Pessac-Léognan

Release date: 11/6/2024

Inky plum colour, this is just so effortless, incredible savoury and moreish, salted cracker and cocoa bean, fine plentiful tannins, with plenty of hidden depths. Feels like a wine that you know youInky plum colour, this is just so effortless, incredible savoury and moreish, salted cracker and cocoa bean, fine plentiful tannins, with plenty of hidden depths. Feels like a wine that you know you will be thrilled to be drinking in years to come. High floral aromatics unwind as you sit with the glass, showing purity of rose bud and liquorice, chalky tannins that are supple with finesse and grain. 50% new oak. Harvest September 11 to 29. Rating: 97 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 10/6/2024

The proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend is now up to the heady heights of 8% here, with 92% Merlot, with more new plantings of Cabernet Franc coming online in future years. A wonderfullyThe proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend is now up to the heady heights of 8% here, with 92% Merlot, with more new plantings of Cabernet Franc coming online in future years. A wonderfully perfumed nose, with dried blackberry, plum, currant and dark chocolate. The palate is just lovely, with a broad and lightly velvety substance, medium-bodied, with dark fruits, underpinned by a peppery energy. Great fruit combined with the restrained and sinewy texture of the vintage here, plenty of energy, a sappy drive and a peppery finish; I can see this developing well. The alcohol is about 14% here. Rating: 90-92 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 10/6/2024

The 2023 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is another stellar wine from the team at Smith Haut Lafitte. It screams with Cabernet Sauvignon character. Inky dark fruit, blackberry, gravel, pencil shavings,The 2023 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is another stellar wine from the team at Smith Haut Lafitte. It screams with Cabernet Sauvignon character. Inky dark fruit, blackberry, gravel, pencil shavings, crushed rocks, lavender and sage saturate the palate. The tannins will need time to soften. Small berries and thick skins yielded an especially serious Petit Smith Haut Lafitte that is quite impressive. Drinking range: 2027 - 2038 Rating: 92-95 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 10/6/2024

Cabernet dominant in terms of aromatics and weight through the palate, opening with fennel, sage, violets, peonies, squid ink, cocoa bean, espresso, with the texture softening and becoming creamierCabernet dominant in terms of aromatics and weight through the palate, opening with fennel, sage, violets, peonies, squid ink, cocoa bean, espresso, with the texture softening and becoming creamier through the mid palate. The hidden depths and slow build that elevates the always-seductive character of Smith Haut-Lafitte into one of the truly exceptional wines of Bordeaux are fully on display. Wine director Fabien Teitgen on his 28th vintage at the estate - and this is the vintage where King Charles and Camilla visited the property, so it comes with a commemorative label. 26hl/h yield, harvest September 8 to October 5. Drinking range: 2031 - 2048 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 5/6/2024

This is a fantastic wine and very, very exciting, with purity and brightness to the floral, spicy and blackberry notes. It’s full and deep with agility and weightless. You feel the greatness in this.This is a fantastic wine and very, very exciting, with purity and brightness to the floral, spicy and blackberry notes. It’s full and deep with agility and weightless. You feel the greatness in this. The winemaker says this is more concentrated and structured than the 2022. Lightly salty. 60% whole-berry fermentation. 50% cabernet franc, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot. From organically grown grapes. Rating: 98-99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 29/5/2024

The 2023 Latour-Martillac is a very promising wine. Dark red-toned fruit, gravel, incense and pressed rose petal lend notable complexity. What impresses me most about the 2023 is the quality of theThe 2023 Latour-Martillac is a very promising wine. Dark red-toned fruit, gravel, incense and pressed rose petal lend notable complexity. What impresses me most about the 2023 is the quality of the tannin, something that has been penalizing at times in the past. There's a good bit of structure, but it is nicely integrated. Sweet floral and spice notes lift the finish. Terrific. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2028 - 2043 Rating: 90-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 21/5/2024

The grand vin from Olivier Bernard, this is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, picked at 30 hl/ha. This takes 58% of the crop in this vintage. This is severalThe grand vin from Olivier Bernard, this is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, picked at 30 hl/ha. This takes 58% of the crop in this vintage. This is several aromatic steps up from the second wine and the other Bernard wines, with stunning aromatic expression and purity, very dark and floral, with violets, roses, white peach and verbena. This translates into a palate which is beautifully polished and correct, with great coherence and composition in the middle, verging on velvety here, with dark and sinewy fruits and a firm seams of fine-boned and powdered tannins running beneath it all, lending it all considerable grip. It has great length too. This is a beautiful Domaine de Chevalier which should develop very nicely in the cellar. Tasted three times. The alcohol is about 14% Rating: 94-96 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

