CHÂTEAU MEYNEY

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)

The 2023 barrel sample from Meyney offers up a nose of sweet red fruits, with a smoky and leafy overlay, pressed red cherry with notes of blackcurrant leaf and menthol. The palate is a curious combination of pressed berries, sweet plum and most prominently an over-confident wrapping of oaky lactones, which give the palate a spirity feel. Rather sappy and dense on the palate, with creamed fruit and a rich wrapping of oak, all underpinned by finely grained and tight-knit tannins, this is a rather sappy and modest Meyney which does not seem to echo the estate’s successes in some other recent vintages. One to revisit after the élevage perhaps. Rating: 88-90 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 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 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)