All En Primeur

Full of bright, vibrant, red fruit character with strawberries, redcurrants and raspberries. Plenty of freshness on the palate makes it pleasing to drink and there are some nice, ripe, tannins bringing a welcome structure. 0-5 years.

An elegant nose of white flowers with some succulent white fruit. A lovely sweetness to the palate initially with more white peach and pear fruit balanced by a mouth-watering fresh minerality. 0-5 years.

Now 114 years old, these old vines have produced some serious concentration, the fruit is a little darker than many wines from this vintage with an attractive soft herb note, some lovey ripe tannins and a hint of wood spice on the finish. 3-9 years.

Quite serious with a restrained nose and plenty of richness and weight. A hint of oak is evident with plenty of ripe fruit and some yellow fruit notes amongst the white. It's well-balanced and intense with a juicy finish. 0-5 years.

Full of bright, vibrant, red fruit character with strawberries, redcurrants and raspberries. Plenty of freshness on the palate makes it pleasing to drink and there are some nice, ripe, tannins bringing a welcome structure. 0-5 years.

Quite serious with a restrained nose and plenty of richness and weight. A hint of oak is evident with plenty of ripe fruit and some yellow fruit notes amongst the white. It's well-balanced and intense with a juicy finish. 0-5 years.

Full of bright, vibrant, red fruit character with strawberries, redcurrants and raspberries. Plenty of freshness on the palate makes it pleasing to drink and there are some nice, ripe, tannins bringing a welcome structure. 0-5 years.

Quite serious with a restrained nose and plenty of richness and weight. A hint of oak is evident with plenty of ripe fruit and some yellow fruit notes amongst the white. It's well-balanced and intense with a juicy finish. 0-5 years.

Notes of pain grillé, hazelnuts and some fine sweet apple and ripe pear fruit. The fruit makes it so approachable but there is a seriously fine, mineral structure supporting it and a lovely citrus fruit character to the finish. 0-5 years.

Bright cherry and damson fruit with underlying notes of blueberry and plenty of aromatic spice. There is wonderful depth and savouriness with Szechuan pepper, spice, orange peel, a touch of garrigue and all finishing with silky tannins and mouthwatering salinity. Very precise, balanced and complex with great structure – this really is in a class of its own. 5-15+ years.   

Inviting fruit driven aromas lure you in to a palate full of pepper and spice. Damsons and blackberry mingle with the savoury, mineral backbone and yet more spice.  Supple and round this has immediate appeal. It is made from younger vines from across the estate and older vines not located within Piedlong or La Crau. 5-10+ years.  

The pale colour belies the intensity of flavour here. Open and expressive with juicy, ripe, cranberry and red currant notes, with a velvety mouthfeel and mineral undertone. Whilst it is a more refined, delicate style it still has plenty of concentration and complexity. The 70-year-old Grenache vines, which make up 90% of the blend, come from the stony Piedlong plateau in the heart of the appellation. 3-10+ years.

Stewed apple fruit with a creamy note of pastry, rich but also more mineral than some. This is big and rich yet has a mouth-watering saline character too, as well as a long finish. 3-9+ years.

A very pleasing wine this year with plenty of weight of sweet apples and pears with a lovely note of honey. The palate remains juicy with good freshness and has good weight and structure for a Bourgogne Blanc. 0-5 years.

From 50-to-70 year old vines, this was a little less exuberant than some of its compatriots, still rich and concentrated but with soursop fruit, plenty of sweetness, a spicy note and honey on the long finish. 3-9+ years.

Pretty and peachy with a nice lick of tropical freshness from some pineapple fruit. A little more subdued on the palate showing a good backbone, plenty of weight and a fine mineral finish. Another vineyard that lost some crop to hail early in the season.

Appealing, ripe, red fruit character with some herb and spice too, perhaps from the whole bunches used here. The fruit is fresh and juicy with a nice salty mineral twist on the finish. 0-5 years.

Brambly on the nose with some pleasant red fruit. Succulent on the palate which is full of raspberry fruit and a more savoury note of tobacco, with a hint of tangerine zest on the finish. 3-9+ years.

A rich nose with plenty of ripe, white peach fruit. On the palate it is soft and approachable with plenty of fruit weight but it also has a luscious, saline character that lifts the finish. 0-5 years.

A rich butterscotch nose with ripe citrus and peach fruit. It is intense on the palate, although very pure with it, with a fine mineral back bone and a long succulent finish. 3-9 years.

A Chanson Monopole, meaning they own it all, this has a fresher nose with more complexity and lift. Still plenty of sweet fruit but more complete and showing lovely balance of the red and black fruits, a juicy minerality and some effortlessly silky tannins.

Ben Sichel, winemaker at Angludet, described a particularly challenging time in 2023, with the heat of 2022 as the root cause of a significant drop in yield compared with many other properties.There is 17% Petit Verdot in the blend, which gives a lush core to the wine and a pretty, juicy character. There's silky tannin backing the fresh raspberry fruit, and a clean, pure finish. This is a mid-term Margaux of high quality, it's organic traits very much to the fore. 5-15 years. 

