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

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

The 2023 Chasse-Spleen is a very pretty, aromatic Moulis. Crushed flowers, sweet red-toned fruit, chalk, mint and white pepper are all nicely lifted in this mid-weight offering Bright acids lendThe 2023 Chasse-Spleen is a very pretty, aromatic Moulis. Crushed flowers, sweet red-toned fruit, chalk, mint and white pepper are all nicely lifted in this mid-weight offering Bright acids lend freshness to play off the mid-weight structure. Drinking range: 2027 - 2038 Rating: 89-91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.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

Soft but plentiful tannins from the first moment, this is lovely, with a real sense of grip and life, rises gently through the palate, touches of tomato leaf and liqourice root coupled with rubySoft but plentiful tannins from the first moment, this is lovely, with a real sense of grip and life, rises gently through the palate, touches of tomato leaf and liqourice root coupled with ruby brambled fruit and an overall sense of balance and cheer, Haut Medoc typicity, austere tannins on the finish, but in a way that suggests ability to age, and an ability to bring you out of the glass and into the place and the terroir. Nancy Bignon Cordier, also owner of Château Talbot in St Julien. A value, one to look out for. Drinking range: 2026 - 2038 Rating: 92-100 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 30/4/2024

The 2023 Potensac has a well-defined nose: predominantly black fruit, with touches of seaweed in the background. I warm to it more with acquaintance, and it gradually coheres. The palate isThe 2023 Potensac has a well-defined nose: predominantly black fruit, with touches of seaweed in the background. I warm to it more with acquaintance, and it gradually coheres. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and a fine line of acidity. Silky-smooth in texture, you can tell that there is some quality new oak on the finish, which is simpatico with the fruit. It's a good, solid Potensac that will require three or four years in bottle. Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)

The first Bordeaux estate to be bought by Treasury Wine Estates, now only produced in much smaller quanties as they used most of the vines in other wines. It's good quality, with cheerful and wellThe first Bordeaux estate to be bought by Treasury Wine Estates, now only produced in much smaller quanties as they used most of the vines in other wines. It's good quality, with cheerful and well balanced red fruits, fresh acidities, easy going. My suggestion is to look to the excellent Lanessan in this vintage, also in the same group. Drinking range: 2026 - 2036 Rating: 88 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 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)