2023 Futures
To find out about the week's releases, go to our Latest News page.
You can also sort all the wines in our selection by release date.
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A family property since the 1950s, the arrival of a new generation has awakened this 32-hectare cru bourgeois in Cussac-Fort-Médoc, between Saint-Julien and Margaux. Revealed in 2012, du Retout climbs another notch in 2018 and 2019 with enthusiastic, sincere and tasty Haut-Médoc, full of fruit and carried by fresh tannins. Congratulations!
Quarin : 90/100 « Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr, épicé, vanillé et pour la première fois plus floral que jamais. Moelleux en entrée de bouche, très aromatique au milieu, avec un grand équilibre dans le déroulé, le vin avance juteux, savoureux, sur un des grains de tannin les plus nuancés dans ce cru. Qu'il est doux de remarquer que sur ces terroirs réputés austères, le travail des hommes a permis de révéler un potentiel de parfums jusqu'alors caché. De l'art de faire bouger les lignes. Bravo ! »
Martin : 85-87/100 « The 2023 Château du Retout has an intense and perfumed bouquet with layers of black cherries, red plum and a hint of camphor emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet entry, maybe just a little too saccharine compared to the best Haut-Médocs, although it does offer a sense of lusciousness that I appreciate. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.05%
- Blend:
- 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
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Second wine of Clos Manou, the Médoc as we like it: generous, sweet and balanced by a good vivacity. A real treat!
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.95%
- Blend:
- 52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet sauvignon, 3,5% Petit verdot, 2,5% Cabernet franc
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Léoville-Barton did not have any attached cru (such as Potensac and Léoville-Las Cases, Pibran and Pichon-Baron, etc.). This "gap" was filled in 2011 with the acquisition of a beautiful historical cru bourgeois de Moulis, Mauvesin, immediately renamed Mauvesin-Barton to show the Barton family's involvement in this new challenge. In all confidence!
Revue du vin de France : 90-92/100 « Délicieux, tel est le terme qui qualifie ce 2023 au fruité savoureux et à la bouche très soyeuse. Un vin très charmeur et élégant qui devrait offrir beaucoup de plaisir dans sa jeunesse. »
Galloni : 87-89/100 « The 2023 Mauvesin Barton is a potent, dark wine. A blast of dark cherry, plum, chocolate and gravel gives the 2023 its exuberant profile. I find the tannins a bit imposing and large in scale. It will be interesting to see if this softens with time. Today, it is quite the bruiser. »
Martin : 89-91/100 « The 2023 Mauvesin Barton has an attractive bouquet with black plum, cassis and light floral scents. This is nicely defined. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and modest weight, but the oak is a little conspicuous toward the finish. It doesn't quite have the ambition or complexity of the 2022, though it represents a fine, perhaps earlier- drinking Moulis-en-Médoc. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.40%
- Blend:
- 56% Cabernet sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 1% Cabernet franc
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Vinified in the cellars of Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou, this cuvée benefits from the best care. Its higher proportion of Merlot (68%) makes it a wine of pleasure, gourmet and quickly enjoyable.
Galloni : 90-92/100 « The 2023 Madame de Beaucaillou is a very pretty, aromatic wine. Crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon, dried herbs and a kiss of French oak are all nicely delineated. This juicy, perfumed, Merlot-based Haut-Médoc is a fine choice for drinking over the next decade or so. The 2023 is absolutely delicious. »
Martin : 88-90/100 « The 2023 Madame de Beaucaillou has a delightful bouquet with brambly red fruit, rose petals and cedar. Less Petit Verdot in the blend means it is less floral than the 2022. The palate is grippy and quite peppery on the entry-a little angular at the moment, but barrel-maturation will smooth the edges. That cracked black pepper element reappears toward the finish that needs more persistency. Give it three to four years in bottle if you can. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 59% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot
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Initiator of cold pre-fermentation maceration, Charmail has been offering for 20 years amazing wines of flesh and fruit, which have the particularity of being quickly accessible for Haut-Médoc wines.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
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With remarkable consistency, Potensac has been one of the most regular crus bourgeois in the northern Médoc for 30 years, proof of the know-how of the Léoville-Las Cases team (same owner). Its ability to age is always surprising, even and especially in the "early years".
