Highly recommended
90-94pts
Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan CCG 2006
AH 94 TP 93 TT 94 N/A UK domainedechevalier.com
Complex nose, fresh walnut, grapefruit peel, mango and nuances of eucalyptus. Very fine palate texture with vibrant acidity and a long finish. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13.5%
Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan 2018
AH 93 TP 93 TT 93 £33.76
Christopher Keiller
Citrussy vibrant nose, grapefruit and lemon rind with notes of toast and subtle spices. Rich and opulent with crunchy acidity and a zesty finish. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13.9%
Château La Garde, Pessac-Léognan 2016
AH 92 TP 92 TT 93 £29.80 (2017)
Hedonism
Fresh lime and lemon notes on the nose with notes of Mirabelle plum. The palate yields generously to the intense fruit. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 12.5%
Château La Rose Sarron, Cuvée Anaïs, Graves 2019
AH 93 TP 92 TT 92 N/A UK la-rose-sarron.com
Peach yoghurt jumps from the glass here, layered with notes of vanilla and apricot. Ripe and creamy on the palate with a textured mouthfeel. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13.5%
Château Carbonnieux, Pessac-Léognan CCG 2018
AH 94 TP 94 TT 92 £21.50 (ib)-£41.75
Cépage, Christopher Keiller, Four Walls, Le Vignoble
Subtle spices on a refined nose. Layers of nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger; delicate, silky yet bright. Drink 2021-2032 Alc 13.5%
Château Cantelys, Pessac-Léognan 2019
AH 93 TP 90 TT 94 N/A UK smith-haut-lafitte.com
Musky, savoury notes and toasted spices on the nose with creamy stone fruit. Appealing palate with plenty of concentration and spicy notes. Drink 2021-2035 Alc 13.5%
Château La Louvière, Pessac-Léognan 2006
AH 93 TP 91 TT 93 £25.60-£29.99
St Andrews Wine Co,
Theatre of Wine
Lemon oil and lemon verbena on the nose, struck flint. Honeyed with a mineral edge on the palate. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 12.5%
Château Magneau, Graves 2018
AH 92 TP 91 TT 94 N/A UK chateau-magneau.com
Fragrant with heather honey, ginger and beeswax, a pungent nettle and mint character. Full-bodied and opulent, round and long. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 12.5%
Château La Garde, Pessac-Léognan 2019
AH 93 TP 92 TT 93 £32-£35.95
Berry Bros & Rudd, Champagnes & Châteaux
Freshly mown grass and sweet spices with a gunflint, savoury edge. Crystalline on the palate, refreshing. Drink 2021-2035 Alc 13%
Château Ferran, Pessac-Léognan 2014
AH 92 TP 93 TT 92 N/A UK chateauferran.com
Complex aromatics of spice and toast with an evolved camomile and beeswax character over notes of ripe tropical fruits. Lingering, mineral, salty finish. Drink 2021-2026 Alc 12.5%
Château La Rose Sarron, Cuvée Anaïs, Graves 2009
AH 93 TP 89 TT 94 N/A UK la-rose-sarron.com
Restrained nose showing aromas of ripe tropical fruits, vanilla spice and some waxy character. Very creamy on entry, quite leesy. A classy wine. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 12.5%
Château Olivier, Pessac-Léognan CCG 2010
AH 94 TP 90 TT 92 N/A UK chateau-olivier.com
Precise, focused nose of waxy lemon rind, vanilla spice, toast and guava. The palate shows a lovely freshness supporting a rich concentration. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13.5%
Château Olivier Pessac-Léognan CCG 2017
AH 93 TP 90 TT 94 £41
Davy’s
Subtle notes of charred wood, linseed and nutmeg with citrussy fruits. Crisp, with great purity of fruit beautifully melded with oak character. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13%
Château Couhins, Pessac-Léognan CCG 2019
AH 93 TP 89 TT 92 £26.67
Millésima
Bright lemon peel and a hint of peppery spice on the nose. Steely linear palate with fleshy pear on the finish. Drink 2021-2035 Alc 14.5%
Château Ferran, Pessac-Léognan 2020
AH 91 TP 93 TT 90 £18 (2019)
Goedhuis & Co
Fresh citrus and tropical fruit aromas with sweet spices. Good delineation of tangy citrus and fleshy peach on the palate. Drink 2022-2035 Alc 13%
