Bordeaux 2011 Vintage Offerings British Columbia

Bordeaux2011 Release

October 4, 2014

Bordeaux 2011 1

The 2011 Bordeaux Release

O n October 4th, 2014, the 2011 vintage of Bordeaux will be released in BC Signature Liquor Stores. More than 2 years ago, the selections were made from ‘en primeur’ tastings in

Bordeaux and the wines have been resting in barrel and bottle until now. There were many excellent wines in 2011 but it is a vintage that required extensive tasting to find the best quality and best value. The most famous names of Bordeaux will be available at the release, along with a number of petits châteaux that made it through the rigorous tasting evaluations.

Overall, weather in 2011 was more changeable than the previous 2 years. The early spring was warm and dry, July and August were cool and overcast, and the end of September and October were sunny. Cooler conditions in the mid-season have created aromatic red fruit character to complement the dark berry notes of these Bordeaux, and the ideal autumn allowed for flavour and tannin maturation. It is a vintage that many experts describe as ‘classic’ with noted journalist Robert Parker making comparisons with 2001 and 2008. At the best châteaux, much selection was done in the vineyard to pick the ripest grapes and was followed by a further paring down to the best wines after fermentation. The final choices were made by the BCLDB to bring only the most exciting wines to market.

For wines that will be more approachable in the short term, look to the Merlot-based blends of the ‘right bank’. These wines are significantly more open and will, for the most part, offer delicious drinking within the next 5-8 years. Try Château Montlabert from St.-Émilion AOC or La Vieille Cure from Fronsac AOC for wines that are already giving pleasure. Châteaux Trotanoy (Pomerol) and Bélair Monange (St.-Émilion) are more seious wines that will benefit from time in the cellar.

The Cabernet-based wines are perfumed and dense at the same time. In most cases, the tannins are still very youthful and these

Bordeaux 2011 2

wines, even the petits châteaux, will require cellaring time. There are some very pretty wines from the Pessac-Léognan, including the lovely Domaine de Chevalier and Haut-Bergey. For ageworthy beauties that you can enjoy 10+ years from now, look for superstars of the Médoc, including Châteaux Pontet Canet, Léoville Las Cases and Palmer. One bonus of the 2011 vintage is that many prices are down slightly from the previous 2 years.

The dry whites in the release show zesty citrus flavours and fresh acidity, with toasty oak adding complexity, while the sweet whites (Sauternes and Barsac) are excellent. BCLDB has sourced small quantities of the top sweet wines (including Châteaux Climens and de Fargues) with the greatest wine, Château d’Yquem, making an appearance later in the year.

Starting on October 4th, Bordeaux 2011 will be available across the province. Participating stores include our 22 Signature Stores, as well as Dunbar, Caulfeild and Peninsula Village (Surrey). Our flagship location at 39th & Cambie will carry the complete collection of 2011 Bordeaux, while Brighouse, Park Royal and Bute & Alberni will also have a an extensive variety of wines. Product Consultants are available at all locations and will be pleased to assist you.

Barbara Philip MW Portfolio Manager

BC Liquor Distribution Branch

Drinkability Legend DRINK NOW: can be enjoyed now

DRINK OR HOLD: can be enjoyed now but may also be matured further by cellaring

HOLD: ideal for further cellaring

NumberingAll wines have been numbered for ease of reference. Those

products whose name is followed by (L) are subject to bottle limits. Bottle Limits are found on page 50.

Château Lagrange

Bordeaux 2011 Bordeaux 2011 4 5

Bordeaux 101

Vertical Tasting

One of the fascinating things about Bordeaux wine is the variation between vintages. Some warm weather vintages will make rich, full-bodied and fruit driven wines while cooler vintages often result in more earthy, dried herbal and savoury wines. Conducting a vertical tasting consists of getting together a number of different vintages of the same wine and comparing them. Being able to create vertical tastings is one of the benefits of having a cellar and buying the same wines every vintage. Taste blind and see if you can taste the difference in cooler versus warmer years.

Storing Bordeaux Wine

Many Bordeaux wines are known for their ability to age, so it is important that they are stored correctly. The key element of storage is to have a cool, constant temperature, ideally around 13-14°C (55-57°F). The constant part is more important than the exact temperature. This allows a wine to age gracefully, developing all the complex flavours and aromas you would expect. The wine should be kept away from bright light that may heat the wine or fade the labels and anything sealed with a cork should be on its side to keep the cork from drying out. You may be lucky enough to have a cool basement with ideal cellaring conditions or you may choose to purchase a wine cooler that controls temperature and humidity.

Great Pairings with Bordeaux

While the vast majority of Bordeaux wine is dry red, there are some high quality dry white and sweet botrytis-affected dessert wines such as Sauternes that are also produced.

Red Bordeaux – the wines have structure and power and are best paired with robust red meats. Classic pairings are roast or grilled beef or roast leg of lamb. Wines that have some age pair well with roast game birds or duck.

White Bordeaux – often with some oak ageing and rich yet still refreshing, these are best paired with rich white fish, lobster or roast chicken stuffed with lemons.

Sauternes – rich and sweet these wines pair beautifully with peach, pear or apple based desserts, crème brûlée and foie gras and blue cheese for savoury options.

Decanting

There are two basic reasons for decanting wine. The first is to remove any sediment that has formed during the ageing process. The second is to aerate a young wine to hopefully soften up some of its rough edges and make it taste smoother and smell more aromatic. To aerate a young wine, simply pour the bottle into a decanter, not worrying if it splashes in and gets plenty of air. To remove sediment, a bottle should first sit upright for around 24 hours to let any sediment gently settle to the bottom. Carefully open the bottle without shaking up the sediment. Pour the wine slowly and steadily into the decanter, watching the shoulder of the bottle and stopping when you see sediment appearing or when the wine looks cloudy. Old corks can often crumble in which case you can use a filter to catch any pieces of cork. A candle or flashlight shining on the shoulder of the bottle makes it easier to see the sediment. A general rule is that the older and more delicate the wine, the shorter the time should be between decanting and serving as older wines can lose their freshness quickly.

Right Bank or Left Bank?

Bordeaux is situated around the Gironde estuary and its two rivers the Dordogne and Garonne. The area west of the Gironde and Garonne is known as the Left Bank while the Right Bank is the name used for the vineyards located on the north and east side of Gironde and the river Dordogne. In between the two rivers is Entre-Deux-Mers.

The Left Bank is where Cabernet Sauvignon is usually the dominant variety in the red blends and is the home of the famous appellations of the Médoc such as Saint-Estéphe, Pauillac, St-Julien and Margaux as well of those further south – Pessac-Léognan and Graves. The Right Bank Châteaux are generally smaller and the climate and soils are more suited to Merlot and Cabernet Franc rather than Cabernet Sauvignon. The famous appellations of the Right Bank are Saint-Emilion and Pomerol.

Rhys Pender MW

Bordeaux 2011 7

VINS ROUGES

1. Château Angélus, St-Émilion (L)“The 2011 Angelus is another winner from Hubert de Bouard. Supple and sexy with lots of blueberry and black raspberry fruit intermixed with licorice, barbecue smoke and camphor, this medium to full-bodied, supple-textured, sexy effort offers delicious drinking now, and promises to become even better over the next decade. It should keep for 15 or more years.”

