Bordeaux 2022

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. 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. 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.

The 2023 Domaine de L'Aurage is fragrant and beautifully put together wine. Dense hedgerow berry fruit with layers of sandalwood, cocoa and violets lift from the glass. Fresh and with an underlying salinity there is a wonderful tension between flesh and structure here.

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% 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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% 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. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. In the 2023 vintage the team at Montrose have focused primarily on their 'terrace number four' which was the site of the original plantings at the estate. The result is seriously impressive with tension, depth, length and layers of crushed shell, iodine, fresh mint and opulent black berry fruit.

Tasted April 2024. 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.7% ABV and 75% new barrels. Spicy and structured, with savoury dark fruit and delicate dried herbs. Fresh acidity and tons of densely packed tannins. Built to age, with power and intensity.

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.