Bordeaux-style blends

1 Esk Valley, Winemakers Reserve Merlot-Malbec-Cabernet Franc, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand 2014 95

£21-£25.25 Bon Coeur, Exel, Flagship Wines, Sissinghurst Wines, The Halifax Wine Co, The New Zealand House of Wine, The Oxford Wine Co, Vino Wines Deep, luscious, great purity of flavour here; this is a fine New World take on a Bordeaux blend with subtle flavours, ripe fruit and lots of fine-grained tannins and good acidity to keep everything in check. Dark-cherry notes with a touch of spice and some warming cedar-wood character. Very inviting and enveloping. Already drinking well, this has potential to keep for many years. Drink 2022-2035 Alcohol 14%

2 Hyde de Villaine, Belle Cousine, Napa Valley, California, USA 2012 95

£62.50 Corney & Barrow, Hic, Swig Full in body, with fleshy, dark berry and currant fruit character, yet there is a great balance between the fruit ripeness and fresh acidity to finish. It’s very clean and pure, an attractive wine that has good ageing potential. A fine Napa Valley blend. So youthful, despite its relative age. Drink 2020-2028 Alc 14.5%

3 Las Niñas, Amante Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile 2017

95 N/A UK www.vinalasninas.com A fine blend with a great combination of ripe dark fruits, good acidity and a structure of fine-grained tannins. Clean and crisp, with pure fruit flavours, this is elegant and refined, with a very long finish. Has excellent potential for further ageing. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 14%

4 McHenry Hohnen, Rolling Stone, Margaret River, Western Australia 2013 95

£46.99 Oz Wines, The Drink Shop, Weavers Showing a little more evolution in terms of colour in the glass, and on the nose, this is a full-bodied, rich and ripe style with plenty of concentration for further ageing. Still youthful on the palate, there are intense flavours of damson and bittercherry fruits, complemented by nicely integrated oak, firm tannins and layers of flavour. Drink 2020-2030 Alc 15%

5 Poggio al Tesoro, Sondraia, Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy 2016 95

£47.85-£58.99 Cambridge Wine Merchants, Exel, Glug, Hay Wines, Hedonism, In Vino Veritas, Liberty Wines, NY Wines of Cambridge, Oasis Wine Shop, Park Vintners Deep, intense and complex, this wine is a fine example from the great 2016 vintage. Despite sporting 15% alcohol, there is real finesse and a deft touch here. Flavours of spice, red-cherry conserve and damson fruits come through with a hint of chocolate. This has a long-term future. Drink 2022-2035 Alc 15%

6 Raats, MR de Compostella, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2017 95

£59.99 Alliance Wine, Handford, Wimbledon Wine Cellar

Quite classic on the nose and palate, this is still a vibrant, youthful wine with much more to give. Weighty and concentrated on the palate, with vibrant dark-fruit notes. Fresh acidity, well-integrated oak and fine tannic structure; this will age very well. Refined and complex. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 15%

7 Campo alla Sughera, Arnione, Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy 2015 94

£38.60 Mondial Wine

Another fine 2015. This has rather more in the way of dark blackcurrant and bitter-cherry fruit, married with some fine tannins and oak, which needs a little longer to integrate fully. Will be very fine given another couple of years of maturation. Drink 2023-2035 Alc 14.5%

8 Journey’s End, The Cape Doctor, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2015 94

£24.50 Bibendum Wine, Vin Cognito

There’s plenty of concentration and depth here, with loads of concentrated, dark red-cherry and berry fruit flavours. Good complexity and layers of flavour. Full, fleshy fruit characters. Very different to a classic Bordeaux blend but nevertheless a complex and highly pleasurable wine. Drink 2020-2028 Alc 14%

9 Morgenster, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2010 94

£45.90 Hedonism

Intense, deep, dark and brooding, with plenty of life left. Although it shows evolution, there is dark-cherry and berry fruit character, spice and leafy fresh notes to finish. Acidity keeps everything in check. An intriguing Bordeaux blend which, though clearly not from southwest France, shares similarities with the classic style. Drink 2020-2028 Alc 14.5%

10 Pauletts, Polish Hill River Cabernet-Merlot, Clare Valley, South Australia 2016 94

£ 13.25 Exel

Deep, dark and brooding, with inky fruit flavours. Lots of dark conserve-type fruits, some oak in the background and, despite 15% alcohol, a good amount of acidity to keep everything in balance. Surprisingly for a Clare Valley Cabernet, there is lots of depth and complexity. A very appealing style. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 15%

‘Well-made Bordeaux blend wines have an innate capacity to develop in bottle’

11 St Supéry, Elu,

Napa Valley, California, USA 2015 94

£65 Jeroboams

Sweet fruit, smooth, rich, lovely oak on the palate. There is plenty of ripeness here, yet the wine retains great freshness and drive. Complex, with sweetness of fruit matched by fine tannins, crisp acidity and refined oak. Good potential for further ageing. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 14.5%