The blend here is 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, picked at a yield of 35 hl/ha. Less use of oak here now, more focus on cement tanks and eggs. TheThe blend here is 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, picked at a yield of 35 hl/ha. Less use of oak here now, more focus on cement tanks and eggs. The fermentation was aided by inoculation using yeasts isolated from the Pape-Clément vineyard. This presents a rather classy nose, with delicately desiccated dark summer berries and finely polished oak, all wrapped in ribbons of toast and tobacco, with some floral rose and peony notes as well. The palate brings a sense of harmony into play, with a polished and sinewy body of dark summer berries, laced with tobacco, leather, toast and dark chocolate too, with a particularly fine, well-knit and rather powdery frame of tannins. These give it a good grip, which works well with the fine acidity of the vintage. This shows delicious potential, and is ahead of many of its Pessac-Léognan peers in this vintage, especially in the finesse of the structure. Tasted twice, including at the château, with the same findings on each occasion. The alcohol is 13.4% Rating: 93-95 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

The 2023 Fieuzal reveals a bright, perfumed bouquet of mulberries and cherries mingled with floral accents of violets, lilac and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, it’s pureThe 2023 Fieuzal reveals a bright, perfumed bouquet of mulberries and cherries mingled with floral accents of violets, lilac and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, it’s pure and seamless, with a fleshy core of fruit, bright acids and powdery, ultra-refined tannins, concluding with a mineral, penetrating finish. This blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot stands out in this challenging vintage for gravelly, sandy terroirs. Under the adept guidance of Stephen Carrier, the estate—positioned on the border of the Pessac-Léognan appellation—has hit new heights in recent years. Drinking range: 2025 - 2055 Rating: 94-96 Yohan Castaing, www.robertparker.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

The 2023 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion offers up aromas of blueberries, cassis and dark wild berries. Medium-bodied, long and fleshy, it’s nicely integrated, with a dense core of fruit,The 2023 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion offers up aromas of blueberries, cassis and dark wild berries. Medium-bodied, long and fleshy, it’s nicely integrated, with a dense core of fruit, youthfully firm tannins and a persistent finish. Deeper and more structured than usual, it will regards some patience. This is a blend of 48.3% Merlot, 39.4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12.3% Cabernet Franc. Rating: 90-92 Yohan Castaing, www.robertparker.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

The classy mouth-feel and length to this is really gorgeous, and it seduces you with its texture of fine silk and finesse. Lasts for a long, long time. Medium body with medium, creamy and roundThe classy mouth-feel and length to this is really gorgeous, and it seduces you with its texture of fine silk and finesse. Lasts for a long, long time. Medium body with medium, creamy and round tannins and a layered, textured finish. Shows blackcurrants, lead pencil and crushed stone at the end. 52.7% merlot, 29.6% cabernet sauvignon and 17.7% cabernet franc. Rating: 97-98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

Intensity and focus to this, with length and raciness for the second wine of Haut-Brion, showing polish and a refined texture. It’s medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and an exquisite finish.Intensity and focus to this, with length and raciness for the second wine of Haut-Brion, showing polish and a refined texture. It’s medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and an exquisite finish. Caressing. 55.5% merlot, 40.9% cabernet sauvignon and 3.6% cabernet franc. Rating: 95-96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

The 2023 Haut-Brion is superb. Silky, soft tannins enshroud a core of black fruit, gravel, chocolate, cloves and licorice, building into a potent, sumptuous, dazzling wine. Exotic and racy, withThe 2023 Haut-Brion is superb. Silky, soft tannins enshroud a core of black fruit, gravel, chocolate, cloves and licorice, building into a potent, sumptuous, dazzling wine. Exotic and racy, with remarkable polish, this has a ton of potential. It’s an especially sensual, seamless Haut-Brion. All the 2023 needs is time—probably quite a bit of it, especially for readers who want a full-on Haut-Brion experience. Drinking range: 2033 - 2083 Rating: 95-97 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 7/5/2024

The blend is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot (more than usual) and 1% Cabernet Franc. A very confident set of aromatics on the nose, perfumed, sweet and focused, with red cherry,The blend is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot (more than usual) and 1% Cabernet Franc. A very confident set of aromatics on the nose, perfumed, sweet and focused, with red cherry, crystalline raspberry and other summer berries, with traces of bay leaf, leather and tobacco. The palate presents a medium-bodied and sinewy style, with delicate fruits draped over a core of fresh and tightly knit tannins, with nice acidity giving it a sense of vigour and sinew. It holds together well in an understated style, the tannins nicely controlled throughout, continuing to a rather charming and modestly textured finish. A good result, with understated potential. The élevage will be in 60% new oak. Tasted twice. The alcohol is 13.18% on analysis. Rating: 90-92 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

A step change for La Garde this year with a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Floral and fragrant, really alive on the nose, expressive and so energetic. Fruit forward and lively, I loveA step change for La Garde this year with a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Floral and fragrant, really alive on the nose, expressive and so energetic. Fruit forward and lively, I love the finesse and the construction, really well made, layered with lots of minerality, crunchy red fruits, great acidity and focus on the crushed stones, graphite and pencil led. It has a smooth body, with a grip to the tannins but lots of focus and definition to the elements. Quite a serious take but all harmonious, nothing sticking out with plenty of underlying power. Polished and accomplished. A top value pick and exciting project to follow. Axel Marchal consultant. No Petit Verdot in the blend this year. 4% press wine - more so than in previous vintages. 35% grand vin production reduced from 50%. Rating: 94 Georgie Hindle - Decanter (May 2024)