Saint Julien

Release date: 6/6/2024

Vivid iris colour, floral aromatics, a little subdued on the opening notes, touches of tar, blueberry and raspberry fruits, and edges of tobacco leaf and cocoa bean, enjoyable. Harvest September 11Vivid iris colour, floral aromatics, a little subdued on the opening notes, touches of tar, blueberry and raspberry fruits, and edges of tobacco leaf and cocoa bean, enjoyable. Harvest September 11 to October 3, 15% new oak for 12 months. 42hl/h yield Rating: 90 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 6/6/2024

The 2023 Gruaud Larose is a powerhouse. Rich and ample, with striking depth, the 2023 offers notable resonance from start to finish. Black cherry, blackberry, licorice and spice fill out the layersThe 2023 Gruaud Larose is a powerhouse. Rich and ample, with striking depth, the 2023 offers notable resonance from start to finish. Black cherry, blackberry, licorice and spice fill out the layers nicely. The 2023 is a big, potent Gruaud Larose that will need a number of years to be at its best. This is a terrific example of the vintage at its finest. Drinking range: 2033 - 2063 Rating: 94-96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 3/6/2024

Bright fruits, slate tannins, peony florals, black tea, tobacco and tons of St Julien finesse. Cabernet dominant in aroamtics and fruit character, a delicious Branaire. 53hl/ha yields.Bright fruits, slate tannins, peony florals, black tea, tobacco and tons of St Julien finesse. Cabernet dominant in aroamtics and fruit character, a delicious Branaire. 53hl/ha yields. Drinking range: 2029 - 2040 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 23/5/2024

The 2023 Lagrange is bright, punchy and full of character. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, menthol, licorice and rose petal lend exuberance and freshness to this mid-weight Saint-Julien.The 2023 Lagrange is bright, punchy and full of character. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, menthol, licorice and rose petal lend exuberance and freshness to this mid-weight Saint-Julien. Readers will find a wine of total class and sophistication. In a word: terrific. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2031 - 2045 Rating: 92-95 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 23/5/2024

The second wine of Lagrange presents a nose of delicately dusty oak, with lightly dried fruits. This is followed by a rather juicy palate of red cherry and raspberry fruits, with the gentlest lick ofThe second wine of Lagrange presents a nose of delicately dusty oak, with lightly dried fruits. This is followed by a rather juicy palate of red cherry and raspberry fruits, with the gentlest lick of tannin and fresh acidity. It concludes with a touch of grip, no more than that, with a gently sappy poise. A fairly straightforward second wine, juicy and bright, and no doubt it will be ready to go on release. Rating: 86-88 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 22/5/2024

The 2023 Léoville-Poyferré is positively stellar. Medium in body, vibrant and beautifully persistent, the 2023 is all class. It also signals a shift away from the richer (but equally successful)The 2023 Léoville-Poyferré is positively stellar. Medium in body, vibrant and beautifully persistent, the 2023 is all class. It also signals a shift away from the richer (but equally successful) style favored here in the recent past, now moving toward an approach that favors more vibrancy. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, mocha and cedar infuse the 2023 with notable freshness and verve. The new Léoville-Poyferré is quite the stunner. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2028 - 2063 Rating: 95-97 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 21/5/2024

The 2023 Beychevelle is fabulous. As always, Beychevelle includes quite a bit more Merlot than most wines in the appellation, but the Cabernet is especially high here. Inky dark fruit, crème deThe 2023 Beychevelle is fabulous. As always, Beychevelle includes quite a bit more Merlot than most wines in the appellation, but the Cabernet is especially high here. Inky dark fruit, crème de cassis, mocha, licorice and lavender build in the glass. This juicy, extroverted Saint-Julien has a ton to offer. The combination of fruit intensity, acid and supporting structure is superb. The 2023 is showy, but not at all overdone. Beychevelle remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Bordeaux. It is especially classy in this edition. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2033 - 2063 Rating: 94-96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 17/5/2024

Enjoyable, well balanced, great inky depths of flavour, an enjoyable, sleek and confident St Julien, with an effortless finesse where you feel they aren't trying too hard to impress, just harnessingEnjoyable, well balanced, great inky depths of flavour, an enjoyable, sleek and confident St Julien, with an effortless finesse where you feel they aren't trying too hard to impress, just harnessing the drinkability of the vintage with its black fruit and liquorice character. Give it a few years, then sink into the pleasure of this wine. 45hl/ha yield, third year of organic conversion. Drinking range: 2029 - 2040 Rating: 95 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

Glass-staining violet. A serious Ducru, delivered with precision and balance, with plenty of concentration and a slow, long build, layered, fine and sappy tannins. Proof again that this is a greatGlass-staining violet. A serious Ducru, delivered with precision and balance, with plenty of concentration and a slow, long build, layered, fine and sappy tannins. Proof again that this is a great Cabernet year in this corner of Bordeaux, less velvet concentration than the 2022 Ducru perhaps, but more finesse and packed full of nuance, and a saline mouthwatering finish. 41hl/h yield, 100% new oak, with long seasoning of up to five years, nine different coopers. Drinking range: 2030 - 2050 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

The purity of fruit is so beautiful here with blackcurrants and violets, as well as freshly shaved lead pencil. It’s medium-bodied with refined tannins that are wonderfully polished and give plentyThe purity of fruit is so beautiful here with blackcurrants and violets, as well as freshly shaved lead pencil. It’s medium-bodied with refined tannins that are wonderfully polished and give plenty of texture. Goes on for minutes. Second wine of Ducru. 58% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 2% petit verdot. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 15/5/2024

