We have been shipping Farr Vintners Pauillac since the 2010 vintage, skipping only 2011 and 2013. Made for us by one of the great châteaux of Bordeaux, it has provided both exceptional quality and value year in, year out.
We shipped the 2019 vintage in April 2022. The nature of the 2019s is such that they were all pretty much ready to go from the off with a decant, though after a few more years in bottle they are really showing their class. It is undeniably a hedonist’s vintage – the wines are all about drinking pleasure – though the structure and balance from top to bottom shows what a great vintage this is for Bordeaux: one of the greats of the 21st Century.
Our Pauillac is a perfect example of everything that is good about 2019 and, with five years in bottle now, it is getting well into its stride. It has another decade in it at least – this is a serious wine from exceptional vineyards – though gets more and more immediately approachable every time we open a bottle.
The source of Farr Vintners’ Pauillac has been the same from the start. It comes from the very heart of Pauillac and we regret that we have to keep the source a secret: it is simply part of the deal. What we can say is that you simply cannot buy another Bordeaux of such class, quality and pedigree at this price.
The 2019 FV Pauillac continues to shine in bottle. Tasted blind with a series of more expensive and well-known Bordeaux, this impresses with its deep colour, powerful fruit and depth. The colour is still purple, the nose led by cassis, graphite, charcoal embers and blueberry. The palate has the rich tannin of Pauillac, muscular and laden with more ripe black fruit. Broad-shouldered with more notes of graphite, blackcurrant and incense, the fruit is layered and lingers on the finish together with the spice. Finishing with notes of cigar leaf and chalky Médocain tannins, you can drink this powerful Pauillac now, preferably with a decant and certainly with food. Impressive.
The 2019 Farr Vintners Pauillac may turn out to be the best yet. Very deep and purple in colour. The nose is rich, smoky, dense and powerful in black fruit, showing cassis, incense, damsons and woody herbs. The palate has real focus thanks to crunchy, ripe Médocain tannins, but there is a plump richness from succulent black fruit. Bursting with cassis that is lined with savoury spice and graphite, this is seductive and serious at once. The long, unerring finish brings pencil shavings and blackcurrant leaf together with tobacco, but it is the rich black fruit that remains centre of attention. Give this a decant if approaching now, it will be better in 12 months and should drink beautifully for a decade or more.
The 2019 Farr Vintners Pauillac is deep garnet-purple in color. Baked blackberries, stewed plums, and boysenberries strut from the nose, followed by wafts of violets and pencil shavings. The medium-bodied palate is tight-knit, with a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and savory.
