1. Our Exceptional Bordeaux Primeurs from Vintage 2023

2023 A Year of Promise, The Opportunities for Quality

As we indicate in our review of the effect of 2023 weather on the vineyards and grapes, hail and mildew played the greatest role in determining the quality of the vintage. The outstanding quality of many of the wines reflects the excellence of the work in the vineyard. As it turns out Powdery Mildew and Hail are both at random destroyers of vines and fruit. Neither has a favorite grape variety to destroy, As is always the case, domains had to be creative to assemble the best and most delicious wine possible from the fruit they harvested.

If there were slow or non-existent responses to either the hail or mildew, then the loss of grapes and vines added to the diminished quality and quantity of fruit.  The ability of each individual producer to protect their crops and to successfully adjust their assemblage when needed, determined the quality of the final wine. Certainly, those producers who did not suffer losses due to powdery mildew and hail were able to continue their work on the vintage the same as always and without any concerns.

Merlot plays a greater role

Due to many reasons, Merlot plays a greater role in the wines of the Right Bank, and Cabernet Sauvignon plays a greater role in the wines of the Left Bank. In our tastings and from the results, we found that poor quality  wines and high quality wines are not concentrated in any specific AOC. After our tasting of close to 600 wines it is obvious to us that the success of the 2023 vintage rests in the hands of the farmers and vineyard managers who protected their vineyards and vines against great danger and potential disaster.

Left Bank and Right Bank production

The wines included on our list of exceptional wines are divided equally among Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominance and Left Bank and Right Bank production. So, we will not recommend for or against any AOC. We would recommend reading through all the tasting notes available to you on the 2023 vintage and make any decisions based on that research. Quality, as well as inferiority, were spread evenly throughout the vineyards of Bordeaux in 2023.

Our Dry White Wines tastings 

2023 Château Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan – Grand Cru Classé de Graves     100/100

58.1 %Sauvignon Blanc, 41.9% Sémillon

 

 

 

 

 

A brilliant crystalline wine with a pale robe and green reflections. The nose is very clean and intense with a refined complex of citrus fruit backed with a subtle grassiness. The palate starts with a rich tropical fruit and a hint of bonbon fruitiness that reveals the complexities of freshly mowed grass. The wine is tactile enveloping the palate revealing fermentation notes of yeast and lees. The palate middle is powerful, rich, and perfectly balanced arriving at an enchanting finish that never ends.

The very first 100/100 for Maitre de Cave team !

 

2023 Château Carbonnieux Blanc, Pessac-Léognan – Grand Cru Classé de Graves     97/100

65% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Sémillon

A brilliant straw robe displays a greenish hue with silvery yellow reflections. The intense nose is youthful with great freshness displaying tropical notes with lemon and lime notes and superb minerality. The palate continues the freshness with notes of jasmine and white peach and a concentration of minerality on the long well balanced finish. It is a gourmet white Carbonnieux faithful to the quality of the Châteaux.

2023 Château de Fieuzal Blanc, Pessac-Léognan     96/100

60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sémillon

A brilliant appearance displays a rich straw robe with subtle green reflections. The nose is rich with white flowers warmed by the morning sun showing expressive aromas of white peach and pear hints of honey. The lovely fresh attack filled with notes of citron. The wine is pleasant and delicious on the central palate with a long, fresh finish. The wine is well made and an excellent representative of Pessac-Léognan whites.

2023 Château La Louvière Blanc, Pessac-Léognan     96/100

100% Sauvignon Blanc

The wine wears a pale straw robe showing brilliant silver reflections. The nose expresses a beautiful lemon freshness with hints of aromatic white flowers. The palate is crisp, clean, and refreshing with a fruit and mineral rich center that maintains its intensity through the delicious finish. This is a well-made wine that has some aging potential that is currently delicious and drinkable.

2023 Château Latour-Martillac Blanc, Pessac-Léognan – Grand Cru Classé de Graves     96/100

60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sémillon

The appearance is brilliant with a pale robe and silver reflections. The nose is delicate and floral with a lovely freshness and hints of aromatic herbs. The palate is full bodied and lively with an excellent freshness that lasts and lasts. A truly superb wine.

2023 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan     96/100

65.3% Sauvignon Blanc, 34.7% Sémillon

The brilliant appearance shows a straw robe with a green hue and silver nuances. The nose is refined and powerful with aromas of exotic fruit, citrus, with whispers of grapefruit thiols. The palate is round, rich, and full with an elegant texture. It is long, perfectly balanced with a refreshing citrus character.

