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This week the Futures campaign kicks off with none other than the prestigious First Growth, Château Mouton Rothschild. As William Kelley of Wine Advocate points out, Mouton used "extreme selection" to achieve the level of quality we have all come to expect, with a corresponding drop in the amount of wine made this year. Yet the results of such measures are clear - and they have a super wine, that is both charming and classic. Allocations are always very tight for Mouton and we are expecting the usual high levels of interest, so don't hesitate!

 

Another one of the most anticipated wines of the vintage came out today, the brilliant Super Second Growth, Château Cos d'Estournel. Cos d'Estournel has been on an amazing run of form in recent years and it is without doubt the leading estate in St-Estéphe. It is located in the south of the appellation on the border with Pauillac and its vineyards are superbly situated on a south-facing gravel ridge with a high clay content, just north of Château Lafite Rothschild. The wines have a consistent track record of ageing well, developing a complexity and intensity that can rival and sometimes surpass the First Growths.

 

Also released today is one of our favorite St. Julien estates, Château Gruaud Larose. The esteemed St. Julien 2nd Growth consistently produces one of the best wines in the appellation and occasionally they make a wine that challenges the very best on the Left Bank. Our tasting team were impressed by the dark, brooding and elegantly complex 2021, and William Kelley has suggested it may even surpass recent vintages, including the 2018! Of all the wines of the Left Bank, Gruaud Larose must surely be towards the top of anyone's list - the aging capability of the wine is simply mind boggling. Even in the off vintages, the wine can shine - the 1964 is a great example, while the 1982 is simply one of the best wines we have encountered. The property clearly has some very special terroir. The 2021 is the 2nd vintage to come with special soft wax capsules (designed not to crumble on opening!) which not only add aesthetic appeal, but are also said to preserve the cork better than the traditional foil. This one definitely falls into the "must buy" category.

 

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac-Leognan have also released their cracking red and white this morning which are sure to be in high demand! Always consistent and going from strength to strength each year. The 14th Century chateau, placed atop a small gravel knoll ('Lafitte') in Pessac-Leognan, was purchased by a Scottish wine merchant named George Smith in the eighteen hundreds to cater to the increasing demand for Bordeaux wines. Both their red and whites are superb quality.

 

Lastly, from St Emilion is consistently over-performing Larcis Ducasse. The estate is located on one of Bordeaux's finest strips of terroir - the Cote Pavie. Here, this 25-acre property abuts the 1er Grand Cru Classé Chateau Pavie estate. The vines are planted on an eclectic range of soils - alluvial sand deposits, clay, chalk and limestone. The vines, as one would expect for that part of the world, are predominately Merlot along with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Don't miss this opportunity to secure your stock at the opening prices.

 

We've also updated the 2021 Futures Landing Page with our Wines of the Vintage,  while our Vintage Report is coming soon. The landing page is updated with new wines daily, and we'll continue sending offers on the most compelling wines as they are released...stay tuned!

 

“The top properties turned out gorgeous, classically built wines that will absolutely thrill readers who appreciate freshness and energy…The best wines offer a striking combination of old-school classicism with modern-day precision.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media


 
 

2021 Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac)

GVWM Wine of the Vintage

96-97 JS / 96 DE / 95-96 WA / 94-96 JA / 94-96 VM / 93-95 JD

 

The 2021 Mouton Rothschild is a terrific wine in the making, unfurling in the glass with aromas of cherries and wild berries mingled with notions of violets, espresso roast, pipe tobacco and mint. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, it's a layered, enveloping wine that's ample and concentrated, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a long, resonant finish. A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc that attained 13.1% alcohol, this is a demonstrative, sensual Mouton that's the fruit of extreme selection, and that may well make my score seem conservative with further élevage. Bravo to the talented Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy and his team. - William Kelley, WA

 

$564.98 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW

 

See our full list of Mouton Rothschild >

 

 
 
2021 Le Petit Mouton (Pauillac)
93-94 JS / 91-93 JD / 91-93 VM / 92 JA

 

$224.98 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW

 

 
 
2021 Cos D'Estournel (Saint Estephe)
96 JA / 94-96 VM / 94-95 WA / 94-95 JS / 93-95 WI / 92-94+ JD

 

This vintage, which can be overly straight and austere, benefits from the house style of Cos, where they are happy to add a twist of gourmet glamour, and I am seriously impressed with this wine. It showcases the successful sides of a cool vintage in spades, with bitter black chocolate, cool blue fruits, lemongrass and turmeric and black pepper spices. 55% new oak. 3.79ph. 53% of overall production is for the 1st wine, the rest in Pagodes. Easily one of the wines of the vintage. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

 

$231.98 ea. 750ml | 5% Off Cases (or 9L total): $220.38 ea.

