Pessac-Léognan

Release date: 27/5/2025

Good purity and depth of fruit. Some minerals as well. Fragrant and juicy with medium body and firm, lightly chewy tannins. Nice length. A solid one for the vintage.Good purity and depth of fruit. Some minerals as well. Fragrant and juicy with medium body and firm, lightly chewy tannins. Nice length. A solid one for the vintage. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 20/5/2025

Medium to full intensity, takes its time to open, this is carefully built, slow and steady in its expression, textured, restrained, cocoa bean, espresso, redcurrant, orchard, sage, bilberry. VeryMedium to full intensity, takes its time to open, this is carefully built, slow and steady in its expression, textured, restrained, cocoa bean, espresso, redcurrant, orchard, sage, bilberry. Very much a classical style of Haut-Brion that will I am sure give great pleasure after a decade in bottle - not as monumental as some, but don't count this out - there are all the bones of this exceptional wine, and the tannic architecture will widen over ageing. 1.7% press, 75% new oak, 26hl/h yield, Jean-Pierre Masclef technical director and Jean-Pierre Delmas estate director. Drinking range: 2032 - 2044 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)

Release date: 20/5/2025

45.7 M 32.3 CS 22 CF 13.1% A little closed, but cassis and dried herb aromas with some thyme and menthe. Fresh and inviting. In the mouth the supreme quality of the estate and the work in the45.7 M 32.3 CS 22 CF 13.1% A little closed, but cassis and dried herb aromas with some thyme and menthe. Fresh and inviting. In the mouth the supreme quality of the estate and the work in the vineyard and winery is apparent with palate-coating violet and blueberry fruit flavours and some creaminess already. This edges the La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion second wine for me, and will provide lovely mid term drinking. Rating: 91 Rod Smith MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 20/5/2025

The 2024 La Mission Haut-Brion is such a classy wine. Strong floral and savory notes meld into a core of plum, blackberry, gravel, spice, leather, tobacco and incense. Medium in body, with no hardThe 2024 La Mission Haut-Brion is such a classy wine. Strong floral and savory notes meld into a core of plum, blackberry, gravel, spice, leather, tobacco and incense. Medium in body, with no hard edges, the 2024 is a delight. It offers lovely freshness and energy throughout. There is a bit of graininess in the tannin, a reminder of the challenges of the growing season. Drinking range: 2028 - 2039 Rating: 93-95 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 20/5/2025

56.3 CS 29.2 M 14.5 CF 12.9% Plenty of violet perfume with some dried herbs and spice hints. Blue fruit underneath. Very juicy extract and concentrated due to the limited yields, 26hl/ha, and four56.3 CS 29.2 M 14.5 CF 12.9% Plenty of violet perfume with some dried herbs and spice hints. Blue fruit underneath. Very juicy extract and concentrated due to the limited yields, 26hl/ha, and four sortings manual - densimetric - optical, and another manual. This has a silky texture although it lacks the absolute depth of usual vintages, but it is a fine and fruity expression with no harsh or green edges at all. Rating: 90 Rod Smith MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 19/5/2025

A rich wine for this vintage, showing roasted spices and some dark chocolate to the blackcurrants, pine cones and berries. Sour cherries with sharp acidity and nicely chewy tannins on the medium- toA rich wine for this vintage, showing roasted spices and some dark chocolate to the blackcurrants, pine cones and berries. Sour cherries with sharp acidity and nicely chewy tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Good structure and length. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 15/5/2025

The 2024 Malartic Lagravière has quite a forward nose with blackberry and raspberry fruit. The aromatics lack the delineation and complexity of the 2022, but they do cohere nicely in the glass. TheThe 2024 Malartic Lagravière has quite a forward nose with blackberry and raspberry fruit. The aromatics lack the delineation and complexity of the 2022, but they do cohere nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, linear and nicely focused with quite firm tannins, a little more grip than its peers and a saline/black olive tapenade-tinged finish. Give it a couple of years in bottle. Drinking range: 2028 - 2047 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)

Release date: 14/5/2025

The 2024 Domaine de Chevalier is soft, fruity and relatively simple, given its typical personality. Plum, black cherry, licorice, chocolate and sweet oak are pushed forward in this open-knit,The 2024 Domaine de Chevalier is soft, fruity and relatively simple, given its typical personality. Plum, black cherry, licorice, chocolate and sweet oak are pushed forward in this open-knit, easygoing Pessac-Léognan. There may be more here than meets the eye. We will see. Today, the 2024 is on the light side. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2032 - 2049 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 14/5/2025

