2023 Château Bourgneuf, Pomerol

The 2023 Bourgneuf is such a classy wine. Sleek, elegant and beautifully delineated, Bourgneuf is all class. Crushed rocks, mint, lavender, spice, rose petal and sweet pipe tobacco are some of nuances that take shape in the glass. More than anything else, the 2023 is a Pomerol that epitomizes understated finesse. This is another terrific effort from the Vayron family. Tasted two times.

The 2023 Bourgneuf was picked September 12 to 27. This has an enticing bouquet with black cherries and wild strawberry fruit, cohesive and focused with neatly integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure. A keen line of acidity cuts through the black cherries and bilberry fruit, closing with a tangy, saline finish that urges you back for more. Bravo. This is a fine Pomerol from what continues to be an under-estimated estate.

This is juicy and tense on the palate, with lively fruit character and a hint of chocolate. Medium-bodied with polished tannins. Shows freshness, vibrancy and chewiness. It’s fleshy and succulent on the finish. Excellent potential for aging. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. Tasted twice.

The 2023 Bourgneuf is an especially impressive effort that underlines this estate's proximity to Trotanoy (one block actually reaches the outbuildings of Trotanoy). Unwinding in the glass with aromas of mulberries, exotic spices, licorice, incense and lilac, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, with a dense, creamy core of concentrated fruit framed by a serious chassis of sweet, powdery tannin. This is likely to number among the sleepers of the vintage.