
2025 CHÂTEAU LA DAUPHINE Fronsac
Release date: 22/5/2026
A well-composed red, textured and flavorful, with plenty of bright red berry and floral aromas. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that are slightly chewy. Crunchy and vivid with a flavorful finish.A well-composed red, textured and flavorful, with plenty of bright red berry and floral aromas. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that are slightly chewy. Crunchy and vivid with a flavorful finish. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU PALMER 3ème Cru Classé Margaux
Release date: 22/5/2026
Plush is the word to describe this red. Full-bodied and layered, with velvety tannins and a savory finish. Juicy at the end. Flashy and posh. Plenty of blackberry and black currant aromas and flavors.Plush is the word to describe this red. Full-bodied and layered, with velvety tannins and a savory finish. Juicy at the end. Flashy and posh. Plenty of blackberry and black currant aromas and flavors. Rating: 97-98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)
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2025 ALTER EGO du Château Palmer Margaux
Release date: 22/5/2026
Beautiful deep plum colour, so juicy and mouth watering, with a real energy and momentum, blueberry, cherry pit, love the powerful concentration and sense of lift through the palate, and thingsBeautiful deep plum colour, so juicy and mouth watering, with a real energy and momentum, blueberry, cherry pit, love the powerful concentration and sense of lift through the palate, and things really grip as it opens and unfolds. 20hl/h, as with everywhere, 3.65ph, harvest September 8 to 24. Drinking range: 2032 - 2040 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU HAUT BAGES LIBERAL 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac Château Haut Bages Libéral
Release date: 19/5/2026
We had a fabulous tasting with Claire Villars-Lurton. She always has such an interesting take on the vintage - and in 2025 her Haut Bages Liberal is fantastic. It's a beautifully classic PauillacWe had a fabulous tasting with Claire Villars-Lurton. She always has such an interesting take on the vintage - and in 2025 her Haut Bages Liberal is fantastic. It's a beautifully classic Pauillac expression, combining quiet power with real purity and precision. Already showing superbly, it carries itself with grace and composure on the palate, offering layered aromas and gently complex flavours supported by excellent acidity. There is plenty of structure here, finely milled tannins are svelte and the wine remains remarkably approachable and open-knit even at this early stage. Sourced equally from her vines on the gravelly soils bordering Lynch-Bages and from the limestone parcels shared with Château Latour, the blend captures both energy and finesse. Pure, vibrant and effortlessly poised, this is a wine of real charm and balance. Once again, it represents exceptional value — highly recommended.L&S (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU GRUAUD LAROSE 2ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
Release date: 19/5/2026
All talk was about the special etched bottle this year- which does look very sophisticated and celebrates the 300th vintage of Gruaud Larose - but for us the real joy was inside the bottle.There haveAll talk was about the special etched bottle this year- which does look very sophisticated and celebrates the 300th vintage of Gruaud Larose - but for us the real joy was inside the bottle.There have been some wobbly vintages here recently, that have not won us over - but the 2025 is a stunner. Classic Gruaud feel of strict lines and delicate fruit - but this year there is a wonderful sleek feel and drive here. Perfect plump plum and dark berry flesh are neatly detailed and have a good, classic chalky feel and savoury edge. There are wafts of hedgerow and the perfect pencil lead cut that adds an almost mineral freshness. Lovely intensity and yet a gentle feel. A worthy wine for its special packaging! 2% Cabernet Franc, 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot.L&S (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU PÉDESCLAUX 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac
Release date: 18/5/2026
We had a great tasting here with Christophe Congé - who seemed very much at home and confident the wines were in their groove after 3 years at the helm having arrived from Chateau Lafite. ImmediatelyWe had a great tasting here with Christophe Congé - who seemed very much at home and confident the wines were in their groove after 3 years at the helm having arrived from Chateau Lafite. Immediately as you approach the glass - the Pedesclaux smells very smart. Very inviting a richness and a sophisticated charm, waving you in. Great gloss and flow to the mid-palate - but a good, serious edge too - real concentration here (more than 2015 says the Christophe). 2015 was too much ripeness and too late by contrast to 2025 he says - this year the fruit is better... he compares 2025 to 2010.. quite some accolade!)Great drive at the back of the palate, real energy and a gently tightening grip - but long fresh finish. Impressive.69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit VerdotL&S (May 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU LAFON-ROCHET 4ème Cru Classé Saint Estèphe
