Saint Estèphe

Release date: 12/6/2024

This is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 11% Petit Verdot, just a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, and the Petit Verdot was also of high quality, hence Merlot was pushedThis is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 11% Petit Verdot, just a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, and the Petit Verdot was also of high quality, hence Merlot was pushed into a minority position. Picking start September 6th, commonplace in St Estèphe and Pauillac, and finished on the 26th. Beautiful aromatics on the nose, expressive, with concentrated and lightly dried berry fruits, wrapped in cedar, dark chocolate and crushed chalk. A rather cool and fresh entry, with the sinewy and taut character of the vintage, with a savoury restraint to the texture, with a finely extracted and powdery grip of tannins underneath, and the vibrant acid freshness of the vintage. This has delicious poise and a fine sense of energy and balance, and should provide great value drinking. The alcohol here is 13.2%. Rating: 92-94 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 12/6/2024

A classic blend with 61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon to support the palate, and 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, picked from September 5th, finishing the 28th. This takes 39% of the cropA classic blend with 61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon to support the palate, and 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, picked from September 5th, finishing the 28th. This takes 39% of the crop this year. Even though Tronquoy impressed with its perfume and precision, La Dame is well ahead aromatically, with beautiful dark berry fruits, layered with violets, dark chocolate, crushed white chalk and a touch of blood orange. There is a great sense of harmony at the start, and this holds up really well through the midpalate, with no falling off, just supple and generous texture, with dark and perfumed notes as per the nose, and an underpinning of ripe, polished, integrated tannins. Fresh acidity, but not strident or domineering. A lovely structure here for a second wine, leading to a dry and lightly gripped finish. This is a little stunner and while it is unlikely to be the greatest La Dame ever (did you ever taste the 2010?) this will give great pleasure. The alcohol is 13.8%. Rating: 92-94 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 12/6/2024

Wow. This is the essence of Montrose, with blackberry, blackcurrant, crushed stone and earth. I have not tasted a Montrose like this in 42 years of my career. It has a much more vertical nature toWow. This is the essence of Montrose, with blackberry, blackcurrant, crushed stone and earth. I have not tasted a Montrose like this in 42 years of my career. It has a much more vertical nature to it, with layered tannins that go very deep and long, The muscular structure and intensity is something else. This is a new era for Montrose. It is now made from only 45 hectares of vineyards right in front of the chateau, instead of about 60 before. 75% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. Rating: 99-100 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

There is clarity and freshness to this, with crunchy dark fruit, cedar and blackberry. It’s medium-bodied, racy and fine. Lead pencil at the end. More precise than 2022. 69% cabernet sauvignon, 29%There is clarity and freshness to this, with crunchy dark fruit, cedar and blackberry. It’s medium-bodied, racy and fine. Lead pencil at the end. More precise than 2022. 69% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 1% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

The 2023 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur is a blend of 50% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, incorporating the estate's finest Merlot plots that generallyThe 2023 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur is a blend of 50% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, incorporating the estate's finest Merlot plots that generally go into the grand vin but which didn't match with Calon's best Cabernet Sauvignon lots this year. Offering up aromas of cassis, plums, burning embers and spices, framed by a deft touch of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and structured, with impressive density and muscle, built for the cellar. Rating: 91-93 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

Blackcurrant, blueberry, cedar, pine needle and black truffle here. I don't think much about the nose with barrel samples, but this is splendid. It's medium-bodied with very fresh acidity and fine,Blackcurrant, blueberry, cedar, pine needle and black truffle here. I don't think much about the nose with barrel samples, but this is splendid. It's medium-bodied with very fresh acidity and fine, linear tannins that are long and lively. Energy here. Refined. Salty character at the last minute. I may like this better than 2022. A blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Rating: 96-97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/6/2024

The 2023 Phélan Ségur is a powerful, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense, licorice, dried herbs, lavender and mocha infuse the 2023 with striking complexity. Persistent saline notesThe 2023 Phélan Ségur is a powerful, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense, licorice, dried herbs, lavender and mocha infuse the 2023 with striking complexity. Persistent saline notes lend energy, dimension and shape. The Cabernet Sauvignon really screams with intensity here. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2028 - 2043 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 3/6/2024

A beautiful Pez with a solid core of fruit and creamy, refined tannins. It’s complex with plenty of blackcurrant, graphite, lead-pencil and nutmeg flavors. Linear and polished texture. Very preciseA beautiful Pez with a solid core of fruit and creamy, refined tannins. It’s complex with plenty of blackcurrant, graphite, lead-pencil and nutmeg flavors. Linear and polished texture. Very precise and defined. Better than 2022. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

