 [View]( 2000 Clos du Marquis, St-Julien 94 $89.99 [View]( 2009 Lascombes, Margaux 94 $94.99 [View]( 2016 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac (Pre-Arrival) 99 $159.99 [View]( 2015 Valandraud, St-Émilion 99 $189.99 [View]( 2016 Cos d'Estournel, St-Estèphe (Pre-Arrival) 100 $199.99 [View]( 2010 Pichon-Baron, Pauillac 99 $209.99 [View]( 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion Rouge, Pessac-Léognan 100 $499.99 [View]( 2009 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac 99 $949.99 [View]( [2015 Hyot, Côtes de Castillon]( [2015 Hyot, Côtes de Castillon]( ($13.99) 90 points James Suckling: " A round and juicy red with berry and chocolate character, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Medium to full body. Needs a year or two to soften. Try in 2020." (02/2018) [clydebeffa.gif]( Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2018 The daughters of owners Bernadette Faure and Alain Aubert oversee vineyards, winemaking and marketing of this fine value Bordeaux. This is a ripe, fruity wine with its black-currant fruit and balanced sweet tannins. It has a fine elegant texture and like other 2015s it is very forward with ripe tannins. The 2014 was a huge hit-this is as good. [Alex-Schroeder.jpg]( Schroeder]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 26, 2018 We started selling this to much acclaim back in 2017, and it seems to have gotten even better with just the little extra bottle age it has had. Like many 2015s it has such a soft supple character, with subtle flavors of baking spice, ripe cherries and strawberries, but with definite structure from the round juicy tannins. This is unbelievably enjoyable for the price. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2001 Coufran, Haut-Médoc]( [2001 Coufran, Haut-Médoc]( ($19.99) [Alex-Schroeder.jpg]( Schroeder]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 16, 2018 I can only imagine the look of satisfaction on the face of Louis Miailhe when he finally tasted his new merlot blend back in the 30s. See, Chateau Coufran was in veritable crisis mode; the cabernet just wasnt getting ripe. So he replanted it to 85% merlot, and today you can taste the results and the magic in this 2001 vintage. It has earthiness, savoriness, leather, anise but at its center is a beautiful blackberry fruit core whose ripeness can be attributed, in part, to Louis Miailhe. A beautiful wine, with a beautiful story at a very affordable price. [cameronprice.jpg]( Price]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 21, 2018 This Château has been owned by the Miailhe family since 1924 and is unusual for the Haut-Médoc as they have 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon planted where traditionally Cabernet Sauvignon is the favorite here on the Left-Bank. This 2001 was my value choice for our weekly Steak and Claret night (Must Try!) and it was more than exceptional; certainly at this price point. The wine still had acceptable power and plummy juiciness. The tannins are still surprisingly present and very well integrated which are a lovely match for your favorite steak, I only hope that this will be your 'Claret' as well. This wine is only classified as a Cru Bourgeois but hits just as hard as some of the big Châteaux. [stevebearden.gif]( Bearden]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 23, 2018 This hearty and husky wine has aged beautifully and is drinking perfectly right now. Plenty of deep blackberry fruit fills out the middle while the acidity of the vintage shines through with youthful freshness. The tannins on this Old School classic have resolved nicely and the long leathery finish begs for some hearty food. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Puy-Blanquet, St-Emilion]( [2015 Puy-Blanquet, St-Emilion]( ($26.99) 92 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2015 Château Puy Blanquet is another top-quality Saint-Emilion in the vintage. A blend of 75% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, this full-bodied, ripe, sexy beauty boasts terrific notes of cherries, crème de cassis, chocolate, and hints of charcoal. It has present tannin, yet theyre sweet and integrated, solid mid-palate depth and a great finish, all making for one seriously delicious 2015 to drink over the coming 10-15 years." (11/2017) 91 points Vinous: "The 2015 Puy-Blanquet is a lovely wine. Readers should expect a Saint-Émilion built on aromatics, midweight structure and silky tannins. In 2015, the wine naturally has a bit more body and richness than is typically the case, but its personality remains the same. Sweet red cherry and raspberry fruit give the wine brightness and lift. Drink 2018-2035. (AG)" (02/2018) 90 points James Suckling: "Bright red fruits and a hint of something leafy on the nose make this medium-bodied St.-Emilion fresh and attractive. Rather elegant tannins and crisp acidity for this appellation. The finish is rather vibrant and lively." (02/2018) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Poujeaux, Moulis]( [2015 Poujeaux, Moulis]( ($34.99) 94 points James Suckling: "Suave, brambly mixed summer berry fruits take center stage on the nose with a very nicely layered palate carrying fresh bright berry flavors into an upbeat finish. Smart wine. Try from 2022." (02/2018) [clydebeffa.gif]( Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 21, 2018 One of my old time favoritesI just drank a heavenly bottle of their 1997. You can never go wrong with Poujeaux. [heathervanderwall.gif]( Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 01, 2018 My expectations were very high on this wine--they were bound to be given the vintage and that this is one of my favorite Chateaus. I was not disappointed. The wine is big and dense, even for Poujeaux, but it is perfectly balanced. Immediate cassis, violet, cedar aromas great you, then give way to saturated black plum, cigar box, blackberry and blueberry notes on the palate, all underscored with bold tannin and acidity. This will be one for the long haul. I will be excited to check in on this in 10, 15 and 20 years. