New In Stock: Can't-Miss Bordeaux Gems

I’m thrilled with the assortment of new arrivals that just landed, some of the savvier collectible buys on our shelves right now. Leading the way is a companion to the best-selling 2022, 2020 Clos Puy Arnaud, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux $29.99 95VN, where the 2020 highlights the brilliance of the 2020 Right Bank vintage and carries through the quality of this up-and-coming estate. For a legit 95-pointer that still is available at under $30, it is a winner in every regard.

Next up is 2020 Le Murmure de Larcis-Ducasse, St-Emilion $34.99 93JS, the second wine from Larcis-Ducasse, a property that is going from one strength to another in recent years.  Whether it is their 100-point, wine-of-the-year 2022, or their proximity to St-Emilion royalty, they’ve taken a small slice of treasured terroir and are crafting some of the Right Bank’s finest. Their second wine, Murmure, is another gem from 2020, one that really has the caliber and character of the grand vin. It is elegant, mineral, accessible, and dynamic, and one that is just waiting to be discovered.

We also have a pair of 2009s that are rare to find these days, but represent some of the peaks of the era of top value in modern Bordeaux. Lilian Ladouys was a dormant estate that spent the better part of the preceding decade refining their practices in the vineyard and winery, and the fruits of that effort are clear and transparent in their 2009 Lilian Ladouys, St-Estèphe $44.99 93JA 93JS. I adore how youthful and refreshing it is, while carrying the charm of a warm vintage in the Northern Medoc. Across the Gironde, Barde-Haut started to become a superstar around this vintage, and their 2009 Barde-Haut, St-Emilion $69.99 95JD is anchored by undeniable character and a rare RP94 score. That pedigree has only been reinforced again and again over the years, but it has become a rare gem at this stage in the game.

Last up is one that I cannot recommend enough—2022 Brane-Cantenac, Margaux $119.99 99JD 98DC 98JA 98VN. Do not sleep on this; it has been compared to First Growths, perhaps even eclipsing some of them in this landmark vintage. And while that’s a comparison that is thrown around from time to time, the substance here is all about the ability to deliver concentration alongside elegance, to the degree that it is undeniably best in class. That is First Growth, and I hold 2022 Brane Cantenac to that standard.

- Ryan Moses, K&L Bordeaux Buyer