Saint Estèphe

Release date: 12/6/2024

Medium to full intensity ruby plum colour, higher Petit Verdot than usual in the blend, and it comes through in sappy, lively black pepper spice and dark fruit character, good quality, a littleMedium to full intensity ruby plum colour, higher Petit Verdot than usual in the blend, and it comes through in sappy, lively black pepper spice and dark fruit character, good quality, a little austere. In organic conversion, to be certified 2024. Harvest September 6 to 26. Drinking range: 2026 - 2036 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 12/6/2024

Silky tannins with grip and intensity, a lovely balance of texture and fresh acidities. Slate and pummice stone grip, this is delicious, with appellation typicity in its powerful black fruits, butSilky tannins with grip and intensity, a lovely balance of texture and fresh acidities. Slate and pummice stone grip, this is delicious, with appellation typicity in its powerful black fruits, but measured with a saline kick on the finish. In organic conversion, to be certified 2025. Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 12/6/2024

The 2023 Montrose is another brilliant wine from an estate that's now routinely among Bordeaux's very best, year in, year out. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc,The 2023 Montrose is another brilliant wine from an estate that's now routinely among Bordeaux's very best, year in, year out. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, derived exclusively from the estate's historic core on the fourth terrace situated just in front of the château itself, it unwinds in the glass with aromas of cassis and wild berries mingled with notions of lilac, violet and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack that segues into a dense, multidimensional mid-palate framed by beautifully ripe tannins and lively acids, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. It will be worth a special effort to seek out. Rating: 97-100 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

There is clarity and freshness to this, with crunchy dark fruit, cedar and blackberry. It’s medium-bodied, racy and fine. Lead pencil at the end. More precise than 2022. 69% cabernet sauvignon, 29%There is clarity and freshness to this, with crunchy dark fruit, cedar and blackberry. It’s medium-bodied, racy and fine. Lead pencil at the end. More precise than 2022. 69% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 1% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

The second wine of Calon is 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% each Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, and the picking began September 6th for the Merlot, finishing the 20th, the Cabernets beganThe second wine of Calon is 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% each Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, and the picking began September 6th for the Merlot, finishing the 20th, the Cabernets began on the 28th, finishing the 30th. Dusty dried plum and cherry blossom on the nose, with a hint of orange peel. A rather open, juicy and loose character at the start of the palate, with a slowly building powdery grip of tannins, and strident acidity. This feels a little less finessed than its stablemate Capbern, in terms of balance and texture at least, although the tannins are nicely managed and give a fine, polished grip beneath the light blanket of fruit. Naturally, this grip persists more than any other feature in the length. The alcohol is about 14.6%. Rating: 89-91 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

Precise and confident texture to this wine, has higher levels of both Cabernets in 2023 than in 2022, having reached exceptional maturity, and personally I feel that have recaptured the heart andPrecise and confident texture to this wine, has higher levels of both Cabernets in 2023 than in 2022, having reached exceptional maturity, and personally I feel that have recaptured the heart and spirit of Calon. Skilfully made, love the violet peony savoury character, it's sappy and has liqourice root and squid ink salinity, along with tons of cassis and cigar box. The blend for this was built on Cabernet, and you can feel it. My favourite Calon since the 2020 vintage, hands down. 100% new oak, director Vincent Millet. Drinking range: 2032 - 2050 Rating: 97 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 3/6/2024

The polish and intensity of this wine is beautiful for the vintage, with blackcurrant, lead pencil and light chocolate character. It’s medium- to full-bodied with well-integrated fruit and tannins,The polish and intensity of this wine is beautiful for the vintage, with blackcurrant, lead pencil and light chocolate character. It’s medium- to full-bodied with well-integrated fruit and tannins, and a long finish. Velvet texture. Excellent potential. Fermented from selected yeast from the various parcels. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 1.5% petit verdot, and 1.5% cabernet franc. Let’s see which is better in the end, 2022 or 2023. Rating: 96-97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/6/2024

A beautiful Pez with a solid core of fruit and creamy, refined tannins. It’s complex with plenty of blackcurrant, graphite, lead-pencil and nutmeg flavors. Linear and polished texture. Very preciseA beautiful Pez with a solid core of fruit and creamy, refined tannins. It’s complex with plenty of blackcurrant, graphite, lead-pencil and nutmeg flavors. Linear and polished texture. Very precise and defined. Better than 2022. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