The last of an excellent lineup tasted at the chai, the Grand vin is superb! A delicious nose of ripe black fruit, floral, dark berries and spice hint at the underlying power and svelte nature of the Ausone. Irresistible, it delivers a concentrated core of dark fruit, seamlessly integrated oak, velvety tannins and joy. Add into the mix an evident minerality and saline, mocha notes on the finish you get an effortless, precise wine not to be missed! 5-15+ years.

Beychevelle is a large property (bizarrely with a flock of stone penguins in the garden to the rear!) that has long been pursued by the Chinese market. With that outlet somewhat dried up, we have been lured back and encouraged by recent investment and a step up in quality. The new chai is superb and the wine coming out in 2023 is very impressive. It is most seductive on the nose, ripe currant and cassis with a swirl of raspberry, then dense, rich damson in the mouth, lovely supporting oak and a harmonious finish. Length is excellent, it is bold yet refined with the substance to go further than others. Phillippe Blanc has made a delicious wine worthy of note.

An attractive lesser-known Pomerol which flies somewhat under the radar because the quality here is always good. Ripe dark plum on the nose with a touch of mulberry. Nice mouthfeel, soft and round backed with nice tension and good length. Very nice juiciness with texture and substance, and a precise slightly salty finish. Another good effort.

A wonderfully supple wine with great purity of ripe fruit. Elegant and long, this is almost Burgundian in style with very fine tannic structure, the result of gentle maceration and extraction.  There is a fantastic new winery at Bélair which Edouard Moueix is rightly proud of and which enables them to work in a much more precise manner. Fantastic wine.

An oaky, vanillary nose over some spicy fruit on entry, then quite a broad but tightly-grained structure. Some depth of flavour but, apart from a stony finish, this feels a little atypical compared with other Saint-Estèphes with more tannin and extraction. 3-9 years.

Delicious compote of flavours on the nose: raspberry and red plum, cinnamon spice, mulberry and stewed damson, all continuing into the palate too. Super mouthfeel, layered cassis richness and round texture, good depth of character and clean on the finish.

Another very fine Canon and one in which the limestone terroir really shows through giving fantastic uplift and elegance to the layers of juicy red and black fruit. There are beautifully soft and integrated tannins here with he amount of new oak restrained and some large foudres being used instead of barrels. Almost ethereal, very long, very fine. 5-15 years.

A very attractive wine that director Thomas Soules describes as 'Atlantic style' with juicy, soft fruit with easy, ripe tannins and good freshness, minerality and balance. The Cabernet Franc was very successful here, resulting in a high percentage being used in the blend. This property is located just below the town of St-Emilion and has a fascinating history. One of the ancestors of the owners, the Malet-Roquefort family, even accompanied William of Normandy in 1066!

Cissac does it again, with a wine they liken to a blend of 2020 and 2022. Winemaker Laurent Saint Pasteur added that he works hard to preserve the fruit character so he limits the extraction a bit more than he did a decade ago, and, interestingly, they have a fine plot of old Malbec which almost ‘seasons’ the blend. Harmonious and ripe, we were very impressed and Cissac gets top marks this year. Will keep a bit too.

Another Dubourdieu entry, the Grand Vin Doisy Sec is wonderfully aromatic. Leaning towards the richer end of the scale, with notes of white peach, lemon rind and wet stone the Doisy is a nervy, fine lined joy. 100 % Sauvignon Blanc, the 2023 is nimble on its feet, energetic and the epitome of exciting Bordeaux Blanc. 0-5 years. Expected abv 13%

Bruno Borie was hobbling rather when we pitched up, recently fitted with a bionic part. His enthusiasm for his latest vintage was as infectious as ever, You've come to taste a great wine? A big job to make but we love it!? he said. They had a long harvest here, from 16th Sept to 7th Oct but the grapes came in healthy and with good yields. Ducru feels very plush this year, good tannins maybe more four-square than some other places but supple enough with tempered oak coming through on the finish. It's long in the mouth, saturated black fruit with a raspberry edge and the whole quite fresh on the end. Another very good effort, full of character and flavour.

Opening with a gorgeous perfumed, nose of violet, spices and black cherry, the mid-palate delivers more, juicy black fuits, plum, liquirice, cranberry and mulberry fruit . Well knit with fresh acidity and fine grain tannins this is a sumptuous effort which has a promising future.

So often 'Gentleman's Claret', this year you'll find a svelte, trimmed wine with lovely curranty notes on the nose, some cedar even, then very swish in the mouth, poised and elegant with layers of fruit and spice. Refined and easy while long in the finish, it has perfect oak and a fluid, fresh feel. Emmeline Borie was very pleased with it, rather more so than with her builders who have started on a new winery but are taxing her patience. "It will be wonderful for your next visit, she said, adding, "hopefully next year!" No need to wait until then for a brilliant wine, however. Buy the 2023.

Superb damson and cassis on the nose with creamy oak behind. This is a seductive wine with richness, layers, complexity in the mouth, that bright finish again over wet stones. The length is prodigious and the wine more accessible and charming than we have seen in the past. There is more Cabernet Franc in the blend than usual (double that of Haut-Brion), and perhaps this has lifted and lightened the whole wine.

Fruit forward this year with pure black fruit on the nose backed up by nice warm spice and some licorice. The balance is fine, the emphasis on early drinking with that juicy fresh fruit backed by easy, soft tannins. Fronsac, to the west of the major Right Bank areas, still has great terroir and can produce some lovely, expressive wines that are invariably good value. 3-9 years.