2023 Château Reynon Blanc, Bordeaux     96/100

100% Sauvignon Blanc

The appearance is brilliant with beautiful green reflections that augment the pale yellow robe. The refreshing nose has the expressive, aromatic characteristics typical of Sauvignon Blanc. The palate is clean and direct with a handsome and expressive fruit, rich with the expressive freshness of Sauvignon. The wine has great quality and is truly quaffable.

Sweet White Wines tastings

2023 Château Suduiraut, Preignac, Sauternes – Premier Cru Classé     97/100

100% Sémillon

This Sauternes is vividly brilliant and crystalline with an intense, deep gold robe with yellow reflections. The nose is rich and intense, filled with apricot and honey with a soft oakiness that focuses the richness. The palatal priority is freshness maintaining its long and syrupy richness of apricots and medjool dates bathed in All Flower honey. The wine is intense and rich without being to sweet.

The exceptional Red Wines of Maitre de Cave

2023 Château Bélair-Monange, Saint-Émilion – Premier Grand Cru Classé B     99/100

100% Merlot

Brilliant and crystalline, the appearance has a bold purple robe with violet hues.

The aromas are intense and expressive, yet shy, revealing their sophistication and complexity one note at a time. It was a concerto of concentrated red and black fruit overlayed with sweet baking spice and discreetly toasted oak.

With similar beauty and complexity, the palate is wondrously fresh with an intense, absolutely elegant blend of black fruit, spice, and oak expertly mixed. This is a wine that is truly long and extremely well-balanced with an abundance of elegance and sophistication.

 

One of the finest wines we have ever tasted.

 

 

 

2023 Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan – Grand Cru Classé – Premier Grand Cru Classé     99/100

38.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 52.3% Merlot, 9.1% Cabernet Franc

The brilliant and crystalline appearance highlights a pretty, medium intensity purple robe. The nose commences with a powerful expression of ripe blackberries and black cherries. Nuances of baking spice and sweet, well matured oak follow and give structure to the aromas. A dusting of powdered, dried thyme and a dash of crushed green peppercorn season the mixture. The palate is filled with the freshness of black and red fruit. The finish is long and balanced with carefully blended oak that gives a soft tannin structure, silky feel, and sophisticated elegance. This is one of the finest wines we have ever tasted.

2023 Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan – Grand Cru Classé de Graves     98/100

29.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 52.7% Merlot, 17.7% Cabernet Franc

The brilliant appearance intensifies into an eggplant robe deepening to a black center. The very intense nose exudes ripe, crushed blackberries and black cherries. Sweet baking spice and high toast oak with a touch of green peppercorn and garrigue add complexity and intensity to the charming and delicious concentrated fruit. The exciting nose is surpassed by the elegance of the palate. Complex and long, the palate is an exemplary expression of sweetness, wood, and fresh fruit. The fruit balances well with the soft, silky tannins. The finish is long and well balanced. This is a superb wine that will cellar well and already offers a sophisticated drinkability.

2023 Château Palmer, Margaux – Grand Cru Classé – Troisième Cru     98/100

46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot

The brilliant and crystalline aspect tends toward a purple robe with a black center and black cherry reflections: a very dark Margaux.

The expressive nose displays blackberry and black cherry with nuances of sweet baking spice and dried thyme. There is a hint of earthiness and minerality that completes the aromas.

The palate is intense and filled with velvety, soft tannins, sweet spices, and well-charred oak. The wine finishes long and well balanced with a concentrated black fruit finish. This wine is intense with a delicious sophistication.

It was a pleasure to taste the Palmer again.

 

 

 

2023 Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac – Grand Cru Classé – Cinquième Cru     98/100

52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

The aspect is brilliant and crystalline with an intense purple robe. The powerful nose, fresh and aromatic, overwhelms the senses with crushed, fresh blackberries, black cherries, and blueberries. The black fruit has a dusting of dried herbs, a pinch of pepper, and elegantly toasted sweet oak. The palate is equally complex and powerful, displaying a harmonious blend of intense black fruit and the nuance of spices and herbs. Soft tannins and complex, sweet oak emphasize the beauty of the wine. Château Pontet-Canet and its wines are clearly the consequence of an intense love for beautiful and delicious wine.