12 VIK, Milla Cala, Cachapoal Valley, Chile 2016 94

£32.95 Slurp

Cool, elegant, crisp acidity to match the sweet and ripe, dark fruit character on the palate. A very successful marriage of savoury elements, good acidity and great purity of fruit. Complex and layered. Very nice tannins and oak and has potential to age very well. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 14%

13 Beaulieu Vineyard, BV Tapestry Reserve, Napa Valley, California, USA 2015 93

£56-£73.30 Elicite, Grand Vin, Millésima, Philglas & Swiggot

Dark black berries, notes of cassis on nose and palate. Intense, focused and precise, it shows a lovely purity of flavour. Excellent oak, concentrated and fresh, very good ageing potential. A fine example from Napa Valley. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 15%

14 Carmen, Delanz Alto Jahuel Estate Blend, Maipo Valley, Chile 2018 93

£45 Santa Rita Estates

Cool on the palate with lovely acidity. There is plenty of ripe, rich dark fruit here to keep everything in balance. Elegant oak. Some spice flavours, Soft, generous and very clean, with potential to age. Drink 2020-2028 Alc 13.5%

15 Doña Paula, 1350, Gualtallary, Uco Valley, Argentina 2017 93

£22.49 Hallgarten Wines

Cool and fresh in character: there is plenty of drive as well as complexity here. Spice notes on the palate among ripe, dark-fruit flavours and very well-integrated oak, with fine tannins. Finishes with a lovely freshness of spice and a hint of mint.

Drink 2021-2029 Alc 14%

16 Laibach, The Ladybird, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa 2015 93

£20 Harrods

Firm and full-bodied, with loads of concentrated, dark berry and cherry fruits, combined with fresh acidity and high-quality oak. A Bordeaux blend with potential for further ageing. Spices, cedar wood, fine tannins. Complex and highly enjoyable. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 14%

17 Meerlust, Rubicon, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2016 93

£26.50-£29.50 Davy’s, Fortnum & Mason, Hard to Find Wines, Harvey Nichols, Hedonism, Lay & Wheeler, Le Vignoble, Noble Green,

Whole Foods Market

Cedar wood, spice, a touch of fynbos on nose and palate. Good acidity and layers of flavour that balance the ripe fruit, with a deft touch. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 14%

18 Pegasus Bay, Maestro Merlot-Cabernet-Malbec, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury, New Zealand 2015 93

£29.99 Field & Fawcett, House of Townend, Must Wines

Dark red and black berry fruits, some leafy notes and crisp acidity. Ripeness and concentration. Not a blockbuster, but has balance and loads of purity. A pleasurable Bordeaux blend. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 14%

19 Raats, Jasper, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2017 93

£ 18.99 Alliance Wine, Darley Abbey Wines, The Wine Society A different take on the Bordeaux blend, with a high percentage of Cabernet Franc and Malbec, this is complex and intriguing. Great purity of fruit, combined with freshness, leafy characters and some fine tannins. Good acidity to finish. Elegant and refined – a very good Stellenbosch blend. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 15%

20 Sleight of Hand Cellars, The Conjurer, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA 2017 93

£34 Ester Wines

Soft, rich, ripe and very fruit-forward, this has loads of plush characters balanced with crisp acidity and fine tannins. Although not a classic Bordeaux blend in style, there is plenty of pleasure to be had here. Drink 2020-2026 Alc 14.5%

21 Sutil, Acrux, Colchagua Valley, Chile 2015 93

£40.50 Castelnau Wine Agencies

An attractive Carmenère-influenced style. Plenty of density and dark-fruit flavours here, combined with some herbal notes, crisp tannins and good acidity. Purity of flavour and a very good balance with oak. This will continue to age well. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 14%

22 Te Mata, Coleraine, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand 2015 93

£59.75-£70 Farr Vintners, Field & Fawcett, Flagship Wines, John E Fells, Specialist Cellars, The Solent Cellar, Vintriloquy

The oak is a little obvious on both nose and palate now, but there is plenty of concentration and depth to the dark-fruit character. Rich and intense with some great spicy notes, there is enough acidity and depth for this to develop for a number of years. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 14% ➢

23 VIK, La Piu Belle, Cachapoal Valley, Chile 2015 93

£49.95 Slurp

Rich, ripe dark fruits on the palate. Ripeness of fruit is a little to the fore here, combined with evident tannins. A little dry on the finish. Could almost do with more time to settle down. Impressive, but at a slightly difficult point at the moment. There is very good potential here, but it is not quite in balance now. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 14%