Château Picque Caillou, Pessac-Léognan 2017
AH 92 TP 92 TT 89 £23.65-£25.60
Bon Coeur, Corney & Barrow Expressive nose, intense passion fruit, honeydew melon and subtle oak. Classy palate, focused and impressive with drive and persistence. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 12.5%
Château Baret, Pessac-Léognan 2020
AH 92 TP 90 TT 91 £11 (ib)
Millésima
Classic nose with pungent aromas of nettle, green mango and subtle spices. There is a steely, fresh edge on the palate. Drink 2022-2028 Alc 12.5%
Château Couhins-Lurton, Pessac-Léognan CCG 2016
AH 92 TP 91 TT 89 £39.99
Theatre of Wine
Powerfully aromatic with grapefruit, lemon verbena and grassy tones. Classy oak and ripe fruit on the palate supported by a tangy acidity. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 13.5%
Château La Louvière, Pessac-Léognan 2017
AH 91 TP 92 TT 90 £29.99
Theatre of Wine
Dried grapefruit peel, nutmeg and dried herbs come through on the nose. Silkytextured with honeyed fruit flavours and a savoury finish. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 13.5%
Clos Dady, Clos Les Remparts, Graves 2009
AH 90 TP 92 TT 90 N/A UK closdady.com
Vibrant scents of lanolin, acacia and toast over notes of ripe tropical fruits. Crisp and refreshing, brisk and pithy. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 12.5%
Château Couhins, Pessac-Léognan CCG 2015
AH 92 TP 92 TT 88 £31.67
Millésima
Elegant aromas of gun smoke, preserved lemon and poached pears with nutmeg and clove notes. Waxy and rich on the palate. Drink 2021-2026 Alc 13%
Château du Cros, Mayne du Cros, Graves 2000
AH 91 TP 90 TT 91 N/A UK chateauducros.com
Mature and complex bouquet full of nuts, spelt wheat and manuka honey. Plenty of concentration on the palate, well balanced and persistent. Drink 2021-2025 Alc 13%
Château Le Bruilleau, Pessac-Léognan 2015
AH 92 TP 90 TT 91 N/A UK chateau-le-bruilleau.monsite-orange.fr Lightly smoky, savoury nose with subtle oak and mango undertones. Powerful on the palate with a creamy texture. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 14%
Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan CCG 2017
AH 92 TP 89 TT 93 £65 (ib)
Chelsea Vintners
Slightly reticent on the nose, with subtle creaminess and savoury spice. Full-bodied and opulent in style with vibrant acidity. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13.5%
Château de Cérons, Grand Enclos, Graves 2010
AH 91 TP 88 TT 92 N/A UK chateaudecerons.fr
Charred wood, smoky citrus and lambswool on the nose. Great focus and concentration on the palate with a long finish. Drink 2021-2026 Alc 13.5%
Château Haut Selve Graves 2007
AH 91 TP 87 TT 93 POA
Castelnau Wine Agencies
Complex scents of oregano, sage and dried citrus peel. Sharp acidity cutting through a waxy textured palate.
Drink 2021-2026 Alc 12.5%
Château Léognan, Famille Miecaze Le Blanc, Graves 2020
AH 90 TP 88 TT 92 N/A UK chateauleognan.fr
Appealing nose of ripe tropical fruit, white stone fruit and gun smoke. Peppery on the palate, slightly warm but well supported by fresh acidity. Drink 2022-2030 Alc 12.5%
Château Mancèdre, Pessac-Léognan 2018
AH 90 TP 92 TT 87 N/A UK roy-trocard.com
Grassy, fresh and vibrant on the nose with hints of saffron and camomile. Subtly spiced palate showing lively fruity flavours. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 12%
Château de Cérons, Graves 2019
AH 91 TP 88 TT 91 £19.95-£21.65
Lea & Sandeman,
Shekleton Wines
Fruit-forward on the nose with hints of green apple and lemon peel. Lively with a nice persistence. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13%
Château Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan CCG 2016
AH 92 TP 89 TT 90 £79.95
Hennings
Refined nose of fresh green apple, zesty grapefruit citrus, nuts and salty preserved lemon. Lovely vivacity and intriguing finish. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 13.5%
Château Pont de Brion, Graves 2019
AH 92 TP 91 TT 88 N/A UK chateaupontdebrion.com
Honeyed citrus on the nose with a hint of vanilla bean. Very creamy and round on the palate. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 12.6%