2023 Château TrotteVieille, Saint-Émilion – Premier Grand Cru Classé B     98/100

3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 53% Cabernet Franc

The aspect has a sparkling brilliance that emits a lovely violet glow with touches of deep purple in the center. The nose is powerful yet charming with a floral concentration filled with violets. The aromatics build to a crescendo of black cherry, crushed green peppercorns, herbes de Provence, and sweet, long-toasted oak. The palate is robust and focuses on black and red cherries with nuances of pomegranate and red currants. Delicate spice and aromatic herbs focus the palate on the wine’s freshness, complexity, and well balanced, long finish. The oak is delicately present adding a touch of structure. This is a subtle, nuanced wine with elegance and a wonderful balance that guarantees a long life.

2023 Château Calon Ségur, Saint-Estèphe, – Grand Cru Classé – Troisième Cru     97/100

72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

The intense aspect displays a violet robe with a purple hue and an eggplant center.

The fresh fruit aromas thicken to a deeper, elegant, blackberry and black cherry nose rich with baking spice and richly toasted oak.

The palate commences with soft, textured tannins, and a bold attack of blackberry fruit. The intense middle palate continues through to the long well balanced finish.

The wine maintains a pleasing freshness with touches of minerality and a nice tension. Cellar this wine for years, or, with a good decanting it drinks well today.

 

2023 Château Cheval Blanc, Saint-Émilion – Premier Grand Cru Classé A     97/100

2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 52% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc

The brilliant aspect highlights a lovely eggplant robe that intensifies to a black center. Cherry reflections shine through the intensity. The nose is intense and aromatic with lively fresh blackberry and black cherry filling the nose. Touches of dried thyme and freshly crushed green peppercorns enhance the rich fruit. A prominent background of well toasted oak sustains the complexities. The palate exudes black fruit with a nice spiciness and a complex of bramble, garrigue, and dried marjoram. The finish is long and complex with the fruit and oak containing the richness of the tannins. Pure elegance.

2023 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien – Grand Cru Classé – Deuxième Cru     97/100

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot

The brilliant crystalline aspect shows an intense purple robe with soft violet hues. The nose is rich and fresh with essences of red rose petals, intense blackberry, and subtle baking spice. The attack is complex, opening with elegant, well toasted oak that underscores the fresh notes of the blackberries and black cherries and enriches the toasted spice and dried herb savor. Continuity throughout the middle palate arrives at a long fruit filled finish displaying mellow, rich oak, textured, supple tannins, and offering a superb balance of freshness and elegance. This is an exemplary Ducru-Beaucaillou.

2023 Château Fonbadet, Pauillac     97/100

88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot

The brilliant aspect shows an intense purple robe darkening to a black center. The nose is similarly intense displaying blackberry and black cherry with richly toasted, well-seasoned oak, and aromatic complexities of the garrigue. The palate is filled with savory black fruit and baking spice with a solid background of aromatic oak. The wine finishes with a long and beautiful balance with rich tannins that layer the palate with soft velvet texture. This is a truly intense wine with sophistication and elegance and a tremendous potential for aging in the cellar.

2023 Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac – Grand Cru Classé – Cinquième Cru     97/100

71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot

The aspect is brilliant and intense, displaying a black robe with a purple hue. The nose is aromatic and also intense with freshly crushed blackberries and red cherries with hints of clove and nutmeg seasoned Santa Rosa plum jam. The palate is vivid and refreshing with abundant red cherry and blackberry that fills the palate through the long, balanced finish. Firm, textured tannins work with the rich sweet oak to build a well-structured wine. This is firm wine that has elegance, but it needs a short cellaring to become its best.

2023 Château Margaux, Margaux – Grand Cru Classé – Premier Grand Cru Classé      97/100

89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot

The aspect is brilliant and with an intense purple robe displaying ruby reflections. The nose is complex with rose petal essences deepening to intense ripe blackberry and splashes of raspberry and pomegranate. Baking spice and sweet, well toasted oak contribute lovely aromatics. Well textured tannins focus the attack on the intense, black fruit culminating in a long, balanced finish, rich in charred oak and inviting clove and nutmeg. This is a classic Margaux beautifully structured with exemplary elegance.