94 pts, Wine Advocate

300186 bottle limit 2 $380

2. Château d’Angludet, Margaux“Another sleeper of the vintage from Angludet, the 2011 exhibits a dark ruby/purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of licorice, spring flowers, black currants and cherries. With medium body, silky tannins, surprising stuffing and succulence, this seductive, lush, well-endowed Angludet can be enjoyed over the next decade.”


028993 $50

3. Château d’Armailhac, Pauillac (L)The 2011 d’Armailhac, as in every vintage, comes through with classic Pauillac notes of black currant, pencil lead and tobacco. The tannins need some taming so the wine will benefit from 5-8 years of cellaring.

Barbara Philip


Prices shown are for 750 ml bottles unless otherwise specified. Prices are subject to change without notice. In the event of any errors or inaccuracies published in this booklet, the product description and display price in the liquor store will prevail. Some products may not be available on the release date due to late shipping and customs processing.


4. Château Ausone, St-Émilion (L)“Its bigger sibling, the 2011 Ausone increases the level of intensity, elegance, complexity, richness and length. Nearly a mirror image of the La Chapelle, just with more going on, the Ausone boasts a more saturated purple color, and the wine has everything in large, intense proportions. The finesse and delicacy of all its components are what make it such a remarkable wine. The quality of the tannins and purity of the fruit make this another legendary effort that should age for 30-40 years.”

95+ pts, Wine Advocate

264259 bottle limit 2 $1,300

5. Château Batailley, Pauillac (L)“An attractive nose of creme de cassis, earth and oak jumps from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. A classic, impressive effort from the Casteja family, this 2011 transcends the vintage character, and is an unqualified success as well as a major sleeper of the vintage. Structured, rich, medium to full-bodied, pure and layered, it should be at its finest in 3-4 years, and keep for two decades.”



6. Château Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarrosse, St-Émilion (L)

“Another brilliant wine of great nobility and finesse, the 2011 Beauséjour-Duffau reveals a saturated chalky minerality as well as plenty of blue and black fruits, and fabulous precision and purity. It possesses a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and a distinctive/singular style only possessed by the greatest wines. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. It promises to be one of the longest lived wines of the vintage. At 14.7% alcohol, this is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.”



7. Château Belair Monange, St-Émilion (L)“It is amazing how things have turned around for this tiny jewel of a property adjacent to Château Ausone. Production has been cut back and the selection process has become deeply serious as just over 1,500 cases were produced in this vintage. The dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 offers gorgeous aromas of kirsch, crushed rock, raspberries and subtle oak are followed by a medium-bodied, concentrated mouthfeel that suggests low yields and impeccable winemaking. A star of the vintage, it should be forgotten for 4-5 years and drunk over the following two decades.”



8. Château Belgrave, Haut-Médoc“Rounded and easy in feel, with pretty cherry, bitter plum and black currant fruit, backed by bay, tobacco and sandalwood shadings. Sneakily long. Drink now through 2017.”

88 pts, Wine Spectator

263764 $50

9. Château Bellevue Mondotte, St-Émilion (L)“A little gem of an estate owned by the Perse family, the 2011 Bellevue Mondotte is composed of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. This super, highly concentrated wine (please don’t make the mistake of saying

“over-extracted” as there is not a bit of bitterness to be found) is the product of tiny yields and a late harvest. A thick, port-like, black/ruby/purple color is followed by a powerful, rich, exceptionally pure wine with stunning balance. From a vintage where most wines will need to be consumed within their first 15-20 years of life, this cuvee will undoubtedly last 30 or more.”




10. Château Berliquet, St-Émilion“Frankly fleshy, with plum sauce, currant paste and crushed fig notes, lined with hefty toast and a thick plum skin edge. Delivers fruit and grip, but this comes off as slightly heavy in the end. Might stretch out a bit with cellaring, but seems aimed at fans of the pumped-up style. Best from 2015 through 2019.”


264499 $58

11. Château Beychevelle, St-Julien (L)“A textbook St-Julien, offering tightly layered dark plum, currant and blackberry fruit, with a strong graphite spine and dark tar and mouthwatering pastis notes on the finish. A well-built, confident wine. Best from 2017 through 2027.”



12. Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol“The flagship estate of Dany and Michel Rolland that was recently sold to Chinese buyers, this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc possesses a dark ruby/purple color as well as abundant aromas of sweet kirsch, cassis, licorice and plums. Full-bodied and impressively endowed, it is another successful wine in a tough vintage. It should hit its peak in 3-4 years and last 15 or more thereafter.”


264549 $90

13. Château Branaire Ducru, St-Julien (L)“Offers mouthfilling layers of plum sauce, blackberry compote and warm ganache, all lined with a charcoal note that adds texture and length. Delivers depth and polish on the finish, with the fruit echoing pleasantly. Best from 2016 through 2027.”



14. Château Brane Cantenac, Margaux“Henri Lurton has turned out a juicy, elegant, stylish 2011 Brane Cantenac displaying a dense ruby/plum color as well as a perfumed bouquet of red and black fruits, earth and spring flowers, attractive length, a texture that builds incrementally, beautiful purity and overall harmony. This outstanding, medium-bodied effort should age nicely for 15+ years.”


264440 $88

15. Château Branon, Pessac-Léognan (L)“A spectacular jewel from the Garcin family, this small vineyard near Haut-Bergey consists of 15 acres planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. A dense purple color is accompanied by notes of blackberries, cassis, graphite and charcoal embers that cut a broad, medium to full-bodied swath across the palate. It is another 2011 that proves the surprisingly high quality of the wines from Pessac-Leognan and Graves in this vintage as well as the qualitative commitments of the Garcin family. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.”



16. Château Calon Ségur, St-Estéphe (L)“Rather lush, with fig, boysenberry and black currant pâte de fruit notes at the fore, backed by singed spice, apple wood and charcoal details that lend balance. More flattering than austere in terms of style, with the fruit lingering in the end. Much more fresh and pure than the slightly funky and disappointing ‘10. Best from 2015 through 2024.”




17. Château Canon la Gaffelière, St-Émilion“Probably the flagship estate of visionary Stephan von Neipperg, the 2011 Canon La Gaffèliere is less exotic and open-knit than usual, but it exhibits beautiful notes of black currants, licorice, camphor and forest floor. A burgeoning complexity as well as medium to full body and well-integrated wood are found in this pure beauty. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.”


300459 $120

18. Carruades de Lafite, Pauillac (L)“This has a slightly grainy feel, with cedar and ground vanilla bean notes leading to layers of plum, cherry compote and lightly mulled currant fruit. A strong tobacco accent fills in on the finish, revealing a cedary echo at the very end. Best from 2016 through 2026.”


289959, 264630 bottle limit 1 $388

19. Château Certan de May, Pomerol (L)Shows a slight edge, with charcoal, game and tobacco notes out front. The core of steeped fig and macerated black currant fruit is studded with ganache and waits in reserve. Reveals a smoldering edge on the finish, offering a flicker of game. Best from 2016 through 2023.

90-93 pts, Wine Spectator


20. La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (L)

“Offers a tarry feel and good drive, with kirsch, blackberry and bramble notes entwined at the core. The lingering tobacco edge hangs on the rugged finish. Should open up sooner rather than later. Drink now through 2021.”