Release date: 18/5/2026
More aromatics on the nose than Pedesclaux which we tasted just beforehand - but more clout too. Really intense, nicely concentrated. Clean and crisp tannins - really smart feel - adds lift and freshMore aromatics on the nose than Pedesclaux which we tasted just beforehand - but more clout too. Really intense, nicely concentrated. Clean and crisp tannins - really smart feel - adds lift and fresh coolness. Fruit aromas are pretty - and jolly with smashed strawberry and a darker line of pure plum essence. Nice ripeness but really measured and the lick of juicy acidity is super at lifting the feel and adding real energy.L&S (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU LILIAN LADOUYS Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel Saint Estèphe
Release date: 18/5/2026
We are fans of this over-performing estate in Saint Estephe - however, this year's samples (tasted on 2 separate occasions) were quite firm and hairy. Well stacked with good structure and a tidy,We are fans of this over-performing estate in Saint Estephe - however, this year's samples (tasted on 2 separate occasions) were quite firm and hairy. Well stacked with good structure and a tidy, concentrated core of pretty fruit for the future, but not the most showy or charming at this stage. L&S (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU LA LAGUNE 3ème Cru Classé Ludon
Release date: 13/5/2026
Black currants with a touch of violets on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with subtle concentration, charm, freshness and a consistent finish of dark fruit. The wine reveals itself slowly.Black currants with a touch of violets on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with subtle concentration, charm, freshness and a consistent finish of dark fruit. The wine reveals itself slowly. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU SAINT PIERRE 4ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
Release date: 13/5/2026
Lovely wine, attractive with lift and bright fruits, great quality, sappy, a lot of slate and pumice stone, roasted coffee beans, intense and concentrated, plenty of ageing ability. Yield 20 hl/ha.Lovely wine, attractive with lift and bright fruits, great quality, sappy, a lot of slate and pumice stone, roasted coffee beans, intense and concentrated, plenty of ageing ability. Yield 20 hl/ha. Drinking range: 2034 - 2044 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU GRAND CORBIN-DESPAGNE Grand Cru Saint Emilion
Release date: 13/5/2026
The 2025 Grand Corbin-Despagne offers up aromas of dark berries, licorice and creamy new oak, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, rich and layered palate that exhibits ripe tannins and attractiveThe 2025 Grand Corbin-Despagne offers up aromas of dark berries, licorice and creamy new oak, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, rich and layered palate that exhibits ripe tannins and attractive balance. If it can digest its cooperage with élevage, it may merit a higher score. Rating: 90-92 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (May 2026)
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2025 DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan
Release date: 11/5/2026
Tasted three times, including at the UGCB press tasting at the Cité du Vin). Gorgeous. Plump red berry fruits, freshly plucked and hulled - strawberry and raspberry, with a little mulberry, hazelnutTasted three times, including at the UGCB press tasting at the Cité du Vin). Gorgeous. Plump red berry fruits, freshly plucked and hulled - strawberry and raspberry, with a little mulberry, hazelnut shell and even a hint of frangipane. This is cool at the core and the product of a most gentle extraction. Crystalline and radiant when retasted at the UGCB press tasting. This is fresh but perfectly ripe and feels both vivid and lively on its feet. One of the most dynamic recent vintages of Domaine de Chevalier and one I love, though elévage will be important as this is lighter on its feet and does not have the density or viscosity of, say, 2022 or 2023 Rating: 95-97 The Drinks Business (Apr 2026)
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2025 DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER Blanc Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan
Release date: 11/5/2026
Straight from the first nose this is clearly one of the whites of the vintage. The most beautifully flinty and sculpted citrus and pear. Harvest August 25 to September 6. 33% new oak. In organicStraight from the first nose this is clearly one of the whites of the vintage. The most beautifully flinty and sculpted citrus and pear. Harvest August 25 to September 6. 33% new oak. In organic conversion. It's now been a decade of vineyard work to ensure that the white grapes are in the coolest part of the estate, and ageing takes place in a variety of differently sized barrels, with plenty of lees work that changes every year - so in 2024 they stirred through the December, this year only October because the richness was already there. In a word, they know what they are doing and you can rest easy. Drinking range: 2027 - 2036 Rating: 95 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU CHEVAL BLANC 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