Revue du Vin de France : 91-93/100 « La proportion de cabernets monte progressivement et le vin prend une dimension plus stricte, mais aussi plus racée. Tendu, mais avec du volume et des tanins structurants, il s’inscrit comme un Potensac de garde. »
Quarin : 89/100 « Couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez aromatique, au fruité mûr. Bouche juteuse, savoureuse, à la saveur franche de fruits mûrs. Finale de longueur normale. Tannicité enrobée. »
Galloni: 91-93/100 « The 2023 Potensac is a seriously beautiful wine that shows just how complex and nuanced wines from this property can be. Crushed flowers, spice, red/purplish fruit, rose petal and mint are some of the notes that lift from the glass. Bright saline tones underpin the mid-palate and finish. This is one of the most complete young Potensacs I can recall tasting. »
Martin : 90-92/100 « The 2023 Potensac has a well-defined nose: predominantly black fruit, with touches of seaweed in the background. I warm to it more with acquaintance, and it gradually coheres. The palate is medium- bodied with pliant tannins and a fine line of acidity. Silky-smooth in texture, you can tell that there is some quality new oak on the finish, which is simpatico with the fruit. It's a good, solid Potensac that will require three or four years in bottle. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.40%
- Blend:
- 48% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc
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The incessant work of Mr. and Mrs. Dief since 2000 is bearing fruit today: in a tense and distinguished style, Clos Manou shines with a vibrant, deep energy, with pure and radiant fruit, combining length and density. Undoubtedly the most beautiful revelation of the northern Médoc in recent vintages.
Revue du Vin de France : 90-92/100 « Comme à son habitude, cette propriété élabore un vin très charmeur et délicieux, habilement élevé et doté de beaucoup de fruit. Une valeur sûre à la belle évolution prévisible. »
Quarin : 92/100 « Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Nez aromatique, au fruité frais et épicé et pour la première fois mentholé. Délicatement charnu en entrée de bouche, aromatique au milieu, avec une construction impeccable où tout glisse dans un grand équilibre, le vin s'achève long et séveux. On halète en finale. »
Galloni : 88-90/100 « The 2023 Clos Manou is a bold, juicy Médoc. Plum, spice, leather, cedar and dried herbs are nicely pushed forward. The 2023 is a but rustic as this stage, but it has potential. Pretty top notes brighten the finish. »
Martin : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Clos Manou has a clean and precise nose of earthy black fruit, with touches of freshly rolled tobacco following through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and finely proportioned, with gentle grip and a keen line of acidity. There is a build in the mouth absent in many of its peers, as well as unquestionably greater persistency. Excellent. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.20%
- Blend:
- 70% Cabernet sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Petit verdot
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Bought in 2008 by M. Cuvelier (Clos Fourtet), a new era is beginning at Poujeaux under the leadership of Messrs Thienpont and Derenoncourt.
With its racy elegance, natural velvetiness and delicate yet deep texture, Poujeaux is the most Saint-Julien of the Moulis wines, and a model of style for all the crus bourgeois of the Médoc. The vintage is making steady progress, as evidenced by the 94/100 rating awarded by the Revue du Vin de France for its 2020 vintage « voilà un vin très séveux et prometteur ».