24 Zorgvliet, Richelle, Banghoek, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2017 93

£23.99 D Byrne & Co, Hoults, NY Wines of Cambridge

Youthful, primary and deep in colour, this has plenty of plush dark fruit character. Soft and ripe on the palate, and there is an appealing freshness which keeps everything in check. Understated oak. Nice bite of acidity to the finish, with the potential to develop well over several years. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 14.5%

25 Atamisque, Catalpa Assemblage, Tupungato/ La Consulta, Uco Valley, Argentina 2016

92

£ 18.95-£24 Drinkmonger, Dunell’s, Good Wine Online, Martinez Wines, Noble Green, North Coast Wines, Roberts & Speight

Ripe dark-fruit flavours. Some spice and a bit of development on the palate. There is plenty to like here, with bright cherry and currant flavours, tannic grip and fresh acidity. Drink 2020-2028 Alc 14% 26 Avondale, La Luna, Paarl, South Africa 2012 92 £25.99 House of Townend

Rich, dark, concentrated and complex. Good evolution here, with notes of dark fruits and spice, and a cleansing acidity to keep the palate fresh. Still quite firm and austere on the palate, this has the potential to age for several more years. Good complexity. Although it’s a Bordeaux blend in terms of the mix of grapes, this is in a very different style compared to wines made in the southwest of France. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 14%

27 Craggy Range, Single Vineyard Te Kahu, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand 2017

92

£20.99 Bibendum Wine, Specialist Cellars From a challenging but potentially great vintage, this is still pretty youthful but shows lots of promise. It boasts bright red fruits on the nose and palate, with some waxy oak character showing through. The acidity is a little dominant now, but give this a year or two and it will be a delicious, warming and inviting wine. Drink 2023-2030 Alc 13%

28 Groot Constantia, Gouverneurs Reserve, Constantia, South Africa 2016

92

£33.99 Hallgarten Wines, The Drink Shop, Wine Poole

Dark, brooding and intense in colour, aromas and flavour. There is no shortage of concentration here. Dark-fruit flavours, firm tannins, potential to age very well. Has an attractive floral hint with zesty acidity on the palate. Good depth, but this is combined with the typical cool, slightly eucalypt character of Constantia. Fresh and lively finish. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 14%

29 Journey’s End, Pastor’s Blend, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2018

92

£ 11.69-£ 12.33 All About Wine, Tanners,

The Fine Wine Co

Displays typical Bordeaux blend aromas on the nose, with a nice combination of red and black berry fruits, a touch of leafy character, and hints of cedar and cinnamon spice too. It’s not overly heavy on the palate, then there’s a very nice balance of clean acidity and tannins on the finish, making a well put-together wine. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 14%

30 La Tour Melas, Achinos, Greece 2014

92

£50-£64.99 Alliance Wine, The Fine Wine Co, Wimbledon Wine Cellar

A great combination of maturation, warm red-berry fruits and well-integrated oak. A wine with subtle flavours and nuances. It’s not as big and showy as some, but has fine tannins, elegance and interest on the palate. Drink 2020-2028 Alc 14.5%

31 Legacy, Red Wine, Alexander Valley, California, USA 2014 92

£72 New Street Wine Shop

Ripe, full-bodied, oak-driven style but with lots of plush, ripe, rich berry and cherry fruits, a touch of dark plum and good acidity to finish. Lovely purity of fruit here. A blockbuster of a style, but it still shows restraint and elegance. Finishes with fresh acidity to keep everything in check. Drink 2020-2028 Alc 14.5%

32 McHenry Hohnen, Rolling Stone, Margaret River, Western Australia 2014

92

£46.99 Oz Wines, The Drink Shop, Weavers Powerful, quite pungent and dominated by dark-fruit characters: there is no shortage of intent here. Fleshy, quite showy on the palate, but with refined glossy oak and fine-grained tannins. A serious wine with the depth and concentration to age very well. A classic Margaret River example, well worth buying and laying down for several years. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 14.5%

33 Morandé, House of Morandé, Maipo Andes Valley, Chile 2017 92

£27.49 Berkmann

Cool, fresh and something more of a classic Bordeaux blend in style than others in this tasting, this has dark fruits, crisp acidity and concentration. There’s a deftness and a lightness of touch here which is very appealing. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 13.5%

34 Morgenhof, The Estate, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa 2012

92 £20.99-£26.23 The Drink Shop, South Africa House of Wine

Good evolution evident here. A serious, complex, savoury blend which marries density of fruit and layers of oak with spices and secondary flavours. Concentrated and deep, with the potential to age for several years, this is a fine combination of warm-climate ripe fruits merged with more traditional characters such as fine tannins and high-quality oak. Drink 2020-2030 Alc 14.5%

35 Mulderbosch, Faithful Hound, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2016

92

£ 19.99 Hallgarten Wines, NY Wines of Cambridge, Wine Poole

Ripe, full, fleshy red fruit character on the palate and nose. This is an attractive, fruit-forward style, but it’s very different to a classic Bordeaux blend. Appealing and ready to drink already, showing some attractive savoury notes combined with plenty of sweetness on the palate. Drink 2020-2025 Alc 13.5%