21. Château Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion (L)“The 2011 Cheval Blanc is one of the more plump, opulent and sexy Cheval Blancs made over recent vintages, and its forwardness, lusciousness and complexity seemingly suggest this wine is on a fast evolutionary track. The wine exhibits a dense ruby/purple/plum color, a medium to full-bodied opulence, a sumptuous mid-palate (atypical for the vintage), and a lush, heady finish. It is a super, complex, evolved Cheval Blanc that can be drunk now or cellared for 15+ years. Bravo!”


264614 bottle limit 2 $2,000

22. Le Clarence de Haut Brion, Pessac-Léognan

“An impressive second wine, delicious red and black currant, spice box and earth notes intertwined with an underlying floral-like character jump from the glass of the 2011 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion. Complex with silky tannins, medium to full body and a long finish, this sleeper of the vintage can be drunk early on or cellared for 10-15 years.”


262055 $150

23. Château Clerc Milon, Pauillac (L)“Exhibits a solid core of crushed currant, blackberry and black cherry fruit, backed by refined tannins. The notes of roasted cedar and iron are well-buried for now. This should develop into a textbook Pauillac after some modest cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2026.”




24. Château Clinet, Pomerol (L)“Clinet has produced a blockbuster wine, even in the lighter, less consistent vintage of 2011. It reveals a dense purple color as well as an abundance of black cherry, black currant and blackberry fruit intermixed with licorice, incense and a touch of camphor. Full-bodied, opulent and fleshy with a substantial finish, this showy, dramatic 2011 should drink well for 15-20 years. Brilliant!”



25. Clos l’Église, Pomerol (L)“Another beautiful wine from the Garcin family, Clos l’Église, which had been a moribund estate for decades, leaped to the forefront in the late nineties where it has remained ever since. The dense ruby/purple-hued, medium-bodied 2011 possesses abundant notes of sweet black cherries, licorice and plums as well as impressive purity, texture and length. It should be at its peak in 2-3 years and last for 12-15. Usually, this is a blend of 80+% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc.”



26. Clos Floridene, Graves“Very solid, with an energetic tarry edge around a core of steeped plum, blood orange and raspberry fruit. Bright floral and iron hints fill the finish, showing sleek acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2015 through 2019.”


265223 $35

27. Clos Fourtet, St-Émilion (L)“This is another brilliant offering from Philippe Cuvelier, who has totally revolutionized the quality of this famous estate. The 2011 Clos Fourtet exhibits a dense blue/purple color as well as beautiful notes of creme de cassis, blueberries and raspberries, a complete as well as layered mid-palate, sweet tannin, good acidity and a charming personality. This is a highly successful effort for the vintage. Consume it over the next 10-12 years.”



28. Clos du Marquis, St-Julien (L)“This is well-packed for the vintage, with graphite and charcoal accents forming the edges, while the core sports steeped black currant, blackberry and plum fruit flavors. The long finish lets a tarry note stride in. Best from 2017 through 2027.”



29. Clos de l’Oratoire, St-Émilion“Offers a bright, brisk core of damson plum, bitter cherry and red currant, with racy apple wood and iron notes driving the finish. Not superdense, but shows serious definition and length. Best from 2015 through 2024.”


266130 $55

30. Château la Conseillante, Pomerol (L)“The quintessential elegant style of Pomerol, the 2011 La Conseillante offers copious aromas of raspberries, mulberries and spring flowers. Medium-bodied with pure fruit, seamlessly integrated tannin, acidity and wood, and a soft, velvety textured finish, this classic effort is ethereal in its elegance and precision. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.”




31. Cos d’Estournel, St-Estéphe (L)“The 2011 Cos d’Estournel exhibits a dense ruby/purple color and sweet, toasty, oaky notes intermixed with floral and forest floor characteristics. The complex aromatics suggest this is a top success in 2011. In the mouth, the wine is slightly more compact than one would find in a great vintage, such as 2009 and 2010, but it has impressive richness for the vintage as well as light to moderate tannin and admirable purity. It will benefit from 2-5 years of cellaring, and should keep for 15-20 years. Only 30% of the production was utilized for Cos d’Estournel, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.”


262238, 288126 bottle limit 5 $300

32. Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan (L)“A spectacular effort, especially for this challenging vintage, Olivier Bernard’s 2011 Domaine de Chevalier boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of subtle charcoal, graphite, black currants and black cherries. Rich and full-bodied with a multilayered mouthfeel and a long, complex, stunning finish, this is a profound example of a 2011 from a great terroir. Consume it over the next 20 years.”



33. Domaine de l’A, Côtes de Castillon“From the well-known Stephane Derenoncourt’s home estate, Domaine de l’A has been a constant winner since its first vintage. The 2011 offers lots of fleshy black cherry and berry fruit intertwined with mocha, earth and spice aromas that jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored wine. Revealing medium body, excellent texture and impressive purity as well as length, this over-achiever proves its merit in 2011. A sleeper of the vintage, it should be drunk over the next 7-8 years.”


266510 $39

34. Château le Dôme, St-Émilion (L)I”’m not sure you can still call this the flagship wine of proprietor Jonathan Maltus given the other top wines he’s producing. Le Dome, which is dominated by an incredibly high percentage of Cabernet Franc (80%) and the balance Merlot (20%), is a special effort that must be tasted to be believed. The 2011 boasts gorgeously juicy blue, red and black fruits intermixed with floral and spice aromas. This supple, velvety-textured, opulent, medium to full-bodied, ethereal St-Émilion is another stunning effort. It is amazing how well Maltus does whether the vintage provides great raw materials, or if he is confronted with more difficult challenges as he was in 2011. Drink this brilliant effort over the next 10-15 years.”



35. Château Ducru Beaucaillou, St-Julien (L)“The 2011 Ducru Beaucaillou (which normally represents 1⁄3 to ½ of the entire crop) possesses a dense ruby/purple color along with a beautiful nose of sweet creme de cassis, crushed rock and spring flower aromas. This rich, medium to full-bodied St-Julien is among the most concentrated wines of the Medoc. Moderate tannin is sweet and well-integrated. This beauty will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for two decades.”



36. Château Duhart-Milon Rothschild, Pauillac (L)

“Tart acids give this dark ruby/purple-tinged wine a crunchy, fresh, lively feel on the palate. Composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, this medium-bodied 2011 reveals loads of finesse and purity, but is slightly superficial compared to recent vintages such as 2009 and 2010. It should drink well for 10-15 years.”

89-91 pts, Wine Advocate

264895 $180


37. Château l’Eglise-Clinet, Pomerol (L)“With a dense ruby/purple color is followed by a pure nose of mulberries, cherry liqueur and spring flowers, but no hint of oak, this full-bodied, opulent, rich beauty exhibits impressive purity, texture, richness and length. Not as structured or tannic as Trotanoy, it moves more in the direction of the opulence and flashy, showy fruit of Hosanna and Pétrus. It should drink well for 15-20 years.”



38. Château de Fieuzal, Pessac-Léognan“Slightly rugged in feel, with pebbly, briary hints along the edges and a core of dark plum skin, steeped currant and tobacco leaf notes. The grippy finish lets the plum skin element take the lead. Best from 2016 through 2021.”


