Bordeaux 2023

Tasted April 2024. 69% Sémillon, 31% Sauvignon Blanc. White peach on the nose with citrus and acacia flowers. Zesty on the palate with lively acidity and broad texture from the large proportion of Sémillon. Complex and tense finish.

Tasted April 2024. Fresh exotic pineapple and ginger on the nose. Energetic on the palate, with lemon barley, dried pineapple and mango. Delicious, mouth-cleansing acidity.

Tasted April 2024. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 12.9% ABV. Vibrant fresh lemon, apple and grapefruit on the nose, with lip-smacking, tangy acidity. Pithy and textural on the palate, with surprising weight as it develops, before a long, saline finish.

Tasted April 2024. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 12.9% ABV. Vibrant fresh lemon, apple and grapefruit on the nose, with lip-smacking, tangy acidity. Pithy and textural on the palate, with surprising weight as it develops, before a long, saline finish.

Tasted April 2024. 58.2% Sauvignon Blanc, 41.9% Semillon. Pure with steely notes on the nose, along with lemon and fresh apple. Zesty acidity, with some sappy texture on the palate, and some subtle weight from Semillon that will no doubt leave this ageing beautifully for many years to come.

Tasted April 2024. 58.2% Sauvignon Blanc, 41.9% Semillon. Pure with steely notes on the nose, along with lemon and fresh apple. Zesty acidity, with some sappy texture on the palate, and some subtle weight from Semillon that will no doubt leave this ageing beautifully for many years to come.

Tasted April 2024. Sémillon 65%, Sauvignon Blanc 35%. 13.8% ABV and 90% new barrels. Rich with botrytis character, with honey, spice, subtle mushroom, and marmalade. Then cascading freshness and precision on the palate with a bright 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. 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. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 14.1% ABV, 50% in new barrels. The first vintage vinified in the new cellar, with eight hectares now in production. Aromatic and pure on the nose, with some limestone influence. Similarly on the palate there are chalky notes and edges to the ripe tannins. The fruit is restrained and vibrant, with red and black berry fruit. Lots of pomegranate acidity leads to a long, juicy finish with saline mineral notes.

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. 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.

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. 100% Merlot. 14.6% ABV. 30% new barrels. Expressive and refreshing, with blackberry, aromatic plum, violet and delicate spice. Medium-bodied, smooth and generous at this early stage.

Tasted April 2024. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. Pure aromatics, with red berry fruit and spicy.

Tasted April 2024. 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. 13.8% ABV. Grand Mayne flies under the radar, but has been making consistently impressive wines under third generation owners Jean-Antoine and Damien Nony. Their 2023 has a lovely mix of fresh bramble and Haribo berry gummy sweets on the nose, with licorice and dried rosemary creating savoury complexity. On the palate there's black cherry and raspberry jelly, with a mineral, saline note running through, combining with refreshing acidity on the long appetising finish.

Tasted April 2024. Ripe black fruit, tobacco and earthy notes. Broad on the palate with savoury notes and ripe tannins.

Dense dark fruit on the nose and palate, with complex mocha, floral and spicy notes. Dried herbs and a chalky note on the finish.

Tasted April 2024. 88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV and 70% new barrels. Structured and floral, with a distinct elegance this vintage. The 2023 has a gourmand quality, with appetising mineral notes around pure, ripe black fruit and tons of fine tannin. The finish is long, with mouth-watering acidity and more savoury, mineral notes.

Tasted April 2024. Montaiguillon in 2023 is classic Bordeaux at its best, and remains one of our easiest recommendations. There’s lots of fresh bramble fruit and spiced plum, with graphite and subtle truffle as it opens in the glass. Balanced and proportioned, it has lots of smooth tannin and a refreshing, appetising finish.

Tasted April 2024. Montaiguillon in 2023 is classic Bordeaux at its best, and remains one of our easiest recommendations. There’s lots of fresh bramble fruit and spiced plum, with graphite and subtle truffle as it opens in the glass. Balanced and proportioned, it has lots of smooth tannin and a refreshing, appetising finish.

