Médoc & Haut Médoc

Release date: 22/5/2024

The 2023 Poujeaux was picked from September 18 to October 4 andmatured in 30% new oak. The first couple of samples tasted didn't quite engage as much as a third bottle on the penultimate day'sThe 2023 Poujeaux was picked from September 18 to October 4 andmatured in 30% new oak. The first couple of samples tasted didn't quite engage as much as a third bottle on the penultimate day's tasting, which seems more representative. This Moulis, owned by the Cuvelier family (Clos Fourtet) has a tempting nose with blackberry, wild strawberry, incense and crushed violet scents—well defined and focused, blossoming nicely in the glass. There's good energy and vibrancy. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit. Perhaps just a little gritty in terms of texture, there is a bit of rigidity apropos the tannins on the finish. Hopefully, it will gain more elegance once in bottle, but it feels as if it will meld together during élevage. Drinking range: 2028 - 2042 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 21/5/2024

I find dark chocolate and toasted oak on the nose, which parts to reveal violets, sweet blackberry, currant and menthol. A very nicely poised start to the palate, fresh and relaxed through theI find dark chocolate and toasted oak on the nose, which parts to reveal violets, sweet blackberry, currant and menthol. A very nicely poised start to the palate, fresh and relaxed through the middle, with a less aggressive extraction here than some, the midpalate a medium-bodied and modestly juicy core of dark fruits with a nice frame of tannins beneath, all working in harmony together. Understated, modest in terms of extraction, the black fruits intertwined with leafy mint and toasted tannins in the finish, which falls away quickly. A decent showing from Beaumont in the context of the vintage, but this won’t be a keeper. Tasted twice. Rating: 88-90 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 17/5/2024

The 2023 Belgrave has impressive fruit intensity on the nose, showing plenty of brambly black fruit laced with tobacco and cedar: classic Claret in style. I've come to expect that from this estate.The 2023 Belgrave has impressive fruit intensity on the nose, showing plenty of brambly black fruit laced with tobacco and cedar: classic Claret in style. I've come to expect that from this estate. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, counterbalanced by ripe blackberry fruit laced with white pepper and tobacco. There’s just the right amount of dryness on the finish to complete this excellent (often well-priced) Belgrave. Drinking range: 2028 - 2042 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

This is very classic Sociando with brightness and linearity to the wine, as well as blackcurrants and a citrus undertone. Medium-bodied with refined tannins. Long, very crisp and fresh. Lower pH hereThis is very classic Sociando with brightness and linearity to the wine, as well as blackcurrants and a citrus undertone. Medium-bodied with refined tannins. Long, very crisp and fresh. Lower pH here of 3.55. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

This is from 55 hectares of vines in the Haut-Médoc and Listrac-Médoc appellations. As the name suggests, it is made by the team at Ducru-Beaucaillou. The blend is 59% Merlot, 37% Cabernet SauvignonThis is from 55 hectares of vines in the Haut-Médoc and Listrac-Médoc appellations. As the name suggests, it is made by the team at Ducru-Beaucaillou. The blend is 59% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, and about 20% of the crop was declassified. A delightful and enticing nose, perfumed with crushed chalk, pencil shavings, with charming cedar, strawberry and currant undertones. The fruit comes across beautifully on the palate, showing a very fragrant and precise style, perfumed, with griottes, currants and dark chocolate, underpinned by some firm tannins. An attractive Haut-Médoc with some firm structure that will need time. The alcohol level is about 13%. Rating: 89-91 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 13/5/2024

This wine from the Barton family is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, picked from September 14th to the 26th. The aromatics are attractive, with dark raspberry and blackberryThis wine from the Barton family is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, picked from September 14th to the 26th. The aromatics are attractive, with dark raspberry and blackberry fruits dressed in powdered dark chocolate. It has a rather dry and savoury attack on the palate, yielding to a modestly gripped middle, with a soft wrapping of dark chocolate and coffee bean around a core of firm but ripe tannins and some perfumed oak. It shows the powdery grip of the vintage at the end, but surprisingly modest acidity. This is a nicely structured Moulis, although the fruit does feel a little shy in both samples I encountered. Tasted twice. The alcohol is 13.4%. Rating: 89-91 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 7/5/2024