The 2023 Les Pagodes de Cos makes a strong statement out of the gate. A blast of intense dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol, game, licorice, dried herbs and chocolate infuses the palate withThe 2023 Les Pagodes de Cos makes a strong statement out of the gate. A blast of intense dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol, game, licorice, dried herbs and chocolate infuses the palate with remarkable textural intensity. Ample and resonant in the glass, with fabulous balance, Les Pagodes is exceptionally fine in 2023. The long, sustained finish is a thing of beauty. Drinking range: 2027 - 2043 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and the grand vin takes 53% of the crop. The picking began September 12th, a few days later than some on theThe blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and the grand vin takes 53% of the crop. The picking began September 12th, a few days later than some on the northern Médoc, finishing on the 29th. Beautiful aromatics here, with scents of dark fruit, griottes, dark chocolate and powdered minerals. The fruit profile on the palate feels even darker, all currants, blackberries and chocolate again, with a supple and sinewy presence of texture, holding up very nicely in the midpalate, supported by integrated, ripe and tightly knit powdery tannins. This shows great promise, framed within the delineated substance and fruit of the vintage, the acidity fresh but far from domineering. And the powdery structure is divine, coating the finish but never drying or puckering. A very fine Cos this year. The alcohol is 12.91% on analysis. Rating: 95-97 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

The 2023 Meyney is terrific. Silky and polished, the 2023 shows a side of Meyney I have not seen before. There's also terrific freshness and overall brightness. Dark red plum, blood orange, chalk,The 2023 Meyney is terrific. Silky and polished, the 2023 shows a side of Meyney I have not seen before. There's also terrific freshness and overall brightness. Dark red plum, blood orange, chalk, mint and dried herbs are all beautifully delineated. More than anything else, I admire the wine's poise. Drinking range: 2027 - 2043 Rating: 91-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

Plenty of Ormes de Pez sappy tannins and rich black fruit character, great quality, easy to recommend and should offer good value. No frost, and despite mildew pressure final yields of 51hl/h, 45%Plenty of Ormes de Pez sappy tannins and rich black fruit character, great quality, easy to recommend and should offer good value. No frost, and despite mildew pressure final yields of 51hl/h, 45% new oak, harvest September 14 through into October 4. Drinking range: 2027 - 2040 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 7/5/2024

This is very St.-Estephe, with blackcurrant, lead pencil, graphite and crushed stone. Medium-bodied, linear and structured. Excellent finish. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 4% petit verdot andThis is very St.-Estephe, with blackcurrant, lead pencil, graphite and crushed stone. Medium-bodied, linear and structured. Excellent finish. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 4% petit verdot and 3% cabernet franc. 13.35% alcohol. 3.75 pH. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/5/2024

The 2023 Haut-Marbuzet is terrific. Dark, vibrant and quite virile in its expression, the 2023 Haut-Marbuzet has so much to offer. Plum, blood orange, pomegranate, spice and new leather are some ofThe 2023 Haut-Marbuzet is terrific. Dark, vibrant and quite virile in its expression, the 2023 Haut-Marbuzet has so much to offer. Plum, blood orange, pomegranate, spice and new leather are some of the notes that leap from the glass. Today, the 2023 is quite primary in its intensity, yet all the elements are very nicely balanced. This is a fine showing. Drinking range: 2028 - 2043 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 2/5/2024

This is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, picked from September 8th to the 29th. The nose here offers up sweet dark berries, wrapped in ribbons ofThis is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, picked from September 8th to the 29th. The nose here offers up sweet dark berries, wrapped in ribbons of dark chocolate and toast, and on a second sample also a scented, cedary perfume. This continues on the palate in a convincing style, with sinewy dark fruits, currants and damsons, intertwined with toast and olives, with a juicy but coherent substance, and a fine grip of powdery and nicely knit tannins. This holds together really well, with a dry but coherent substance built from a body of rich, firm, tightly knit tannins, before it finishes with a flourish of savoury fruit but also firm tannin. A good result. Tasted twice. The alcohol is 13.49% on analysis. Rating: 90-92 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 29/4/2024

2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the Lorenzetti family's first move into the Medoc. Now owners of Pedesclaux, Lafon Rochet and a considerable stake in Chateau d'Issan, Lilian Ladouys may no longer2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the Lorenzetti family's first move into the Medoc. Now owners of Pedesclaux, Lafon Rochet and a considerable stake in Chateau d'Issan, Lilian Ladouys may no longer be there most prestigious estate but it is certainly a real passion project. Run by Manon Lorenzetti, with help from Pedesclaux's winemaker Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen - this estate gets better every year. Now into their third year of organic conversion and benefitting in 2023 from having more parcels on-stream - they have made a beauty. There's a sophisticated and classic Saint Estephe freshness to the crunchy black fruit. For the first time ever Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead on the blend with 57% only reinforcing the upright, pure feel. This has great lines a delicious, ripe mid-palate and all the finesse you could ask for in Saint Estephe. Proper Bordeaux and so well priced. At 12.9% it really does feel like a very classic Claret. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet franc L&S (Apr 2024)