The 2023 Les Pagodes de Cos makes a strong statement out of the gate. A blast of intense dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol, game, licorice, dried herbs and chocolate infuses the palate withThe 2023 Les Pagodes de Cos makes a strong statement out of the gate. A blast of intense dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol, game, licorice, dried herbs and chocolate infuses the palate with remarkable textural intensity. Ample and resonant in the glass, with fabulous balance, Les Pagodes is exceptionally fine in 2023. The long, sustained finish is a thing of beauty. Drinking range: 2027 - 2043 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

The 2023 Cos d’Estournel is fabulous. Dark, resonant and inviting, the 2023 has so much to offer. All the elements are beautifully woven together. Black cherry, plum, licorice, espresso, mocha andThe 2023 Cos d’Estournel is fabulous. Dark, resonant and inviting, the 2023 has so much to offer. All the elements are beautifully woven together. Black cherry, plum, licorice, espresso, mocha and incense fill out the layers. Readers will find a Cos endowed with tremendous substance and intensity. I can't remember a young Cos with this much fruit concentration, yet there is nothing overdone here. I loved it. Drinking range: 2033 - 2063 Rating: 96-98 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

The 2023 Meyney is terrific. Silky and polished, the 2023 shows a side of Meyney I have not seen before. There's also terrific freshness and overall brightness. Dark red plum, blood orange, chalk,The 2023 Meyney is terrific. Silky and polished, the 2023 shows a side of Meyney I have not seen before. There's also terrific freshness and overall brightness. Dark red plum, blood orange, chalk, mint and dried herbs are all beautifully delineated. More than anything else, I admire the wine's poise. Drinking range: 2027 - 2043 Rating: 91-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

The 2023 Ormes de Pez is a powerful, bold Saint-Estèphe. Black cherry, gravel, incense, chocolate, tobacco, licorice and cured meat infuse the 2023 with tons of Saint-Estèphe personality. Burly andThe 2023 Ormes de Pez is a powerful, bold Saint-Estèphe. Black cherry, gravel, incense, chocolate, tobacco, licorice and cured meat infuse the 2023 with tons of Saint-Estèphe personality. Burly and rustic, in a good sense, the 2023 has tons of character. The Merlots feel pretty ripe and exuberant in this sample. Drinking range: 2027 - 2038 Rating: 91-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 7/5/2024

Generous and layered, the 2023 Lafon-Rochet offers up aromas of blackberries, cassis, incense and burning embers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and enveloping palate that's gourmand andGenerous and layered, the 2023 Lafon-Rochet offers up aromas of blackberries, cassis, incense and burning embers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and enveloping palate that's gourmand and charming, concluding with a gently minty finish. Like the 2023, this represents a richer, more demonstrative style for this Saint-Estèphe property, where Christophe Congé and his team are rehabilitating the vineyards. Rating: 91-93 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/5/2024

This is super-refined and polished with a lot of depth and richness, offering a mix of blueberry and deep dark chocolate that adds up to its captivating character. It shows impressive intensity andThis is super-refined and polished with a lot of depth and richness, offering a mix of blueberry and deep dark chocolate that adds up to its captivating character. It shows impressive intensity and length, achieving a harmony that is both beautiful and elegant. The tannins are already well integrated. Long finish. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 2/5/2024

A structured and focused red with good volume and concentration to its fruit. Medium-bodied with firm but well-integrated tannins that form the backbone of the wine. It’s layered and complex withA structured and focused red with good volume and concentration to its fruit. Medium-bodied with firm but well-integrated tannins that form the backbone of the wine. It’s layered and complex with impressive length. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 29/4/2024

2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the Lorenzetti family's first move into the Medoc. Now owners of Pedesclaux, Lafon Rochet and a considerable stake in Chateau d'Issan, Lilian Ladouys may no longer2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the Lorenzetti family's first move into the Medoc. Now owners of Pedesclaux, Lafon Rochet and a considerable stake in Chateau d'Issan, Lilian Ladouys may no longer be there most prestigious estate but it is certainly a real passion project. Run by Manon Lorenzetti, with help from Pedesclaux's winemaker Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen - this estate gets better every year. Now into their third year of organic conversion and benefitting in 2023 from having more parcels on-stream - they have made a beauty. There's a sophisticated and classic Saint Estephe freshness to the crunchy black fruit. For the first time ever Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead on the blend with 57% only reinforcing the upright, pure feel. This has great lines a delicious, ripe mid-palate and all the finesse you could ask for in Saint Estephe. Proper Bordeaux and so well priced. At 12.9% it really does feel like a very classic Claret. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet franc L&S (Apr 2024)