Médoc & Haut Médoc

Release date: 22/5/2024

Always an estate that works hard and is often a good bet across a variety of vintage conditions. It works again in 2023, prety austere right now, layers of tannic architecture along with signatureAlways an estate that works hard and is often a good bet across a variety of vintage conditions. It works again in 2023, prety austere right now, layers of tannic architecture along with signature mint leaf and cigar box. No question this will age, don't rush it, needs time to unwind, feels like an impressive Left Bank claret full of classic character, and confident tannic architecture. High propotion of Petit Verdot, 33% new oak for ageing, 38hl/ha yields, after hail on a small prt of the vineyard. Drinking range: 2026 - 2038 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 21/5/2024

Notes of dark berry and walnut here. It’s medium-bodied with a grainy texture and some good fruit at the end.Notes of dark berry and walnut here. It’s medium-bodied with a grainy texture and some good fruit at the end. Rating: 89-90 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.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

A confident start on the nose of the 2023 Sociando-Mallet, with fragrant red cherry, plum and barrel tobacco on the nose. This is followed by an elegantly silky start to the palate, showing a refinedA confident start on the nose of the 2023 Sociando-Mallet, with fragrant red cherry, plum and barrel tobacco on the nose. This is followed by an elegantly silky start to the palate, showing a refined composure through the middle, modest but attractively sinewy, with the light and powdery backbone of tannins pervading the fruit. It finishes with a little flourish of tobacco oak and powdery tannins. A nice result here, energetic and working within the confines of the vintage rather than against it. It will drink earlier than some examples of vintages of Sociando-Mallet, but should do well. Rating: 89-91 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

Chewy, juicy and mouthwatering blueberry and blackberry fruit. Clear lift through the palate, with edges of raspberry leaf and a touch of austerity on the tannins, given focus by anis and liqouriceChewy, juicy and mouthwatering blueberry and blackberry fruit. Clear lift through the palate, with edges of raspberry leaf and a touch of austerity on the tannins, given focus by anis and liqourice spice. Harvest September 8 to October 3 across all their plots. 20% new oak. Vines from Listrac (35ha), Moulis (3ha) and Haut-Médoc (10ha) as of the 2020 vintage. Drinking range: 2026 - 2036 Rating: 89-100 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.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

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

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

48 Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 Merlot, 17 Cabernet Franc Potensac has never had so much care and attention lavished on it, and with recent warmer vintages, it appears to be having a profound effect on48 Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 Merlot, 17 Cabernet Franc Potensac has never had so much care and attention lavished on it, and with recent warmer vintages, it appears to be having a profound effect on this property.  While the fruit is spectacular, the freshness and vibrancy on the finish catapult this wine up the ladder of excellence.  One might have imagined that this vintage would have made somewhat bigger, heftier wines, but the opposite is true.  There is scintillating purity here, and with an average vine age of over 55 years, there is incredible depth of fruit, too.  It feels like Potensac has made a perfect fusion of ancient and modern in 2023, and I cannot recommend it enough.  I hope the pricing is reasonable so keen collectors can add this delicious wine to their inventory! Rating: 18+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 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)

This presents a charming core of fruit, confident with red cherry, red rose petal and leather. This is followed by an elegantly polished style on the palate, the red cherry and raspberry fruits setThis presents a charming core of fruit, confident with red cherry, red rose petal and leather. This is followed by an elegantly polished style on the palate, the red cherry and raspberry fruits set in a supple and sinewy substance, which is balanced with nice acidity and a ribbon of fresh, tight tannins. This is really well composed for the vintage, and while it won’t send shivers down your spine it does at least present a coherent style, more so than many of its Haut-Médoc peers in this vintage. Rating: 87-89 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

A nicely polished red with redcurrant, blackcurrant and forest-floor character. Medium body with integrated, fine tannins and a reserved, fruity finish. Better than 2022?A nicely polished red with redcurrant, blackcurrant and forest-floor character. Medium body with integrated, fine tannins and a reserved, fruity finish. Better than 2022? Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)