300889 $58

39. Château-Figeac, St-Émilion (L)“The plum and black cherry fruit has a floral edge, giving this version an elegant feel overall, while subtle tobacco, singed tea leaf and wood spice notes fill out the lengthy finish. This lovely wine has dropped serious muscle since the barrel tasting and is showing elegance and finesse that belies its age. Best from 2015 through 2025.”



40. Château Fleur Cardinale, St-Émilion (L)“This gorgeous 2011 continues the succession of impressive wines made by this estate since it was acquired by the Decoster family. Beautiful black raspberry, blueberry and black currant fruit notes intermixed with a touch of spring flowers emerge from a wine with excellent balance, nicely integrated acidity, tannin, alcohol and wood, and a healthy saturated ruby/purple color. This full-bodied, long, captivating La Fleur Cardinale is already drinking well, and should continue to do so for 10-12 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage.”



41. Château la Fleur Pétrus, Pomerol (L)“A medium ruby color is followed by a vivid nose of sweet kirsch, raspberries, flowers and dusty, loamy soil notes. This terrifically scented 2011 is medium-bodied, quintessentially elegant, and loaded with flavor. Obviously, the Moueixs have dedicated considerable time and money to upgrade this terroir as recent vintages have been among the most impressive wines I have ever tasted from La Fleur-Pétrus. This relatively forward 2011 Pomerol should drink well for 10-15 years.”



42. Château Fontenil, Fronsac“From the husband and wife oenologist team of Michel and Dany Rolland, this blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits dark black raspberry and graphite notes intermixed with hints of licorice and blueberries, medium to full-bodied flavors, excellent depth and texture, sweet tannin and adequate acidity. As always, Fontenil is one of the stars of Fronsac in 2011 with the winemaking skills of its owners well-presented. This beautifully crafted, high-class effort needs another year or so to resolve its tannins, and it can be drunk over the next 10+ years.”


330449 $39


43. Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac (L)“A tightly coiled version, with a strong iron base that keeps the core of plum, black currant and bitter cherry pinned down for now. A bolt of graphite courses through the finish. This is very solid, showing some serious cut. Best from 2016 through 2026.”


265041 , 026575 bottle limit 2 $288

44. Château la Garde, Pessac-Léognan“This is another vineyard owned by the famous negociant Dourthe. La Garde typically represents outstanding value combined with reasonably good quality. The 2011 reveals a beguiling, flattering, precocious, up-front nose of plums, black cherries, kirsch, spice box, smoke and earth. Medium-bodied with velvety tannins as well as a gentle, but authoritative finish, this delicious sleeper of the vintage can be drunk over the next 10-12 years.”


263475 $35

45. Château Gazin, Pomerol (L)“A powerful, virile 2011, Gazin reveals a dense ruby/purple color, a big, meaty, earthy richness, lots of coffee, black cherry liqueur and spice notes, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. It will benefit from another 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for 15+ years.”



46. Château Giscours, Margaux (L)“Offers a solid core of violet, plum, red licorice, currant paste and sanguine notes that fill out steadily through the fleshy finish. A mesquite hint lurks in the background and should emerge more with cellaring, as there’s ample stuffing in reserve here. Best from 2016 through 2027.”



47. Château Gloria, St-Julien“Mouthfilling, offering a fleshy, briary feel to the plum sauce, steeped currant and blackberry notes, with extra anise, tar and fruitcake details pumping through the finish. Lacks a little refinement in terms of structure, but this offers solid range and depth. Best from 2016 through 2024.”


265306 $59

48. Château Gracia, St-Émilion (L)“One of the few blockbuster wines in this vintage, Gracia’s 2011 exhibits an opaque blue/purple color along with gorgeous aromas of graphite, chalk, black currants, blueberries, camphor and a hint of truffles. Full-bodied and rich, with good acidity, this luscious St-Émilion should drink well in 2-3 years and last for 15.”



49. Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac (L)“The dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 Grand-Puy-Lacoste exhibits a charming, open-knit bouquet of red and black fruits. It is a savory, medium-bodied, flavorful, well-endowed Pauillac from Xavier Borie that can be enjoyed over the next 10-15+ years.”



50. Château Gruaud Larose, St-Julien (L)“The plum, cassis and raspberry fruit is allied to singed sandalwood and apple wood notes, with a lingering spice accent on the judiciously toasty finish. A rather elegant rendering of St-Julien that should hold on well enough in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2025.”




51. Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan (L)“The saturated ruby/purple-hued 2011 Haut-Bailly exhibits a glorious, subtle, noble set of aromatics consisting of red and black currants, sweet cherries, graphite, truffles and a faint hint of wood spice. The wine hits the palate with the profound elegance and purity that have become so much a characteristic under Wilmers and Sanders. Still youthful, with good acidity and freshness, this brilliant, medium-bodied 2011 needs another 4-5 years of bottle age, and should evolve effortlessly for 20-25 years.”



52. Château Haut-Bergey , Pessac-Léognan“This bounces along pleasantly, with a briary hint along the edges and vivid damson plum, anise and blackberry notes at the core. A floral accent kicks in on the finish for added lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2020.”


301002 $60

53. Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (L)“The unbelievably superb 2011 Haut-Brion (a tiny production of 7,600 cases from a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 19% Cabernet Franc) exhibits a classic nose of subtle smoldering embers, warm rocks, black currants, new saddle leather, spice box and high quality, unsmoked cigar tobacco. The color is a dense ruby/purple to the edge, and the wine cuts a serious as well as broad swath across the palate. The most amazing aspect of this terroir is that the wine, despite all its power and richness, literally dances on the palate, as if it were a 90 pound ballerina. This brilliant 2011 should evolve quickly, hitting its prime in 7-8 years, and drink beautifully for 20-25 years.”


301010 bottle limit 2 $1,200

54. Château Hosanna, Pomerol (L)“Now one of my favorite Pomerols (a 2005 tasted in Beijing, China recently was out of this world), the 2011 Hosanna does not have the power of that vintage, or 2009 and 2010, but it exhibits complex forest floor, floral, black raspberry and black cherry notes. With a savory, broad opulence as well as a medium to full-bodied appeal, this silky smooth, seductive, complex wine can be drunk now or cellared for a decade or more.”



55. Château d’Issan, Margaux (L)“A gentle, elegant style, with a lightly dusty frame around the core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit. Shows a twinge of cocoa on the finish, with an echo of warm stone at the very end. Best from 2016 through 2024.”



56. Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac (L)“This delivers pronounced tobacco and bay leaf notes up front, with a core of steeped plum and currant fruit and a fleshy edge through the charcoal-lined finish. There’s some serious buried minerality, which should emerge with cellaring. Best from 2018 through 2031.”


265876, 288167 bottle limit 1 $1,500

57. Château LaFleur-Gazin, Pomerol“Features a lightly chalky hint, bringing together the pretty bitter cherry, damson plum and red currant notes, followed by hints of bergamot and incense through the finish. A perfumy style. Best from 2015 through 2020.”


266973 $39


58. Château Lafon-Rochet, St-Estéphe (L)“This has a chunky feel, with charcoal and cassis bush notes out front, followed by plum skin, steeped black currant and blackberry coulis flavors. A charcoal hint strides back in on the finish, with fresh acidity buried throughout. Should age well. Best from 2015 through 2021.”



59. Château Lagrange, St-Julien (L)“Slightly firm, with a plum pit edge to the red currant and blackberry fruit, backed by lightly chewy grip through the finish. Lacks some flesh and depth overall and is outpaced by the rest of the appellation. A step down from the barrel tasting. Drink now through 2019.”



