Bordeaux 2022

Floral and explosive on the nose, thanks to a hefty dose of Cabernet Franc. Dried rose petals, fresh mint, sage, dried peel and wild strawberry on the nose. Crushed chalk element to the texture on the palate with a long, silky finish.

Tasted April 2024. One of the best Haut Medoc wines we tasted this vintage, with fragrant perfume and tension. There's dark plum, cherry, amaro herbs on the nose and palate, with fine tannins and a dense feel on the palate suggesting it will age well. Fresh with mineral complexity on the finish. Basile Tesseron is taking this humble estate to new heights.

Tasted April 2024. 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot. Pure and stony on the nose, with blackberry fruit and some aromatic plum. Grippy on the palate with fine tannin, and more blackberry.

Tasted April 2024. 60% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Violets, ripe blackcurrant and blackberry with peppery spice. Silky tannins and elegant structure. The finish is long and spicy.

Tasted April 2024. 89% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Spicy with black berry fruit and black cherry on the nose and palate. Silky, with savoury notes and medium-bodied.

Tasted April 2024. Bright and pretty on the nose, with dark plum, cherry and bramble fruit on the palate. Layers of complexity already with spice, balsamic and subtle truffle. Savoury and appetising on the finish.

Tasted April 2024. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Fragrant, with good concentration on the palate of dark berry fruit and some aromatic raspberry. Supple, densely packed tannins and a refreshing finish.

Tasted April 2024. Saint-Pierre is likely the smallest Grand Cru Classé, and has the same owners as Chateau Gloria. This vintage is fresh and precise with black fruit, graphite, gravelly notes and dried herbs. The tannins are fine and delineated, and it finishes with charming blackcurrant flavours and refreshing acidity.

Tasted April 2024. Pure and aromatic bramble fruit, with savoury spice. Appetising mineral notes and refreshing acidity. Medium-weight and gourmand in style.

Pierre Lurton and the team at Château Marjosse place aromatic purity and the expression of fruit at the heart of their winemaking. The team eschews the use of new oak, instead preferring used 400 litre barrels that allow the aromatic, floral, cherry-fruited nature of the wine to take centre stage. In 2023, the quality of the Cabernets was excellent and forms a higher part of the blend (40%) than in previous vintages. This is always friendly, delicious, and one of Bordeaux’s great values.

Tasted April 2024. The 2023 vintage marks a new era at Chateau La Garde, with a significant reduction in production of this, their first wine. It concentrates on Cabernet from the highest terrace, with deep gravel. Concentrated and pure with blackcurrant, plum, and a broad feel to the tannins on the palate that are ripe and grippy. Refreshing and gourmand on the palate with savoury notes towards the finish and subtle herbal notes.

Tasted April 2024. 64% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Carmenere. Dark, ripe fruit and a vertical feel on the palate, due to a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins also have a Cabernet shape, long and mouth-coating, and that structure is balanced by refreshing acidity.

Tasted April 2024. Rich and structured, with incredible complexity. Wild rosemary, sage, truffle, clove and mocha. Dense plum and cherry fruit. Impressive depth on the palate.

Tasted April 2024. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Fresh on the nose with blackcurrant, plum and fresh mint. Similar on the palate with some delicate spice. Well balanced, with a savoury finish and ripe tannins.

Tasted April 2024. Classic Margaux with satin-like tannins, delicate spice and medium body. There's some refreshing crunchy red fruit in addition to denser blackberry fruit and mocha richnes, and it has a classy, elegant finish.