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2003 Clarke, Listrac]( [2003 Clarke, Listrac]( ($36.99) 90 points Wine Enthusiast: "With the huge investment of the Edmond de Rothschild family, it is no surprise that this is the most powerful Listrac wine. This is rich, hugely dense, and very ripe. The tannins are more dusty and soft than usual Bordeaux, but that is the year. Vanilla and grilled almonds show through as the wine finishes. A successful wine that should age well. (RV)" (05/2006) K&L Notes: This 2003 shows a very dense inky/purple color and charming aromas of intense ripe fruit with pure black currant, cherry and plum jam. The nose wraps up with subtle wood and mocha notes, espresso roast, toasted white bread, licorice and hints of chocolate and spices. On the palate there is a pure attack of powerful fruit followed by a deep mid palate with low acidity, ripe tannins and a textured and fleshy finish. This wine shows beautiful harmony, with impressive concentration and balance. This outstanding red Bordeaux is already extremely enjoyable and drinkable despite its youth. It will continue to evolve and mature, with potential to improve aver the next ten years. [clydebeffa.gif]( Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2018 This property used to make very rustic, tannic wines, but the quality has improved vastly since the early 90s. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Barde-Haut, St-Emilion]( [2015 Barde-Haut, St-Emilion]( ($44.99) 95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Based on an 80/20 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Barde-Haut is a tour de force and a spectacular wine any way you look at it. Crème de cassis, dried flowers, earth, and loads of limestone-like minerality all flow to a full-bodied, opulent wine that has sweet tannins and a great mid-palate. Drink this uber-sexy beauty any time over the coming 15+ years." (10/2018) 95 points James Suckling: "Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, wet earth and black tea. Full-bodied, dense and layered with medium, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows focus and power. Needs three or four years to start coming together." (02/2018) [ryanmoses.jpg]( Moses]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 09, 2018 Usually one of the top high-end values in Bordeaux, Barde-Haut's 2015 take things to another level. Aromatically it is incredibly intriguing, nuanced, and dynamic. While the core seems very traditional St-Emilion, there is a wild blue fruit note that keeps showing through. The palate shows terrific focus and balance, certainly dialed back from the bigger, more flamboyant styles of, say, 2009 or 2010. But qualitatively it should be in the same conversation. A bright burst of acidity carries deep red fruits, hints of earth, minerality, and mouth-coating tannins. The 20% Cab Franc shows up through the finish in a very engaging way. This is a lot of wine for the price and should thrill Bordeaux fans of all types over the next 15-20 years. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2000 Clos du Marquis, St-Julien]( [2000 Clos du Marquis, St-Julien]( ($89.99) 94 points Wine Spectator: "The nose shows loads of plum, spice and meat aromas, as well as hints of licorice. It's full-bodied, with firm, yet velvety textured tannins. It's big and rounded. If you can't afford Las Cases, try some of this. Some might call this a second wine, but it comes from a plot of vineyards not deemed worthy of Léoville Las Cases. So it's like its own estate. Best after 2009. *Ranked #14, Top 100 Wines of 2003* (JS)" (03/2003) 91 points James Suckling: "This is very open with plum and sweet tobacco notes, and a round and juicy body. Really just starting to open up. (JS)" (05/2012) [clydebeffa.gif]( Beffa Jr.]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 24, 2018 OK-so it is not the second wine of Las Cases, but a separate clos on the property. This wine is vibrant, lively, sweet, and full-bodied. Perfect with your steak tonight. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2009 Lascombes, Margaux]( [2009 Lascombes, Margaux]( ($94.99) 94 points James Suckling: "Aromas of black tea, blackberries, blueberries and coffee bean, follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Lovely mouth feel. Very well done." (02/2012) 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2009, which is inky blue/purple to the rim, is a final blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot at 14% natural alcohol. The wine has a beautiful blueberry-scented nose with hints of acacia flowers, licorice, graphite and some subtle charcoal and background oak. Clearly a modern style of Margaux, it is pure, seamless, full-bodied and opulent, and the high glycerin and silky texture of 2009 are brilliantly displayed in this wine. Drink it over the next 15+ years, although it is certainly capable of lasting well past two decades. One of the more difficult estates to manage in southern