Tasted April 2024. Montaiguillon in 2023 is classic Bordeaux at its best, and remains one of our easiest recommendations. There’s lots of fresh bramble fruit and spiced plum, with graphite and subtle truffle as it opens in the glass. Balanced and proportioned, it has lots of smooth tannin and a refreshing, appetising finish.

Tasted April 2024. Montaiguillon in 2023 is classic Bordeaux at its best, and remains one of our easiest recommendations. There’s lots of fresh bramble fruit and spiced plum, with graphite and subtle truffle as it opens in the glass. Balanced and proportioned, it has lots of smooth tannin and a refreshing, appetising finish.

Tasted April 2024. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, a higher proportion than in previous vintages, with 15% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV and 50% new barrels. Lovely depth and concentration on the palate, in a classic style with structure and freshness. There's plenty of dense black berry fruit with bright fresh mint on the nose and creamy, toasty notes from high quality oak. Appetising and saline on the finish.

Tasted April 2024. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Carmenere, 1% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV and 55% new barrels. A higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage, matched only by 2019 and 1986 in recent decades. Dense and structured, with classical fruit style of ripe aromatic, black fruit with savoury notes and delicate spice from oak maturation. Savoury, gourmand and appetising in style.

Tasted April 2024. 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot. Fresh black berry fruit on the nose and palate. Creamy texture and medium-body, with silky tannins and a long fruity finish.

Tasted April 2024. Elegant and structured, with a chalky feel on the palate. Fresh dark berries, plum, balsamic, truffle and licorice. Bright acidity and a long, savoury finish.

Tasted April 2024. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. 13% ABV. Dense and concentrated with black fruit. Spicy and complex on the nose and palate, with dry spice, cedar, and hints of graphite. Impressive in its subtlety and balance.

Textural and rich, with powerful, spicy fruit. There's some pomegranate, cranberry crunch to the dense core of fruit, with fresh mint and dried woody herbs adding complexity to the nose. Densely-packed, ripe tannins.

Tasted April 2024. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Classic Pauillac characteristics of savoury-tinged cassis, bramble and graphite. The tannins are fine, densely packed and ripe. Fresh black fruit continues on the palate but with plenty of cleansing acidity and mineral notes that create a mouthwatering finish, along with creamy oak influence. Intense and concentrated but pure, vibrant, and with everything in good proportion.

Tasted April 2024. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Classic Pauillac characteristics of savoury-tinged cassis, bramble and graphite. The tannins are fine, densely packed and ripe. Fresh black fruit continues on the palate but with plenty of cleansing acidity and mineral notes that create a mouthwatering finish, along with creamy oak influence. Intense and concentrated but pure, vibrant, and with everything in good proportion.

Tasted April 2024. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Classic Pauillac characteristics of savoury-tinged cassis, bramble and graphite. The tannins are fine, densely packed and ripe. Fresh black fruit continues on the palate but with plenty of cleansing acidity and mineral notes that create a mouthwatering finish, along with creamy oak influence. Intense and concentrated but pure, vibrant, and with everything in good proportion.

Tasted April 2024. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Classic Pauillac characteristics of savoury-tinged cassis, bramble and graphite. The tannins are fine, densely packed and ripe. Fresh black fruit continues on the palate but with plenty of cleansing acidity and mineral notes that create a mouthwatering finish, along with creamy oak influence. Intense and concentrated but pure, vibrant, and with everything in good proportion.

Tasted April 2024. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Classic Pauillac characteristics of savoury-tinged cassis, bramble and graphite. The tannins are fine, densely packed and ripe. Fresh black fruit continues on the palate but with plenty of cleansing acidity and mineral notes that create a mouthwatering finish, along with creamy oak influence. Intense and concentrated but pure, vibrant, and with everything in good proportion.

Tasted April 2024. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. Red and black fruit with subtle vanilla and a creamy texture on the palate. It finishes with more spice and bramble, with silky tannins.