36 Pasaeli,˛ K2, Izmir, Turkey 2015

92

£26 Graft Wine Co, Vino Wines

Ripe, fruit-forward style with a great palate of dense, dark black-fruit flavours. Marries fruit ripeness with some crisp acidity to keep everything in balance. Subtle spice notes, a touch of leaf and elegant oak to finish. Light on its feet. A fine example from Izmir on Turkey’s Aegean coast. Drink 2020-2028 Alc 14%

37 Poggio al Tesoro, Il Seggio, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy 2016

92

£23-£28.50 Bottle Apostle, Butlers Wine Cellar, Cambridge Wine Merchants, Exel, Latitude Wine, Liberty Wines, Philglas & Swiggot, Roberson, The Wine Reserve, Tivoli Wines, Village Vineyards Rich, full-bodied, fleshy and glossy. This is a fine Bolgheri wine with quite a lot of showy character. Attractive wood is a little too evident at the moment, but will fully integrate in 12 months. Despite its 14.5% alcohol, this is light on its feet. Very good purity here. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 14.5%

38 RedHeads Wine, Esulé Woman with Gun, McLaren Vale, South Australia 2018 92

£27 Laithwaite’s

Overtly primary and youthful at the moment, this needs at least 18 months in bottle to develop more complexity. However, there is no shortage of dark-fruit flavour, ripeness and structure for this to develop into a great Bordeaux blend. Needs time. Drink 2023-2030 Alc 15%

39 Reyneke, Cornerstone, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2016

92

£20.50-£22.50 Harvey Nichols, The Good Spirits Co, The Whalley Wine Shop Full-bodied, fleshy dark fruits on the palate with good intensity, purity and complex flavours. Has an appealing leafy character with good freshness. An appealing Bordeaux blend.

Drink 2020-2028 Alc 14%

40 Tenuta di Biserno, Il Pino di Biserno, Tuscany, Italy 2016

92

£39.99-£43.95 AG Wines, Corney & Barrow, Dunell’s, JN Wine

Deep, dark and brooding colour and nose. Still very much an infant. A good melange of cedar and spice, combined with dark berry and currant fruit, fine-grained tannins and a deft touch of oak. Lots of potential here, but too young at the moment. Drink 2022-2035 Alc 14.5%

41 Vasse Felix, Tom Cullity Cabernet SauvignonMalbec, Margaret River, Western Australia 2015

92

£ 102-£ 120 Farr Vintners, Fine & Rare,

John E Fells

The higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon comes through with an extra depth of blackcurrant and leaf character on the palate. Clean, fresh and lively, there is great lift here. Elegant, with lots of purity, this is not a blockbuster style, but rather a refined, mid-term blend with wide appeal. Drink 2020-2026 Alc 14%

42 Vilafonté, Series C, Paarl, South Africa 2016 92

£62.99-£70 Handford, Hard to Find Wines, John E Fells

This is a wine with rich, plush primary fruit character featuring complex flavours of dark cherry, berry and plum. It is quite different to a typical blend from Bordeaux, packing loads of appeal into a ready-to-drink, soft and easy-drinking package. It is currently at its best, but there isn’t any great hurry to open it just yet. Drink 2020-2026 Alc 14.5%

43 Viu Manent, Viu Infinito, Colchagua Valley, Chile 2016

92

£45 Available via UK agent Louis Latour Agencies Malbec and Cabernet Franc complement Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, coming together to contribute leafy herbal notes to the nose and ripe dark fruits to the palate. This one is not quite in balance at present, but hold onto it. The wine will certainly benefit if you allow it to develop for another couple of years before drinking. Drink 2020-2026 Alc 14%

44 Warwick Estate, Trilogy, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2016

92

£28.99-£32 Hard to Find Wines, Hennings, John E Fells, The Wine Society

Rich, smooth and oak-driven with good acidity and attractive, spicy dark-fruit notes on the palate. Quite full and fleshy, with some smoky spice notes evident. Not a classic Bordeaux blend but a highly enjoyable style with the ability to age. Drink 2022-2028 Alc 14%

45 Zorgvliet, Silver Myn Argentum, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2018

92 £7.49-£9.99 Ake & Humphris, D Byrne & Co, Great Grog, Handford, KWM, ND John, Noble Green, NY Wines of Cambridge, Palmers Wine Store, Talking Wines, Vin Neuf, Welch & Co

Ripe red berry fruits on the nose and palate. Good density here allied to fresh acidity, well-integrated oak and fine tannins. Very youthful, but it has all the elements in place for excellent long-term evolution. A little ‘wiry’ at the moment. Drink 2023-2030 Alc 14.5%