Château du Seuil, Cuvée Aroha, Graves 2020
AH 89 TP 90 TT 90 POA
Boutinot
Expressive and vibrant nose of grapefruit and freshly mown grass. Bright and forward citrus fruit on the palate. Drink 2021-2030
Alc 12%
Château Haut-Bergey, Pessac-Léognan 2019
AH 92 TP 93 TT 86 £21 (ib, 2020)
Millésima
Very nutty and creamy aromas with fleshy stone fruit undertones. Generous on the palate, buttery and savoury in character. Drink 2021-2032 Alc 13.5%
Château Mancèdre, Pessac-Léognan 2016
AH 87 TP 92 TT 90 £21.50
Wine Affairs
Evolving nose of lime cordial, mango, ginger, beeswax and toast. Enticing, with real bite and brisk acidity. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 11%
Domaine de Chevalier, L’Esprit de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan 2011
AH 91 TP 90 TT 89 N/A UK domainedechevalier.com
Fairly youthful on the nose still, with grapefruit zest and peach skin notes together with subtle spicing. Mellow on the palate, yet it’s full-bodied with a honeyed finish. Drink 2021-2026 Alc 13%
‘As expected, the cooler vintage of 2017 outperformed 2018, 2019 and 2020’
--------------------------- Andy Howard MW
Karanika, Extra Cuvée de Réserve Brut Nature, Amyndeon, Florina, Macedonia 2016
£35
Maltby & Greek
Disgorged in 2018, this has a world-class nose, both fruity and earthy with a solid Xinomavro voice. Ripe, layered but also fresh on the palate, with a marzipan complexity on the long-lasting finish. Best bubbles of Greece. Drink 2021-2026 Alcohol 13%
Alpha Estate, Ecosystem Reserve Vieilles Vignes Single Block Barba Yannis, Amyndeon, Florina, Macedonia 2017
£21.25-£26.99
Borders Wines, DBM Wines, Exel, Fintry Wines, Hallgarten Wine, Maltby & Greek, Noble Green, NY Wines, Strictly Wine,
The Wine Library, Uncorked, Wine & Greene Aromatic, inviting, concentrated nose of cherry, rose and nutmeg. Fantastic oak integration. Structured with fine tannins and a lingering finish. Stylish and already approachable. Drink 2021-2033 Alc 14%
Dougos, Rapsani Old Vines, Rapsani, Thessalia 2017
£24.99
Bancroft
Delicate and floral nose of strawberry, macerated cherry, hints of cured meat and exotic spices. A gorgeous blend with 30% Krassato and 5% Stavroto. High energy and elegance on the palate, yet not lacking Xinomavro’s powerful tannic bite. Lovely to drink now but can age. Drink 2021-2036 Alc 13.5%
Ktima Gerovassiliou, Gerovassiliou Rosé, Thessaloniki 2020
POA
Hallgarten Wine
Pale pink. Vivacious with strawberry, raspberry, some peppery and leafy scents. Tight on the palate, tension and telltale mouthwatering Xinomavro acidity, around a core of crunchy red fruit. A textured and energetic rosé wine. Long-lasting finish. Drink 2021-2025
Alc 13.5%
Chatzivaritis, Mus, Goumenissa, Macedonia 2019
£27-£28
Borders Wines, EatDrinkPulp, Farmdrop, Gnarly Vines, LittleWine, Maltby & Greek, Wine & Greene
Very pure nose, floral, red cherry, strawberry and balsamic notes. Lovely, juicy tannins, fresh and primary red fruit on the palate, round and not heavily extracted. Precise, refined and fruitdriven, this is an excellent, modern expression of the Xinomavro grape. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 12%
Oenops, Xinomavraw, Macedonia 2020
£16
Clark Foyster, The Wine Society
Focused, with mostly red fruit over a darker, earthier core, then juicy on the palate with abundant crunchy cherries and raspberries. Firm and tight with gorgeous texture backed by delicious fruit – this is a youthful wine that speaks of purity, precision, power and elegance. Matured in tulip-shaped concrete vats. Drink 2023-2033 Alc 13.5%
Foundi, Estate Karaoutsa, Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia 2017
£27
Clark Foyster
Garnet with the beginning of orange tinges. Gorgeous depth of spice, olive tapenade and thyme, and plenty of red fruit. Loaded with tannins and energetic long acidity. Never-ending finish, amazing complexity and potential. Brilliant traditional style. Drink 2023-2036 Alc 14%
Dalamára, Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia 2019