The Pauillac member of the Villars-Lurton stable made plenty of wine this year, 53 hl/ha and all of it biodynamic with that clean, fresh Villar feel that Claire puts on her wines. Darker in colour with a riper, richer nose from being further up the Médoc, the fruit fills the mouth and there’s some chalky tannin behind it. More intense than the Margaux wines, it has drive and presence as well as a fuller finish. A good, well-made choice this year.

A very silky and seductive wine with plenty of fruit and elegant tannins. There is real refinement and elegance here overlying good structure and with the hallmark balance and freshness of the vintage. Owned by JP Moueix since 1950 this is on the best ter

From a property on the limestone plateau close to the town of St Emilion this has lovely strawberry aromas with a very complete palate with more black fruit and even hints of liquorice. There is just a hint of oak on the finish which also has good, soft tannins and attractive freshness. 5-15 years.

While it’s a long trek up to Begadan in northern Medoc we always get the warmest welcome from cousins Frederic and Benjamin. This Tanners favourite is a very attractive wine in 2023; well textured and smooth with the fresh plummy character of the best Medocs on display, a beautiful claret for the mid-term while the characteristic freshness of the vintage makes it sing in the glass. Delicious. An excellent La Tour de By with fresh aromas and plenty of black fruit on the palate backed up with soft and ripe tannins. There is good fresh acidity too with great length. This is very attractive wine that will drink young but also has the potential to age.

While it's a long trek up to Begadan in northern Medoc, we always get the warmest welcome from cousins Frederic and Benjamin. This Tanners favourite is a very attractive wine in 2023; well textured and smooth with the fresh plummy character of the best Me

Brooding, black fruit, damson and mulberry on the nose. The mid-palate delivers savoury and mineral notes amid layers of blackberry, cranberry, cassis and spice. Well structured, with bright acidity (the vintages calling card) and chalky tannins, the Carraudes has a long finish. Its hallmark Pauillac character is as a result of the highly prized Lafite ‘Caudeyrac’ plot, it’s sourced from.

A very successful wine with plenty of black cherry fruit on the palate, soft tannins and touches of attractive, toasty oak. This is a medium weight well balanced wine with good freshness. Well situated at the edge of the Pomerol plateau between Gazin and La Fleur-Pétrus. Run by JP Moueix since 1976.

Sourced from a two-hectare plot of sandy gravel on a bed of deep clay, the 2023 Le Pin is a joy. Remarkably sensual from the off, on the nose there are enticing, intense notes of blackberry, mulberry, plum and spices. Delving deeper, you discover hints of leather, iron, graphite, and more black fruits on the palate. With sweet ripe tannins and an exuberant freshness, this is a plush, silky Le Pin. A truly aristocratic wine and surely one of the best in recent times.

This property has been on our radar for quite a few years, but recent vintages have seen it move up a notch. The clay soils here are quite deep, the vines planted in two plots near Neac and in Lalande itself. Michel Rolland has had a hand in the wine making process in the past, and the style is quite dense with sweet fruit and well-integrated tannins. For a ‘Rolland wine’ you’ll find more charm than guts, and it is very appealing. Well worth a look this year.

Yet more applause for this wine from the Borie-Manoux (Batailley) stable, now a good value Pauillac with damson, a soft texture at its core and easy oak giving a round, friendly structure. Freddie Casteja, who’s family home this is, has been working hard to improve his wine and that work is paying off. This is a well made and characterful mouthful.

Rather castigated across Bordeaux last year for over-cooking the 2022 release price (fortunately they have rectified this for 2023!), we were amused to see in the official en primeur leaflet that they compare this vintage to 1771… On a more serious note, Antoine Gimbert explained that they now handle the fruit extremely gently, stopping pumping-over and letting the juice filter through as softly as possible. With many small vats they can handle individual plots far more carefully, the sum of the parts making a very impressive whole. Las Cases is a real curranty beauty - intense and concentrated in the mouth, very balanced, textured with beautifully crafted tannins. Generous, long, very clean with a lovely finish. 

Fresh and aromatic nose with hints of redcurrants leads to a palate full of red fruit, well balanced with fine tannins. 'A very nice vintage for us' says owner Mathieu Ternault'. 0-5 years

The last of the lineup tasted at Clerc Milon. On the nose there are hints of smoke and bacon fat sitting behind more pronounced notes of black fruits and spice. Energetic and well structured, there's super a concentration of black fruits, cassis, damson, black olive and tobacco mingling seamlessly with the oak and lick of bright acidity. Delivering a hint of toast and spice on the long finish, this is a dynamic Grand Vin.

This is a magnificent medieval château complete with restored drawbridge over a wide moat. You can imagine the knights of the tourney charging up the tilt ground in front, maybe to secure a barrel of this excellent red Pessac. Enough of the whimsy, Olivier has made a sweetly fruited and vibrant wine in 2023 with lashings of red plum and raspberry, a fine backbone of tannin, a joyfully juicy centre and the cutting edge of a clean finish. Definitely worth fighting for some. 5-15 years.

A floral and citrus nose leads to a palate with full and waxy flavours, pear and quince with excellent minerality, vivacious and sappy. Very well balanced with great length. A textbook white Bordeaux. 3-7 years. 

