Sichel Pauillac, St-Julien, Margaux
The Sichel family has a long history in Bordeaux, as négociants and winemakers. They first set up an office on the quay at Bordeaux in 1883. In 1938 they acquired a major share in Chateau Palmer, and are co-owners to this day. They bought nearby Chateau Angludet outright in 1961, and it became the family home; latterly, Ben Sichel has been leading a renaissance in the vineyard. It is these deep connections in the region that have enabled them to source three very pukka lots of wine, and bottle them under their own label. We are sworn to secrecy as to the wines’ origins, but guarantee they are from the most prestigious of addresses.
Before we go any further, we need to make something clear. Contrary to the wild claims of certain retailers, these wines are not ‘First Growth quality at the price of a Cru Bourgeois’ or some such. It’s important to remember that these are the offcuts, the lots that the chateaux in question didn’t want to include in their first or second wine. But it is also worth remembering that these chateaux do have very high standards.
What these wines do offer is some very classic appellation character at a friendly price point. The Pauillac offers plush, dark fruit with a sense of energy and minerality. The St-Julien is cool and poised, with hidden depth. The Margaux is silky and aromatic. The Pauillac and the St-Julien are already with us, the Margaux is on the metaphorical water and available soon. The Pauillac and the St-Julien are both on tasting today and tomorrow in our Copthall Avenue store, if you can make it down before 6pm – we’d love to see you.
Offered subject to remaining unsold; St-Julien and Pauillac available immediately, Margaux available soon