Revu du Vin de France : 91-92/100 « Le cru signe un 2023 très élégant et fidèle à son style, avec une matière soyeuse, des tanins mûrs et fondus, et une jolie fraîcheur en fin de bouche. Très séduisant. »
Quarin : 92/100 « Couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez intense, pur, au fruité mûr. Vin charnu de part en part, avec de la classe dans le toucher qui évolue juteux, dynamique et profond dans la persistance. Tannicité bien enveloppée. Très beau rendu eu égard le petit degré d'alcool. »
Galloni : 90-92/100 « The 2023 Poujeaux is plump, juicy and super-inviting right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit, sweet spice and floral accents caress the palate, all framed by supple, silky tannins. There's a bit more Petit Verdot in the blend this year, and that comes through in the wine's dark flavor profile and structural feel. This is a fine vintage for Poujeaux. »
Martin : 91-93/100 « This Moulis has a tempting nose with blackberry, wild strawberry, incense and crushed violet scents-well defined and focused, blossoming nicely in the glass. There's good energy and vibrancy. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit. Perhaps just a little gritty in terms of texture, there is a bit of rigidity apropos the tannins on the finish. Hopefully, it will gain more elegance once in bottle, but it feels as if it will meld together during élevage. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 12.5%
- Blend:
- 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot
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Located at the northern tip of the Médoc, the vineyard of Château La Goulée was abandoned in 2007 when Cos d'Estournel acquired it. The aim was to produce an intensely flavoursome, tasty and charming wine thanks to an almost (90%) pure Merlot grape variety.
The contract was perfectly fulfilled with this magnificent 2019, a real delicacy rated 92/100 by M. Galloni (Vinous).
Quarin : 90/100 « Couleur sombre et intense. Nez très aromatique, fruité, frais. Bouche immédiatement grasse à l'attaque, se développant savoureuse sur une tannicité très enveloppée. C'est superbe de fondant. Nuances profondes dans la persistance. »
Galloni : 91-93/100 « The 2023 G d'Estournel is a seriously beautiful wine. Dark, layered and super-expressive, the 2023 has so much to offer. An explosion of red/purplish fruit, spice, rose petal, lavender and mocha makes a strong opening impression. This is an especially bold, fruit-forward vintage for the G, perhaps because of the inclusion of recently acquired parcels planted on clay/limestone soils. The 2023 is all about harmony, and there is plenty of that. »
Martin : 86-88/100 « The 2023 G d'Estournel has a very intense and ripe bouquet for this cuvée compared to recent vintages. It's opulent, almost ravishing. The palate is quite precocious with a granular texture and fine acidity, revealing a little graphite and a dab of black pepper on its linear finish. It is just missing a little amplitude, turning a little spirituous on the aftertaste. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 12.78
- Blend:
- 64% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
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The third wine jewel of Bernard Magrez (after Pape Clément and Fombrauge), bought in 1999. After a complete overhaul of the vineyard (it is now the largest Grand Cru Classé in the Médoc with 225 ha of vineyards), La Tour Carnet displays a modern, smooth and powerful style. A formidable competitor in blind tastings.
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100 « Coloré, ferme, avec des qualités réelles de constitution. Il pourrait surprendre au vieillissement. »
Quarin : 87/100 « Vin fruité, à la bouche agréable, mais simple. »
Galloni : 91-93/100 « The 2023 La Tour Carnet is superb. La Tour Carnet is one of Bordeaux's hidden gems. The 2023 is another fine edition. [...] In this vintage, it benefits from the addition of fruit from Bernard Magrez's estate in Saint-Estèphe. In some tastings, La Tour Carnet has been more opulent. Either way, few wines in Bordeaux offer a better mix of quality and value. »
Martin : 89-91/100 « The 2023 La Tour Carnet presents a well-defined bouquet of blackberry and raspberry fruit, with touches of cedar developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, a little chewy in the mouth, with nice grip and a lightly spiced finish. This is a fine, what you might call "dependable," La Tour Carnet that will give a lot of pleasure over 12 to 15 years.More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
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Although contiguous to Poujeaux, Chasse-Spleen offers another face to Moulis wines, more tannic and, in its first youth, more austere. A great Medoc classic.
