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. 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. 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.

Tasted April 2024. Understated and stony on the nose, with black berry fruit, earth and graphite. Fine tannins, with a bright, fresh, red-fruited finish.

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

Tasted April 2024. Ripe black and purple fruit on the nose with licorice. Powerful on the palate with velvet tannins and a lot of ripe black fruit. A minty lift at the end of the palate, with mineral notes on the long finish.

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. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot. 13.5% ABV. Classic Pauillac characteristics of savoury cassis and graphite. There's a roundness on the palate, with refreshing acidity, spicy oak flavours and a savoury finish. Lovely balance, purity and breadth on the palate.

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

Tasted April 2024. 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV. Fresh and brambly with sappy notes and wild herbs. Tannins are present but ripe and there's plenty of refreshing acidity. Savoury and restrained in style.

Tasted April 2024. Made in an impressive and imposing new cellar in the heart of St-Emilion. Polished, elegant and chalky on the palate with medium-bodied dark fruit. Pure and effortless, singing of its limestone origins.

Tasted April 2024. Refined and elegant in style with lots of floral character and fresh red fruit. Detailed on the palate with herbal complexity, saline notes and a long fine, appetising finish.

Tasted April 2024. 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenere, 1% Petit Verdot. 13.8% ABV. Structured and opulent, impressive for a second wine. Good concentration, with ripe black fruit and licorice.

Tasted April 2024. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV. 50% new barrels. Fresh blackcurrant and blackcurrant pastille on the nose, with juicy, sappy bramble on the palate. Refreshing and lively with bright acidity and generous, ripe fruit. The tannins are smooth even at this early stage.

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. 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. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot. 13.3% ABV and 50% new barrels, with the Merlot matured in terracotta amphorae. Larrivet Haut-Brion remains one of our hot tips in Bordeaux, seriously puching above its weight. Dense, crushed, juicy black fruit, licorice, sweet spice. More raspberry and cranberry on the palate, with floral, aromatic notes balancing the concentation. Refreshing acidity and a long, silky finish with saline notes.

Tasted April 2024. Ripe, soft blackberry fruit, with some floral notes and minerals. Similar on the palate with silky, long, fine tannins and lovely purity of aromatic black fruit. A very impressive effort, and the first made in their state of the art new cellar.

Tasted April 2024. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Aromatic on the nose with bramble, soft black plum and blackcurrant on the palate. Expressive, perfumed and pure, with smooth tannins. Approachable now but has plenty of concentration to age.

Tasted April 2024. 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV and 45% new barrels. Powerful and opulent, with lots of sweet spice on the nose and woody herbs on the palate. An especially concentrated iteration of Ormes de Pez that punches above its weight.

Tasted April 2024. Quality at this estate is rising and never more so than in 2023. There's power on the palate with bold tannins, and in equal measure the fruit is restrained and fresh. Tight and very youthful, with lots of concentration and structure for long ageing.

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. Generous black fruit on the nose, with subtle dry spice. Linear on the palate with cassis, graphite, licorice, and some minty, herbal notes. Long, Cabernet tannins. It has the structure of a classic left bank wine, with a modern, refreshing feel to the fruit.

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 2023. Generous yet understated, with a stony feel throughout, and a core of blackberry and soft plum fruit. Approachable with appetising refreshing acidity and soft tannins, an excellent mid-weight Bordeaux for the dinner table.

Tasted April 2024. 55% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc. 13.6% ABV. Lots of structure and dark, brooding berry fruit. Spicy vanilla and cedar on the finish.

Tasted April 2024. Dark berry fruit on the nose with tobacco, cedar, and cigar box complexity. It's rich and quite opulent on the palate, with a frame of firm, ripe tannins.

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. 67% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.39% ABV. 40% new oak. This is the first vintage to include Cabernet Sauvignon, with vines planted in the early 2000s. Black and red plum on the palate, with some blue fruit notes and delicate exotic spice. The wine feels balanced and fresh, with only moderate alcohol for Pomerol.

Tasted April 2024. Blend 99% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. ABV 14.2. This mediaeval property has experienced a new lease of life under David Suire's stewardship and is surely one to watch over the coming years. Aromas of ripe red plums, red cherries and black olive tapenade give way to warm, baking spice notes and a pleasant mossy, earthy undergrowth characteristic. The nose is deceptively ripe as the mouth is fresh and crunchy with slick and silky tannins.

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. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 12.9% ABV. From vines around 40 years old. Elegant and classical in style, with fresh bramble fruit and a silky texture. Gentle extraction means this wine is restrained with delicate complexity, matched by juicy, perfumed fruit and bright acidity.

Tasted April 2024. Dense black fruit, and deep purple in the glass. Ripe, fine and densely packed tannins, with lots of concentration of smooth dark fruit on the palate.

Tasted April 2024. Dense black fruit, and deep purple in the glass. Ripe, fine and densely packed tannins, with lots of concentration of smooth dark fruit on the palate.

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. 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. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV and 30% in new barrels. Situated on the limestone plateau, between Pavie Macquin, Troplong Mondot and Trottevielle, Le Prieure is one to watch. Bright and vibrant plum, cherry and blueberry fruit. It's lively on the palate too with sappy fruit, bright acidity and a juicy, long finish. Delicate spice, with chalky notes and mineral, saline sensations developing on the palate.

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. 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc. 13.6% ABV. Serious second wine with lots of spice and complexity. Juicy initially, with savoury edges as the wine develops. Leafy, herbal notes, around a core of al dente black fruit. Angular and classy.

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

Tasted April 2024. Powerful and spicy on the nose, with a juicy core and fresh acidity on the palate. Black berry fruit, with dry spice, incense and espresso on the palate.

Tasted April 2024. 74% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc. Powerful and spicy, brooding on the nose and structured on the palate.

Tasted April 2024. Pure and detailed on the nose and palate, with savoury fruit, dark plum and blackcurrant. Structured, savoury and appetising on the palate with ripe tannins and plenty of fresh acidity. A classic and delicious iteration of Giscours.

Tasted April 2024. 58% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Cassis, blackberry and cocoa on the nose, with licorice and graphite developing on the palate. Full bodied and polished on the palate, with very fine tannins. Supple and opulent.

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. 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. An usually high proportion of Cabernet this year. Classic St-Julien characters of blackcurrant and fresh mint, with silky tannins and refreshing, juicy mid-palate.

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, 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.

Tasted April 2024. 13.7% ABV. 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 17% Petit Verdot. Château Angludet, run by the Sichel family, is farmed biodynamically, and since 2019 they have aged nearly half the wine in amphorae (this year 40%). This lends the barrel sample tasted a distinct aromatic purity, with damson, blackberry and plum complemented by some creamy, toasty notes from 35% new barrels.

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. 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. 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. 13.2% ABV and 65% new barrels. Bold and structured with a core of dark cassis. Cedar and creamy vanilla on the finish.