This has plenty of sappy red and black fruits backed up with toasty new oak flavours and touches of spice on the finish. Jean Mestreguilem calls the vintage "complicated, but finally good" observing that it's very ripe which you can certainly see in the quality of the tannins. A very fine wine which Jean suggests is close to 2020 and 2010 in terms of style.

Alfred Tesseron at Pontet Canet was thrilled to see us at 8:59 on Tuesday morning and berated his son, Noel, who arrived at 9:20. The chai is beautiful, the new 'eggs' (fermenters) in position, a herd of horses in the stables - the place looks immaculate and it's no wonder the results are superb. The wine had classic Pontet poise, lots of pure fruit backed with that organic ‘freshness’ he says they have been after since starting to convert 20 years ago. It is beautiful, succulent and fresh with a layered texture. Delicious mid to long-term drinking we thought, with bags of style - a top Pauillac. Interestingly we had tasted the 2005 vintage the previous evening and were struck by the similarities in structure and flavour.

While we invariably taste Puygueraud at one of the main Thienpont properties like Larcis Ducasse, Nicolas reminded us that many moons previously (1990 possibly?) we went to this property in the Francs which is the family home, and we must visit again as soon as we can. A date has been suggested. In the meantime we can report that Puygueraud is as good as ever, quite creamy and fleshy in the mouth with a supple blackberry jam feel on the end. It has many fans and for drinking mid-term it is an excellent Right Bank choice.

Much more density and richness from the top dog in the Lorenzetti Family stable. Jean-Michel Wilmotte is increasing the polish and precision every vintage, and it shows. They got their Cabernet, which comes from plots all over Pauillac, harvested at the right time, and the focus is perfect. Behind some lovely mulberry and blackberry fruit is a touch of spice, powerful but silky tannins and excellent length of flavour. Generous, harmonious, quite linear but easy on the finish. As good as we can remember.

Winemaker Nicolas Audebert was either at Château Canon or possibly on Chanel's island in Provence (making wine?), so we tasted with Jean-Basile Roland who is the font of much knowledge at Rauzan anyway! There are 100+ plots of vines around the property with 25 different soil profiles and, with a challenging year, this takes a lot of management. But the results are superb, probably because of this careful segmentation. Jean-Basile reminded us that this was a hot year with late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon the key, and Rauzan is 85% Cabernet of the highest quality. A great nose kicks off, with lots of flower and red fruit, with a touch of spice. It's very concentrated in the mouth with a muscular density that finishes with a rhubarb sappiness and inky depth. A big wine with depth and balance, intensity of flavour and plenty of structure. Should keep well. 5-15 years. 

Much more focus on Tronquoy has occurred in recent times, possibly as the team at owner Montrose realise what a gem they have here. They have chopped off the 'Lalande' part of the name, improved the branding and bolstered the winemaking. The results are excellent. In 2023 this part of Saint-Estèphe struggled with early rain, but the late heatwaves pushed the ripeness right up. The nose is perfumed with blackcurrant, blackberry and raspberry notes. The palate shows soft, round, bold fruit, sweet and concentrated with a clean, stony finish. A lovely, approachable wine. 3-9 years.

A very fine Trottevieile with silky red fruits, lovely concentration and balance with the 100% new oak seamlessly integrated. This small property, owned by the Casteja family, goes undeer the radar but produces wonderful wines from the limestone slopes just outside St-Emilion. This terroir has given great poise and elegane to the wines 2023.

A smoky hint is followed by plums, black cherry and violets. Juicy and fleshy on the palate with excellent depth of fruit. This is well balanced with some chewy tannins, ideal for short term cellaring. 3-9 years.

There are some great pickings to be had in the satellites of the Right Bank this year, and we enjoy the wines from Jean-Baptiste Bourotte, no more so than the wine that carries his moniker. Being pure Merlot it tends to be quite straightforward; there is a purity of black fruit, some tension and acidity on the palate with chalky tannins to round things off. A juicy, easy and early drinking wine. 3-9 years.

From the plateau in Pomerol, as the name suggests close to the church, this is an excellent wine with the clay soil giving super depth with good tannins. There is plenty of red and black fruit to give balance as well as the juiciness typical of the vintage. Owned by the Casteja family since 1973, this property is making excellent value wines. 5-15 years.

Melanie Barton has made another good wine in tricky conditions, with Moulis suffering with mildew early on. There’s good black fruit character, quite tempered and stylish in the mouth. Nice structure with ripe tannins all in balance and then juicy and fresh on the finish. Lighter and elegant this year compared with last, it’s a clean, early drinking claret with plenty of charm.

From the Dubourdieu stable, the 2023 Floridène leaps out of the glass with a heady nose of lemon zest, yellow fruit and chamomile. The palate is fresh with layered creamy, white pear notes. Perhaps more generous than in previous vintages, but still ofering the racy acidity you'd expect, fans will not be disappointed. 0-5 years.

A serious Bourgogne Blanc mostly from vineyards around Puligny. It is rich and open with a honey note, showing lovely concentration on the palate with an exotic character and beautifully, zesty citrus notes to bring balance and appeal. 0-5 years.

Plenty of vibrant fruit here, juicy and succulent with a good tension in the wine, plenty of raspberry and red berry fruit but also something more intense and darker. The tannins are silky and offer great support before a long, fresh finish. 2-7 years.