Future | BUY NOW

 

See our full list of Cos D'Estournel >

 
 
 
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc (Pessac Leognan)

98-99 JS / 96-98 VM / 95-97 JD / 96 DE / 94-96+ WI / 94-96 WA

 

The 2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is one of the great white wines of the vintage. Soaring in its aromatic intensity and sheer volume, the 2021 saturates every corner of the palate with its unctuousness and richness. Even with all of that volume, the 2021 remains bright and sculpted. Crushed rocks, lemon confit, orchard fruit, white pepper and mint build into the memorable finish. The 2021 is positively stunning, that's pretty much all there is to it. - Antonio Gallino, Vinous Media

 

$143.59 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW

 

See our full list of Smith Haut Lafitte > 

 

 
 
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge (Pessac Leognan)
96-97 JS / 95 JA / 93-95 WA / 93-95+ JD / 92-94 WI / 92-94 WI

 

A brilliant wine, the 2021 Smith Haut Lafitte offers up aromas of blackberries, violets, coniferous forest floor and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's deep and impressively multidimensional, with good concentration, beautifully refined tannins and notable purity of fruit, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. The fruit of a severe selection, this blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot is testament to the Cathiard family's unwavering commitment to quality. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

 

$124.89 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW

 

See our full list of Smith Haut Lafitte >

 

 
 
2021 Gruaud Larose (Saint Julien)
GVWM Standout Mid-Range Wine
95 DE / 94-95+ WA / 91-93 WI

 

Black peppercorns, tobacco, ash, vanilla, cinnamon and cedar spice. A gorgeous mouthfeel straight away, the tannins so plump, not heavy or opulent but filling and ripe. This has a charming gentle aspect - a smooth, sleek texture with concentration. Supple and agile, there is lots of energy here, filled with red fruit flavours that have a delicate, sweet liquorice edge. Acidity does not overtake the fruit at all, just lifts the palate all the way through. Excellent work, immensely pleasurable, well framed with promise for long ageing. More Cabernet in the blend than usual. Ageing 14 months in French oak barrels, 15% new, the rest one year old. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

 

$96.88 ea. 750ml | 5% Off Cases (or 9L total): $92.04 ea.

Future | BUY NOW

 

See our full list of Gruaud Larose >

 

 
 
2021 Larcis Ducasse (Saint Emilion)
94-95 JS / 94 JA / 94 DE / 92-94 WA / 91-93 WI / 91-93 VM

 

A blend of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Larcis Ducasse wafts from the glass with aromas of cherries, blackberries, violets, warm spices and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, deep and attractively layered, with lively acids and a chalky, saline finish, this is a terrific effort. Nicolas Thienpont and his team were extremely selective this year, and the grand vin derives almost entirely from the slope, without much contribution from the plateau above. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

 

$84.98 ea. 750ml | 5% Off Full Cases (or 9L total): $80.73 ea.

Future | BUY NOW

 

See our full list of Larcis Ducasse >

 

 
 
 

2% discount for orders placed with a wire or personal check.* Please click here to send us your order via our contact page, or call 360.350.4896 and we will be glad to assist you. (*Minimum order of $1000 for domestic wire, or $5000 for international wire. No minimum for personal check. For wines eligible for 5% case/9L discounts, maximum discount is 5%.) 

 

Interested in a wine not on our website, or in placing a non-committed pre-order for particular 2021 Bordeaux? Click here to send us your list and we will advise as soon as the wines are available.

 

BOTTLING CHARGES FOR OTHER FORMATS Please note: Most Chateaux will be able to bottle your orders in the below formats. Click here or call +360.350.4896 if you are interested in any of the following options and they are not listed on our website:

 

375 ML - 12 x 750ml price + $40.00 per case (min. order of 24 x 375ml) 

1.5 L - 12 x 750ml price + $36 per case (min. order of 6 x 1.5L)

3.0 L - 4 x 750ml price + $70 each | 6.0 L - 8 x 750ml price + $110 each

9.0 L - 12 x 750ml price + $180 each | 12.0 L - 16 x 750ml price + $210 each

15.0 L - 24 x 750ml price + $275 each | 18.0 L - 20 x 750ml price + $325 each 

 
 
 
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Grand Vin Wine Merchants · 2950 32nd Ave SW · Suite A · Tumwater, Washington 98512 · United States (360) 350-4896