60. Château la Lagune, Haut-Médoc“This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot possesses some elevated tannin, but also an impressively saturated dark ruby/plum color, notes of vanillin, black currants and forest floor, and a medium-bodied, well-endowed personality. Cellar it for several more years and enjoy it over the following 10-15 years. It will not make anyone forget La Lagune’s 2009 or 2010, but it is a solid effort for the vintage.”



61. Château Larcis Ducasse, St-Émilion (L)“This is rather broad-shouldered, with a cloak of roasted vanilla and bittersweet cocoa out front, followed by a solid core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit. A streak of licorice runs through the finish, revealing a buried chalky spine. Rather closed today, with the structure winning out in the end. Best from 2016 through 2026.”



62. Château Lascombes, Margaux (L)“This large, fragmented estate must be a logistical nightmare for winemakers, but the 2011, a blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, exhibits a beautifully scented nose of spring flowers, black raspberries, black currants, graphite and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied and rich with supple tannins, this terrific example of Lascombes continues their qualitative revolution that began over 15 years ago. One of the stars of the vintage, this beauty can be consumed over the next 20-25 years.”



63. Château Latour, Pauillac (L)“This has a gorgeous core of steeped plum, boysenberry and black currant coulis flavors, backed by a prominent graphite note that drives through the lengthy finish, where extra hints of anise and sweet tobacco flitter in the background. Regal. Best from 2018 through 2035.”


289942, 026591 bottle limit 1 $1,500

64. Château Latour à Pomerol, Pomerol (L)“Shows good density, with raspberry, bitter plum coulis and red currant paste notes that lend a slightly compact feel for now. The lively spice and rooibos tea hints that line the finish should emerge more with cellaring. Best from 2015 through 2025.”




65. Château Léoville Barton, St-Julien (L)“This has some slightly rugged grip, with a prominent charcoal frame. Delivers ample flesh at the core, offering plum cake, currant preserves and smoldering tobacco leaf notes, offset by a tangy hint of anise. Should settle in well enough after modest cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2026.”



66. Château Léoville Las Cases, St-Julien (L)“One of the more formidably backward and potentially long-lived wines of the vintage, the medium to full-bodied 2011 Léoville Las Cases behaves like a first-growth, which in a sense it truly is. Revealing a dense inky/purple color, it is a structured, rich, impressively endowed effort that is meant for the long haul. Atypical for this vintage, it requires 5-7 years of bottle age and should drink well for two decades thereafter. The final blend was 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Yields were a low 27 hectoliters per hectare, and the natural alcohol achieved 13.4%.”



67. Château Léoville Poyferré, St-Julien (L)“This property, which has been on a qualitative tear over the last generation, has produced one of the most successful wines of 2011. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it is broad, rich, medium to full-bodied and dense. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as lots of concentration, silky tannins, and a bigger, richer mouthfeel than any of its St-Julien peers. The result is one of the stars of the vintage.”



68. Château Lynch Bages, Pauillac (L)“This has solid guts, with plum, currant and blackberry fruit melded together at the core, while notes of charcoal, warm tobacco and singed iron form the backdrop. Should be very solid when it comes together after some cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2028.”



69. Château Magdelaine, St-Émilion (L)Shows a light menthol note before giving way to a smoky, tobacco-infused core of plum and black cherry fruit, revealing perfumy black tea and singed sandalwood details that frame the finish. Seems restrained, with a chalky echo holding sway on the finish. Offers ample depth. Best from 2016 through 2024.”



70. Château Margaux, Margaux (L)“The renowned Château Margaux’s 2011 boasts a dark ruby/plum color as well as a fragrant perfume of spring flowers, sweet, supple, well-integrated tannins, medium body, and the elegance and nobility expected from a great first-growth. Although it is not as powerful or concentrated as the 2009 or 2010 (no 2011s are), it possesses finesse, elegance, purity and suppleness. The wine is surprisingly approachable already yet should keep for 15-20 years.”


288845, 301143 bottle limit 1 $1,200

71. Marquis de Calon, St-Estéphe“The bright, high-pitched lilac, cherry and red currant fruit is allied to a sleek iron spine. Stays brisk and pure through the finish, with a twinge of cherry pit. Drink now through 2018.”


280370 $38


72. Château la Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan

“The small production (4,150 cases) of 2011 La Mission-Haut-Brion displays the nobility and complexity of this great terroir. Burning embers, scorched earth, blueberry, black currant, licorice and spice aromas jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. With full body (atypical for a 2011), but no hard edges, this opulent, multidimensional, fleshy, rich, stunningly long, well-balanced La Mission is another great achievement in what has been nearly a century of producing remarkable wines from this hallowed vineyard. The long 2011 should be reasonably mature in another 4-6 years, and last for two decades. It will always be a revelation in a vintage that is unlikely to receive a lot of exciting press. The final blend was 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc.”



73. Château la Mondotte, St-Émilion“This tiny yet special terroir owned by Stefan von Neipperg has turned out a sumptuous, opulent, gorgeously proportioned St-Émilion that is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The color is a dense purple and the bouquet offers up scents of mulberries, sweet black cherries, licorice, incense and a touch of minerality. Broad, concentrated and rich, this full-bodied wine will benefit from several years of bottle age and drink well for 20 years.”



74. Château Montlabert, St-Émilion“Shows a slightly muscular loamy edge, with bramble, espresso, dark fig and black currant fruit all melded together at the core. Needs cellaring to stretch out fully. Best from 2015 through 2019.”


288191 $35

75. Château Montrose, St-Estéphe (L)“The dark ruby/purple-colored, slightly austere and angular 2011 Montrose possesses a more masculine style with firm tannin, medium body, and cassis, black currant and earth notes. The wine tails off slightly on the palate leaving an acidic, tangy character. It will benefit from several more years of cellaring, and should last for 15+ years thereafter.”



76. Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (L)“This delivers a gorgeously pure beam of cassis and cherry compote, with singed apple wood, graphite and iron notes hanging in the background for now. Long and polished through the finish, showing serious depth in reserve. Best from 2018 through 2035.”


290205 bottle limit 2 $1,200

77. Château la Parde de Haut-Bailly, Bordeaux (L)

“The selection process has become much more draconian, as evidenced by the second wine, the 2011 La Parde de Haut-Bailly. A blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, it offers a dark ruby/plum color, delicious red and black currant fruit intermixed with spice box and subtle wood notes, beautiful purity, and a quality that transcends some of the Haut-Baillys made in the sixties and seventies. A brilliant second wine as well as a sleeper of the vintage, it is supple enough to be drunk in 2-3 years or cellared for 10-15+.”




78. Château Palmer, Margaux (L)“The opaque blue/purple-colored 2011 Palmer reveals a stunning bouquet of licorice, truffles, camphor, spring flowers, black raspberries and black currants. One of the superstars of the vintage, this brilliant 2011 possesses superb concentration and purity, medium to full body, and remarkable length of close to a minute. A tour de force in winemaking, the Palmer team merits accolades for achieving this level of quality in a more challenging vintage than either 2009 or 2010. The “wine of the vintage” in Margaux, tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, a final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a severe selection (only 55% of the production made it into Palmer) are the reasons for this success.”