A pretty, pale red, they look for freshness not tannins for this cuv‚e. Attractively floral with soft red fruit, very Pinot. Sweet on the palate with a note of menthol, wild strawberries and some structure. A lovely juicy style. 0-5 years.

Plenty of vibrant fruit here, juicy and succulent with a good tension in the wine, plenty of raspberry and red berry fruit but also something more intense and darker. The tannins are silky and offer great support before a long, fresh finish. 2-7 years. 

A pretty, pale red, they look for freshness not tannins for this cuvee. Attractively floral with soft red fruit, very Pinot. Sweet on the palate with a note of menthol, wild strawberries and some structure. A lovely juicy style. 0-5 years.

A lovely, easy style this year with plenty of juicy red and blue fruit character. Some gentle, ripe and rounded tannins bringing some depth and a succulent finish that makes it a pleasure to drink. 0-5 years.

Clean and fresh with plenty of ripe apple and pear fruit with even a note of vanilla custard! Juicy, fresh with notes of sweet apple and lemon curd but with a dry clean finish. 0-5 years.

Open and fruity with notes of stewed pink rhubarb and something a little weightier with sweet damson fruit. Some ripe tannins on the palate with a hint of spice. A lovely appealing, juicy style and good length. 3-9 years.

From a 2 ha plot in the middle of Gevrey, this is rich and ripe with plenty of blue fruit character and a nice warming note of spice. More damson and blueberry fruit on the palate but beautifully balanced and succulent with fine definition and length. 3-9 years.

Open and fruity with notes of stewed pink rhubarb and something a little weightier with sweet damson fruit. Some ripe tannins on the palate with a hint of spice. A lovely appealing, juicy style and good length. 3-9 years.

Intense, black raspberry liqueur fruit with spice and a hint of vanilla oak, there are fine tannins on the palate as well as rich blueberry fruit. A little closed but showing a really long finish and great potential. 5-15+ years.

A toasty nose with plenty of raspberry confit but also a more savoury character, roasted coffee and a hint of charcuterie. Rich and round on the palate with nice silky tannins and some more red fruit flavours before a long, long finish. 5-15+ years.

Pleasantly open and approachable. There is a wonderful crispness to the fruit as well as depth and complexity. It is elegant with soft rounded tannins and a charmingly fresh finish. 5-15 years.

More intensity here, showing a great blend of crisp red fruits with hints of blackcurrant and an herbal streak. There is fine weight and depth on the palate, yet it still exhibits the juicy style of the vintage. A fine, lovely finish. 3-9 years.

Very attractive this year with a nice combination of red and black fruits, with a twist of herbs and spices. Juicy and fresh on the palate with plenty of structure and depth but rounded and pleasing with a delicious finish. 3-9 years.

A lovely mix of crunchy berry fruit and something a little more meaty and richer on the nose. It is fresh and juicy with some cassis amongst predominantly raspberry fruit, some rounded tannins are present but nicely balanced and integrated. 3-9 years.

The fruit is more cassis here with an almost Ribena fruitiness but tempered by the fine structure this premier cru brings to the wine. Ripe tannins are well rounded and balanced with a touch of spice. A very complete wine already. 5-15 years.

Classic Pinot Noir nose with cinnamon spice and plenty of berry fruit. It is fresh and elegant on the palate with juicy fruit, nicely rounded tannins and some acidulated damson fruit on the long finish. 3-9 years.

Dark fruited but with a lovely elegant floral note amongst the black raspberry, cherry and currant fruit. This is dense and intense, with richness and plenty of silky, smooth tannins before a lovely long finish. Super. 5-15+ years.

A wonderful smoky intensity backed up by blue fruits and floral aromas. There is a delicate structure, with lots more of those violet fruits coming to play along with garigue and savoury/saline notes. Carries the 15% alcohol exceptionally well. Delicious.

A bigger, more concentrated style from a small plot on blue clay. This is packed with black fruit and black pepper, but already has great integration and balance. This has plenty of elegance too and is one for the longer term. 5-15 years.

Open and appealing with a wonderful balance of the ripeness of the vintage and the fresh, structure this vineyard gives to its wines. Plenty of weight and richness but with firm structure and body before a very long and elegant finish. 3-9+ years.

Very pure on the nose as usual from this Domaine. Plenty of elegant, white fruit with attractive floral accents. It is crisp and mineral but with a sweeter note of white peach coming through bringing a richer tone before a fine crystalline finish. 0-7 years.

Lighter in style but still characterful and flavoursome with bright cherry and berry fruit. A gentle, warm note of vanilla from the oak with enough depth and it is fresh, juicy and clean on the finish. 0-7 years.

Great concentration and intensity on both the nose and palate this year, the weight suggests this will close up but be a little patient and you will be rewarded there is a lovely, elegant, mineral streak to balance the depth of fruit and fine tannins. 3-9 years.

Situated at the end of the Lavaux valley around 200m from Ruchottes-Chambertin this is seriously good. A heady blend of sweet, ripe, dark fruit with a lighter, mineral, juicy character, some floral notes and beautifully balanced tannins. 3-9+ years.

Showing intensity and depth, a lovely mix of mostly red fruits with a hint of something darker and an elegant floral note too. Lovely weight on the palate, with juicy fruit and an appealing ripe style, very silky tannins and great balance. 3-9 years.

