Bordeaux 2023

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

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.

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