How's your day?
In this lovely Sunday evening, Let me introduce you to our special topic- The Magical 20.
Remember that last time I've show you my visit to the very only one -Château Margaux.The estate is one of the five first growth wine classified in 1855. The others are Chateau Lafite Rothschild,Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Latour et Chateau Haut Brion.
Rober M Parker JR is the world leading wine critic. He is the most recognized and influence master in tasting. Recently, he has made a list in which we can find 20 wine called the magical 20. According to him, these wines shows same great quality and values as the five first growth. And guess what? they are usually 5-10 times less expensive comparing to the five first growth. ( the 1855 classification is too old to define what we have today, lots estate have made tremendous improvement but somehow they are not recognized)
Reasonable price for extreme quality? Here is the list.
1.Ch. Haut-Bailly 2009
Purity, intense, really beautiful. Great length. Perfect equilibrium. Totally beguiling. Delicious.
18.5/20 BBR Score
96-98+ Robert Parker
528 GBP per 6 bottle case (very limited stock)
2. Ch. Rauzan-Segla 2009
Best of all the times I’ve tasted it. Beautifully creamy. Sweet, decadent with lovely poise. Great length. I’m smitten.
17.5/20 BBR Score
92-95 Robert Parker
None available please ask if you’d like us to source for you . C.900-1000 GBP per 12
3. Ch. Brane-Cantenac 2009
Far more Margaux than Rauzan. Sumptuous really sweet with lovely balance. Need to check if I have it. Delicious.(I didn’t have any but have now!)
18/20 BBR Score
93-95 Robert Parker
255 GBP per 6 bottle case (very limited stock) then more at 282 GBP per 6
4. Ch. Malescot St Exupery 2009.
Deep, sweet but too much new oak. Best of all times tasted but still not my style.
17/20 BBR Score
95-97 Robert Parker
380 GBP per 6 bottle case (very limited stock)
5. Ch. Palmer 2009.
Amazing. Show stoppingly good. So fine yet powerful and totally seductive. If you haven’t got a case and you want the best, get this.
19.5/20 BBR Score
94-96 Robert Parker
1260 GBP per 6 bottle case (very limited)
6. Ch. Smith-Haut-Lafitte 2009.
Very dense. Inky. Massive amount of oak. Great fruit but difficult to dig down to. Great length but lacks purity.
16/20 BBR Score
96-98+ Robert Parker
480 GBP per 6 bottle case (very limited)
7. Ch. Pape-Clement 2009.
Really don’t get it sadly. Huge brooding beast with little charm or finesse. Clunky and short. No Dommy Chev or Ducru in this 20?
15/20 BBR Score
95-97+ Robert Parker
540 GBP per 6 bottle case (limited)
8. La Fleur-Petrus 2009.
Quite gorgeous, silky tannins, sexy beast. Slightly short on the finish compared with Palmer but lovely.
17.5/20 BBR Score
96-98+ Robert Parker
None available please ask if you’d like us to source for you . C.1200-1500 GBP per 6
9. Ch. La Conseillante 2009.
Heavenly. A Purity and balance that is utterly compelling. This is as good, maybe even better than the 05. Fantastic. Rivals Petrus in quality.
19/20 BBR Score
95-98 Robert Parker
840 GBP per 6 bottle case (very limited) then more stock at 894 GBP per case
10. Ch. Trotanoy 2009.
Where Conseillante is all about feminine whiles this is majestic and powerful. This is Brilliant!
19/20 BBR Score
97-100 Robert Parker
None available and I can’t seem to be able to source any. My apologies
11. Ch. Le Gay.
Again, no idea why this is in this company. Tad austere, very dry where’s the sex appeal? Short.
15/20 BBR Score
91-93 Robert Parker
440 GBP per 6 bottle case (Very Limited)
12. Ch. Léoville-las Cases 2009.
First Growth!! Truly brilliant. So complex, so utterly transfixing. I know its expensive but worth every cent.
19.5/20 BBR Score
96-100 Robert Parker
1320 GBP per 6 bottle case (Very limited)
13. Ch. Léoville-Poyferré 2009.
Wow! Really profound. Sweet but perfectly balanced. Brilliant. What a tasting!! Feeling v privileged.
18.5/20 BBR Score
97/100 Robert Parker
684 GBP per 6 bottle case (limited)
14. Ch. Pichon-Lalande 2009
Plump and proud but lacks a little compared to Poyferre and Las Cases.
17/20 BBR Score
96-98 Robert Parker
740 GBP per 6 bottle case (Very limited)
15. Chateau Lynch Bages 2009.
This is perfect Pauillac. Sends shivers down the spine. Cassis bomb but with total quality and balance. Lush.
18.5/20 BBR Score
94-96+ Robert Parker
684 GBP per 6 bottle case (Very limited)
16. Ch. Pichon-Baron 2009.
If Lynch is Grace Kelly, Baron is Marilyn. Curvy, seductive, totally gorgeous.
18.5/20 BBR Score
93-95 Robert Parker
600 GBP per 6 bottle case (Very limited)
17. Ch. Pontet-Canet 2009
What a fabulously decadent and brilliant wine. Has been on all occasions but this is the best I have ever tasted it.
19/20 BBR Score
97-100 Robert Parker
680 GBP per 6 bottle case (Very limited).
18. Ch. Cos d’Estournel 2009.
All the debate about this should now be over. Soft. Amazing. Deep. Concentrated. Not like any of the others. I love it.
18.5/20 BBR Score
98-100 Robert Parker (His favorite wine of the night)
1290 GBP per 6 bottle case (Very limited)
19. Ch. Clos Fourtet 2009
Again not my thing too pushed but very impressive. Apologies about speed but Bob is being pushed to speed up. Rubbish! Not the wine….the speed.
17.5/20 BBR Score
95-98 Robert Parker
440 GBP per 6 bottle case (Very limited)
20. Ch. Angelus 2009
Love the dollop of Cab Franc. Is it Bordeaux? Brilliant but a bit flash. 1 glass very happy. Impressive show winner.
18.5/20 BBR Score
96-100 Robert Parker
1388 GBP per 6 bottle case (Very Limited)
Robert M. Parker Jr. (born July 23, 1947) is a leading U.S. wine critic with an international influence. His wine ratings on a 100-point scale and his newsletter The Wine Advocate, with his particular stylistic preferences and notetaking vocabulary, have become very influential in American wine buying and are therefore a major factor in setting the prices for newly released Bordeaux wines.