A vibrant, fresh, crunchy, fruit character with a hint of smoked meat, just a touch of oak present bringing a pleasing note of spice. Rich and silky on the palate with more crunchy fruit and plenty of freshness to lift the ripe fruit character. 3-9 years.

Very bright and open full of charming red fruit with a hint of dark cherry too. It has a pleasing herbal note, plenty of sweet fruit and gentle structure, a very enjoyable, classic, village wine. 3-9 years.

Generous, fresh nose with beautiful, dense fruit. Sweet-edged, silky attack, building in intensity with mineral depth and grip. It is fresh and animated with fine tannins and feels classical with a long creamy, cherry-tinged finish. 3-9 years.

More compact than the Poisots, a touch darker too with attractive sweet aromas. Fresh, creamy black cherry yoghurt! Juicy and very fresh on the palate with juicy, red fruits, some spice and good drive with plenty of chalky grip. Really gorgeous and stimulating. 3-9 years.

Clean and fresh with a lovely mix of crunchy red and black fruit character rich on the palate with plenty of ripe damson fruit and a note of espresso. Whilst the finish remains fresh, juicy and long. 3-9 years.

Fresh and juicy on the nose and palate full of bright cherry fruit with a charming herbal quality. The palate is full of crunchy red fruit show decent weight and a pleasant, easy finish.

This sees 100% new oak but has such power and body that it swallows it whole! Intense damson fruit, very fine, rounded tannins and a note of dark coffee and bitter chocolate but all beautifully integrated with wonderful depth and great length. 3-9+ years.

Very pleasing and pretty nose with predominantly red fruit and sweet floral notes. Some dark chocolate notes are added on the palate with super-concentrated mouth-filling sweetness and beautiful balance. Very good. 3-9 years.

A very approachable Gevrey, this is now the fourth vintage of this wine. Attractive sour cherry and berry fruit with some present but rounded tannins and a warming note of spice and good complexity on the finish. 3-9 years.

Showing more red fruit on the nose with floral notes and a hint of spice, the palate is fresh and very mineral initially, before a rich and warming feeling of toast and coffee. Plenty of fruit weight and some fine tannins on the finish. 3-9 years.

From 3 parcels of vines, two in Gevrey and one in Morey. This is excellent old vine Bourgogne Rouge packed full of lovely, ripe, cherry fruit. Nicely perfumed with good concentration, rounded tannins and a clean juicy finish. 0-5 years.

Good intensity here with some sweet oak notes amongst the concentrated fruit on both the nose and palate with darker notes of coffee and fruity dark chocolate before vibrant cherry fruit, supple tannins and a pleasant, long, characterful finish. 0-7 years.

Great intensity here, the power is obvious but so is the fruit, a little darker and a little spicier but always elegant. Rich, floral, spicy, with notes of cherry, mocha, rose and damson and a very fine, persistent finish. 5-15 years.

From two parcels of old vines this has vibrant, fresh red fruits on the nose and even more crunchy fruit on the palate. It is elegantly powerful showing great depth and weight but never seems heavy, remaining elegant throughout. 5-15 years.

S‚bastien considers this his third Grand Cru! It has wonderful depth and concentration, the succulent cherry and berry fruit remains juicy and there is warm notes of spice. Wonderfully fine, rounded tannins bring extra depth and length. 5-15 years. 

The 50+ year old vines bring a depth and minerality to the wine. The nose is an attractive mix of red and blue fruits with a hint of toasted teacake, while the palate seems fresher. There is great vibrancy and succulence before a fine, elegant, mineral finish.

Concentrated aromas of orange peel, violets and black cherry. More enticing violets and spice on the palate with cinnamon, dried oregano and ripe wild blackberries. Fresh and juicy with great depth and structure. Excellent. 3-9 years.

A fresh, herby almost menthol nose with notes of blackberry liqueur. Very appealing. Black and strawberry fruit character on the palate with plenty of charm and elegance. There is a lovely saline, mouth-watering note to finish, leaving you wanting more! 3

From 60 to 65 year old vines, this has a lovely blend of white fruit with something a little riper and more yellow. There is some sweet peach fruit, as well as acacia flowers and honey. It is fresh and juicy and will be drinkable from the off. 0-5 years.

Harvested after the heatwave, this delay has allowed the Hautes Côtes to express some super ripeness while still keeping a freshness and predominantly white fruit character to the wines. Concentrated and mineral with a hint of spice on the finish. 0-5 years.

Fresh and juicy on the nose before some lovely mouthwatering damson fruit. There are some fine, silky tannins as well as a nice minerality even a hint of warm citrus on the finish. 0-5 years.

A terroir that always adds freshness to its wines. There is plenty of chunky red fruit verging on some darker fruit and beautifully rounded tannins provide structure before a fresh, attractive finish. 3-9 years.

Fresh and juicy on the nose before some lovely mouthwatering damson fruit. There are some fine, silky tannins as well as a nice minerality even a hint of warm citrus on the finish. 0-5 years.

More obvious ripeness on the nose with a slightly darker feel to the fruit and a little more density to the wine. It still retains the juicy vibrant character of the vintage but with wonderfully rounded dark fruit and freshness on the finish for balance.