Margaux is the 300 acres of Lascombes, subdivided into at least 40 to 50 separate plots, making harvest decisions, ripening, and related issues a strategic nightmare. Nevertheless, they seem to have hit pay dirt frequently over the last decade plus. (RP)" (12/2011) 92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of coffee, nuts and charry oak. Supple, sweet and chocolately. Nicely concentrated, broad and round, showing a lush texture and a good chewy texture. Finishes with sweet tannins and a lingering element of smoky oak. Lovely claret. (ST)" (07/2012) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac (Pre-Arrival)]( ($159.99) 98-99 points James Suckling: "Vivid and full of energy with blackberry, currant and salt. Full body, intense and long. Harmony. Purpose. Classicism. The mineral and currant character is all year. A seamless tannin texture. Great wine. You want to drink it now!" (04/2017) 96-99 points Vinous: "The 2016 Pontet-Canet has been absolutely brilliant on the three occasions Ive tasted it so far. Exotically ripe, powerful and voluptuous, it brings together the richness of the 2009 with the structure of the 2010. There aren't too many other 2016s where that is the case, but it is undoubtedly true here. The 2016 is a spectacular wine by any measure, while Pontet-Canet confirms its rarefied place as a true original in Bordeaux. Technical director Jean-Michel Comme added that Cabernet Sauvignon plays a slightly lesser role in the blend because the berries had less juice than normal at harvest. Comme also bumped up the new oak slightly, to 55 percent. The rest of the wine was aged in neutral oak (10 percent) and amphora (35 percent). In a word: Superb. (AG)" (04/2017) 97-99 points Wine Enthusiast: "This wine is so dense and concentrated, with magnificent fruit. The tannins are velvety, but, at the same time, the wine has a dry side that will allow it to age so well. Juicy blackberries and great tannins work in harmony. The estate is in its seventh vintage certified biodynamic. (RV)" (04/2017) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Valandraud, St-Émilion]( [2015 Valandraud, St-Émilion]( ($189.99) 99 points Jeb Dunnuck: "A wine that will be a candidate for perfection at maturity, the 2015 Valandraud is a heavenly wine that exhibits a deep, saturated ruby/purple color as well as a sensational bouquet of blackcurrants, cassis, crème caramel, graphite, and chocolate. This full-bodied, expansive, super concentrated 2015 is a hedonistic dream and has exceptional purity, balance, and equilibrium. While it offers pleasure today, it needs short-term cellaring and will keep for 20+ years." (11/2017) 98 points James Suckling: "Plenty of toasty oak and extract here. This has immensely concentrated fruits with powerful yet silky tannins. Blackberry and dark-plum aromas dominate the nose with hints of dark chocolate and candied orange. Flavors follow suit amid fluid, muscular tannins that hold long into the finish. Great wine. Try from 2023." (02/2018) 98 points Wine Enthusiast: "Since the first vintage in 1991, this wine and its vineyard have travelled far. Now close to the top of the classification tree in Saint-Émilion, this vintage shows the impressive nature of this powerful wine. With a good balance between acidity and black fruits backed up by tannins, the wine is powerful and stylish. Drink from 2027. *Cellar Selection* (RV)" (04/2018) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Cos d'Estournel, St-Estèphe (Pre-Arrival)]( ($199.99) 100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Cos d'Estournel is blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc aged in 65% new and 35% two-year-old French oak for 15 months. Bottled in July 2018, it is deep garnet-purple colored and starts off a little closed and reticent, opening out slowly and seductively to reveal beautiful lilacs, rose hip tea, crushed stones and camphor nuances over a core of crème de cassis, kirsch, wild blueberries and mocha plus wafts of incense and wood smoke. The palate is simply electric, charged with an energy and depth of flavors that seem to defy the elegance and ethereal nature of its medium-bodied weight, featuring super ripe, densely pixelated tannins that firmly frame the myriad of fruit and floral sparks, finishing with epic length. Just. Magic. (LPB)" (11/2018) 96-98 points Wine Enthusiast: "This perfumed wine is stylish and elegant. It is all about the magnificent and sophisticated fruit. At the same time, don't be fooled by the richness: the tannins are all there, a dense and concentrated core at the heart of this seriously ageworthy wine. It demands many years. (RV)" (04/2017) 97-98 points James Suckling: "The finish is something else here. This is a wine thats so powerful and tannic yet at the same time so polished and superb on the finish. Full-bodied, beautifully crafted and precise. This is a wine that really grabs your attention. The agility and power are more than impressive. Wow is the word." (04/2017) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2010 Pichon-Baron, Pauillac]( [2010 Pichon-Baron, Pauillac]( ($209.99) 99 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Borderline perfection in a bottle, the 2010 Pichon-Longueville Baron (79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot) boasts a saturated purple color as well as truly extraordinary aromatics of crème de cassis, licorice, crushed rock-like minerality, graphite, and spring flowers. Possessing full-bodied richness, a huge, unctuous mid-palate, and building tannin, it shows the purity, grandeur, and precision that makes this vintage so remarkable. Hide bottles for another 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following 2-3 decades. 