79. Château Pape Clement, Pessac-Léognan (L)

“The 2011 Pape Clement, a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, was aged 18 months in new French oak before being bottled unfiltered. Absolutely profound, with a complex bouquet of mulberries, black cherries, black currants, graphite and subtle smoke and burning ember-like aromas, this is a true super-star of the vintage. It represents a remarkable achievement by the winemaking team of Bernard Magrez. Full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, this wine clearly transcends the entire vintage. It should age effortlessly for 25 years.”



80. Château Pavie, St-Émilion (L)“The 2011 Pavie is composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (14.3% alcohol). It possesses a certain approachability, which is somewhat disarming for the big, robust, super-concentrated and ageworthy style Pavie has favored since 1998. The opaque purple-hued, full-bodied 2011 offers a sweet kiss of kirsch, blackberry, cassis and licorice, but no evidence of toasty oak despite the fact it is bottled about six months after most other premier grand cru classes in St-Émilion. One of the most complete wines of the vintage, this superstar possesses gorgeous texture and opulence, and can be drunk in 3-4 years, or cellared for two decades.”



81. Château Pavie-Decesse, St-Émilion (L)“This well-known estate situated on the limestone hillside above Pavie is produced from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Another brilliant offering from the Perse family, the dense opaque purple-colored 2011 reveals plenty of floral notes intermixed with super-concentrated cassis and kirsch. The chalky limestone soils provide minerality to this full-bodied, powerful, concentrated St-Émilion. Some tannins are noticeable, but they are sweet. This 2011 should be drinkable in 3-4 years and last for 15-20.”



82. Château Pavie Macquin, St-Émilion (L)“This well-known St-Émilion estate has turned out a dense purple-colored blend of 84% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Super-concentrated, but not over-extracted, with an essence of blackberry, blueberry and black raspberry fruit interwoven with dusty, chalky minerality as well as a floral note, this full-bodied, rich, moderately tannic, pure, layered, impressive 2011 will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring. It can be enjoyed over the following two decades.”




83. Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, Margaux (L)

“The delicious, sexy 2011 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux reveals a dense ruby/purple color along with broad, expansive red and black fruit, flower and spice notes. Supple and round with finesse, elegance, complexity and richness, it is everything a second wine should be. Enjoy it over the next 15+ years.”



84. Le Petit Cheval, St-Émilion (L)“The quality of Cheval Blanc’s second wine continues to go from strength to strength. For example, the 2011 Le Petit Cheval reveals savory, high-brow nuances along with black currant, black cherry, spice box and mineral notes. Round, generous and medium-bodied, this sleeper of the vintage is ideal for drinking over the next decade or more.”



85. Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (L)

“Offers a sappy core of blackberry and plum fruit, coated with espresso and roasted vanilla notes. Presents a solid loamy edge that drives through the finish. This is round overall and already approachable. Drink now through 2021.”


810945bottle limit 2 $200

86. Château Pétrus, Pomerol (L)“A dense ruby/purple-tinged color and restrained but intriguing aromas of kirsch, raspberry jam, wood spice, and mulberries are found in this full-bodied Pétrus. An undeniable success in 2011, it is rich, layered and pure with light to moderate tannin, but seems slightly less muscular and tannic compared to its stablemate, Trotanoy. Forget it for a few years and drink it over the following 25 years. Made from 100% Merlot, it tips the scales at 13.5% alcohol. In short, it is typically open-knit and already showing very well. This is quite opulent.”


267047 bottle limit 1 $2,800

87. Château Pichon-Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville, Pauillac (L)

“Its bigger, more famous sibling, the 2011 Pichon Longueville Baron exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, an opulent mouthfeel for a 2011, silky tannins and no hard edges. Medium-bodied and well-endowed, it is a major success in this vintage. It should hit its stride in 3-4 years and last for 15+.”



88. Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac (L)

“Warm savory and tobacco leaf notes lead the way, with a cedary frame surrounding the lightly mulled plum and cherry fruit. Cassis bush and tobacco accents are embedded on the finish. Very solid, but lacks extra drive. Best from 2015 through 2027.”



Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron


89. Château Plince, PomerolRoasted herbs, plum preserves and a subtle spiciness give this little Pomerol a savoury character. Drink it over the next 2-6 years with roasted meats.

Barbara Philip

266957 $38

90. Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac (L)“Proprietor Alfred Tesseron’s 2011 Pontet-Canet is packaged in an engraved, heavy bottle, which only adds to the attractiveness of this beauty. A dense purple color is accompanied by notes of forest floor, acacia flowers and creme de cassis in this full, rich, and unequivocally classic Pauillac. With soft but noticeable tannins as well as a complete, full-bodied mouthfeel, this 2011 will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring, and should age effortlessly for 15-20 years. Bravo!”



91. Château Poujeaux, MoulisThis Moulis Château is a favourite amongst British Columbians, many of whom have a vertical of it in their cellars. The 2011 vintage is lighter in style than the ’09 or ’10, but is well balanced with dark berry fruit and dried thyme notes. Drink over the next 2-5 years.

Barbara Philip

290288 $38

92. La Providence, Pomerol (L)“Another brilliant wine from Christian Moueix, the 2011 La Providence exhibits copious aromas of black raspberries, forest floor and a hint of spring flowers in its full-bodied, surprisingly rich, dense, creamy-textured personality. Long and opulent, this impressive Pomerol is a great success in this vintage. Consume it over the next 15+ years.”



93. Château Rahoul, GravesThe Rahoul is delightful wine for drinking over the next five years. It is finessed with mineral notes, red fruits and a balanced palate between berry notes, bright acidity and moderate tannin.

Barbara Philip

263228 $25

94. Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux (L)“The grand vin, the 2011 Rauzan Segla, is a beauty. Aromas of spring flowers, graphite, creme de cassis and kirsch jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2011. Lots of nobility, complexity and richness characterize a wine that could be mistaken for a first-growth in 2011. This medium to full-bodied, concentrated, gorgeously pure, well-balanced beauty should be forgotten for 2-4 years and drunk over the following 15-20. Kudos to administrator John Kolasa and his team.”



95. Réserve de la Comtesse 2011, Pauillac (L)“Lightly rugged along the edges, this sports a core of crushed plum and currant fruit, lined with tobacco and briar notes. Accessible now despite the chewy feel, which should soften soon enough. Drink now through 2018.”



96. Château Saint-Pierre, St-Julien“The dense, deep ruby/purple-colored 2011 Saint-Pierre is a more masculine wine in this light to mid-weight vintage. It reveals serious structure, tannin and meat, but whether or not it all comes together over the next 4-5 years is a legitimate question. With good purity and chewiness, it is a fuller, riper, bigger style, but it is not yet knit fully. There is plenty of potential, but only time will tell. Forget it for 3-4 years, and keep your fingers crossed.”


290544 $78


97. Château la Serre, St-Émilion“Thickly layered, with plum pâte de fruit, currant paste and braised fig notes tumbled together and wrapped with chewy, briary grip. Gives way to enticing spice and licorice accents on the finish, gaining polish with air. Should settle in with moderate cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2024.”


266858 $65

98. Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan

“The grand vin, the 2011 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is another great successes (and that’s saying something after the remarkable duo of 2009 and 2010 as well as the brilliant 2008). This wine exhibits a dense purple color along with a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, mulberries, licorice and subtle background oak. Full-bodied with silky tannins, nicely integrated acidity, wood and alcohol, a multilayered mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts 45 seconds, this brilliant wine should drink well for 15-20 years.”



