To be contacted by a former winemaker of a Bordeaux first growth on the lookout for someone to look after their wine in the UK is not an everyday occurrence. Even more so when you hear we had come highly recommended – a rare honour indeed! Bertrand Bourdil who made the legendary Mouton-Rothschild 1982 and 1986 vintages left Mouton in 1993 and became a consultant. He’s retired from that now and concentrates solely on his own wine that comes from a very special 2.5 hectares of old vines which are sandwiched in the vineyards of Chateau Angelus. Angelus is one of the four 1st growths of St Emilion, along with Ausone, Cheval Blanc and Pavie.
Bourdil, who was with us in London last week, explained to me that it’s a rare patch of terroir that shares similar attributes to Petrus and La Conseillante with the traces in the soil of crasse de fer, that confers freshness and lift to the wine. He poured the 2014. I was memorized by the beautiful aromas. I spent the next 5 minutes just speechless as I nosed it. It actually reminds be a bit of Cupano Brunello di Montalcino. It is one of the best Bordeaux I can remember tasting. It's so velvety on the palate. It also feels like a living wine. Also, much like a Brunello from Cupano.
He then poured the 2013. That was a harder vintage to make, but goodness, it’s beautiful. The terroir helped, but also the attention to detail, with a small plot, shows what can be done. It's a bit less opulent than the 2014 but this is silky and velvety and yet beautifully fresh. It's an exquisite drink with a detail that I love.
As you'd expect from such a small vineyard the quantity he is able to send us is tiny. We can get 10 cases of each.
The price is incredibly fair for the stunning quality. I was chatting to couple of merchants this week who specialise in fine Bordeaux, and they were saying that the en primeur Bordeaux system is broken. It has been for years, but it's becoming more apparent. There's no point buying early and seeing the value go down, which happens in most cases.
This is an absolute gem of wine. To be buying mature wines, direct from the producer, who happens not only to be one of the greatest Bordeaux winemakers but who also is a lovely guy, is a dream.
We can do up to 6 bottles, initially, of either or both vintages on a first come first serve basis.
If you'd like more than 6 bottles of either or each let us know.
We may be able to get hold of another vintage, and can let you know about the release of the 2015.
Arrival eta in early July.
How to order - by email only
We are shipping later his month. Delivery from July.
Chateau Cherubin, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
2014 £468/6 (£78 a bottle)
2013 £402/6 (£67 a bottle)
Or a mixed case 3 of each vintage £435 for 6 bottles
