Pessac-Léognan

Release date: 12/5/2026

Enjoyable, sappy, plenty of lift and dark fruit, incense and sandalwood, you can see the structure and shape of the tannins and it is very much a wine where the acidity is controlled, giving a reallyEnjoyable, sappy, plenty of lift and dark fruit, incense and sandalwood, you can see the structure and shape of the tannins and it is very much a wine where the acidity is controlled, giving a really juicy mouthfeel, great energy, definition and precision. Excellent job. 38 hl/ha yield. Drinking range: 2034 - 2044 Rating: 95 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Apr 2026)

Release date: 11/5/2026

The depth of fruit comes through clearly, with a medium body and plenty of berry, chocolate, walnut and bark aromas. Creamy and polished, with a lovely texture and a long and rather endless finish.The depth of fruit comes through clearly, with a medium body and plenty of berry, chocolate, walnut and bark aromas. Creamy and polished, with a lovely texture and a long and rather endless finish. Soft and precise. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Rating: 97-98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)

Release date: 7/5/2026

Really floral on the nose, expressive with ripe red and black fruit, incense perfumed scents and a rich headiness with such aromatic purity. Supple and velvety, round and lively with quite a delicateReally floral on the nose, expressive with ripe red and black fruit, incense perfumed scents and a rich headiness with such aromatic purity. Supple and velvety, round and lively with quite a delicate style here where the focus is on the clarity of the blueberry fruit and the lifted aspects rather than fleshiness or power. Almost understated, a word not often used with Pape. A soft salty, wet stone and chalky aspect on the finish. Definitely fresh with lots of energy here. Elegant and precise with a soft chew on the finish and ripe fruit. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.68pH. A yield of 29hl/ha. Ageing 85% in barrels (1/3 new) and 15% in foudres. Harvest 3–25 September. Drinking range: 2028 - 2045 Rating: 96 Georgie Hindle - Decanter (Apr 2026)

A beautiful fruit to this delicate and refined wine. The tannins are perfectly integrated into the wine and almost give it a pinot texture. The finest silk. It’s medium-bodied with precise andA beautiful fruit to this delicate and refined wine. The tannins are perfectly integrated into the wine and almost give it a pinot texture. The finest silk. It’s medium-bodied with precise and focused fruit and an endless finish. The exceptional harmony of this young wine makes you want to drink it. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 13.3% alcohol. pH 3.67. Rating: 98-99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)

Haut-Brion delivers a red with great structure and length and superb intensity and power. It is a full-bodied red with character and depth, giving it endless length. Muscular yet polished and agile.Haut-Brion delivers a red with great structure and length and superb intensity and power. It is a full-bodied red with character and depth, giving it endless length. Muscular yet polished and agile. Juicy at the end. 62% merlot, 26.2% cabernet sauvignon and 11.8% cabernet franc. Rating: 98-99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)

A solid La Garde with aromas of blackberries, black cherries, crushed stones and spices. It is sophisticated and chic. 59% cabernet sauvignon and 41% merlot.A solid La Garde with aromas of blackberries, black cherries, crushed stones and spices. It is sophisticated and chic. 59% cabernet sauvignon and 41% merlot. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)

A red with lots of muscular tannins that are polished and velvety. It's full-bodied with a chewy mouthfeel and a long and intense finish. Crushed stones, dark fruit and bark at the end. 58.3% merlot,A red with lots of muscular tannins that are polished and velvety. It's full-bodied with a chewy mouthfeel and a long and intense finish. Crushed stones, dark fruit and bark at the end. 58.3% merlot, 38.3% cabernet sauvignon and 3.4% cabernet franc. Rating: 96-97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)

The 2025 Latour-Martillac is quite powerful and imposing but nicely balanced. Dark red/purplish fruit, mocha and floral notes convey quite a bit of brightness to balance the natural intensity of theThe 2025 Latour-Martillac is quite powerful and imposing but nicely balanced. Dark red/purplish fruit, mocha and floral notes convey quite a bit of brightness to balance the natural intensity of the year. There's gorgeous substance here. Tasted two times Drinking range: 2030 - 2045 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2026)

Precise and medium- to full-bodied, showing a focused, almost fibrous structure, polished tannins with a touch of granularity, and linear dark fruit.Precise and medium- to full-bodied, showing a focused, almost fibrous structure, polished tannins with a touch of granularity, and linear dark fruit. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)

The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a huge, powerful wine that is going to need many years to come into its own. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, incense, melted road tar and licorice make a boldThe 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a huge, powerful wine that is going to need many years to come into its own. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, incense, melted road tar and licorice make a bold entrance. Fertility in the Merlots was low. As a result, the 2025 has the highest amount of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon ever, 83% in total as opposed to the more typical 70% or so. Whole clusters, always a part of the approach here, are 65%. Time on skins was 45 days at 27°C (80.6°F) compared to the 35 days at 30°C (86°F) that is more typical. Readers will find an especially deep, potent Carmes, a wine that will need the better part of a decade to shed some of its considerable baby fat. It's a telling example of the vintage, with 1% less alcohol than in most recent years. Today the 2025 is a mere infant. It's another exceptional wine from Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier and his team. Drinking range: 2033 - 2075 Rating: 96-98 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2026)

The 2025 Smith Haut Lafitte is a very classy, elegant wine. Lavender, spice and mint open first, followed by a burst of black/purplish fruit. Medium in body, with terrific freshness, the 2025 isThe 2025 Smith Haut Lafitte is a very classy, elegant wine. Lavender, spice and mint open first, followed by a burst of black/purplish fruit. Medium in body, with terrific freshness, the 2025 is impeccably done. The lighter style vis-à-vis most years is quite attractive. Drinking range: 2033 - 2045 Rating: 93-95 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2026)

A very fine-tannined young red with blackberries, black currants and crushed stone character. It is medium-bodied with a lovely finish. Very classy for a second wine. 50% merlot, 40% cabernetA very fine-tannined young red with blackberries, black currants and crushed stone character. It is medium-bodied with a lovely finish. Very classy for a second wine. 50% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon, 6% petit verdot and 4% cabernet franc. Rating: 95-96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)

A powerful second wine with lots of chewy tannins and a stony and steely texture. Medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and a fresh and bright finish. 52.6% cabernet sauvignon, 28.3% merlot, 18%A powerful second wine with lots of chewy tannins and a stony and steely texture. Medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and a fresh and bright finish. 52.6% cabernet sauvignon, 28.3% merlot, 18% cabernet franc and 1.1% petit verdot. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)

The 2025 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is seamless and layered. Dark red-toned fruit, spice, new leather, mocha and plum race across the palate. Deep, ample and super expressive, Le Clarence has a ton toThe 2025 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is seamless and layered. Dark red-toned fruit, spice, new leather, mocha and plum race across the palate. Deep, ample and super expressive, Le Clarence has a ton to offer. This is very much the younger sibling of the Grand Vin. Drinking range: 2030 - 2045 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2026)

The 2025 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is redolent of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, new leather, licorice and espresso. Medium in body, with fine energy, Le Petit Smith offers plentyThe 2025 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is redolent of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, new leather, licorice and espresso. Medium in body, with fine energy, Le Petit Smith offers plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon savoriness to match its mid-weight personality. Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 91-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2026)