Bordeaux 2022

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. 57% Semillon, 43% Sauvignon Blanc. 13.8% ABV and barrel fermented with 12% new oak. Textural and complex, Somm heaven

The first year where Semillon equals Sauvignon Blanc in the blend, the wine has been aged for 12 months in 80% one year old barrels previously used for Château d'Yquem and 20% new oak. On the palate the wine gives notes of white grapefruit, white peach and almond blossom. There is a real sense of salinity and freshness to the wine with accents of fennel and mandarin skin on the finish.

Tasted April 2024. 81% Sauvignon Blanc, 11% Semillon, 8% Muscadelle. 13.2% ABV and 50% new barrels. Pithy with lemon, grapefruit and crisp apple.

Tasted April 2024. 56.3% Sauvignon Blanc, 43.7% Semillon.

Tasted April 2024. 65.3% Sauvignon Blanc, 34.7% Semillon. Lemon barley and delicate aromatic peach aromas. Zesty acidity with herbal notes on the finish.

2023 is the second vintage of G de Guiraud with ex-Chateau d'Yquem Sandrine Garbay in charge, and this year's conditions have created an expressive, rounded wine with punchy aromatics. Pink grapefruit, sweet orange and white flowers dominate the nose, and there's a long, mouthwatering finish with a seam of zesty acidity. It's 60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc, from dedicated plots in the Guiraud estate. Partial malolactic fermentation gives some extra body and texture, as does some careful use of old oak barrels.

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

The second vintage release of this 'Second Vin' of Pavillon Blanc, it is a wine of freshness, tension and floral complexity. The nose opens with fresh jasmine and nectarine with white grapefruit and ocean spray. The palate has a roundness and creaminess adding complexity yet also a vibrant line of acidity at its core. The finish is very well defined, long and refreshing.

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. 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Unctuous initially, with cascading refreshing acidity. Fresh orange, lemon, and pear.

Tasted April 2024. Unctuous initially, with cascading refreshing acidity. Fresh orange, lemon, and pear.

Tasted April 2024. 95% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon. 13.6% ABV and 70% new barrels. The team at Larrivet Haut Brion are convinced this is the best vintage of white wine they have ever produced. Expressive and full of intense yellow fruit and a hint of cream on the nose. Intense and concentrated on the palate too with zesty citrus, and exotic fruit, with a refreshing mineral finish.

Tasted April 2024. 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon. 14% ABV. An excellent Domaine de Chevalier Blanc with a brilliant interplay of weight on the palate and saline complexity. Textural and zesty initially, it then becomes razor sharp with a steely, salty finish.

Tasted April 2024. 100% Semillon. 14% ABV and 50% new barrels. Lots of depth, marmalade flavours, fresh tangerine, apricot and delicate white flower notes. Seriously impressive and concentrated this vintage.

Tasted April 2024. 100% Semillon. 14% ABV and 50% new barrels. Lots of depth, marmalade flavours, fresh tangerine, apricot and delicate white flower notes. Seriously impressive and concentrated this vintage.

The 2023 Lune d’Argent from the Bernard family of Domaine de Chevalier is an aromatic and full-flavoured reflection of some of Bordeaux’s finest terroirs. Sourced from 35 year old vines that neighbour the vineyards of Châteaux d’Yquem and Guiraud, this is always a lot of wine for your money. Gravel soils in Sauternes and Bommes provide power and freshness, while alluvial soils in Barsac lend the wine a unique minerality. Textured, zingy, and utterly delicious, the 2023 Lune d’Argent is an absolute bargain.

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. 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. 13.5% ABV. 60% whole bunches, 70% new barrels and 10% amphorae. A beautiful expression of Cabernet Franc on limestone, with a higher than usual proportion of the Cabernet grapes in this vintage. Delicate with finesse and sappy fruit on the nose and palate. Powdery tannins and resinous notes on the palate, with lifted iris, violet and peony throughout. Dark fruit and a hint of dark chocolate, with a finish that is rounded and mineral-driven at the same time.

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. 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. 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.2% ABV. Floral and fresh on the nose and palate with a mixture of red and black berry fruits. Refreshing style.

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. 55% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.5% ABV and 50% new oak. This vintage includes more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, including some of the press wine, which speaks to the quality of the fruit this year. Beautiful aromas jump from the glass, and there's density on the palate that belies its humble appellation. Toasty, concentrated, and rich with linear, fine, Cabernet tannins and a chalky bite that combines with the refreshing acidity to create a long, appetising finish.

Tasted April 2024. 55% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.5% ABV and 50% new oak. This vintage includes more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, including some of the press wine, which speaks to the quality of the fruit this year. Beautiful aromas jump from the glass, and there's density on the palate that belies its humble appellation. Toasty, concentrated, and rich with linear, fine, Cabernet tannins and a chalky bite that combines with the refreshing acidity to create a long, appetising finish.

Tasted April 2024. 55% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.5% ABV and 50% new oak. This vintage includes more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, including some of the press wine, which speaks to the quality of the fruit this year. Beautiful aromas jump from the glass, and there's density on the palate that belies its humble appellation. Toasty, concentrated, and rich with linear, fine, Cabernet tannins and a chalky bite that combines with the refreshing acidity to create a long, appetising 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. 100% Merlot this year, which is unusual but speaks to the quality of the fruit from the Les Cruzelles property, this being effect its second wine. 14.3% ABV and 40% new barrels. Very aromatic on the nose with bramble, violet and hints of truffle developing. Voluptuous, smooth and mouth-coating tannins and texture, with dry, woody, savoury spice on the palate. Generous and open now, with the density to age.

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. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV and 55% new oak. Noemie Durantou was particularly impressed by the Cabernet Franc this year, putting it down to the gloomy Summer, where maturity could be slowly achieved. The result is a gourmand, savoury style with layers of subtle truffle, crushed rock, woody herbs, and soft, aromatic black fruit. Delicious and generous but with tightly-packed, high quality tannins ready to age beautifully. Another knockout from Les Cruzelles.

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. The first vintage of new winemaker Axel Heinz, previously of Ornellaia. His arrival has marked a departure in style, with less new oak, less first wine produced, and even a new label. The result is pure and focused, with fresh blackberry, delicate floral aromas, fresh mint, and a silky feel on the palate.