Chasse-Spleen expands in 2023 with the acquisition of Brillette, 35 ha of a beautiful terroir of deep gravel in Moulis.
Revue du Vin de France : 91-92/100 « Le cru s’est étendu en 2023 avec l’acquisition de Brillette. Le vin est très charmeur, conforme à son style. Dans un registre floral, tendre et juteux, avec une finale saline. Un Chasse-Spleen classique et équilibré. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
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We no longer present Sociando-Mallet, which should be in a good place in the cellar of any wine lover, as the quality and above all the regularity of its last thirty vintages are so impressive. Without wishing to underestimate the hard work of the late Mr Gautreau since 1969, it must be said that the terroir, against the Gironde on a gravelly ridge comparable to that of Montrose, is indeed that of a Grand Cru Classé. Unavoidable 2016, the greatest wine of Sociando-Mallet since 1996.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
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Renowned for having the best terroir of the Margaux unclassified growths, La Tour de Mons is one of the rare true Margaux Crus Bourgeois at a sweet price, with a faultless regularity for more than 15 years. Bought at the end of November 2019 by the Perrodo family (Ch. Labégorce, Ch. Marquis d'Alesme).
Galloni : 89-91/100 « The 2023 La Tour de Mons is a pleasant, fruity Margaux to drink young while the flavors remain vibrant. Succulent red cherry, spice, blood orange and pomegranate take center stage. Tour de Mons is not especially complex, but it is tasty. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
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A small estate (12 ha), carefully tended and vinified with constant regularity, Deyrem Valentin is one of the most typical Margaux crus. Distinguished by the Revue du Vin de France among the hidden nuggets of the Médoc, "its Margaux wines draw a delicious balance".
Promoted to "Cru Bourgeois Supérieur" in 2020.
Quarin : 88/100 « Couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez moyennement aromatique, au fruité mûr et crémeux. Bouche caressante et suave, un peu légère, mais parfumée. Longueur normale. »
Galloni : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Deyrem Valentin is a terrific surprise. Rich, ample and explosive, Deyrem Valentin has a ton to offer. To be sure, readers should expect a dense, opulent style, but it works quite well here. Succulent red/purplish fruit, spice, rose petal and citrus peel build into the deeply satisfying, resonant finish. Well done. »
Martin : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Deyrem-Valentin has a quintessential Margaux bouquet that is extremely well defined. Pure black cherry and blueberry fruit tones gently unfurl in the glass. The oak here is neatly integrated. The palate is wonderfully balanced with gentle grip, sapid black fruit and veins of blueberry, harmonious and poised with an insistent tug on the finish. This over-performs given its status and comes highly recommended. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
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Totally surrounded by classified growths, La Gurgue enjoys a privileged terroir, and the attentive care of Mrs Villars (also owner of Ferrière, classified growth of Margaux, and Haut-Bages-Libéral, classified growth of Pauillac), distinguished in the Top 25 of the best producers of the Bettane&Desseauve 2020 guide. Certainly the best quality/price/pleasure ratio in the appellation.
Galloni : 89-91/100 « The 2023 La Gurgue offers very good depth but is less expressive aromatically than it often is. Strong Cabernet Sauvignon inflections lend plenty of character. There's a bit of tightness in the tannins that suggests heat stress may have been an issue. I am very interested to see what elevage does here. »
Martin : 89-91/100 « The 2023 Clos Floridène Blanc has a lively and well-defined bouquet with yellow fruit, Granny Smith and light stony aromas. The palate is fresh and crisp with grapefruit and orange rind notes. It's a little pithier than its peers, with a slightly resinous finish. Fine. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
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Second wine of Brane-Cantenac, Baron de Brane demonstrates even more than his big brother the progress made in this château over the last 15 years. With a silky smooth 2016, deliciously crisp and juicy on the finish, Baron de Brane is now more than a second wine, it is a brand in its own right!
