Saint Estèphe

Release date: 12/6/2024

A crunchy and velvety Tronquoy with blackberry, blackcurrant and chocolate aromas. Lots of blackcurrant, berry and cherry character on the medium-bodied palate, with solid tannins that have a powderyA crunchy and velvety Tronquoy with blackberry, blackcurrant and chocolate aromas. Lots of blackcurrant, berry and cherry character on the medium-bodied palate, with solid tannins that have a powdery texture. 51% cabernet sauvignon, 38% merlot and 11% petit verdot. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 12/6/2024

The 2023 La Dame de Montrose has a light and slightly tertiary nose, with touches of tea leaves infusing the black fruit. The palate is soft and supple on the entry, with licorice-tinged black fruitThe 2023 La Dame de Montrose has a light and slightly tertiary nose, with touches of tea leaves infusing the black fruit. The palate is soft and supple on the entry, with licorice-tinged black fruit and a rounded, cracked-black-pepper-tinged finish. There’s good body for a Deuxième Vin. This will give a decade of drinking pleasure. Drinking range: 2026 - 2037 Rating: 89-91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 12/6/2024

Gorgeously dark and vibrant fruit, with gunsmoke and campfire, concentrated cassis and blackberry pastille, grilled almond, saffron and pomegrante, luscious but measured, showing the inky characterGorgeously dark and vibrant fruit, with gunsmoke and campfire, concentrated cassis and blackberry pastille, grilled almond, saffron and pomegrante, luscious but measured, showing the inky character that seems to be at the heart of the best Cabernets of this vintage, with their ripe but not overly exuberant classicism. Organic conversion, to be certified 2025. The first vintage this 1st wine of Montrose is coming only from the section of the vineyard located on Terrace 4 of the Médoc gravel banks that line the Garonne river along the peninsula. Following soil studies from Pierre Becheler, this comprises 35% of the overall production in 2023, or 45ha of vines, and is the historic heart of the property. Pierre Grafeuille director, Vincent Decup technical director. Rating: 98 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

The 2023 Capbern is a plush, sensual wine. Juicy dark plum, spice, mocha, gravel and incense are all amplified in this racy, wonderfully inviting Saint-Estèphe. Soft, supple tannins wrap it allThe 2023 Capbern is a plush, sensual wine. Juicy dark plum, spice, mocha, gravel and incense are all amplified in this racy, wonderfully inviting Saint-Estèphe. Soft, supple tannins wrap it all together in style. Readers looking for an affordable wine to drink over the next 10-12 years will adore this. Superb. Drinking range: 2025 - 2038 Rating: 90-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

A serious Marquis with higher Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, ink, spiced plum, damson, orange peel, chocolate, cocoa bean. Slightly exuberant, silky texture, with a flash of heat. 30% new oak forA serious Marquis with higher Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, ink, spiced plum, damson, orange peel, chocolate, cocoa bean. Slightly exuberant, silky texture, with a flash of heat. 30% new oak for ageing, 3.6ph, 45hl/h yield. Drinking range: 2029 - 2040 Rating: 90 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

The 2023 Calon-Ségur is another en primeur success for this resurgent Saint-Estèphe third growth. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, wild berries and plums, it's medium toThe 2023 Calon-Ségur is another en primeur success for this resurgent Saint-Estèphe third growth. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, wild berries and plums, it's medium to full-bodied, cool and layered, with a deep and integrated core, terrific concentration, lively acids and refined structuring tannins, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. It's a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that checks in at 14% alcohol. Rating: 94-96 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/6/2024

The 2023 Phélan Ségur is a powerful, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense, licorice, dried herbs, lavender and mocha infuse the 2023 with striking complexity. Persistent saline notesThe 2023 Phélan Ségur is a powerful, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense, licorice, dried herbs, lavender and mocha infuse the 2023 with striking complexity. Persistent saline notes lend energy, dimension and shape. The Cabernet Sauvignon really screams with intensity here. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2028 - 2043 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 3/6/2024

The 2023 de Pez represents another important step for the property. The team, led by Pichon Comtesse Technical Director Nicolas Glumineau, continues to work toward a more refined style than in theThe 2023 de Pez represents another important step for the property. The team, led by Pichon Comtesse Technical Director Nicolas Glumineau, continues to work toward a more refined style than in the past. Black cherry, plum, licorice and mocha fill out the layers nicely. There's still plenty of Saint-Estèphe breadth, but these days, the tannins show greater polish. Floral overtones extend the finish. Tasted three times. Drinking range: 2027 - 2043 Rating: 90-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

The polished and creamy texture here is extremely attractive, with blueberry, blackcurrant and crushed-stone aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied with linear tannins, showing polish and finesse.The polished and creamy texture here is extremely attractive, with blueberry, blackcurrant and crushed-stone aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied with linear tannins, showing polish and finesse. Creamy mouth-feel. Second wine of Cos. 12.9% alcohol. 51% cabernet sauvignon, 45% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

The finesse is pretty phenomenal here, with such complexity of fruit and vivid, bright flowers. Lavender and rose. Seductive. Ever-so long and precise. Lead pencil and graphite. Reminiscent of old,The finesse is pretty phenomenal here, with such complexity of fruit and vivid, bright flowers. Lavender and rose. Seductive. Ever-so long and precise. Lead pencil and graphite. Reminiscent of old, great Cos, such as 1955 or 1982, but with so much more form and modernity. A renaissance of Cos. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 1% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Rating: 98-99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

A very solid Meyney with a firm tannin frame that holds the wine together. Medium body. Juicy finish.A very solid Meyney with a firm tannin frame that holds the wine together. Medium body. Juicy finish. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

A spicy and juicy red with a tight center-palate, medium body, creamy tannins and a savory finish. Vivid and focused. Shows finesse.A spicy and juicy red with a tight center-palate, medium body, creamy tannins and a savory finish. Vivid and focused. Shows finesse. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 7/5/2024

Confident colour extraction, this is dark ruby but nuanced, with vibrant reflections. After two years with Christophe Congé as director, you are starting to see more precision and focus in theConfident colour extraction, this is dark ruby but nuanced, with vibrant reflections. After two years with Christophe Congé as director, you are starting to see more precision and focus in the constructino of the wine, with blackberry and bilberry fruits set against slate and smoked earth. Balanced alcohols, firm taninins. All four varieties in the blend. Drinking range: 2027 - 2040 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 3/5/2024

There are increasingly few truly old school independent St Estèphes, making Haut-Marbuzet an outlier to celebrate. The tannic build up starts pretty quickly, as they lean into the rich but slightlyThere are increasingly few truly old school independent St Estèphes, making Haut-Marbuzet an outlier to celebrate. The tannic build up starts pretty quickly, as they lean into the rich but slightly austere tannins of the vintage, giving balance by savoury raspberry bud, fragrant tomato leaf and cassis fruits. Cocoa bean and espresso come through from the mid palate, with lift on the finish. 100% new oak for ageing, estate today run by Bruno and Hughes Duboscq, with father Henri still very much involved. Drinking range: 2027 - 2038 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 2/5/2024

Aromas of cassis, dark berries, plums and petals introduce the 2023 Le Crock, a medium to full-bodied, pure and flavorful wine with a sweet core of fruit framed by youthfully chewy tannins. It's aAromas of cassis, dark berries, plums and petals introduce the 2023 Le Crock, a medium to full-bodied, pure and flavorful wine with a sweet core of fruit framed by youthfully chewy tannins. It's a characterful wine that will reward a bit of patience. Rating: 81-89 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (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)