£23-£27.99 (2018)
Borders Wines, Handford, Kudos, Natty Boy Wines, Shrine to the Vine, The Oxford Wine Co, Wine & Greene Pale ruby. Exotic and complex, incense and cardamom around a core of crunchy strawberry and cherry stone. Lovely kiss of oak. Juicy and fruity on the palate, and masterfully crafted tannins. Delicious now, better with age. Drink 2022-2035 Alc 13%
Thymiopoulos Vineyards, Single Vineyard Kayafas, Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia 2017
£64.95
Borders Wines, Theatre of Wine,
Wine & Greene
Garnet. Fascinating nose of pomegranate, cherry and rose petals, in addition to an earthy and mineral tone. Layered, ripe and savoury on the palate with flesh and substance. A ripe plummy core is well balanced with refined and firm tannins. Drink 2021-2033 Alc 13.5%
Diamantakos, Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia 2018
£24-£27
Bottle Apostle, Clark Foyster, Tanners Just mid-ruby in colour. Ethereal nose of cherries, raspberries, a touch of black olive and lovely precision. On the palate the cherry fruit fills the frame, providing supreme balance with tannins. A touch of sweetness on the finish. Already rewarding. Drink 2021-2036 Alc 13.5%
Argatia, Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia 2016
N/A UK
argatia.gr
Medium ruby. Purity, lift and focus, a dense fruity core of strawberry and cherry along with forest floor notes. A focused palate, fresh and mineral, packed with firm tannins. Cries out for further ageing. Drink 2023-2033 Alc 13.5%
Katogi Averoff, Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia 2016 90
N/A UK
katogiaveroff.gr
A pale ruby with garnet tinges. Fruity and aromatic core, cool concentrated red fruit and savoury mineral notes. Firm and tight palate, bright acidity on the fairly long finish. Still subdued and embryonic. Drink 2023-2033 Alc 12.5%
Magoutes, Parcel Selection, Siatista, Macedonia 2017
£24
Keeling Andrew & Co
Pale ruby. Hugely attractive aromas of rose, bright cherry and a hint of oak. Refined on the palate with a strong vein of acidity cutting through the wine’s cashmere tannins. Lovely focus and potential here with just 12.5% alcohol. Drink 2021-2031 Alc 12.5%
Kir Yianni, Cuvée Villages, Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia 2017
£14.95
The Great Wine Co
Garnet colour. Concentrated and complex on the nose, showing dried tomato, white pepper and cherry over a savoury edge. The palate is packed with juicy fruit and firm, sandy tannins. Fine and polished. Drink 2021-2031 Alc 14%
Vaeni, Damascenos, Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia 2016 89
£12.95-£13.68
Aspris & Son, Hellenic Grocery Deep garnet. Ripe, seductive nose of intense black cherry and plum along with herbal scents. Firm and powerful on the palate with a layer of oak supporting the fruit. This is already rewarding and appealing. Drink 2021-2031 Alc 13.5%
Aidarinis, Single Vineyard I, Goumenissa, Macedonia 2015
N/A UK aidarini.gr
Garnet with orange tinges. Blended with 30% Negoska. Rich, warm and attractive aromatic expression with pungent spices, plum, rose and mineral notes. A deep and fleshy palate with sandy tannins. Traditional style, bottle ageing required. From a 3ha single vineyard at 250m elevation. Drink 2023-2036 Alc 13.5%
Mikro Ktima, Goumenissa, Macedonia 2019
N/A UK
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The very first bottling of Mikro Ktima, due for its release in October 2021, is a joint venture of Biblia Chora and Gerovassiliou. Xinomavro blended with 20% Negoska, it’s a pure expression of the style: perfectly integrated oak, very fine sandy tannins and juicy acidity. Impressively balanced. Drink 2022-2032 Alc 13%
Voyiatzis, Xinomavro-Moschomavro, Kozani, Macedonia 2017 89
N/A UK
ktimavoyatzi.gr
A traditional northern Greek blend from Kozani, where Xinomavro is blended with the less tannic, fruitier variety Moschomavro. Aromatic with raspberry, nettle and sour cherry notes. Refined on the palate with a solid tannic backbone. Give it a couple of years in the cellar. Drink 2023-2028 Alc 13.5% D