99+" (02/2018) 97 points Decanter: "A truly great vintage in Bordeaux, with wines replete with tannin, acidity, and an almost extreme ripeness. 2010 is often seen as level-pegging with the fleshier 2009s, but at this estate 2010 is ahead by more than a whisker. The nose is reserved, with blackcurrant and chocolate aromas, brooding but intensely ripe. The palate is very rich, opulent and full-bodied, with massive but ripe tannins. Powerful, taut and muscular, it's crackling with tension -the fruit is not yet fully expressive, but it's just beneath the dense but velvety surface. Exceptional length. Drinking Window 2022 - 2050. (SB)" (11/2017) 97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Administrator Christian Seeley thinks the 2010 is the greatest Pichon Longueville Baron he has ever made, equaling some of the estates colossal wines from vintages such as 1989 and 1990. It was certainly showing well when I stopped by the chateau in January. Opaque purple, with loads of charcoal, licorice, incense and some exotic Asian spices along with abundant cassis liqueur, blackberry and hints of roasted coffee and spring flowers, it is full-bodied and opulent, with relatively high tannins, but they have sweetened up considerably and seem less aggressive than they did from barrel. The oak is clearly pushed to the background by the wine's wealth of fruit, glycerin and full-bodied texture. This sensational Pichon Longueville Baron needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep 30+ years. (RP) 97+" (02/2013) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 La Mission Haut-Brion Rouge, Pessac-Léognan]( [2015 La Mission Haut-Brion Rouge, Pessac-Léognan]( ($499.99) 100 points James Suckling: "Rose petals, sandalwood and currants with some plums and fruit tea. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Incredibly straight and minerally. Toned muscles here. Tannic. Traditional and unwavering. Try in 2024." (02/2018) 98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Youthfully mute with bright, youthful red currants, black raspberries, cassis and freshly crushed blackberries notions, it slowly unfurls to reveal an earthy/minerally undercurrent of damp soil, charcoal, iron ore and truffles plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, decadently fruited and yet wonderfully elegant with very ripe, very silky tannins, freshness that sits well in the background and an almost electric intensity of vibrant red and black fruit flavors, it finishes long and minerally. Just. Beautiful. Consider giving it 6-7 years in bottle before broaching and drink it over the next 30+. (LPB)" (02/2018) 98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "More opulent, sexy and concentrated, the 2015 La Mission Haut Brion is a tour de force that has everything you could want from Bordeaux. A huge nose of smoke tobacco, gravelly earth, graphite, cassis, and blackcurrants gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, perfectly balanced beauty that has incredible depth of flavor and intensity, yet with no weight. While the overall impression is upfront and in your face, it has incredible elegance and length on the finish (as well as ripe tannin), and will keep for three decades." (11/2017) --------------------------------------------------------------- [2009 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac]( [2009 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac]( ($949.99) 99 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2009 Mouton-Rothschild is as concentrated as the 2010, but it presents itself in a more consumer-friendly, seductive style. Opulently textured and full-bodied with gorgeous levels of crème de cassis, melted licorice, espresso roast and chocolate, it possesses high but sweet, velvety tannins, massive body, and fabulous purity as well as length. This could turn out to be a candidate for perfection in another 8-10 years. It will drink well for 30-50 years, but will always be much more approachable and charming than its 2010 counterpart. (RP)" (12/2014) 98 points Decanter: "New oak dominates the nose, but theres ample blackcurranty fruit too; a crunchy black fruits character gives charm too. Suave attack, juicy and succulent, velvety despite the tannins, which are firm but ripe. This is hedonistic stuff, with good structure and acidity too. Relatively forward, but has a lot more to give. Excellent finish, with flair as well as persistence. A gorgeous wine. (SB)" (03/2014) 98 points Vinous: "The 2009 Mouton Rothschild is exceptionally beautiful. A huge, powerful wine, the 2009 possesses stunning richness and radiance, with plenty of underlying structure to support all of that exuberance. Smoke, grilled herbs, tobacco and incense give the 2009 much of its exotic, captivating personality. Seamless, opulent, yet with terrific freshness, the 2009 is sure to thrill those fortunate to own it for several decades. In a word: dazzling. The blend is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. Harvest took place between September 23 and October 6 in a year marked with dry weather, higher than average temperatures and generous sunshine. (AG) 98+" (05/2016) --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on: Check Out Our Blog: [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [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](