Release date: 11/5/2026
Pure and deep - and so very long. There is a tightly wound concentration, but this remains superbly balanced and light on its feet. Wonderfully concentrated elegance and lots of clean power. MuscularPure and deep - and so very long. There is a tightly wound concentration, but this remains superbly balanced and light on its feet. Wonderfully concentrated elegance and lots of clean power. Muscular even, its the power delivered though underlying freshness that makes this Cheval Blanc deeply impressive. Perfume of red flowers and strawberry foam. Delicious. The team here have put everything into make a great Grand Vin this year - their fruit crop was light anyway because of the problems in 2024 and the dry season in 2025 - but they still took the decision to drop any fruit that was on younger vines and on more dry soils - so as to concentrate the vines' energies into making a small quantity of very high quality fruit. Just 15 HL/HA well below half a normal harvest - and there is no Petit Cheval this year either.L&S (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU L'ÉVANGILE Pomerol
Release date: 11/5/2026
Damson colour, this has a ton of juicy blue and black fruits, well judged density, energy and lift, clear ageing ability, grilled cumin, peony, iris flowers, slate and crushed rocks, 40% new oak,Damson colour, this has a ton of juicy blue and black fruits, well judged density, energy and lift, clear ageing ability, grilled cumin, peony, iris flowers, slate and crushed rocks, 40% new oak, with large oak casks for almost half of the production. Less Cabernet Franc in this blend simply because of the size of the berries. 3.7ph. Blason no longer sold En Primeur, so not tasted here. Juliette Couderc director. Harvest began on August 26 with young Merlot on gravel. 23hl/h overall yield, fascinating to see how they split across different terroirs in the L'Evangile vineyard - on gravel 15hl/ha, on clay 28hl/ha, on sand, 38hl/h all due to size of berries. In practise this meant a lot of intra-plot harvesting, going through four or five times. The result is impressive. Drinking range: 2032 - 2050 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU COUVENT DES JACOBINS Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
Release date: 6/5/2026
Offering up notes of ripe cherries and cassis framed by toasty oak, the 2025 Couvent des Jacobins is medium- to full-bodied, rich and dense, with a concentrated core of fruit, plenty of structuringOffering up notes of ripe cherries and cassis framed by toasty oak, the 2025 Couvent des Jacobins is medium- to full-bodied, rich and dense, with a concentrated core of fruit, plenty of structuring tannin and lively balancing acids. It's another strong performance for this 10.5-hectare Saint-Émilion property. Rating: 92-94 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (May 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU MANGOT Grand Cru Saint Emilion
Release date: 5/5/2026
Our tasting of Mangot 2025 left us a little lukewarm which is surprising, as this is usually a wine that wins us over from the first sip. As we see other reviews come in - it seems we had a less goodOur tasting of Mangot 2025 left us a little lukewarm which is surprising, as this is usually a wine that wins us over from the first sip. As we see other reviews come in - it seems we had a less good sample bottle. Such a shame not to have had a perfect insight into this perennial pleaser - we are trying to source a fresh sample and will keep you updated! In the meantime critics seem to admire it as ever.60 % Merlot, 38 % Cabernet Franc & 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Rating: 5 L&S (May 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU PONTET CANET 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac
Release date: 29/4/2026
The nose here is immediately intriguing, with softly layered fruit and floral prettiness, subtle hedgerow and leafy notes, and a delicate touch of toasty oak. The palate is vibrant almost ethereal inThe nose here is immediately intriguing, with softly layered fruit and floral prettiness, subtle hedgerow and leafy notes, and a delicate touch of toasty oak. The palate is vibrant almost ethereal in its lift, yet carrying real intensity, with vivid purple fruit, crushed blueberry and blackberry, and a distinctive graphite edge. Fine-grained tannins provide gentle structure, while a savoury, mineral thread brings definition and drive. The finish is cool, fresh and persistent, marked by a lingering bright red fruit notes and stony precision. This impressive 2025 is the result of careful vineyard work, including low training of the vines and thoughtful canopy management, to cope with the season's heat. Harvest began with Merlot from the 2nd to the 15th September, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and finally Petit Verdot from the 21st of September.
