Bordeaux 2022

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. 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. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Aromatic on the nose with damson, blackcurrant, licorice root and woody herbs. On the palate there's juicy bramble fruit, crunchy red berries and fresh mint. Pure, with intensity and drive on the palate. It finishes long and savoury.

Tasted April 2024. Blackberry and woody herbs on the nose. Juicy on the palate with fresh blackberry and black cherry. Refreshing acidity, mineral and appetising on the palate.

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. 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc. 13.4% ABV. 20% new oak. This vintage has majority Cabernet Sauvignon which is happening more and more at Potensac, and cassis aromas dominate the nose and palate, and along with influence of their limestone terroir the Cabernet gives a firm, ageworthy feel to the tannins. Fresh and lively towards the finish with chalky notes and juicy red berry fruit.

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. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Rich and structured, with expansive, ripe tannins on the palate and a core of fresh blackcurrants tinged with graphite. Vibrant and fresh on the finish to balance its full-bodied, intense frame.

Tasted April 2024. More Cabernet Sauvignon than ever, and 4% Petit Verdot. Dark berry fruit and blue fruit, with aromatic lavender and rosemary. Fine and with Lafon-Rochet's characteristic bright, saline freshness. Especially dense, rich and compact in this vintage.

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.

Tasted April 2024. 53% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14% ABV. Trotte Vieille seems to be improving with every new vintage, and the 2023 is particularly impressive. Explosive and decadent with ripe dark berries, mint, licorice and violets. Peppery and savoury on the finish.

Tasted April 2024. Restrained red and black berry fruit on the nose and palate. Herbal notes throughout, with an appetising finish.

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, 12% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.3% ABV and 50% new barrels. Aromatic blackberry and blueberry fruit with savoury spice, fresh mint, and white pepper on the nose. Fresh on the palate, with silky tannins and creamy vanilla. Elegant and fine on the finish.