Tasted April 2024. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc 5% Petit Verdot. A very impressive, satin-like vintage of Pavillon Rouge. Pure and lively on the nose, plush dark fruit, rose petals and flint. Satin texture on the palate, with fresh red fruit, darker berries and mint. Incredibly long and fine, saline finish.

Tasted April 2024. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot. 13.1% ABV. 80% new barrels. This year marks the first year Las Cases is made in the brand new cellar, with an increased number of vats resulting in greater precision. They now only pick into small crates, and infusion techniques replace pumping over for extraction. Brooding blackcurrant and black plum on the nose, with graphite, smoky notes. Impressive density on the palate with more dark berry fruit and fine, delineated tannins. It finishes very long and fresh with juicy acidity. Dark chocolate, exotic spice and delicate vanilla on the palate.

Tasted April 2024. 78% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.5% ABV. This vintage the Cabernet Franc is especially singing, and there's savoury depth throughout the wine. Tension on the palate with ripe, linear tannins. Fresh, savoury-tinged dark fruit, bramble and plum, with strong herbal notes.

Tasted April 2024. 52% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.6% ABV. Very floral with violet and aromatic spice like anise and coriander on the nose. Delicate and ethereal on the palate with paper-fine tannins, and a juicy core of soft black fruit. A lot of concentration but in a very elegant frame.

Tasted April 2024. 82% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV with two thirds of the wine matured in new barrels. An elegant iteration of one of our favourite Bordeaux estates, with crushed velvet texture, and layers of mineral and savoury complexity with truffle, graphite and exotic spice on the nose.

Tasted April 2024. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. 13.2% ABV and 70% new barrels. Bursts from the glass with fresh red fruits and perfume. Ripe black fruit on the palate with cassis and juicy black plum. Waves of refreshing complex floral and herbal flavours, fresh mint, white pepper, and earthy graphite. Complex and rich, but with amazing purity, elegance and freshness. Absolutely quintessential Pauillac.

Tasted April 2024. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 12.91% ABV. Vines here are on average 55 years old. The 2023 expression of Cos still has its inate power, but it's restrained by gentle techniques in the cellar. The result is a fresh, expressive wine with lots of structure and velvet tannins.

Tasted April 2024. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot. 13% ABV. Focused and detailed on the nose with black berry fruit, violets and anise. Rich, layered, dense on the palate, with concentrated black fruit. There's lovely perfume throughout and a fine, flinty finish.

Tasted April 2024. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot. 13.3% ABV and 100% new barrels. The highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon ever in Mouton, aside from the 2010 vintage. Ripe blackberry fruit and dark chocolate on the nose. On the palate it has a brilliant interplay of opulence and freshness, with powerful fruit, mocha, densely-packed tannins and an energetic finish. Classically Pauillac, with graphite, smoke, and fresh mint matching the ripe cassis.

Tasted April 2024. 13% ABV and 100% new barrels. Effortless and refined in 2023, the grand vin of Chateau Margaux has fresh blackcurrant fruit, black cherry and waves of sweet spice, pepper, floral notes and salinity. Refined, glossy tannins, delicate oak spice, and refreshing, mineral-laced acidity. A beautifully charming and expressive wine.

Tasted April 2024. 52.7% Merlot, 29.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.7% Cabernet Franc. Restrained and savoury dark bramble fruit on the nose with tobacco and graphite complexity. Grippy, broad tannins further contribute to this savoury style. Elegant and long on the palate.

Tasted April 2024. 52.3% Merlot, 38.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.1% Cabernet Franc. Bramble on the nose with cedar, dry spice and medicinal notes. Supple and concentrated on the palate, with savoury spice and tobacco along with dark, fresh blackberry and plum.

Tasted April 2024. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. 12.8% ABV. Poised and elegant, with racy, mouthwatering acidity, fresh red fruit and layers of comlpexity. Incense and graphite, with floral lift, and a sleek, silky feel on the palate. Powerful but in a restrained, tightly-wound way. Incredibly appetising and moreish.