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

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

The blend in 2023 is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, with a big focus on the parcels on terrace four, the historic Montrose vineyard, which were picked from September 5th,The blend in 2023 is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, with a big focus on the parcels on terrace four, the historic Montrose vineyard, which were picked from September 5th, finishing the 28th. This takes 35% of the crop in this vintage. I don’t normally comment on colour, but this has a striking black tulip hue (a British Leyland colour from the 1960s – it looks great on an MGB too) which certainly inspires interest. And the nose is just mind-blowing, blackcurrants, black olives, black cherries, currants but also white peach, charcoal and white freesia. This starts with a superb softly polished entry, with a confident medium-bodied texture through the middle, no falling away of substance here, with the same dark and floral fruits layered with a little toast, and supported by a rich and tightly knit core of tobacco-infused tannins. This is just super, and it concludes with a harmonious finish, with dark fruit and polished tannin working together. A stunning Montrose, fresh but with balanced rather than overly prominent acidity. Top work! The alcohol here is 13.6%. Rating: 97-100 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

The blend here is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 1% each Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, a little more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, because the Cabernet Sauvignon was of high quality. AlsoThe blend here is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 1% each Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, a little more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, because the Cabernet Sauvignon was of high quality. Also the yields were good, at 45 hl/ha. The picking began September 6th for the Merlot, finishing the 20th, the Cabernets began on the 28th, finishing the 30th, the same as the Calon wines. Sweet and perfumed Cabernet flowers on the nose, a more confident expression than Vincent Millet’s right-bank wines (such as Le Prieuré), with gorse flowers and violets. A modest texture at the start, very controlled through the middle, with well knit and clearly ripe tannins, nicely polished, with a gentle and rather powdery body of fruit, and supremely fresh acidity. Pure, finessed and elegant, this is a very nice example of Capbern this year. The alcohol is about 14.6%. Rating: 90-92 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

The 2023 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur is a blend of 50% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, incorporating the estate's finest Merlot plots that generallyThe 2023 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur is a blend of 50% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, incorporating the estate's finest Merlot plots that generally go into the grand vin but which didn't match with Calon's best Cabernet Sauvignon lots this year. Offering up aromas of cassis, plums, burning embers and spices, framed by a deft touch of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and structured, with impressive density and muscle, built for the cellar. Rating: 91-93 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (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 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

In 2022 this was one of the real values of the vintage, and it has hit it out of the park again in 2023. More austerity to the tannins than it showed last year, but with greater verve and balance,In 2022 this was one of the real values of the vintage, and it has hit it out of the park again in 2023. More austerity to the tannins than it showed last year, but with greater verve and balance, and juicy depths to the blueberry, cassis and raspberry fruits, wrapped in tannins that offer support but don't get in the way of drinkabilty. Owned by the Champagne house Louis Roederer since 1995. 50% new oak for ageing, with time in oak extended again as in 2022. 3.6ph. Drinking range: 2026 - 2038 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 16/5/2024

Vivid ruby colour, reserved aromatics, well balanced, chalky slightly austere tannins, less exuberant than the 2022 vintage, while still delivering seductive and highly spiced black cherry and cassisVivid ruby colour, reserved aromatics, well balanced, chalky slightly austere tannins, less exuberant than the 2022 vintage, while still delivering seductive and highly spiced black cherry and cassis fruits, showcasing the potential of St Estèphe in the vintage. Harvest September 12 to 29, 20% new oak. In organic conversion. Drinking range: 2027 - 2038 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 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

The 2023 Meyney is surprisingly backward on the nose with blackberry, kirsch, touches of black pepper and loamy aromas. It remains understated in the glass yet gains purity. The palate isThe 2023 Meyney is surprisingly backward on the nose with blackberry, kirsch, touches of black pepper and loamy aromas. It remains understated in the glass yet gains purity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Maybe a little conservative in style, it stays within the confines of the vintage yet feels harmonious. What is missing is just a bit of grip and density on the finish. Fine. Drinking range: 2027 - 2039 Rating: 89-91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

Aromas of dark berries, cassis and creamy new oak introduce the 2023 Ormes de Pez, a medium-bodied, rich and creamy wine with a lively core of fruit and sweet structuring tannins. At 55%, MerlotAromas of dark berries, cassis and creamy new oak introduce the 2023 Ormes de Pez, a medium-bodied, rich and creamy wine with a lively core of fruit and sweet structuring tannins. At 55%, Merlot dominates the blend. Rating: 90-91 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)

Release date: 7/5/2024

The grand vin is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the latter components each from one dedicated parcel. This takes 55% of the crop. Much more crimson andThe grand vin is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the latter components each from one dedicated parcel. This takes 55% of the crop. Much more crimson and more aromatic than the second wine, this presents sweet fruit on the nose, with currant, sweet cranberry, rose and toast cedar. The palate is medium-bodied, with a wholesome texture running through the middle of the wine, with a nice persistence in the midpalate, supported by a firm grip of polished and integrated tannins. The fruit stands up the structure here much more convincingly than in the second wine, and there is fresh acidity too. These tannins, ripe as they are, will demand a long sleep in the cellar though. One to revisit after the élevage. The alcohol is 13.35% here. Rating: 91-93 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/5/2024

The 2023 Haut-Marbuzet is terrific. Dark, vibrant and quite virile in its expression, the 2023 Haut-Marbuzet has so much to offer. Plum, blood orange, pomegranate, spice and new leather are some ofThe 2023 Haut-Marbuzet is terrific. Dark, vibrant and quite virile in its expression, the 2023 Haut-Marbuzet has so much to offer. Plum, blood orange, pomegranate, spice and new leather are some of the notes that leap from the glass. Today, the 2023 is quite primary in its intensity, yet all the elements are very nicely balanced. This is a fine showing. Drinking range: 2028 - 2043 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 2/5/2024

The 2023 Le Crock is a very pretty and expressive Saint-Estèphe. Dried herbs, licorice, tobacco, cedar and scorched earth lend tons of aromatic nuance to play off the wine's mid-weight personality.The 2023 Le Crock is a very pretty and expressive Saint-Estèphe. Dried herbs, licorice, tobacco, cedar and scorched earth lend tons of aromatic nuance to play off the wine's mid-weight personality. Understated and classy, the 2023 is quite expressive in this tasting. There's also a compelling new sense of freshness and nuance here. Bright saline notes linger on the precise finish. Drinking range: 2028 - 2043 Rating: 90-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 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)