Quarin : 89/100 « Beau rouge sombre. Nez intense, au fruité mûr. Délicat à l'attaque, savoureux au milieu, avec un beau toucher, le vin fond, puis prend de l'aisance entre le milieu et la finale. Longueur normale. »
Galloni : 88-90/100 « The 2023 Baron de Brane offers up dark-fleshed fruit, new leather, tobacco and incense. There's a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon than in most years, and the Merlot was saignéed. All of these elements yield an attractive wine that is still coming together. Today, the Baron is a bit of a bruiser. »
Martin : 89-91/100 « The 2023 Baron de Brane is well-defined on the nose with black cherries, wild mint and pencil box scents that are nicely focused. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a grippy entry. There's backbone on this Deuxième Vin, quite feisty on the finish with decent length. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13,8%
- Blend:
- 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère, 1% Petit Verdot
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Even though it is not classified, Siran has been in competition with the classified growths of Margaux for the last ten years, with wines that are at once delicate, firm and full-bodied with age. Aligning successes since 2015, Siran is now at its best, 2020 being its best vintage ever and hailed as such by the Revue du Vin de France: « réussite majeure pour le cru », rated 95/100.
Quarin : 89/100 « Couleur sombre. Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité. Touche de fruits noirs. Délicat en entrée de bouche, soyeux dans son déroulé, le vin fond au palais, très agréable sur une longueur normale et savoureuse. »
Galloni : 87-89/100 « The 2023 Siran is a rich, earthy Margaux. Cherry, tobacco, dried herbs and scorched earth add to an impression of rustic, wild power. This Siran has a ton of power, but incisive tannins give an impression of untamed intensity. Tasted two times. »
Martin : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Siran has a well-defined bouquet that is not as complex as the previous vintage. It is focused and delineated, with black fruit mixed with graphite and melted tar, almost Saint-Julien in style. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, quite minerally and lively without the depth of the 2022, yet rather elegant and refined on the finish. This constitutes a very gracious Margaux and as I tried second and third bottles towards the end of my trip, it just seemed to get better and better. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
- Blend:
- 49% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot
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The arrival of Mr. Derenoncourt as a consultant in 2002 relaunched Prieuré-Lichine, giving it first of all a better aromatic dimension thanks to a more mature grape. The limitation of yields since 2009 has resulted in additional density and volume, which he lacked to compete with his peers. Progress hailed by the Revue du Vin de France, notably for its 2020, rated 95/100 « the most complete in a long time ».
Revue du Vin de France : 92-93/100 « Le cru a retrouvé toute sa densité et signe un 2023 de belle intensité, avec un cœur de bouche juteux et du volume. La finale est un rien resserrée. Il pourrait bien évoluer. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 93-94/100 ♥ Coup de cœur «Le meilleur des échantillons présentés montre le corps dense donné par ce millésime de cabernet, ainsi qu’un fruit profond et mûr. Le vin est encore dans sa phase d’extrême jeunesse. »
Quarin : 91/100 « Belle couleur sombre. Nez intense, au fruité mûr et subtil. Bouche délicate et suave, avec un gras fin parcourant le palais. Le vin évolue savoureux sur une belle longueur et un déroulé rarement vu aussi uni depuis le millésime 2005. Un renouveau. »
Galloni : 91-93/100 « The 2023 Prieuré-Lichine offers up copious red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint. This is very nicely perfumed. Silky tannins add to an impression of finesse. There is just a touch of dryness on the finish, which is the only real question mark here. Tasted two times. »
Martin : 91-93/100 « The 2023 Prieuré-Lichine has a well-defined and quite detailed bouquet with pretty black cherries, cedar and wilted violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, with light tannins matched by a crisp bead of acidity. It doesn't possess a dense or concentrated finish, yet there is balance here, and it will provide very pleasant drinking for 15 to 18 years. This is just a delicious Margaux wine in the making. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
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The smallest classified growth of Margaux (8 ha), Ferrière is a traditional, straightforward and pleasant Margaux, moderately powerful but perfectly balanced. Its ageing capacity is undeniable. Same owner as Haut-Bages-Libéral. In organic conversion since the 2012 vintage, certified from the 2015 vintage, and now in the list of the 25 best French producers for the Bettane&Desseauve 2020 guide. Bravo !