99. Château Talbot, St-Julien“Talbot’s dense ruby/purple color is followed by an attractive, spicy, earthy St-Julien displaying hints of tapenade, black cherries and soil undertones in a forward, lush, round, seductive style. This excellent, medium-bodied 2011 should provide delicious drinking for 10-15 years. Talbot appears to have succeeded admirably in this vintage.”


289983 $75

100. Château Troplong Mondot, St-Émilion (L)“The brilliant 2011 Troplong Mondot is one of the superstars of the vintage. The final blend was 89% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, and the wine tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol. Its opaque blue/purple, nearly black color is followed by aromas of blueberry liqueur interwoven with black raspberries, blackberries, licorice, camphor and forest floor. Among the most complete wines of the vintage, with no hollowness, astringency or herbaceousness, this is a tour de force in a challenging vintage. Some tannins are noticeable, but this 2011 is already approachable and should provide delicious, complex drinking over the next two decades. Bravo!”



101. Château Trotanoy, Pomerol (L)“Rich, dense, masculine and substantial, Trotanoy has produced a bigger wine than most 2011s. Similar to the masculinity and robustness of Gazin, with more mineral content, this medium to full-bodied, muscular effort will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for two decades. Think black cherries, earth, baking spices and serious extract!”




The tasting notes included in this brochure are excerpts from reviews in Wine Advocate (Robert Parker & Neal Martin) and Wine Spectator with some notes by Barbara Philip, MW. Please refer to the original publication for each wine’s full review.

102. Château la Vieille Cure, Fronsac“An amazing effort in this vintage, La Vieille Cure has been one of the top 3 or 4 Fronsacs in most recent vintages. The 2011 is fashioned from 75% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Many consumers will probably drink this wine entirely too young (and I have no problem with that), there is no doubt it has serious aging potential. A true revelation, this sleeper of the vintage is one of the finest wines money can buy. The dense ruby/purple color is followed by a sumptuous palate impression of silky black cherries and blackberries intermixed with wild strawberries. Opulent and rich with the abundant glycerin and lavish concentration concealing moderate tannins, this is a sensational effort in this challenging vintage. With nearly 14% natural alcohol as well as tremendous ripeness, it should drink well for 10+ years. This sleeper of the vintage merits consumer attention.”


301689 $38

103. Vieux Château Certan, Pomerol (L)“The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2011 Vieux Château Certan offers a beautiful bouquet of plums, black cherries, cassis and hints of graphite as well as spice, an excellent texture and medium body. A success in this difficult vintage, it should age easily for 10-15 years. Yet after the trilogy of great wines in 2008, 2009 and 2010, few consumers are likely to pay much attention to this 2011.”




VINS BLANCS

104. Château Carbonnieux Blanc, Pessac-Léognan

“Very bright and engaging, with a chamomile note leading the way, followed by quinine, lemon zest and white peach flavors that bounce through the lively finish. Drink now through 2015.”


264564 $50

105. Clos Floridene Blanc, Graves“Offers plump grapefruit peel and Meyer lemon pulp notes, with bracing verbena, gooseberry and chamomile accents. The long, pure, quinine-tinged finish leaves a mouth-watering feel. Drink now through 2015.”


265157 $36

106. Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan (L)

“A blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon, the Domaine de Chevalier Blanc has a very taut bouquet with scents of granite, lemon rind and a touch of white peach and chalk dust. Great focus and intensity although it takes time to unwind. The palate is medium-bodied with a lovely elegant white peach and a drop of wild honey, very good acidity and a caressing, vanilla-tinged finish that shows great length. This is better than the red this year.”



107. Château Haut-Bergey Blanc, Pessac-Léognan

“This is filling out nicely, with rich, straw-framed white peach, verbena, meringue and blanched almond notes. The long, creamy, smoke-tinged finish is very alluring.”

91-94 pts (barrel tasting), Wine Spectator

300988 $65

108. Château Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan (L)

“A blend of 42.1% Sauvignon and 57.9% Semillon, the Haut-Brion Blanc has a slightly deeper colour than the La Mission Blanc. It displays great minerality on the nose, with precision and clarity, notes of green apple, lime flower, zest and white peach. The palate is medium-bodied with great precision on the entry, lovely poise, very elegant with a beautiful, delicate white peach and mineral finish with hints of guava and lychee in the background. Superb.”


262170 bottle limit 1 $1,500

109. Château La Garde Blanc, Pessac-Léognan“Steely and focused, with a strong quinine accent leading the way, followed by notes of green almond, yellow apple skin, fennel, lemon curd and fleur de sel. A bright, juicy finish provides interest. Drink now through 2014.”


263285 $39

Bordeaux 2011 44

110. Château Malartic Lagraviere Blanc, Pessac-Léognan (L)

“The 2011 Malartic-Lagraviere Blanc has a superb bouquet, with vigorous aromas of lime, kiwi fruit and dewy green apples. It has real intensity and great definition. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine balance, light white peach and a touch of spice and offering a pleasant, quite phenolic finish that just cuts away rather quickly. I believe this will show better after bottling.”

89-91 pts (barrel tasting), Wine Advocate


111. Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Pessac-Léognan (L)

“Loaded with layers of blanched almond, white peach, yellow apple and Cavaillon melon fruit flavors, all backed by piercing chamomile, fleur de sel, citrus oil and green plum notes. The finish shows vivacious acidity. This is the rare dry white Bordeaux that actually needs cellaring. Best from 2015 through 2020.”


266338, 262063 bottle limit 2 $160


SAUTERNES & BARSAC

112. Château Climens, Barsac (L)“Tasting through individual lots, I was struck by their purity and tautness, developing engaging floral aromas with aeration, with occasional notes of yellow plum and ginger. On the palate, once again there is a common theme of purity and crisp acidity, although they alternated between a lighter and a more mellifluous style. One or two significant lots demonstrated enticing spicy notes that define great Climens. There is certainly enormous potential here, one that beckons an intense, vivacious Barsac underpinned by freshness and focus.”


300566 (375 ml) bottle limit 2 $100

113. Château de Fargues, Sauternes (L)“This barrel sample delivers 13.85% alcohol and 136 grams of residual sugar. It has a light, well-defined bouquet with great clarity and minerality. The palate is very pretty on the entry with notes of peach skin, nectarine and dried honey, perhaps just a hint of lemongrass lending the finish a subtle spice note that extends the length. This has very fine potential. Tasted April 2013.”

(92-94) pts, Wine Advocate

300863 (375 ml) bottle limit 1 $200

114. Château Doisy-Vedrines, Sauternes (L)“Pure, with piercing persimmon, pineapple, white peach and quince flavors. Gorgeous floral notes of honeysuckle and orange blossom form the backdrop, while a heather accent caresses the finish. Overwhelmingly pure in the end, with a finish that sails on and on. Best from 2016 through 2035.”



264911 (375 ml) $30

115. Château Rieussec, Sauternes (L)“The 2011 Rieussec has a lifted, at the moment quite oaky, bouquet with scents of honey, almond and pineapple. Hopefully it will develop more definition by the time of bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with tropical fruit and mandarin on the entry and a satisfying viscous core of honeyed fruit. It seems a little disjointed towards the finish, although I am sure it will become more cohesive by the time of bottling. For me, it just seems a little predictable. Drink 2015-2028+.”



