Bordeaux 2023

Tasted April 2024. 100% Merlot. 14% ABV and 65% new barrels. Rich and rounded, the fruit here is ripe without becoming exotic, and there is lots of depth and a brooding feel to the flavours, with licorice and dark chocolate. Beautiful aromatics and savoury layers on the palate, with lots of smooth tannins. There is brilliant interplay between ripe dark fruit and refreshing acidity.

Tasted April 2024. 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.5% ABV. Vibrant style, with a lot of bridled power. Black, dense berry fruit within a classical structure, typical of Figeac, with stony textural elements, ripe but firm tannins, and distinct graphite aromas and flavours. Beautiful long, pure finish, with layers of rocky, mineral flavours and fresh bramble.

Tasted April 2024. 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV and 60% new barrels. Bright floral aromatics, damson, with peony, violet perfume. Juicy fruit on the palate, refreshing acidity, restrained and delineated flavours. Complex spicy notes are restrained too and there's some savoury Cabernet Franc leafiness.

Tasted April 2024. 61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Pure and vibrant with concentrated cassis and plum, with fresh mint and iodine. Silky on the palate with a little grip on the appetising 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. 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. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. 14.3% ABV. Dark berries, and delicate floral aromas. On the palate there is lots of fine tannin, with a dark chocolate, toffee richness from the oak maturation and gentle spice. Refreshing, appetising acidity.

Tasted April 2024. 84% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. 14.1% ABV. Pure and expressive, with the explosive aromatics of the vintage matched by the natural density of the Troplong Mondot terroir. Rich and spicy on the palate, tempered by mineral tones and grippy but elegant tannins. There's inate power here but reined in effortlessly by the textural complexity the team have created.

Tasted April 2024. 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, 3.5% Petit Verdot. 13.1% ABV. Fragrant and expressive on the nose with petals, red berries and black plum. On the palate it's fresh and appetising with mineral notes, earth, spice and bramble fruit. Effortless, classical in style and beautifully balanced.

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. 77% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, including some more recent plantings of Cabernet Franc that were planted from a massale selection. 14% ABV, 55% new barrels. Aromatic, exotic plum aromas, dark cherry, with some bramble. Ripe style of fruit, balanced beautifully by a strong limestone influence with chalky textures and crunchy, saline sensation on the palate. Spice and cedar on the nose and palate. Silky, pure, very concentrated and appetising. Amazing length and purity on the finish. The most precise and impressive vintage we've tasted at this estate.

Tasted April 2024. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV. Limestone influence is clear in the wine, with silky texture, tension and floral notes on the nose and juicy, aromatic fruit on the palate. Medium-bodied, expressive, fresh and sappy style.

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.

Tasted April 2024. 77% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, including some more recent plantings of Cabernet Franc that were planted from a massale selection. 14% ABV, 55% new barrels. Aromatic, exotic plum aromas, dark cherry, with some bramble. Ripe style of fruit, balanced beautifully by a strong limestone influence with chalky textures and crunchy, saline sensation on the palate. Spice and cedar on the nose and palate. Silky, pure, very concentrated and appetising. Amazing length and purity on the finish. The most precise and impressive vintage we've tasted at this estate.

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. 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot 2.5% Cabernet Franc. 12.62% ABV. Ripe black fruit, licorice and peppery spice on the nose and palate. Ripe, densely packed tannins, toasty oak flavours and refreshing acidity.

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. 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. 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. 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 14.6% ABV and 60% new barrels. The proportion of Cabernet is significantly higher than in the previous vintage. A brilliant expression of Capbern, showcasing the statuesque structure of Cabernet in St-Estephe, and concentrated, pure cassis. Fresh and appetising.

Tasted April 2024. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 14% ABV and 100% new barrels. An unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc in this vintage, giving a lot of spicy flavours, and elegant, leafy aromas. Silky tannins with a core of dense, black fruit. It's very intense and broad on the palate but retains freshness and more crunchy red berry fruit. Refreshing, gourmand, with saline, mineral notes on the finish. Seriously impressive, expressive but with potential to evolve for decades.

Tasted April 2024. 59% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV and 40% new barrels. Ripe dark cherry and bramble on the nose and palate. Mouth-coating tannins and refreshing, sappy acidity cutting through what is quite a powerful wine on the palate. Pure and floral, with wild herbs developing.

Tasted April 2024. Silky and pure with ethereal perfume and velvet texture. Spicy and floral as the palate continues with fresh acidity and a long, fine finish.

Tasted April 2024. 71% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV and 50% new oak. Black berry fruit and sappy raspberry, with fresh mint, fresh white pepper and petals on the nose. Chalky texture, delicate, ripe tannin and fresh acidity.

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. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. 13.9% ABV. Sophisticated and elegant. Very floral on the nose with lavender and rose petals as well as woody Mediterannean herbs. Black fruit, plum, dark chocolate on the palate, with delineated, rounded tannins. Saline, crushed rock finish. A brilliant interplay between opulence and mineral freshness.

Tasted April 2024. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. 13.9% ABV. Sophisticated and elegant. Very floral on the nose with lavender and rose petals as well as woody Mediterannean herbs. Black fruit, plum, dark chocolate on the palate, with delineated, rounded tannins. Saline, crushed rock finish. A brilliant interplay between opulence and mineral freshness.

Tasted April 2024. 53% Cabernet 43% Merlot 4% Petit Verdot. 13.9% ABV. Brooding black fruits, licorice root, woody herbs. Linear feel on the palate, with exotic black fruit framed by linear ripe tannins. Fresh acidity and mineral salinity create a refreshing 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. 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. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 14.6% ABV and 82% new barrels. Velvet in texture, with crushed soft, dark fruit on the nose, damson, and bright violet. Layered on the palate with similar soft fruit, and brighter berry fruit providing a juicy, bright finish. The tannins are fine, densely packed and savoury in style, providing a frame for the concentrated, bridled flavours.

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. 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, 3.5% Petit Verdot. 13.1% ABV. Fragrant and expressive on the nose with petals, red berries and black plum. On the palate it's fresh and appetising with mineral notes, earth, spice and bramble fruit. Effortless, classical in style and beautifully balanced.

Tasted April 2024. Fresh, elegant red berry fruit and cassis. Silky on the palate with just enough St-Estèphe grip. Medium-weight, refreshing and savoury.

Tasted April 2024. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Fresh black and red fruit, with appetising mineral notes, graphite, peppermint and refreshing acidity.

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. Concentrated and rich on the palate with lots of sweet spice and toasty notes. Long and juicy on the finish with a rounded, creamy feel on the palate.

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. 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. 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. 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. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot. Fresh and soft black and red berry fruit, with delicate spice and toasty oak. Fragrant raspberry and juicy acidity throughout, finishing long and spicy with mouthwatering mineral notes.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

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

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. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.1% ABV. Generous, powerful and full-bodied with ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and black plum. Refreshing mint, cherry, and stony notes on the palate, with lots of velvet tannins and creamy texture.

Tasted April 2024. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère, 1% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Harmonious with freshness and power at the same time. Floral aromas and blackberry, with fine tannins and lovely balance.

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. 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. 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. 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. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV. Domaine de Chevalier produced a smaller than average crop because of mildew affecting the Merlot, as a result Merlot makes up a smaller than usual proportion of the blend. Aromatic and focused, with restrained black berry fruit and lots of savoury, forest floor complexity. Already some appetising earthy, mineral hints are developing and there's plenty of broad tannin and salinity on the finish.

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

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