Pessac-Léognan

Release date: 12/5/2025

The 2024 La Garde has decent fruit concentration on the nose within the context of the vintage: blackberry, redcurrant and light cedar scents. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins andThe 2024 La Garde has decent fruit concentration on the nose within the context of the vintage: blackberry, redcurrant and light cedar scents. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins and moderate depth but it lacks a bit of flesh and feels just a tad undernourished on the finish. Early drinking. Drinking range: 2028 - 2035 Rating: 85-87 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)

Release date: 7/5/2025

Savoury, precise and poised, with lovely texture, softly spoken with high floral aromatics, rose petals, peony, fine tannins, drawn out character, long slow build of tension through the palate,Savoury, precise and poised, with lovely texture, softly spoken with high floral aromatics, rose petals, peony, fine tannins, drawn out character, long slow build of tension through the palate, unrolling to show white truffle and mint leaf. Tannic grip, estate signature, more softly spoken than in recent vintages, but Haut-Bailly has proved over and over again that it is capable of delivering over the long term, and that it delivers excellence even in challenging vintages - an upscore potential in bottle. Harvest 18 September to 4 October, 30hl/h yield. Gabriel Vialard technical director. Drinking range: 2030 - 2045 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)

Release date: 7/5/2025

The 2024 Haut-Bailly II is soft, open-knit and gracious. Silky tannins wrap around a core of macerated cherry, blood orange, spice and new leather. Medium in body and nicely layered, the Haut-BaillyThe 2024 Haut-Bailly II is soft, open-knit and gracious. Silky tannins wrap around a core of macerated cherry, blood orange, spice and new leather. Medium in body and nicely layered, the Haut-Bailly II is all class. The 2024 is aromatic and delicate, with lovely inner perfume and fine balance. Rating: 89-91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2025)

Release date: 6/5/2025

The 2024 Le Thil is bold, juicy and very easy to like. A burst of Merlot fruit makes a strong first statement. Rose petal, spice and sweet red berries race across the palate, all framed by softThe 2024 Le Thil is bold, juicy and very easy to like. A burst of Merlot fruit makes a strong first statement. Rose petal, spice and sweet red berries race across the palate, all framed by soft contours. This charming, juicy Pessac-Léognan is pretty irresistible, even in the early going. Drinking range: 2026 - 2034 Rating: 90-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2025)

Release date: 6/5/2025

Toasted cedar and sandalwood oak on the nose, the team as Smith Haut-Lafitte has done a lovely job of adding a gourmet lick of grilled blueberry and raspberry fruits to the opening moments of theToasted cedar and sandalwood oak on the nose, the team as Smith Haut-Lafitte has done a lovely job of adding a gourmet lick of grilled blueberry and raspberry fruits to the opening moments of the wine, alongside richer damson and black cherry in the mid-palate. Great energy, lift and juice, vivid fruits, graphite, ink, chalk tannins, slimmer through the mid palate than in the bigger vintages, but everything in its place. 21hl/h yield, 60% new oak. Fabien Teitgen technical director. Drinking range: 2030 - 2042 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)

Release date: 6/5/2025

60 Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 Merlot: 30% new oak: 12.8% alc: Harvested between 18 September and 9 October

There is nowhere to hide in 2024, and the gulf between successful wines and60 Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 Merlot: 30% new oak: 12.8% alc: Harvested between 18 September and 9 October

There is nowhere to hide in 2024, and the gulf between successful wines and those left wanting is immense. In addition, most wines, even the most delicious and balanced, are relatively easy to inspect. They are naked and exposed; this lack of artifice makes the best seem even more defined and refined. As we know, Cabernet is King on the Left Bank, so Le Petit has the edge over the other SHL cuvée, Les Hauts, which leads with Merlot. The result is a refreshingly classical and stylish wine, bursting with honesty and deep-seated balance. It will require a good few years to blossom, but this is a hidden gem in 2024. 17.5+/20 Rating: 17.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2025)

Release date: 23/4/2025

The 2024 de Fieuzal is a powerful, brooding wine. Dried herbs, tobacco, scorched earth and leather all take shape in the glass. This offers lovely mid-palate creaminess and fine depth. A classyThe 2024 de Fieuzal is a powerful, brooding wine. Dried herbs, tobacco, scorched earth and leather all take shape in the glass. This offers lovely mid-palate creaminess and fine depth. A classy Pessac-Léognan, Fieuzal is very nicely rendered. Floral top notes linger effortlessly on the close. Drinking range: 2026 - 2034 Rating: 89-91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)

The 2024 Haut-Brion, which contains more Cabernet Franc this year from a high-performing vat, has an altogether more polished, powerful and fruit-driven bouquet than La Mission at the moment. BlackThe 2024 Haut-Brion, which contains more Cabernet Franc this year from a high-performing vat, has an altogether more polished, powerful and fruit-driven bouquet than La Mission at the moment. Black and blue fruit, black olive and subtle sea spray scents emerge with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, vibrant and focused, with fine tannins and an engaging underlying sapidity coming through with more weight and sustain on the finish. This is a very capable Haut-Brion that will not kowtow to the challenges of the 2024 season—rather, it seems to relish them. Drinking range: 2030 - 2055 Rating: 93-95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)

Medium to full intensity, vibrant plum colour, this is elegant and balanced, with the same juicy orchard apple character that you find in La Chapelle, along with cloves, incense, slate, crayon andMedium to full intensity, vibrant plum colour, this is elegant and balanced, with the same juicy orchard apple character that you find in La Chapelle, along with cloves, incense, slate, crayon and baking spice, lots of complexity and balance. The aromatics are a little subdued right now but this has ageing ability and estate signature. 5.3 press, 75% new oak, 26hl/h yield. Drinking range: 2030 - 2042 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)

Sharp, bright white fruits, great quality, this is a lovely wine, white peach, white flowers, white pear, juicy, characterful, slim and savoury. A little soft on the finish. Famille Jean Kressmann.Sharp, bright white fruits, great quality, this is a lovely wine, white peach, white flowers, white pear, juicy, characterful, slim and savoury. A little soft on the finish. Famille Jean Kressmann. 25% new oak. 52 hl/ha Drinking range: 2025 - 2030 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)

Sweet damson fruit, concentration through the mid palate that balances out the austerity on the opening. These are tannins with ageing ability. Harvest September 23 through to October 11. 50% newSweet damson fruit, concentration through the mid palate that balances out the austerity on the opening. These are tannins with ageing ability. Harvest September 23 through to October 11. 50% new oak, with the rest between larger oak casks, one year old oak and amphora. Bernard Magrez owner, Julien Viaud consultant. 60ha today, did get as high as 90ha but they are back to focusing on the original Pauillac vineyards boht for the red and white wines. Drinking range: 2030 - 2042 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)

The 2024 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion is soft, open-knit and juicy, all qualities that will make it a fine choice for drinking on release. Unusually, Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead inThe 2024 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion is soft, open-knit and juicy, all qualities that will make it a fine choice for drinking on release. Unusually, Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead in 2024. It's a style that works quite well. Macerated cherry, plum, spice, new leather and tobacco all build nicely in the glass. Drinking range: 2028 - 2036 Rating: 90-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)

The 2024 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a tad more cohesion and nuance compared to the La Chapelle de la Mission at the moment, with bright blackberry and bilberry scents laced with oyster shells. TheThe 2024 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a tad more cohesion and nuance compared to the La Chapelle de la Mission at the moment, with bright blackberry and bilberry scents laced with oyster shells. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, supple tannins, satisfying fluidity and a minerally finish. This will do nicely. Drinking range: 2028 - 2042 Rating: 89-91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)