The last plot harvested at this estate, it is full of ripe, plummy fruit with notes of spice from the oak. Plenty of ripe damson fruit, with a mouth-watering succulence and some spicy, toasty oak, plenty of weight and a lovely note of spice on the finish.

Pretty, lighter style with more red fruit character and a hint of warm spices. Juicy and very approachable on the palate with oodles of creamy red cherry and strawberry fruit with fine ripe tannins to finish. 3-9 years.

A little backward on the nose, this wine usually is when young, on the palate it shows some super, sweet fruit with damsons and something a touch more savoury, plenty of tannin but the profile is soft and silky, before a fine, long finish. 3-9+ years.

A wonderful blend of red, black and blue fruit with a notable herbal twist of thyme and mint. Plenty of structure but the tannins are well formed and nicely rounded. The whole has a lovely, elegant feel as well as a very long finish. 5-15+ years.

A wonderful blend of red, black and blue fruit with a notable herbal twist of thyme and mint. Plenty of structure but the tannins are well formed and nicely rounded. The whole has a lovely, elegant feel as well as a very long finish. 5-15+ years.

Another big and juicy wine from Pessac, there is plenty of smooth black and red fruit here, quite layered in the mouth with some firm grained tannins mid-palate. The oak is smoky, there is good length, the whole wine is quite straightforward and structured without much elegance but plenty of presence. There was a lot of sorting of grapes here this year, and after 40 vintages Olivier Bernard feels he is still learning! Chevalier is a chunky wine this year, reflecting those deep gravel soils.

A big and silky wine, rich and creamy with great depth of fruit and a touch of oak showing on the palate to give balance. Ripe and full but finishes with plenty of taut acidity. This is a very fine wine in a very great vintage for dry white Bordeaux. 3-9 years.

Fully 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, the balance Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak barrels (40% new) for 18 months. Wonderful expression and clarity, a nose redolent of fresh cassis, blackberry, black plum and black cherry, cedar, aromatic herbs, mint, and a host of dark flowers. This is full-bodied but carries a real sense of tension and poise; the tannins are ripe and plentiful, and they build, suggesting great cellaring potential. For all its richness and power, it shows great energy and purity, with a fine mineral presence and superb length of flavour. This stands alongside the great Dominus vintages. 2030-2055+

While Christian Moueix hails from a dynasty built on the finest Merlot-dominated wines, he has always believed in the combination of Cabernet and Napa, and it is fitting that this, essentially third wine of the estate, is represented in a similar manner to its grander siblings. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot, and matured for 14 months in older French oak barrels, this is surely the best release of Othello to date. Inviting, fresh blackberry aromas, with deeper notes of plum and high notes of cherry, redcurrant and warm citrus, with supporting touches of graphite and crushed dark flowers. This is made to express the Napanook terroir in a style that is approachable on release, it is medium-bodied, with fine sandy tannins, excellent freshness, and long crisp red and dark fruit flavours. 2-9 years.  "Lots of blackberries, dark cherries and hints of orange peel and bark in the aromas. Medium to full-bodied with fine creamy tannins that caress the palate. The tannic tension gives this focus and brightness. Hard not to drink now, but better in two to three years." 96/100 James Suckling "Deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with right, cheery notes of fresh blackberries, juicy black plums, and redcurrant jelly followed by hints of graphite, black olives, menthol, and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is light on its feet and lively, with soft silt-like tannins and bright crunchy red and black fruit flavors, finishing with a minty lift." 93/100 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and a drop of Petit Verdot, aged in French oak (20% new) for 16 months. This is an especially refined Napanook with a luxurious tannin structure, opening with a classy and complex nose of cassis, blood orange, blueberry and cherry fruits, earthier notes of tobacco, truffle, tilled soil and graphite, and a host of exotic wood spices. On the full side of medium-bodied, this has a delightfully persistent rose-like perfume and notes of citrus which add to a sense of brightness and lift; there is richness and great depth here of course, but it is all so well balanced. 2027-2040

Pale in colour with green highlights but plenty of bright, ripe, pear fruit on the nose and palate. It is vibrantly juicy with a lovely ripe citrus character, decent weight, and a wonderful saline character on the finish making it too easy to drink! 0-5 years.

Richer and warmer fruit character on the nose with stewed apple and citrus zest of tangerine. Still characteristically succulent and juicy on the palate with some lovey peach and honey flavours, before citrus returns on the finish. 3-9 years.

An open and intense nose showing orchard fruits, a gentle floral character and hint of fresh hazelnut. The palate is clean, with freshness, plenty of weight from the orchard fruit with a juicy, citrus tang to the mineral, rich finish. 3-9 years.

From vineyards next to Santenay, this has a very pure and pretty Pinot nose with crunchy red fruit and just a hint of oak. Fresh on the palate too with a pleasing succulence, plenty of strawberry and raspberry fruit and very rounded tannins. 3-9 years.

More richness, more structure with darker tones to the fruit and a meaty note of Bayonne ham. Soft on the palate with ripe, raspberry fruit and still the succulent character of the vintage bringing welcome balance on the finish. 5-15 years.