Galloni : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Ferrière is a hugely promising wine. At this early stage, 2023 looks like a wine of notable refinement. Ferrière is typically a big Margaux with large-grained tannins, but that is not the case at all with 2023. Dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol abound. Claire Lurton likes to present this wine from tank, before the wine is put into wood, in order to show the quality of the fruit. »
Martin : 91-93/100 « It has a very precise bouquet, understated in style, with blackberry and bilberry fruit laced with cedar. The palate is medium- bodied with crisp black fruit on the entry, quite spicy and peppery in style. It's a more vivacious Ferrière compared to other vintages, closing with a smooth and harmonious finish. This is a lovely Margaux from Claire Lurton. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
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With a winegrowing past dating back to the 17th century and classified as a 3rd growth in 1855, Château Marquis d'Alesme has nevertheless fallen into decline as it has been bought up (many times).
The Perrodo family (Labégorce, Labégorce-Zédée, La Tour de Mons) acquired it in 2006 in a poor state of repair, with solid ambitions: redistribution of the small 15-hectare vineyard, meticulous work in the vineyard, and a state-of-the-art winery... The vineyard has regained its credentials in recent vintages, as confirmed by the critics' notes and comments.
Revue du Vin de France : 93-94/100 « Le cru gagne encore en distinction. Il combine la grande finesse margalaise et l’intensité des saveurs. Mention pour la belle finale sapide aux tanins délicats et soyeux. Une très belle réussite. »
Quarin : 92/100 « Couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité et subtil, évoluant à la fois frais et mûr dans le verre. Délicatement pulpeux en entrée de bouche, juteux au milieu, le vin évolue suave et parfumé sur une puissance modérée. Jolie finale savoureuse valorisant les arômes plus que le corps. Vin margalien. »
Galloni : 93-95/100 « The 2023 Marquis d'Alesme is impressive. Raspberry jam, blood orange, white flowers, mint and lavender abound. Silky, elegant tannins wrap it all together in style. A closing burst of bright acids and lifted floral notes lends the last kick of resonance. Classy, elegant and polished, the 2023 is one of the best recent editions I have encountered. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
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Since 2006, Cantenac-Brown has returned to the forefront of the Margaux scene with wines that are fuller-bodied and deeper than most of its neighbors. A direct competitor of Giscours. "The rising star of Margaux," according to the Revue du Vin de France! The arrival of the new owners in 2019 (Le Lous family) marks a new qualitative progression, with the acquisition of 10 additional hectares and the complete renovation of the winery.
Quarin : 94/100 « Couleur rouge sombre. Nez très aromatique, fruité et plus fin qu'auparavant. Délicat en entrée de bouche, délicieux au milieu, avec un corps arrondi et du fond dans la saveur, le vin évolue long, séveux et surtout sans cesse juteux. Un joli déroulé.»
Galloni : 93-96/100 « The 2023 Cantenac Brown is concentrated, ample and generous right out of the gate. Blackberry, incense, new leather, tobacco, menthol and chocolate are all amplified to the maximum. As is often the case, Cantenac Brown is one of the more extroverted wines in Margaux. It's a style that works so well. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2023 needs time to shed some of its baby fat. »
Martin : 91-93/100 « The 2023 Cantenac Brown [...] is quite forward and more fruit-driven that expected. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded, very pliant tannins. It's impressively weighty and notably focused, though maybe not quite delivering the complexity and terroir expression on the finish as I found with the previous vintage. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
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In 2000, Malescot Saint-Exupéry woke up under the leadership of Michel Rolland. Since then, in a generous and serene style, very rich for a Margaux, he has never ceased to distinguish himself. As the Revue du Vin de France wrote: "In 10 years, it is the wine that has made the most progress among the Margaux wines".