In the cellar, extraction was gentle, with a long, measured maceration at moderate temperatures, preserving both purity and finesse. Élevage continues in a thoughtful mix of vessels - just 50% new oak, 15% one-year-old barrels, and 35% in concrete allowing the wine to evolve with precision and restraint. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc & 1% Petit Verdot. Drinking range: 2033 - 2043L&S (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU LA MAURIANE Puisseguin Saint Emilion
Release date: 28/4/2026
We had a great visit to see Pierre Taïx in his bucolic corner of Saint Emilion. The rolling hills of Puisseguin always give us a breath of fresh air - and a return to a more scruffy normality afterWe had a great visit to see Pierre Taïx in his bucolic corner of Saint Emilion. The rolling hills of Puisseguin always give us a breath of fresh air - and a return to a more scruffy normality after the pristine lawns and raked gravel drives of the grandees in the heart of Saint Emilion itself. However, the wine is remarkable. Nothing scruffy about this pitch perfect beauty. The 2025 Mauriane is made up with 50% of plateau fruit and 50% from Coteaux - a mix of 65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc. As we expect here - Pierre has let the fruit fully ripen, no panic after the August rains to bring it all in - he picked in mid September and you can sense that perfect balance, wonderfully concentrated, with no heaviness. deep layers of aromatic complexity give a full, expressive nose - loaded with dark berries and an upbeat charm immediately. tasting after the La Mitote, there is more grip and grunt unsurprisingly - but this has lovely depth of plush fruit too - then that line of freshness - and a good mineral kick from the plateau fruit. This is full-on charm - incredible balance between the lush fruit kaleidoscope and the wonderful fresh limestone kick that makes you want to come back for more. One for the cellar, that you will never regret buying - this will repay 3 years in the cellar after arrival - but will be fun drinking for the next 10-12 years easily. Drinking range: 2031 - 2045L&S (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan
So aromatic and expressive, with pure currants and mint, plus some chocolate. Fennel too. Wow. Medium- to full-bodied with very deep fruit, fine, velvety tannins and a long, fine texture. TheSo aromatic and expressive, with pure currants and mint, plus some chocolate. Fennel too. Wow. Medium- to full-bodied with very deep fruit, fine, velvety tannins and a long, fine texture. The precision and depth are impressive. More fruit-driven than usual. It grows on the palate and is compact at the end. Very cabernet in the end. Almost like St.-Julien and Pauillac in nature. A blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Rating: 97-98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU AUSONE 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
A high-definition wine. Wow. The aromas are incredible, with roses, strawberries and crushed stones. So perfumed. It’s the magic of perfectly ripe cabernet franc. Medium-bodied with ultra-fineA high-definition wine. Wow. The aromas are incredible, with roses, strawberries and crushed stones. So perfumed. It’s the magic of perfectly ripe cabernet franc. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and a firm and silky finish. Sublime length and mouthfeel. Cool, subtle, sophisticated and stunning. So much definition. 13.7% alcohol. A blend of 65% cabernet franc, 30% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon. Rating: 99-100 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU CANON 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
The 2025 Canon is a total stunner. Deep and sumptuous in the glass, it offers tons of the vintage's textural intensity along with all the vibrant, saline energy that is such a signature here.The 2025 Canon is a total stunner. Deep and sumptuous in the glass, it offers tons of the vintage's textural intensity along with all the vibrant, saline energy that is such a signature here. Dark-fleshed fruit, mocha, new leather, herbs and dried flowers build gradually in the glass, leading to a huge, dramatic finish laced with hints of blood orange, pomegranate and chalk. The interplay of finesse and power is dazzling. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2035 - 2065 Rating: 98-100 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE BLANC Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan
Bright, vibrant aromas of sliced apples, pears and lemons with some acacia and flint. The palate is dense and tight, with so much chalk and oyster shell character. Extremely long and pure, with vividBright, vibrant aromas of sliced apples, pears and lemons with some acacia and flint. The palate is dense and tight, with so much chalk and oyster shell character. Extremely long and pure, with vivid energy at the end. Sharp and driven by acidity. A blend of 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon and 5% sauvignon gris. Rating: 98-99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2026)
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2025 CHÂTEAU GUIRAUD 1er Cru Classé Sauternes
The 2025 Guiraud balances power and energy like very few Sauternes can. Orange confit, passion fruit, crystallized ginger and exotic white flowers fill out the layers. Silky contours are a sign ofThe 2025 Guiraud balances power and energy like very few Sauternes can. Orange confit, passion fruit, crystallized ginger and exotic white flowers fill out the layers. Silky contours are a sign of total finesse. Impeccable. Guiraud is one of the most elegant Sauternes readers will come across. Drinking range: 2033 - 2065 Rating: 93-95 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2026)
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