Full of luscious, bright cherry and berry fruit, there is weight and power here but also freshness and elegance. There is a herbal note coming through too, adding to the super concentrated fruit and is followed by a very long and appealing finish. 5-15 years

A super wine from this well-situated vineyard next to Chevalier-Montrachet. Elegant with white flower notes amongst sweet crisp apple fruit. It is rich and concentrated on the palate with fine acidity and lovely balance and a long mineral finish. 0-5 years.

Classic Bourgogne rouge packed full of crunchy red fruits, strawberries, cranberries and cherries, some decent weight and a lovely easy style. This is juicy and attractive. 0-5 years.

Intense, red fruits on the nose, sweet, wild strawberry fruit with a touch of darker cherry and hint of fresh mint. It is approachable with silky tannins and a fine weight of juicy fruit, all making it supple and easy to drink. 0-5 years.

Attractive, white fruit nose with a hint of clove. Plenty of body and texture on the palate and a pleasingly juicy style with a citrus tang and a hint of fresh ginger on the finish. 0-5 years.

Weighty, full of cherry and berry fruit but more savoury here, a gentle toast from the oak comes through and a warm spice note. More power, weight and depth in this wine with rounded tannins and a pleasingly elegant finish. Great value. 3-9 years.

This is very attractive with a lovely, elegant, floral character as well as a hint of nutshell. Charming fresh fruit with minerality and a touch of butter on the finish. A very approachable easy style. 0-5 years.

Very perfumed with notes of ripe raspberries, wild strawberries and a touch on fresh mint. The palate has lovey sweet berry fruit with a note of sous bois, some tannins bring structure and body before a succulent finish ending with a note of bergamot. 0-5

Weighty, full of cherry and berry fruit but more savoury here, a gentle toast from the oak comes through and a warm spice note. More power, weight and depth in this wine with rounded tannins and a pleasingly elegant finish. Great value. 5-15 years.

Taut citrus lemon character on the nose with beautiful balance, some chalky notes and attractive white fruits on the palate. On the finish there is just a hint of blossom honey.

With floral aromas and lovely concentrated fruit, this is perhaps the estate's most expressive wine. The palate is spicy, almondy and, almost fat, if Chablis can ever be such a thing!

Forêts is part of the larger Montmains 1er cru, being in the centre it has both weight and minerality. It is full of sweet, ripe, citrus fruit but beautifully balanced with an ozone freshness.

Forêts is part of the larger Montmains 1er cru, being in the centre it has both weight and minerality. It is full of sweet, ripe, citrus fruit but beautifully balanced with an ozone freshness.

Re-planted in 2001 this is the first vintage on the market since. It is elegant, structured with plenty citrus but also peach and tangerine notes before a wonderfully mineral finish.

This is a stony site which always endows the wine with plenty of mineral energy. It has very perfumed, aromatic, raspberry fruit with hint of red rose petal, plenty of mineral structure and gentle tannins before a ripe and juicy finish. 3-9 years.

A proper Village Gevrey from 7 parcels, this is pleasantly open and accessible already. Some lovely, silky black fruits and notes of spice, this is juicy, round and approachable. 5-15 years.

A gentle note of vanilla, toast and honey on the nose. This is a generous Bourgogne Blanc showing plenty of weight of white fruit with some riper yellow fruits too. It is clean and fresh on the palate with a lovely citrus finish. 0-5 years.

Lovely honey and pear fruit, this is 90% Chardonnay and 10% Aligoté. The Aligoté brings a fresher lighter character to the wine, which is charmingly open and sweet fruited with a touch of nuttiness on the finish. 0-3 years.

Chock-full of pretty, red, fruit, plenty of wild strawberry and raspberry character joined on the palate by some silky, rounded tannins adding depth and body before a lovely juicy finish. 0-5 years.

Very aromatic raspberry fruit with hints of blackcurrant and cherries. It is big and generous on the palate with some rounded tannins. There is a lovely, sweet, ripeness to the fruit before a crisp, red cherry which adds a lightness to the finish. 0-5 years.

Inviting, white flower nose over white peach fruit with a sweet, honey character. It is soft and easy on the palate with oodles of juicy fruit but with fine acidity and a long, elegant finish. 0-5 years.

Pretty, perfumed, floral nose with gentle red fruits, richer on the palate showing more body, ripe tannins, plenty of juicy strawberry and raspberry fruit with an elegant freshness on the finish. 3-9 years.

Very elegant with generous, fruit character and a gently perfumed note. There are some silky tannins on the palate with a lovely mineral edge, plenty of richness with lovely weight and depth on the finish. 3-9 years.

Inviting, white flower nose over white peach fruit with a sweet, honey character. It is soft and easy on the palate with oodles of juicy fruit but with fine acidity and a long, elegant finish. 3-9 years.

Focused and balanced with pure fruit flavours, apples and pears but also greengages. Lingering and silky with really good mineraily and excellent length. Stunning wine from the rising star of Chablis.

Full and creamy with wonderful depth of fruit, showing flavours of green plums and apples with lovely acidity to give balance. Clean and positive on the palate with great depth, vivacity and drive. 

Full and rich with wonderful ripeness and concentration. 20% is fermented in barrel which gives a bit of roundness and breadth. Creamy and long with white and green fruits and good acidity to give balance.

Full and rich with wonderful ripeness and concentration. 20% is fermented in barrel which gives a bit of roundness and breadth. Creamy and long with white and green fruits and good acidity to give balance.