Offering up aromas of minty cassis, dark berries and pencil shavings, the 2023 Chasse-Spleen is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and youthfully structured, with good depth at the core and a penetratingOffering up aromas of minty cassis, dark berries and pencil shavings, the 2023 Chasse-Spleen is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and youthfully structured, with good depth at the core and a penetrating finish. It's a strong effort. Rating: 89-91 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/5/2024

Yet again Stephane Dief has knocked it out of the park this year. This jewel of a property with its wealth of very old vines has created a masterful 2023. Chiselled and poised - this is upright,Yet again Stephane Dief has knocked it out of the park this year. This jewel of a property with its wealth of very old vines has created a masterful 2023. Chiselled and poised - this is upright, pretty and sophisticated. The fruit concentration is pitch perfect here - with that gentle soft ripeness in tune with the freshness of the year. Beautifully judged and this year with just 35% new oak and a proportion of the juice aged in amphorae the purity is wonderful. Very serious Bordeaux from this (still!) under the radar producer we have been championing for more than a decade. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 8% Petit VerdotL&S (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/5/2024

Release date: 3/5/2024

The 2023 from Sénéjac opens with a nose of delicately medicinal red cherry, with pomegranate and herbaceous fern. There follows a rather light, loose and juicy start to the palate, which does not The 2023 from Sénéjac opens with a nose of delicately medicinal red cherry, with pomegranate and herbaceous fern. There follows a rather light, loose and juicy start to the palate, which does not really pick up through the middle, wrapping red and acid-spiked red fruits around a core of sappy, powdery tannins. This sample lacks the depth, fruit character and cohesion I am looking for, and will probably be best drunk relatively young. Rating: 86-88 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 30/4/2024

This is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard is now fully restructured, many of the lesser parcels having been pulled up in recent years. The yield hereThis is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard is now fully restructured, many of the lesser parcels having been pulled up in recent years. The yield here was 48 hl/ha, from 57.69 hectares. The blend includes 12.9% press wine. For the Médoc this has a delightfully perfumed nose, with raspberry, rose petal and a praline sweetness, not to mention an undercurrent of limestone freshness. It has substance and confidence on the palate, medium-bodied as per the vintage, but sinewy and correct, with delicately juicy fruit underpinned by modestly grained tannins. The overarching style of juicy and quite delicious, with a finish carried by a little flourish of toasted oak and tannin. This is a fine Potensac for midterm drinking. The alcohol on analysis is 13.4%. Rating: 90-92 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

A very confident expression on the nose, with smoked blackberries and smouldering toast from the oak on the nose, with a fresh, delicately floral sidekick. The palate is loosely composed at theA very confident expression on the nose, with smoked blackberries and smouldering toast from the oak on the nose, with a fresh, delicately floral sidekick. The palate is loosely composed at the start, just a touch on the juicy side, the fruit showing more restraint than the aromatics, with fragrant red cherry, bramble, dark chocolate and toast, draped over a good frame of ripe and tightly knit tannins. It keeps a confident texture through the middle and end, supported by those richly knit tannins which persist into the finish. A good result from Cambon la Pelouse, one of the more reliable cru bourgeois properties. Rating: 89-91 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Good structure and focus here with medium body and firm tannins. Juicy berry fruit in the center-palate. Lightly chewy at the end.Good structure and focus here with medium body and firm tannins. Juicy berry fruit in the center-palate. Lightly chewy at the end. Rating: 91-92 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Bought by Treasury Wine Estates in October 2022, so this is their first full vintage. this has a savoury feel of dark fruits, a little restrained on the finish with good juice; i feel like here youBought by Treasury Wine Estates in October 2022, so this is their first full vintage. this has a savoury feel of dark fruits, a little restrained on the finish with good juice; i feel like here you want a Medoc, you are getting a Medoc, a good sense of understanding what the appellation means and shoudl deliver. They have done a good job here and it is one to look out for. Slate, cassis, crushed rocks. Eric Boissenot consultant. Drinking range: 2026 - 2038 Rating: 92-100 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)