2023 Château Pavie, Saint-Émilion – Premier Grand Cru Classé A     97/100

17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 51% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc

The wine is very brilliant with an eggplant robe and nuances of violet. The nose displays intense blackberry and cassis with nuances of cherry and expressions of aromatic thyme and sweet baking spice. The palate shows powerful fruit reinforced by a solid structure of expressive tannins and well charred oak. The harmony of expression finishes the palate with a remarkable balance and incredible length. This vintage is a wonderful expression of Pavie.

2023 Château Phelan Ségur, Saint-Estèphe     97/100

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot

 

 

The wine is brilliant and deep with an eggplant robe and a purple hue.

The nose is filled with powdery bramble and intense blackberry and black cherry with a touch of black tea and sweet well toasted oak.

The robust palate has a wonderful balance, freshness, and smooth, silky tannins. The wine has beautiful length finishing with blackberry, red cherry, and red plum.

This is truly seductive for a wine with so much Cabernet Sauvignon.

It has power and nuance.

 

 

 

 

2023 Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estèphe – Grand Cru Classé – Deuxième Cru     97/100

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

The aspect is brilliant and elegant displaying an intense violet robe with a purple hue and flashing cherry reflections. The nose is fresh and promising with intense blackberries and red cherries. Dried herbs and green peppercorn contribute aromatic qualities that augment the freshness. The palate is filled with blackberry and black cherry. A delicious spiciness enriched with dried herbs adds complexity to the fruit intensity. Excellent balance reveals a firm structure, elegant, textured tannins, and a long delicious finish. This Cos will be perfect for ageing, yet, with an inspired decanting, it drinks well already.

2023 Château Ausone, Saint-Émilion – Premier Grand Cru Classé A     96/100

40% Merlot, 60% Cabernet Franc

The Ausone is beautiful in the glass. It is brilliant and crystalline imbued with a particularly dark aubergine color. The deep color has a violet hue and an almost black center. Lovely cherry reflections flash through the darkness. The nose exudes black fruit, with dashes of dried thyme and sweet baking spice. Notes of well toasted sweet oak are evident throughout. Intense, fresh blackberry and cherry dominate the palate. The palate shows complexities of dried spices, black pepper, and a dusty bramble character. Elegance and balance are integral as the palate builds to a long delicious finish. A fine vintage for this wine.

2023 Château Bélair-Monange, Annonce de Bélair-Monange, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     96/100

98% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc

The wine has a brilliant violet robe with an eggplant center. The nose is complex and seductive showing powerful blackberry, black tea, and bramble with dusty dried herbs. The palate has a lovely intensity with black fruit, sweet baking spice, and rich, well toasted oak. The wine has a superb structure, softly textured tannins, and a long fruit-driven finish. The Annonce is fresh and powerful with a carefully crafted elegance.

2023 Château Beychevelle, Saint-Julien – Grand Cru Classé – Quatrième Cru     96/100

61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot

The aspect is brilliant with an intense purple robe. The nose opens with a delicate, spicy oak that underscores the fresh blackberry and black cherry aromas. Black pepper, garrigues, and dried savory add complexity and aromatics to the nose. The palate has elegant, ripe, black cherry and blackberry with lighter notes of red currant that contribute breadth and complexity. Sweet oak and textured tannins direct the palate toward a long, well-balanced finish. Decant well to enjoy now or cellar for a couple of years.

2023 Château Capbern, Saint-Estèphe     96/100

69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

The aspect is brilliant with a somber, violet robe deepening to a black center. The nose is profound filled with intense blackberry and black cherry aromas seasoned with dried thyme and a pinch of freshly ground black peppercorn. The palate is gourmand starting with a fresh, red fruit attack and then deepening to a black fruit middle. Silky tannins fill the mouth and add a richness to the long, well balanced finish. A delicious wine that will offer greatness at a favorable price.

2023 Château Carbonnieux, Pessac-Léognan – Grand Cru Classé de Graves     96/100

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot

The brilliant aspect displays an intense, violet robe with cherry hues. The nose shows fresh, intense blackberry and black cherry fruit, richly toasted sweet oak, and a touch of aromatic dried herbs. The palate is intense revealing little on the day of tasting. As the wine opened and breathed the black fruit became accessible and expressed immense potential and an elegant length and balance. We look forward to retasting this wine on a future visit to the Château.