48 Cabernet Franc, 29 Cabernet Sauvignon, 23 Merlot: 70% new barrels, 19% in 18hl vats and 11% in amphoras: 13.2% alc: 52% whole bunches: 3.61 pH: Harvested between 17 and 27 September Unlike the48 Cabernet Franc, 29 Cabernet Sauvignon, 23 Merlot: 70% new barrels, 19% in 18hl vats and 11% in amphoras: 13.2% alc: 52% whole bunches: 3.61 pH: Harvested between 17 and 27 September Unlike the brilliant second wine, ‘C’, with its incredible single-note flavour, the Grand Vin is a swirling vortex of black and red fruit, requiring every molecule of one’s attention to comprehend its scale and ambition. The varietal players are wholly integrated and complex. I found myself waiting for the inevitable diminuendo of flavour to kick in on the finish and completely lost track of time! There are still some 18 months of élévage left to run, yet this wine already looks sensationally cool and centred. The most fascinating wines of the vintage are unique and thrilling. There is no other wine quite like Carmes, and in 2024, it takes a few more commanding steps away from the pack. After a forensic selection in the vineyard, the wine team spends hours contemplating every decision concerning this wine’s creation, and sensational press wine is one of the most critical elements in its assembly. Like post-production in the greatest films, which often takes longer than the acting, nothing is ‘in the can’ until the cork is finally placed in the bottle. In a world of talented wine ‘finishers’, Les Carmes Haut-Brion is guaranteed to retain every fractal of elegance and distinction throughout this process. This means I reserve the right to add a half point when I eventually taste a bottled sample of this wine. At present, it is a thunderous storm of exquisite flavour, punctuated by moments of breathtaking calm. In time, these elements will coalesce into near or actual perfection. Rating: 19.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2025)

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

A soft, light Haut-Bailly from this challenging year, with lots of red cherries, red berries, red bell peppers and fresh herbs. Quite approachable, with a medium body and soft-grained tannins.A soft, light Haut-Bailly from this challenging year, with lots of red cherries, red berries, red bell peppers and fresh herbs. Quite approachable, with a medium body and soft-grained tannins. Well-judged soft extraction makes this likely approachable right after release. Not ambitious, but well balanced, juicy and refined. Brambly and lively. Early harvest? 58% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 7/5/2025

Lots of red berries with a nice touch of red bell peppers. This is quite pretty and fluid on the palate, with red fruit and a touch of olives. Barely medium-bodied on the palate, with very softLots of red berries with a nice touch of red bell peppers. This is quite pretty and fluid on the palate, with red fruit and a touch of olives. Barely medium-bodied on the palate, with very soft tannins. 45% cabernet sauvignon, 45% merlot, 8% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc. Rating: 91-92 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 6/5/2025

Rich fruit with dark plums, cherries, white pepper and spices. Medium- to full-bodied with some lightly chewy tannins and a tight-grained finish. Not quite dense, but there is enough richness,Rich fruit with dark plums, cherries, white pepper and spices. Medium- to full-bodied with some lightly chewy tannins and a tight-grained finish. Not quite dense, but there is enough richness, structure and intensity. Good length. 94% merlot and 6% cabernet franc. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 6/5/2025

The 2024 Smith Haut Lafitte is raw and not fully formed. Today the tannins are imposing. There's good energy and depth in the glass, but the 2024 is very backward. Floral and spice notes emerge withThe 2024 Smith Haut Lafitte is raw and not fully formed. Today the tannins are imposing. There's good energy and depth in the glass, but the 2024 is very backward. Floral and spice notes emerge with air, but for the time being, Smith Haut Lafitte is a bit of a mystery. Drinking range: 2032 - 2044 Rating: 91-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 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

45 CS 40 M 15 PV Some spicy and cedary notes of oak, alongside fresh black fruit and mineral. Juicy chalky blueberries and sweet herbs with a clay-like complexity and some creaminess. Long45 CS 40 M 15 PV Some spicy and cedary notes of oak, alongside fresh black fruit and mineral. Juicy chalky blueberries and sweet herbs with a clay-like complexity and some creaminess. Long finish with supple tannins and fresh acidity. This has beautifully avoided the risk of overextraction in 2024, and will provide delicious mid-term drinking, at likely an attractive price. Rating: 91 Rod Smith MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2025)