Saint Estèphe

Release date: 3/6/2025

The 2024 de Pez is seriously beautiful. Dark, powerful and deeply savory, the 2024 possesses gorgeous textural depth and resonance. Mocha, dried flowers, spice, cedar and tobacco are all dialed up inThe 2024 de Pez is seriously beautiful. Dark, powerful and deeply savory, the 2024 possesses gorgeous textural depth and resonance. Mocha, dried flowers, spice, cedar and tobacco are all dialed up in this wonderfully fleshy, sumptuous Saint-Estèphe. This is impeccably done. Tasted three times. Drinking range: 2028 - 2039 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 22/5/2025

A balanced red with red berries, warm spices and cedar on the nose, following through to a medium body with fine tannins. Vivid and velvety with a bright finish.A balanced red with red berries, warm spices and cedar on the nose, following through to a medium body with fine tannins. Vivid and velvety with a bright finish. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 21/5/2025

The 2024 Capbern is a very pretty, delicate Saint-Estèphe. Cabernet Sauvignon takes the leading role in this elegant, nuanced wine. Crushed flowers, spice, new leather, cedar, licorice and incenseThe 2024 Capbern is a very pretty, delicate Saint-Estèphe. Cabernet Sauvignon takes the leading role in this elegant, nuanced wine. Crushed flowers, spice, new leather, cedar, licorice and incense are all delineated in the glass. Vibrant floral notes reappear on the long, persistent finish. Drinking range: 2026 - 2036 Rating: 90-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 20/5/2025

68 CS 30 M 2 PV 13.5% Another example of St Estèphe providing the antidote to the woes of the vintage is this wine from Phélan Ségur - bright floral and graphite aromas with some toast and cedar.68 CS 30 M 2 PV 13.5% Another example of St Estèphe providing the antidote to the woes of the vintage is this wine from Phélan Ségur - bright floral and graphite aromas with some toast and cedar. Fruity acidity in the mouth with the right amount of tannins to provide balance and longevity, although this will be approachable in relative youth for sure. Rating: 91 Rod Smith MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 20/5/2025

Beautiful red ruby expression. A slimmer more finessed expression of Calon than in recent years, that gives it less estate signature than some, but this has beautiful cassis bud, rose petals, peony,Beautiful red ruby expression. A slimmer more finessed expression of Calon than in recent years, that gives it less estate signature than some, but this has beautiful cassis bud, rose petals, peony, iris, cocoa bean and graphite. Subtle but with real charm. 3.60 pH. 45 hl/ha. 100% new oak. Vincent Millet director, Harvest 23 September to 9 October. Drinking range: 2030 - 2044 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)

Release date: 20/5/2025

Clearly skilful construction of the wines here, with precision and balance. Austerity on the finish, as is classic in Cabernet-dominant wines in 2024, with emphasis on cassis bud and slate, veryClearly skilful construction of the wines here, with precision and balance. Austerity on the finish, as is classic in Cabernet-dominant wines in 2024, with emphasis on cassis bud and slate, very pretty. 3.55 pH. 45hl/ha yield, 20% new oak. Harvest 23 September to 9 October. Vincent Millet director. Drinking range: 2029 - 2040 Rating: 91 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)

Release date: 16/5/2025

55 CS 35 M 5 CF 5 PV Some chalky smoke and lapsang-souchong tea aromas on the nose with black fruit underneath. Terrifically of its appellation! Supple and finely extracted tannins with lovely55 CS 35 M 5 CF 5 PV Some chalky smoke and lapsang-souchong tea aromas on the nose with black fruit underneath. Terrifically of its appellation! Supple and finely extracted tannins with lovely depth of red fruit to support. Deliciously juicy finish Rating: 91 Rod Smith MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 15/5/2025

The 2024 Les Pagodes de Cos is terrific. Medium in body and vibrant, the 2024 is impeccable. Blackberry, spice, leather, menthol and chocolate open gradually. A wine of balance and harmony, the 2024The 2024 Les Pagodes de Cos is terrific. Medium in body and vibrant, the 2024 is impeccable. Blackberry, spice, leather, menthol and chocolate open gradually. A wine of balance and harmony, the 2024 is super-elegant. I find the less bombastic style here vis-à-vis the past quite interesting. Drinking range: 2026 - 2034 Rating: 91-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 15/5/2025

The 2024 Cos d'Estournel was picked from September 23 to October 7 and matured in 50% new oak. This has an atypically powerful bouquet, revealing black fruit laced with graphite and gravelly scents.The 2024 Cos d'Estournel was picked from September 23 to October 7 and matured in 50% new oak. This has an atypically powerful bouquet, revealing black fruit laced with graphite and gravelly scents. The palate has a Pauillac-like entry that's fresh but certainly intense. There's plenty of grip in this Cos d'Estournel that's a little sweeter and reassuringly persistent on the finish compared to its peers. It does not deliver the mineralité of a top-flight Cos d'Estournel, though there's certainly much more fruit intensity than you would expect given the growing season. I observed more classicism during my second record, which suggests that the depth of fruit may become more prominent during barrel maturation. Readers should note it displayed more depth and precision on my second visit on the final day in Bordeaux. Drinking range: 2032 - 2065 Rating: 93-95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)