The 2023 Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou is packed with blackberry, chocolate, licorice, cloves and menthol. A wine of substance and textural richness, Le Petit Ducru shows the more opulent sideThe 2023 Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou is packed with blackberry, chocolate, licorice, cloves and menthol. A wine of substance and textural richness, Le Petit Ducru shows the more opulent side of a year marked with late-season heat, also revealing some stylistic choices by way of its bombastic personality. This Saint-Julien is certainly not shy. Drinking range: 2025 - 2035 Rating: 89-91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

Release date: 14/5/2024

Love this inky depths of the plummy fruits and deep rich chcolate notes, great quality with depths and balance. Last year of organic conversion.Love this inky depths of the plummy fruits and deep rich chcolate notes, great quality with depths and balance. Last year of organic conversion. Drinking range: 2029 - 2040 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 13/5/2024

Step into the heart of what St Julien does best here, firm and muscular but thoroughly juicy tannins, concentrated blackberry and cassis fruits that are mature but full of finesse, with just theStep into the heart of what St Julien does best here, firm and muscular but thoroughly juicy tannins, concentrated blackberry and cassis fruits that are mature but full of finesse, with just the right amount of precision and tension. This is a wine where a single glass will not be enough, and reminds you that in 2022 the wines were exceptional but atypical for many Bordeaux lovers. Here you get an understated gloriously drinkable St Julien from long-term owners the Barton family that will go the distance. 60% new oak for ageing. Drinking range: 2033 - 2048 Rating: 97 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

Release date: 13/5/2024

The 2023 Langoa Barton is a very accomplished wine, the family's new winery having permitted more precise, parcel-by-parcel winemaking as well as gentler handling of the fruit to deliver a wine withThe 2023 Langoa Barton is a very accomplished wine, the family's new winery having permitted more precise, parcel-by-parcel winemaking as well as gentler handling of the fruit to deliver a wine with all this estate's customary intensity of flavor but more polish and refinement. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis and plums mingled with hints of pencil shavings and dried rose petals, it's medium to full-bodied, with an inky core of fruit, vibrant acids and plenty of suave structuring tannin. This classic blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc is sure to number among the intelligent purchases of the en primeur campaign. Rating: 93-95 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/5/2024

The second wine of Talbot presents a nose of crystalline red cherry and raspberry, pomegranate and currant leaf. This light and herby nose is matched by a palate showing a sweet and herby core ofThe second wine of Talbot presents a nose of crystalline red cherry and raspberry, pomegranate and currant leaf. This light and herby nose is matched by a palate showing a sweet and herby core of redcurrant and red cherry fruits, and a lick of leather, with softly extracted and powdery tannins adding a light touch of grip, before it all fades away very quickly in the finish. A rather light and herby second wine which will make unfussy drinking. Rating: 86-88 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 3/5/2024

Jean-Michel Laporte has tweaked the blend this year to give the best vintage expression he could - with about half the usual Petit Verdot quota and Chateau Talbot's highest ever amount of CabernetJean-Michel Laporte has tweaked the blend this year to give the best vintage expression he could - with about half the usual Petit Verdot quota and Chateau Talbot's highest ever amount of Cabernet Sauvignon making up 77% of the blend. This makes perfect sense when you taste, as the Cabernet is just of such a high quality. This is super, with a classic feel and fresh impact early on. Crunch to the dark berries and then a supple depth in the mid-palate where the fruit becomes brighter and more red-centric, with violets and a fresh minty herb note. Really elegant yet - satisfyingly dense feel to the middle. The lovely poised fruit is firm and deep. Lively too with a juicy fresh line to the finish. 13% alcohol. Jean-Michel has really found his stride here now and this Talbot is a great testament to that and a reminder of why the estate's reputation is so strong. A wine that should be in your cellar. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.L&S (Apr 2024)

Release date: 2/5/2024

The 2023 Moulin Riche has a more intense nose than the Le Crock and the Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré, with black cherries commingling with iodine and subtle marine scents. The palate is wellThe 2023 Moulin Riche has a more intense nose than the Le Crock and the Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré, with black cherries commingling with iodine and subtle marine scents. The palate is well structured with fine backbone, displaying very pure black plum and raspberry fruit laced with white pepper. I think this will be open for business soon after bottling, but it has the substance to give a decade or more of drinking pleasure. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 30/4/2024

This offers beautiful blackcurrants and blackberries with hints of chocolate and walnuts. Medium- to full-bodied with vivid acidity that adds tension and freshness to the mid-palate. It’s full ofThis offers beautiful blackcurrants and blackberries with hints of chocolate and walnuts. Medium- to full-bodied with vivid acidity that adds tension and freshness to the mid-palate. It’s full of life and vibrancy, very fine and polished, and with nicely integrated tannins. Long finish. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 9% cabernet franc. What will be better between 2022 and 2023? Rating: 95-96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)

Release date: 30/4/2024

The 2023 Léoville Las-Cases was picked from September 9 to October 2 at 43hL/ha and matured in 80% new oak barrels. This has a very precise bouquet, and, like the Clos du Marquis, it is imbued withThe 2023 Léoville Las-Cases was picked from September 9 to October 2 at 43hL/ha and matured in 80% new oak barrels. This has a very precise bouquet, and, like the Clos du Marquis, it is imbued with an attractive estuarine element—aromatics that transport the imbiber to the banks of the Gironde. The oak is neatly integrated; 80% is much more optimal than 100% would have been. The palate is lightly spiced on the entry, moderately deep and quite lively on the mid-palate. This is a more linear Las-Cases than recent vintages, conveying a sense of "seriousness" toward the almost saturnine finish. Impressive in terms of persistence, this is a worthy follow-up to the magnificent 2022, but it will demand patience. Drinking range: 2030 - 2065 Rating: 95-97 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)