Médoc & Haut Médoc

Release date: 22/5/2024

The 2023 Poujeaux offers up youthfully reserved aromas of licorice, dark wild berries and smoke. Medium-bodied, firm and slightly austere, it’s elegant and gently structured with powdery tannins andThe 2023 Poujeaux offers up youthfully reserved aromas of licorice, dark wild berries and smoke. Medium-bodied, firm and slightly austere, it’s elegant and gently structured with powdery tannins and a long, somber finish. A second encounter revealed greater flesh and plentitude. It's a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon (a higher proportion than usual), 35% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. Rating: 89-91 Yohan Castaing, www.robertparker.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 21/5/2024

The 2023 Beaumont is an expressive Haut-Médoc. Blackberry, gravel, dried herbs, menthol and licorice are nicely woven together. The 2023 is attractive, if a touch dark and almost somber in feel.The 2023 Beaumont is an expressive Haut-Médoc. Blackberry, gravel, dried herbs, menthol and licorice are nicely woven together. The 2023 is attractive, if a touch dark and almost somber in feel. Frost and warm weather caused dehydration, reducing yields. That comes through in the form of tannins that feel a bit tough and bruising. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2025 - 2035 Rating: 88-90 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 17/5/2024

The 2023 from Belgrave is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. It has a charming and expressive nose, with scents of griottes, violets, fine dark chocolate and roses. The palate shows aThe 2023 from Belgrave is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. It has a charming and expressive nose, with scents of griottes, violets, fine dark chocolate and roses. The palate shows a really attractive texture, modest as per the vintage, but seamless, with violets, coffee bean and liquorice wrapped around a ribbon of velvety-ripe tannins, the latter aspect coming to the fore in the finish, showing its tightly knit appeal. Good cohesion here, with a welcoming if somewhat wound-up texture which holds up in the midpalate, and I can see this evolving well given time. A good value sleeper in this vintage. Tasted three times. Rating: 91-93 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

Silky and richly fruited plum colour with the edge of vibrant violet that makes you confident of its ageing potential. This is gorgeous, really captures the spirit of the vintage on the Left Bank,Silky and richly fruited plum colour with the edge of vibrant violet that makes you confident of its ageing potential. This is gorgeous, really captures the spirit of the vintage on the Left Bank, where you have a ton of ripe Cabernet that is savoury, concentrated and full of energetic cassis, sage and crayon. Brilliant. A buy. Drinking range: 2027 - 2040 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

59 Merlot, 37 Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 Petit Verdot: 13% alc: 3.6 pH: 89 IPT Madame is starting to sort herself out by gaining a newfound identity, which includes desirable traits such as pristine,59 Merlot, 37 Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 Petit Verdot: 13% alc: 3.6 pH: 89 IPT Madame is starting to sort herself out by gaining a newfound identity, which includes desirable traits such as pristine, vibrant fruit, brightness and definition and momentary hints of flamboyance that never get out of hand. Prim acidity and crisp tannins complete the picture, and by comparison to hosts of local competitors, this wine is nigh on best in show! It helps to have Ducru deportment lessons and a dedicated team of helpers. Still, this assistance would be fruitless if this wine failed to deliver, and I, for one, am happy to champion its refreshing modernity and seamless delivery. 17/20 Rating: 17 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2024)

Release date: 13/5/2024

The 2023 Mauvesin Barton shows a dark, somber character with aromas of licorice, smoke and spices. Medium-bodied, rich and firm, it's tannic and somewhat austere.The 2023 Mauvesin Barton shows a dark, somber character with aromas of licorice, smoke and spices. Medium-bodied, rich and firm, it's tannic and somewhat austere. Drinking range: 2025 - 2030 Rating: 87-88 Yohan Castaing, www.robertparker.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 7/5/2024

Ruby red, floral and savoury Cabernet Sauvignon character dominant on the attack with cassis bud, rose stem, on the edge of underipe balanced by spiced herbs and bright autumnal fruit character withRuby red, floral and savoury Cabernet Sauvignon character dominant on the attack with cassis bud, rose stem, on the edge of underipe balanced by spiced herbs and bright autumnal fruit character with fennel, marzipan, raspberry leaf, austere tannins on the finish. 40% new oak. 34hl/ha Drinking range: 2028 - 2038 Rating: 91 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 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

This shows structure and finesse with a dusty texture to the tannins. Medium- to full-bodied with plenty of dark fruit and a creamy aftertaste. A little light at the end.This shows structure and finesse with a dusty texture to the tannins. Medium- to full-bodied with plenty of dark fruit and a creamy aftertaste. A little light at the end. Rating: 89-90 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 30/4/2024

Concentrated and intense, fragrant spicy notes of green peppercorn, liqourice root, smoked earth, freshly cut herbs and black tea. Plenty of lift, a little serious and austere, but this is a wellConcentrated and intense, fragrant spicy notes of green peppercorn, liqourice root, smoked earth, freshly cut herbs and black tea. Plenty of lift, a little serious and austere, but this is a well balanced and enjoyable wine. Harvest September 18 to 29, 20% new oak for ageing. No 2nd wine of Potensac since 2021, since they pulled out more than 20ha of vines to retain only the most high quality parts of the vineyard. Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 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)