Release date: 7/5/2025

80 Cabernet Sauvignon, 17 Merlot, 3 Cabernet Franc: 38 hl/ha: Harvest took place between 23 September and 7 October: 13% press wine

After a very wet Spring, a very dry Summer, and a80 Cabernet Sauvignon, 17 Merlot, 3 Cabernet Franc: 38 hl/ha: Harvest took place between 23 September and 7 October: 13% press wine

After a very wet Spring, a very dry Summer, and a wet September, Montrose battled the conditions like every other estate, but they were one of the few organic estates that ended up with surprisingly impressive yields. There was enormous disease pressure here, and they removed leaves in June, a month earlier than usual. Removing leaves during fruit set is uncommon, but improving the atmospheric conditions around the grapes to fight mildew was crucial. The teams left lots of grass in the vineyard rows to improve competition between the vines and the grass. They also preserved the canopy to enhance photosynthesis. The main aim was to produce sugar and anthocyanins. A substantial green harvest ensued to concentrate the power of the vines, removing a lot of grapes on younger vines (halving crops) and around 30% of veraison, to remove all the ‘late grapes’. They also worked especially hard with Merlot, removing the ‘wings’ with a couple of tries. By this stage, they had never done this much work in the vineyards. The final exercise was removing leaves on the west side of the vines on the 20th of August. They usually do this just before harvest. By the end of August, they had pristine, ripe fruit and a decent yield of 38 hl/ha – remarkable for an organic estate. In truth, this was a real Bordelais vintage, with classic rainfall and multiple challenges, but they picked all 78 lots, block by block, with perfectly ripe fruit. In common with the other finest estates, they worked extremely hard on the press wine. The Montrose theme of the 2024 vintage is ‘Embruns Atlantique’, which translates as Atlantic sea spray or wind-blown breaking waves, which have greatly influenced this magnificent wine. Made from Terrace 4 only, or the original plantings at Montrose – its name is derived from its historic position as a hillside covered in pink heather (Mont Rose). The wine itself is super-intense, strict, powerful and staggeringly long. I sensed a wine built for eternal life because of its incredibly dense fruit tones and magnificent tannins. That these monumental traits can be delivered with such freshness and cadence is baffling. I particularly admire the Barolo-like bitterness that teases the taste buds, bringing magical qualities to the finish. This is an insanely delicious and compelling wine, and it completely took my breath away. 19.5+/20 QP Rating: 19.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2025)

Release date: 7/5/2025

The 2024 La Dame de Montrose—raised in 15% new oak, 20% foudres and 2% amphora—has a straightforward, relatively light bouquet with blackberry, hints of black olive and light gravelly scents. TheThe 2024 La Dame de Montrose—raised in 15% new oak, 20% foudres and 2% amphora—has a straightforward, relatively light bouquet with blackberry, hints of black olive and light gravelly scents. The palate is medium-bodied with sharp acidity on the entry, balanced but just a little austere towards the second half. It needs to muster more fruité on the finish, but at least displays freshness and classicism. Drinking range: 2028 - 2037 Rating: 88-90 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)

Release date: 6/5/2025

48 M 41 CS 6 PV 5 CF 13.5% Bright violet and juicy fruit extraction with rose and cassis. Fresh raspberry acidity and mid-weight tannins. Juicy finish, this is a good example of the light and48 M 41 CS 6 PV 5 CF 13.5% Bright violet and juicy fruit extraction with rose and cassis. Fresh raspberry acidity and mid-weight tannins. Juicy finish, this is a good example of the light and fruity side of what could be achieved in 2024, and likely to afford excellent value and be approachable in the short term. Rating: 90 L&S (Apr 2025)

Release date: 5/5/2025

Lots of red cherries, minerals and spiced berries. Medium-bodied with some stony tannins that are slightly chewy. Tight and juicy in the finish. 66% merlot, 17% cabernet sauvignon, 14% petit verdotLots of red cherries, minerals and spiced berries. Medium-bodied with some stony tannins that are slightly chewy. Tight and juicy in the finish. 66% merlot, 17% cabernet sauvignon, 14% petit verdot and 3% cabernet franc. Rating: 90-91 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)

Release date: 29/4/2025

A floral nose of deep fruit, dark berries, cherries and violets. Structured and medium- to full-bodied, with firm, integrated tannins and a medium-long finish. 43% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 12%A floral nose of deep fruit, dark berries, cherries and violets. Structured and medium- to full-bodied, with firm, integrated tannins and a medium-long finish. 43% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)

Understated aromas of minerals, white pepper, chalk, red cherries and grapefruit. Typical St.-Estephe structure, which is a little more severe and austere this year, with tight, chalky tannins towardUnderstated aromas of minerals, white pepper, chalk, red cherries and grapefruit. Typical St.-Estephe structure, which is a little more severe and austere this year, with tight, chalky tannins toward the back of the palate. Lots of vibration. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 3% cabernet franc. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)