Full Fine Wine List

August Highlights

 

August 2010 Fine Wine Market Update

August gives us the chance to look over the last few months when so much was dominated by the 2009 Bordeaux ‘hurricane’. Many people have been reviewing their purchases and topping up their portfolios and cellars with some of the wines that we recommended as being highlights of the vintage.

  

 

What to buy today?

Wines such as Mouton Rothschild (£3995) which “should rank alongside the greatest vintages of the last three decades (1986 and 1982)” according to Robert Parker. Rothschilds’ Duhart Milon (£950), 2nd Growth Pichon Baron (£1080) and critics’ favourite Palmer (£2500) have been keenly pursued but there are also bargains to be found such as St Julien’s great drinking Gloria (£285) Pessac Léognan’s gorgeous Haut Bergey (£240) not to mention Margaux’s 3rd Growth bargain, Giscours (£435) which Parker described as the finest he had tasted in his entire career!
If you would like to put together a parcel for investment or drinking then please contact your account manager to tailor a purchase to your needs.

Away from Bordeaux 2009 we have plenty to choose from older vintages and it is well worth going on to the link for our Fine Wine List to explore the possibilities. Venture out of the safety of France (hard though it is to pass over Armit’s Burgundy and Rhone!)and you will find there is a lot of stunning wine to be found from Italy, especially Gaja’s Camarcanda 2004 (£325) and it would be remiss of me not draw your attention to the highly-rated Spanish wines of La Rioja Alta.

I hope you have also seen the first releases from the much-anticipated 2009 Burgundy vintage. The Domaines of William Fevre and Jean Paul & Benoit Droin require little introduction and there is little doubt that the wines they have produced are landmarks for the region. Make sure you book in early for the Grands Crus and Premier Crus at their opening prices – I feel particularly obliged to draw your attention to Fevre’s Grand Cru Bougros Côte de Bouguerots (£450) and 1er Cru Montée de Tonnere (£250) and Droin’s bargain 1er Cru Vaillons (£145).

Whatever you are looking to drink or lay down in the cellar the team at Armit look forward to advising you on it and ensuring you get it at the right price. Have a great summer and let us know if you need anything.

 

Our Highlights

Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2009 

£3995 per case 6  0207 908 0600

I am speechless over the nose in this wine. Mint, blackberry, currant and black licorice turn to flowers such as lilacs and roses. Wow. It fills your mouth with the same fruit, but with an intensity of superpolished tannins. It finishes with complex yet reserved coffee, toasted oak and ripe fruit and then in two or three minutes it becomes milk chocolate. Just a joy to taste. Best Mouton since 1982 or 1986; in fact, it¿s like a bend of the two. A perfect Mouton? 88 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 12 percent Merlot. 97-100 Points, Wine Spectator

 

Ca Marcanda 2004, Gaja 

£325 per case 6 Buy 

The estate’s flagship Camarcanda is superb in 2004, in fact it is easily the finest wine Gaja has made in Maremma. This wonderfully detailed, nuanced wine flows from the glass with superb detail and clarity. It is a sweet, layered effort, with notes of sweet dark fruit, toasted oak, menthol, smoke, spices, flowers and minerals framed by silky, finessed tannins. There is plenty of depth and persistence on the palate, yet this remains a wine that is fundamentally about understated elegance, something you don’t see too often in wines from this part of Tuscany. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2024. 92 Points, Wine Advocate

 

Château Palmer 2009, 3rd Growth, Margaux

£2500 per case 12 Buy

Loaded with exotic fruit, with masses of crushed blackberry and blueberry. Superclear and fruit forward. Full and velvety, with fresh acidity and a long, long finish. This is almost in your face, but reserved in a way. Superseductive. 95-98 Points, Wine Spectator