Revue du Vin de France : 93-95/100 « Le château réussit le tour de force de produire un vin à la fois dense, concentré et intensément fruité, mais aussi très élégant et sans lourdeur. Brillant, salin, précis, il termine sur la pulpe du fruit. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 95/100 « Nous retrouvons ce que nous aimons dans se cru, sa franchise, sa droiture, mais aussi sa finesse aromatique et son potentiel de garde, avec l’enveloppe de merlots. Grande réussite. »
Galloni : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Malescot St. Exupéry is a powerful Margaux that will need a bit of time to come together. Potent tannins wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit, lavender, mint and dried herbs. These days, Malescot is not quite as unyielding as it used to be, but this remains a decidedly old-school Margaux in style and overall philosophy. »
Martin : 92-94/100 « Displaying blackberry and briar on the nose, the 2023 Malescot Saint Exupéry demands some coaxing from the glass. There's just a light, confit-like aroma in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine structure, slightly powdery tannins, modest weight and noticeably fresh acidity and salinity, the latter especially prominent toward the finish. More classically hewn compared to the 2022, this will require five or six years in bottle. Classy. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
- Blend:
- 58 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 37 % Merlot, 5 % Petit-Verdot
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Back in top form since the early 2000s, the great Giscours estate has once again become one of the major Margaux growths, in its own distinctive style: very colourful, full-bodied and richly fruity for a Margaux. Its ageing ability has made its reputation as much as its always wise prices.
Quarin : 91/100 « Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Nez aromatique, au fruité mûr et frais. Délicat en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu, le vin caresse le palais, aromatique, avant de s'achever sur une finale un brin ferme, de longueur normale. »
Galloni : 96-98/100 « The 2023 Giscours is the very best wine I have ever tasted here. Giscours has been knocking on the door of Bordeaux's elite for a few years now. Two thousand twenty-three is the year in which Giscours joins the region's big boys and girls. A towering, majestic Margaux, the 2023 dazzles from start to finish. What a wine! »
Martin : 90-92/100 « The 2023 Giscours has a classically styled bouquet, less open and concentrated than the 2022, but well-defined with graphite-tinged black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a bright entry, a crisp line of acidity and fresh black fruit, with a noticeable marine/briny influence that guides the finish. This is not a powerful Giscours and doesn't quite have the persistence of the previous vintage, but I admire its linearity and classicism. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
- Blend:
- 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc
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Neighbour of Palmer and 3rd Grand Cru Classé like him, Issan offers wines that are clearly different, straighter and crisper. Since 2004, Issan wines have grown in size and body without losing their elegance or denying their Margalais origins.
Bettane & Desseauve : 93/100 « Beaucoup de finesse au nez, le corps est pour le moment un peu moins dense qu’on ne s’y attend mais le tannin est fin et la finale a du charme. »
Quarin : 95/100 « Couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez intense, fin, fruité et délicatement toasté. Ultra minutieux en entrée de bouche, avec un gras fin parcourant le palais et beaucoup de goût, le vin se déroule lentement, fondant et subtil. Tout à la fois dense et délicat, il persiste sur une finale soutenue et longue. Très beau déroulé. »
Galloni : 93-95/100 « The 2023 d'Issan is a powerful, dense wine, especially for a property where the wines tend to be more understated. A rich, muscular Margaux, the 2023 d'Issan exudes intensity in all of its dimensions. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2023 is going to need a number of years to shed some of its considerable baby fat. Dried herbs, tobacco, incense and bold, dark-toned fruit flow into the deep, resonant finish. »
Martin : 88-90/100 « The 2023 d'Issan has a very pure bouquet with black cherries, cassis and blueberry fruit, though I feel that other recent vintages have shown a touch more complexity. The palate is well balanced and cohesive with fine and quite edgy tannins. There is an impressive symmetry to this d'Issan with a very poised and quite persistent finish. It improves with aeration and all the time, the aromatics seem to muster more energy. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13,83%
- Blend:
- 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Petit Verdot
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In organic conversion from 2013, Durfort-Vivens was one of the very first classified growths in the Médoc to claim and display organic certification from 2016. M. Bettane is one of its most fervent defenders: "the quality/price ratio remains absolutely unique at this level of quality of terroir and work.
