The Claret Case
Proof that great Bordeaux - even with some bottle age - does not need to be expensive. Just over £13 per bottle (on average) and all drinking very well now.
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Inside the case you'll get...
Chateau Les Gravieres de la Brandille, Bordeaux Superieur, 2020
Frédéric Borderie's principal wine, 65% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, as ever a superb generic unoaked Bordeaux. He chose to adopt his grandfather’s marvellous traditional black, red and gold label – on which you can count no less than eight different fonts! An expressive red that should be a staple of all wine racks. A blend of red and dark fruit, with freshness and fine boned tannin. Merlot dominated, this shows real smoothness and charm but also...
ColourRed
RegionBordeaux
GrowerFrederic Borderie
Grape VarietyMerlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc
Vintage2020
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
ClosureCork
CodeGRC120
Frederic Borderie, Chateaux Les Combes and Les Gravieres de la Brandille, Bordeaux, France
Frederic Borderie, in his late 30s, is one of our stars, making delicious, perfumed whites and a range of reds which he fairly views as the equals - both in quality and longevity - of more expensive wines from grander appellations.
Modestly he ascribes their success to his vineyards being on gravelly river terraces of the Isle river, an underrated terroir with some similarities to the...
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Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Francis a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon.
A cross of it with Sauvignon Blanc resulted in Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc tends to be softer and has less tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon, although the two can be difficult to distinguish. Many of the red wines of the Loire are primarily Cabernet Franc.
Origins ...
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Château La Plaige, Bordeaux Supérieur, 2023
Made by Frédéric and Lise Naud from vineyards near the Dordogne river. This is the 16th vintage we have shipped - we started with 2005. It’s a charmingly blue, red and gold labelled blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon that is ripe and fruit forward with a touch of oak adding depth and structure. A wine that is very popular with our restaurant customers who need a reliable Bordeaux that punches well above its price tag. Now-2028
ColourRed
RegionBordeaux
GrowerChâteau La Plaige
Grape VarietyMerlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage2023
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
ClosureCork
CodePLA123
Cabernet Sauvignon
The most prestigious red grape?
Origins
- Bordeaux region, as a natural cross of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc (established 1997 by DNA analysis)
- Was known as Vidure or Petit-Vidure
- Spread throughout left bank of Bordeaux, supplanting white grapes
Characteristics
- Fairly easy to grow: hardy, buds...
Chateau Les Combes, Lussac-Saint-Emilion, 2020
100% unoaked Merlot from a single vineyard with thin soils over limestone located at one of the highest points in the appellation. A long term SVS favourites from grower Frédéric Borderie, it has fresh blackberry and plum fruit and there is a stony note on the finish. Fine tannins give structure and support the fruit. Balanced and refined, this is a smart claret for all occasions. Now-2027
ColourRed
RegionBordeaux
GrowerFrederic Borderie
Grape VarietyMerlot
Vintage2020
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
ClosureCork
CodeGRC420
Frederic Borderie, Chateaux Les Combes and Les Gravieres de la Brandille, Bordeaux, France
Frederic Borderie, in his late 30s, is one of our stars, making delicious, perfumed whites and a range of reds which he fairly views as the equals - both in quality and longevity - of more expensive wines from grander appellations.
Modestly he ascribes their success to his vineyards being on gravelly river terraces of the Isle river, an underrated terroir with some similarities to the...
Discover More
Merlot
Origins
- Bordeaux region. Known by 18thC
- Now much more widely planted in Bordeaux than Cabernet Sauvignon
Characteristics
- Productive - high yielding …but early budding, so vulnerable to frost (e.g. 1956)
- In comparison to Cabernet Sauvignon: higher sugars and appealing...
Chateau Bellerive, Medoc, Cru Bourgeois, 2016
Cru Bourgeois in a top red Bordeaux vintage like 2016 almost always represents a good buy – especially at nine years old. A blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, this is drinking very well. Inviting aromas of black fruit tinged with liquorice and a certain savouriness; and so consistent in the mouth, with dark plum and berry flavours melded with notes of grilled meat and tobacco. Slightly old fashioned – and we absolutely mean that as a...
ColourRed
RegionBordeaux
Sub RegionMedoc
GrowerBellerive
Grape VarietyMerlot, Cabernet & Cabernet Franc
Vintage2016
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
ClosureCork
CodeBEL116
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Francis a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon.
A cross of it with Sauvignon Blanc resulted in Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc tends to be softer and has less tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon, although the two can be difficult to distinguish. Many of the red wines of the Loire are primarily Cabernet Franc.
Origins ...
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Here’s the full tasting note for...
The Claret Case
Proof that great Bordeaux - even with some bottle age - does not need to be expensive. Just over £13 per bottle (on average) and all drinking very well now.
Great choice of good-value wines in the January sales. The website is really easy to use to make up an order. Delivery, as is often the case, was within 24 hours and, as usual, was well-packed.Read More
I've bought a couple of cases recently, and many more in years gone by, and have really enjoyed their selection. They have a good range of interesting wines from some classic and some more…Read More
Judging by the wines I have had, someone is doing a very good job in selecting the wines to put before the public, and at a very fair price. Delivery from online purchases as also been quick and…Read More
Great company with good service and good prices. Highly recommended.Read More
One of my favourite independents. Been enjoying these special wines for more than 10 years. Always interesting choices, and always great value in the sales!Read More
This was yet another quick and painless transaction, as I have come to expect from SV&S.Read More
