Organic Wines

Release date: 10/6/2024

The 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is quite the extrovert. Apricot, passion fruit, mint, tangerine peel and pineapple all soar out of the glass. Medium in body, with gorgeous texture, the 2023 isThe 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is quite the extrovert. Apricot, passion fruit, mint, tangerine peel and pineapple all soar out of the glass. Medium in body, with gorgeous texture, the 2023 is quite showy. I imagine it will drink well with minimal cellaring. Drinking range: 2026 - 2037 Rating: 94-96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 10/6/2024

A little more gunsmoke and slate than the Hauts de Smith, with a structure and salinity that takes you to a more serous level, still with the easy pleasure of ripe citrus and pear fruits. ExcellentA little more gunsmoke and slate than the Hauts de Smith, with a structure and salinity that takes you to a more serous level, still with the easy pleasure of ripe citrus and pear fruits. Excellent quality, 36hl/h yields. Drinking range: 2025 - 2038 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 3/6/2024

This takes one-third of the crop, and the blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, very similar to the grand vin, from the usual Alter Ego vineyards, which have lighter soils.This takes one-third of the crop, and the blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, very similar to the grand vin, from the usual Alter Ego vineyards, which have lighter soils. Beautifully pure, dark yet fresh and expressive aromatics, with violets, blackcurrants, blackberries and liquorice, but it is that dark floral perfume which dominates. It is very Palmer in style, but also very Margaux. The palate seduces with beautiful texture, dark fruits, fresh floral nuances. The structure is very fine, deeply buried in the wine, with a lovely tense grip which only shows right at the finish, supported by fresh acidity. Great vivacity and build, wonderful freshness, and great length too. This is a superb Alter Ego; pour this blind and you might not be sure whether you were drinking Alter Ego or the grand vin. The alcohol is 13.9%. Rating: 91-93 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

Density and well-cushioned fruit, another stunning vintage of a wine that somehow manages to make an effortless impression, edges of cloves and grilled sandalwood, full of nuance and capturing theDensity and well-cushioned fruit, another stunning vintage of a wine that somehow manages to make an effortless impression, edges of cloves and grilled sandalwood, full of nuance and capturing the aromatics depths and heights of the vintage, gorgeous. 100% new oak. Philippe Baillarguet cellar master, Vauthier family owners, organic certified in the vineyard. Drinking range: 2032 - 2050 Rating: 97 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 21/5/2024

The 2023 Durfort Vivens is once again dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which represents 92% of the blend. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of minty cassis, plums and berries mingled with hints ofThe 2023 Durfort Vivens is once again dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which represents 92% of the blend. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of minty cassis, plums and berries mingled with hints of pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with good concentration, sweet tannins and a long, penetrating finish. With a pH of 3.66 and 13.7% alcohol, it's a resounding success. Rating: 94-95 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)

Release date: 21/5/2024

The 2023 Ferrière is a strong effort, bursting with aromas of dark berries, spices and boot polish, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered palate with a broad attack, good depth atThe 2023 Ferrière is a strong effort, bursting with aromas of dark berries, spices and boot polish, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered palate with a broad attack, good depth at the core and sweet structuring tannins. It's a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3.5% Petit Verdot and a touch of Cabernet Franc. Rating: 91-93 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)

Release date: 21/5/2024

Intense and crunchy blue and black fruits, delivering tons of Pauillac character, reserved and well judged, juicy cassis, liqourice root, slate and cocoa bean. Delicous, a lovely vintage of thisIntense and crunchy blue and black fruits, delivering tons of Pauillac character, reserved and well judged, juicy cassis, liqourice root, slate and cocoa bean. Delicous, a lovely vintage of this wine. Harvest September 12 to 30. 53hl/h yield, just a little higher than the already high yield of Pauillac in this vintage, no mildew. 3.48ph, 40% new oak, with the rest of one year old, pls concrete eggs and amphora. Claire Villars-Lurton owner. Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 24/5/2024

Medium plus intensity, gorgeous deep plum colour, raspberry leaf, rosebud, sinewy tannins, a little bit subdued, but clear quality, great tannic juice, an estate to bookmark for sure.Medium plus intensity, gorgeous deep plum colour, raspberry leaf, rosebud, sinewy tannins, a little bit subdued, but clear quality, great tannic juice, an estate to bookmark for sure. Drinking range: 2026 - 2038 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 21/5/2024

A fresh and focused red with a medium body and fine tannins. It’s crunchy, with good fruit concentration in the center-palate, showing plum and redcurrant highlights. Bright and firm at the end. FromA fresh and focused red with a medium body and fine tannins. It’s crunchy, with good fruit concentration in the center-palate, showing plum and redcurrant highlights. Bright and firm at the end. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/5/2024

The 2023 La Lagune is a serious wine, but it is also quite backward. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, leather and dried herbs open with some coaxing. The 2023 is going to need time to come together. ItsThe 2023 La Lagune is a serious wine, but it is also quite backward. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, leather and dried herbs open with some coaxing. The 2023 is going to need time to come together. Its aromatic intensity and overall persistence suggest it has a bright future. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2028 - 2048 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

The blend of Mangot is 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified with a cold soak for eight days, after which there was a slightly shorter post-fermentation maceration. AThe blend of Mangot is 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified with a cold soak for eight days, after which there was a slightly shorter post-fermentation maceration. A very pure and expressive nose, but evidently dry and savoury, with notes of blackberry and damson, laced with liquorice, tar, slate and dark chocolate. The palate follows with a gently creamed texture, rich with notes of slate, chocolate and blackberry, with deliciously savoury substance, plenty of juicy texture, a saline minerality and spice supporting the fruit. This is an another impressive sample from the Todeschini family, with a sappy grip which persists in the finish. The élevage will be in a mix of barrels (new and used), foudres and amphorae. The alcohol is around 14.5%, although probably slightly lower than that on analysis. Rating: 92-94 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/6/2024

This takes two-thirds of the crop, and the blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. A very dark and perfumed core of fruit on the nose, blackberries, griottes, black violets,This takes two-thirds of the crop, and the blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. A very dark and perfumed core of fruit on the nose, blackberries, griottes, black violets, rose and peony, very typical of Palmer, and there is a suggestion of a salty minerality to it as well. The palate is a hedonist’s delight, with an immediate polish, texture and substance, like creamed black summer fruits, laced with tar, dark chocolate and salted liquorice, underpinned by a fine grained and tightly knit tannic structure. Great ripeness here, sensitively extracted, showing dense structure but also brilliant harmony, with a great sense of drive and vigour as well. This is beautiful, very distinctive, undeniably from the Palmer vineyard, and truly worth putting away in your cellar. Brilliant. The alcohol is 13.8% on analysis. Rating: 97-99 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 30/4/2024

A very structured Pontet-Canet that expands in the mouth with a gorgeous combination of beautifully ripe fruit and intense tannins. Very structured for the vintage. Full-bodied with excellentA very structured Pontet-Canet that expands in the mouth with a gorgeous combination of beautifully ripe fruit and intense tannins. Very structured for the vintage. Full-bodied with excellent presence and length. So much raw pencil shavings to the blackcurrants. Graphite and tar. Fresh and vivid. They picked cabernet at the right time at the end of September. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Rating: 97-98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 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: 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)