2023 Château Chauvin, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru Classé     96/100

4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 78% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc

The brilliant aspect displays a beautiful, rich eggplant robe. The nose is discreet with floral notes and full raspberry and red cherry. The palate is intense with a farandole of red rose, red raspberry, red cherry, and blackberry that dance throughout the palate. The finish is long, balanced, and distinguished. This was a truly classy wine, elegant, and it comes at an excellent value.

Château du Courlat, Cuvée Jean-Baptiste, Lussac-Saint-Émilion     96/100

100% Merlot

The magnificent aspect is brilliant with an intense violet robe that deepens to a black center. The powerful nose is complex with touches of red rose petals, intense blackberry, black cherry, and purple plums, sweet baking spices, and well-toasted, sweet oak. The palate is more robust and exuberant with delicious, fresh red fruit and blackberries laced with dried herbs and imbued with long, promising tannins that give direction and maintain the elegant balance. This is perhaps the most powerful wine we tasted.

 2023 Château Figeac, Saint-Émilion – Premier Grand Cru Classé A     96/100

27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc

The intense eggplant robe with the somber, black center has a brilliant beauty that shines through from its depth. Scents of blackberries and black cherries with peppery notes and dry herbs invade the glass. Fresh and fruity notes of blackberries and pomegranate delight the palate. Powdery nuances of sweet spices and dried thyme are accompanied by soft, well-developed oak tannins. This Figeac is nuanced with great delicacy.

2023 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, Pauillac – Grand Cru Classé – Cinquième Cru     96/100

52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot

The aspect is very intense showing a robe filled with brilliant, impenetrable purple, black, and violet. The intense nose of sweet spices, black cherry, and green herbs displays a delicate woodiness. On the palate, blackberry and black cherry are omnipresent. The fruit components combine harmoniously with sweet and woody spices to arrive at a magnificent, soft length that finishes with elegance. This is a beautiful vintage of Grand-Puy Ducasse.

2023 Château La Conseillante, Pomerol     96/100

88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc

The aspect is brilliant with an intense and vibrant eggplant color. The wine displays a complex and sophisticated nose filled with black and blue fruits, dried thyme, graphite, and well-toasted oak. One finds great complexity on the palate with notes of red roses, blackberries, and blackcurrants. The well-toasted woodiness, coffee notes, refreshing black tea, and dried herbs add structure and complexity. This La Conseillante is a powerful wine with great nuance, and it shows signs of immediate drinkability.

2023 Château La Marzelle, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru Classé     96/100

5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc

The aspect is brilliant with a deep, dark eggplant robe. The nose is complex and sophisticated with intense blackberry and blue berry, dried thyme, graphite, and richly toasted oak. One finds complexity on the palate with scents of rose petal, intense, fresh blackberry and black currant. The palate finishes long and well balanced with touches of graphite, coffee, black tea, and dried herbs. This wine shows well every year, but this year it has shown more complex and delicious than we have ever tasted it.

2023 Château La Mission Haut-Brion, La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan     96/100

39.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48.3% Merlot, 12.3% Cabernet Franc

The aspect is brilliant with an intense eggplant, almost black, robe with a pitch center highlighted by cherry reflections. The nose is powerful and filled with aromas of blackberries, black cherries, and sweet baking spice. The palate displays great complexity with fresh red cherries, crushed blackberries, and dried, aromatic herbs that offer finesse. The wine is powerful and, already, perfectly balanced.

2023 Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac – Grand Cru Classé – Premier Grand Cru Classé     96/100

93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot

The aspect is brilliant with a dark purple robe and violet reflections. The nose is spicy and aromatic with hints of rose petal that develop into intense blackberry, black cherry, and hints of pomegranate, with a dash of dried thyme and crushed, green peppercorn. A firm well-toasted sweet oak starts on the nose; integrates the powerful black fruit and the dried green herbs; and finishes fresh and beautifully balanced. The wine is rich and powerful with moments of inspirational complexity. This is a fine vintage of Château Lafite-Rothschild.

2023 Château Montrose, Saint-Estèphe – Grand Cru Classé – Deuxième Cru     96/100

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc

Brilliant and bold in the glass the wine has a robe of very intense purple with violet hues. The nose shows violet essences when first approached. Hints of pomegranate follow as the power builds to intense blackberry with powdered green peppercorns, dried thyme, and powerful, well-charred oak. The attack consists of charred oak and rich black fruit that builds to a powerful middle palate filled with cassis, dried herbs, and rich oak. This is an expressive wine with nuance and complexity, even though there is great power. This wine was decanted at the Château, and we would recommend doing that very thing before you try the wine. Or, leave it in the cellar for a couple of years to enjoy it at its best.