301481 (375 ml) $80

116. Château Suduiraut, Sauternes (L)“A big, broad, powerful style, with piecrust, roasted almond and hazelnut cream notes framing the core of apricot, creamed peach and dried mango. Picks up extra fig and pear details through the toasty finish. Needs a bit of time to finish sorting itself out. Best from 2017 through 2030.”



301622 (375 ml) $100

117. Château d’Yquem, Sauternes“A lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think that’s all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long. Best from 2020 through 2060.”


456845 (375 ml) bottle limit 1 $356

Bordeaux Region Map

CÔTES DEBOURG

Bordeaux

MÉDOC

HAUT-MÉDOC

CÔTES DE BLAYE ET PREMIÈRES CÔTES DE BLAYE

GIRONDE

ATLA

NTI

C

GRAVES

PREMIÈRES-CÔTESDE BORDEAUX

Libourne

PESSAC-LÉOGNAN

SAUTERNES

BARSAC

FRANCE

BORDEAUX

ST. ESTÈPHE

PAUILLAC

ST. JULIEN

MARGAUX

MOULIS-EN-MÉDOC

LISTRAC-MÉDOC

Blaye

PARIS

ENTRE-DEUX-MERS

DORDOGNE

G A RO N N E

ST. ÉMILION

CÉRONS

LALANDE-DE-POMEROL

POMEROL

CÔTES DE CASTILLON


BOTTLE LIMITS

1. Château Angélus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

3. Château d’Armailhac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4. ChâteauAusone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

5. Château Batailley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

6. Château Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarrosse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

7. Château Belair Monange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

9. Château Bellevue Mondotte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

11. Château Beychevelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

13. Château Branaire Ducru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

14. Château Branon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

16. Calon Ségur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

18. Carruades de Lafite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

19. Château Certan de May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

20. La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

21. Château Cheval Blanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

23. Château Clerc Milon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

24. Château Clinet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

25. Clos l’Eglise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

27. Clos Fourtet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

28. Clos du Marquis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

30. Château La Conseillante . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

31. Cos d’Estournel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

32. Château Domaine de Chevalier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

34. Château Le Dome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

35. Château Ducru Beaucaillou. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

36. Château Duhart-Milon Rothschild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

37. Château L’Eglise Clinet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

39. Château-Figeac. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

40. Château Fleur Cardinale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

41. Château La Fleur Pétrus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

43. Les Forts de Latour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

45. Château Gazin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

46. Château Giscours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

48. Château Gracia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

49. Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

50. Château Gruaud Larose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

51. Château Haut-Bailly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

53. Château Haut-Brion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

54. Château Hosanna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

55. Château d’Issan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

56. Château Lafite Rothschild. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

58. Château Lafon Rochet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

61. Château Larcis Ducasse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

62. Château Lascombes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

63. Château Latour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

64. Château Latour à Pomerol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

65. Château Léoville Barton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

66. Château Léoville las Cases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

67. Château Léoville Poyferre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

68. Château Lynch Bages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

69. Château Magdelaine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

70. Château Margaux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

72. Château La Mission Haut-Brion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

73. Château La Mondotte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

75. Château Montrose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

76. Château Mouton Rothschild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

77. Château La Parde de Haut-Bailly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

78. Château Palmer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

79. Château Pape Clement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

80. Château Pavie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

81. Château Pavie-Decesse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

82. Château Pavie Macquin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

83. Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

84. Le Petit Cheval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

85. Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

86. Château Pétrus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

87. Château Pichon-Longueville au Baron de

Pichon-Longueville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

88. Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

90. Château Pontet Canet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

92. La Providence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

94. Château Rauzan Segla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5


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95. Réserve de la Comtesse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

98. Château Smith Haut Lafitte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

100. Château Troplong Mondot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

101. Château Trotanoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

103. Vieux Château Certan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

106. Château Domaine de Chevalier Blanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

108. Château Haut-Brion Blanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

110. Château Malartic Lagraviere Blanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

111. Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

112. Château Climens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

113. Château de Fargues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

114. Château Doisy-Vedrines (750 ml) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

115. Château Rieussec (750 ml) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

116. Château Suduiraut (750 ml). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

117. Château d’Yquem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1


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Bordeaux 2011 56

Lower Mainland39TH & CAMBIE5555 Cambie St Vancouver, BC V5Z 3A3 604 660 9463

ABBOTSFORD40–32500 South Fraser Way Abbotsford, BC V2T 4W1 604 870 5919

ALBERNI & BUTE768 Bute StVancouver, BC V6E 4H6604 660 4572

FLEETWOOD8904–152nd St Surrey, BC V3R 4E4 604 582 0008

HIGHGATE VILLAGE235–7155 Kingsway Burnaby, BC V5E 2V1 604 660 8731

LANGLEY6435–201 St Langley, BC V2Y 2X4 604 532 4911

MEADOWTOWNUnit 810 19800 Lougheed Hwy Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2W1 604 460 2601

NICOLA STATION140–1097 Nicola Ave Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 8B2 604 464 3576

NORDEL CROSSINGUnit 116 12080 Nordel Way Surrey, BC V3W 1P6 604 596 2421

NORTHGATEUnit 103–3433 North Road Burnaby, BC V3J 0A9 604 664 0844

PARK ROYAL570 Park Royal North West Vancouver, BC V7T 1A1 604 981 0011

RICHMOND BRIGHOUSE100–8100 Ackroyd Rd Richmond, BC V6X 3K2 604 278 2343

RICHMOND IRONWOOD3170–11666 Steveston Hwy Richmond, BC V7A 5J3 604 664 0701

WESTWOOD CENTRE100–2748 Lougheed Hwy Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 6P2 604 927 2681

Outside Lower MainlandFORT STREET1960 Foul Bay Rd Victoria, BC V8R 5A7 250 952 4220

VICTORIA WESTSHOREUnit 600–2945 Jacklin Rd Langford, BC V9B 5E3 250 391 2811

KAMLOOPS COLUMBIA PLACE 600–1210 Summit Dr Kamloops, BC V2C 6M1 250 828 4319

KELOWNA MISSION PARK35–3155 Lakeshore Rd Kelowna, BC V1W 3S9 250 861 7260

KELOWNA ORCHARD PARK109–1835 Dilworth Dr Kelowna, BC V1Y 9T1 250 861 7337

PENTICTON PLAZA405–1301 Main St Penticton, BC V2A 5E9 250 492 1319

PRINCE GEORGE PINE CENTRE3173 Massey Dr Prince George, BC V2N 2S9 250 561 5608

VERNONUnit 245A Village Green Mall 4900 27th St Vernon, BC V1T 7G7 250 503 3610

Participating Non-Signature Stores

CAULFEILD195–5335 Headland Dr West Vancouver, BC V7W 3C6 604 922 8201

DUNBAR3453 Dunbar St Vancouver, BC V6S 2C3 604 224 4412

PENINSULA VILLAGE280–15355–24th Ave Surrey, BC V4A 2H9 604 535 8259

2011 Bordeaux will be available at the following stores on Saturday, October 4, 2014:

www.bcliquorstores.com

Documents

Bordeaux 2011 Vintage Offerings British Columbia