The 2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion, which includes 60% whole bunches, aged in 70% new oak, amphora and foudres. It has a pretty, delicate bouquet that opens in the glass, mainly black fruit, raspberry and light crushed stone...

This is really structured, with intense tannins that run the length of the wine and give it verve and vibe. Medium-bodied with lovely berry, light vanilla and currant flavors. The tannins are exceptional. This is a very...

The 2023 Cos d'Estournel, which was bottled in July 2025, was tasted on two visits, showing much better the second in December. It has an intense nose with predominantly black fruit, violet and fresh mint emerging with...

(JD 92-94 points) One for the classic Saint-Emilion limestone lovers out there, the 2023 Château Laroque is almost all Merlot (there's a splash of Cabernet Franc), and it has a pure, medium-bodied, incredibly elegant...

The 2023 Pontet Canet was bottled in mid-July 2025 and it was the first vintage that used air conditioning in the barrel cellar, also the first not using the large vats. There was also a reconfiguration of cooperages used...

The 2023 Alter Ego, bottled late July, takes a few swirls of the glass to cohere, but offers quite enticing scents of blueberry, violet, blood orange and vanilla. Very fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with...

Extremely perfumed, with violets, lavender, black currants, blueberries and light orange peel. Hints of lead pencil. It's medium-bodied and so poised, showing ultrafine, polished tannins. Seductive and caressing, with a...

The 2023 Canon takes time to open on the nose but reveals attractive red berry fruit, pressed flowers (violet) and a very light marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. A little spicier than I...

The 2023 Palmer was bottled in July 2026, the same time as Alter Ego. As you might expect, this is a little more control and precision on the nose by comparison, hints of peony and violet pinpointing its Margaux origin...

The 2023 Phélan Ségur is quite backward on the nose at first, less forthcoming than some of its peers. It eventually opens with blackberry, violet and crushed strawberry, still just a little confit-like in character. The...

(JD 96-100 points) One of the finest wines in the vintage, the 2023 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is based on 52.7% Merlot, 29.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It's one hell of a gorgeous wine offering...

The 2023 Giscours demands coaxing on the nose. Tightly wound, blackberry, blueberry, violet and cedar develop in the glass, though it remains backward, suggesting cellaring is necessary. The palate is medium-bodied with...

The 2023 Gruaud Larose, matured in 95% new oak for 18 months, has an attractive bouquet marked by pure black fruit laced with pressed iris and peony, a touch of clove in the background. Fine delineation, and the oak is...

The 2023 Branaire Ducru was bottled at the end of June. It has a more generous bouquet than anticipated, black plum and raspberry fruit laced with cinnamon and graphite scents, typically Saint-Julien. Fine delineation...

(JD 94-96 points) Cassis, spring flowers, graphite, black cherries, and some smoky nuances all emerge from the 2023 Domaine De Chevalier, another medium to full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly impressive Pessac that has...

The 2023 Cos d'Estournel, which was bottled in July 2025, was tasted on two visits, showing much better the second in December. It has an intense nose with predominantly black fruit, violet and fresh mint emerging with...

The 2023 Figeac was bottled in March 2025, a month earlier than usual, with no fining this vintage. This bides its time in the glass, gradually opening with raspberry, dark cherries, light pencil shavings and crushed...

The 2023 Tour Saint Christophe has a well-defined, dark chocolate-tinged bouquet that is fresh and becomes quite minty with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, quite fleshy on the mid-palate with a...

The 2023 Léoville Las Cases is matured in 80% new oak and bottled at the end of June 2025. Initially, the bouquet is very tight and requires considerable aeration to unlock the aromas of blackberry, cassis, cedar and...

The 2023 Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) has a very perfumed bouquet, a little more precision than Gloria this year with a touch more minéralité. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, nicely structured, gentle...

The 2023 Rauzan Ségla has quite a plush nose for the vintage, perhaps more 2022 in style, scents of cassis, black plum, vanilla and camphor that emerge with aeration. The palate is classy: very cohesive, smooth, with...

(JD 91-93+ points) The second wine of the château is the 2023 Château Margaux Pavillon, which is based on 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Representing 30% of the...

The 2023 Haut-Bailly has a very defined bouquet that is typical Haut-Bailly, with black plum, incense, hints of licorice and light marine scents that are very well defined. The oak is also very well integrated. The palate...

(JD 91-93 points) The second wine of the estate is the 2023 La Dame De Montrose, which checks in as 61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, raised in mostly used barrels. It's a...

The 2023 Talbot has a typical nose for the estate, with open-knit red berry fruit, wild hedgerow and fleeting blackcurrant aromas, iris flower emerging with time in the glass. Not powerful, but it conveys a sense of...

The 2023 Grand Puy Lacoste has an understated bouquet that is beautifully defined, opening with blackberry, briar, cedar and light pencil box aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a sapid entry, fine grip, quite linear...

The 2023 Lagrange was bottled at the end of June. It is understated on the nose, but it needs only two or three minutes before it reveals attractive blackberry, wild hedgerow, cedar wood and sous-bois scents. Very typical...

(JD 95-97 points) The 2023 Château Pape Clément is based on 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Its deep purple hue is followed by a beautiful array of red and black fruits, smoked...

The 2023 Léoville-Poyferré was a serious proposition when I tasted it from barrel. Now, in bottle since June '25, it has a typically sensual and very pure bouquet that seems to give the olfactory senses a metaphorical...

The 2023 La Gaffelière was deeply impressive out of barrel. Now in bottle, it has a sublime bouquet with precision and focused brambly red fruit, undergirded by fine mineralité and tension. The oak is seamlessly...