2023 Château Palmer, Alter Ego, Margaux     96/100

57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot

The intense eggplant center is surrounded by a bright purple robe. The nose is intense and filled with blackberry and black cherry, the sweet notes of baking spice, powdered thyme, and richly toasted oak. The Palate has a nice intensity of dark fruit and warm spices augmented by the already supple, melted tannins. The finish is long and lingers displaying suppleness and fine balance at its best.

2023 Château Pichon Baron, Pauillac – Grand Cru Classé – Deuxième Cru     96/100

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot

A brilliant aspect highlights the bold, deep eggplant robe with purple hues. The nose is rich and filled with black and blue fruit – blackberries, black cherries, and blueberries – sweet green herbs, garrigue, and well-toasted oak. One finds the intensity on the palate with crushed blackberries and intense black cherries. There is rich oak, sweet spices, dried herbs, and rich, textured tannins that create an elegant complexity. The long finish is augmented by the nice balance marks this wine.

2023 Château Pichon Baron, Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, Pauillac     96/100

57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot

The aspect is brilliant, and the robe is entirely purple. The nose is intense with notes of rose petal and filled with blackberry and black currant. Black pepper spice and rich wood add to the aromatics and complexity. The palate is powerful; filled with black fruit and spice; and complex. The delicious, well toasted oak enriches the complex flavors and the rich textured tannins. The finish is long and balanced with a rich, elegant mouthfeel. The wine is delightful to drink.

2023 Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac – Grand Cru Classé – Deuxième Cru     96/100

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc

The aspect is brilliant and crystalline revealing an intense eggplant robe with a black center. The nose is enchanting with aromas of delicate violets, intense blackberry and black currant with sweet spices, thyme, and well toasted oak. The palate has a mouthful of fresh blackberries with garrigue and well-integrated oak. The finish is long, nuanced, and sophisticated with a fine balance. This is a rich and elegant Pichon-Comtesse that seeks restraint in a vintage that might have had too much of everything.

2023 Château Seguin, Pessac-Léognan     96/100

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot

The brilliant, crystalline aspect shows an eggplant robe with an almost black center. The nose is rich in crushed, fresh blackberries with hints of pomegranate and red cherry. Sweet, long-toasted, well-seasoned oak focuses the intense nose. There is a dash of green peppercorn and dried thyme that nicely seasons the nose. The delightful tension on the palate offers a refreshing character to the intense black and red fruit. Sweet spice and rich oak finish the wine with subtle, silky tannins and a long, fruit finish. Excellent balance makes this wine a promising candidate for long cellaring.

2023 Château Siran, Margaux – Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel     96/100

41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot

The brilliant aspect shows a deep, purple robe with violet hues and cherry reflections. The nose is fascinating and flamboyant displaying rose petals and raspberry with subtle oak and traces of powdered spice. The palate overflows with red fruit and red flowers filled with a beautiful vivacity. The subtle oak spices permit the grapes to speak. The finish is endless, pleasant, and powerful. Here the wine offers subtle favors powerfully. The Siran is a fine and interesting departure point for the 2023 vintage.

2023 Château Troplong-Mondot, Saint-Émilion – Premier Grand Cru Classé B     96/100

13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 84% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc

The aspect is beautiful and brilliant with an intense purple robe and a nearly black center. The nose is elegant with intense fresh blackberry and red cherry, rich well toasted oak, and garrigue. There is moderate power on the palate displaying black fruits and sweet spices. The long finish offers fresh fruit augmented by supple tannins and moderately toasted oak. There is a harmony of elegance and finesse in this wine that elevates it to exceptional. Enjoy it now.

2023 Vieux Château Palon, Montagne-Saint-Emilion     96/100

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc

The aspect is brilliant and has an intense purple robe. The nose intense and expressive with blackberry and black cherry, crushed green peppercorn, a touch of mint, and rich, toasted oak. The palate is full bodied with a firm attack filled with ripe red cherries and blackberries. Sweet baking spice and mint add complexity to the long balanced finish. The delicious qualities here are in the assemblage and élevage. Should be a great value.