Galloni : 92-95/100 « The 2023 Durfort-Vivens is a very pretty, understated wine. In 2023, Durfort is marked by a brighter profile than usual: red fruit, blood orange and flowers. Medium in body and persistent, with good energy and very fine balance, the 2023 is promising. Even though it's showing a touch of oak at this stage, this layered and sumptuous offering is showing well. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
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Under the direction of Henri Lurton, Brane-Cantenac has gained in recent years in fullness and density and has become one of the leading growths of the appellation along with Palmer and Rauzan-Ségla and even the most authentically Margalese of them all. Let there be no mistake, behind a typically Margalaise elegance and delicacy that encourages tasting it too young, Brane-Cantenac needs time to blossom and reveal itself.
Quarin : 96/100 « Couleur sombre et intense. Nez très aromatique, intense, fin, pur et fruité. Minutieux en entrée de bouche le vin s'impose de suite par son gras. Un peu moins parfumé à cet âge que d'habitude, mais avec une structure plus riche, ce 2023 retrouve du goût et des tannins fins dans la persistance. Il s'achève séveux, long, toujours gras, sur une tannicité très bien enveloppée. »
Galloni : 94-96/100 « The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is a sensual, silky wine. There's plenty of depth and structure behind that, but the first impression is most definitely one of elegance. Crushed flowers, spice and dried herbs meld into a core of super- expressive, dark, red-toned fruit. [...] Brane-Cantenac remains one of the best relative values in Bordeaux, or anywhere, for that matter. »
Martin : 93-95/100 « Matured entirely in new oak, The Brane Cantenac 2023 has wonderful delineation on the nose, quite floral with pressed violets infusing the lifted black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky-smooth entry and a silver bead of acidity. Pure black fruit infused with graphite lends this Pauillac-like attributes, sustained on the finish, as usual. This is a very classical Brane- Cantenac- a worthy follow-up to the 2022. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
- Blend:
- 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère, 1% Petit Verdot
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An exceptional terroir classified in 1855 at the top of the second classified growths (with Mouton-Rothschild). Classicism in its purest form, an exemplary Margaux and certainly the cru classé whose style is the closest to that of Château Margaux.
Quarin : 95/100 « Couleur noire et intense. Nez très aromatique, au fruité frais et suave, qui s'amplifie encore à l'agitation du verre. Charnu en entrée de bouche, parfumé au milieu, accompagné d'un gras fin et d'un déroulé impeccable, le vin évolue long. Touche légèrement tannique dans la persistance, mais aussi en même temps florale. »
Galloni : 96-98/100 « The 2023 Rauzan-Ségla is fabulous. Rich, dense and explosive, the 2023 soars out of the glass with captivating aromatics. Readers will find a vertical, deep Margaux endowed with tremendous character and nuance. All the elements are so well-balanced. Crushed rocks, plum, blood orange, spice and leather are some of the notes that explode into the finish. In 2023, the Grand Vin is distinctly red-fruited and vibrant. Rauzan-Ségla is one of the most memorable wines of the vintage. It was nothing short of stellar on the four occasions I tasted it. »
Martin : 93-95/100 « The 2023 Rauzan-Ségla has a very aromatic bouquet of wilted violets, black cherries and hints of camphor, with a faint oyster shell note lingering in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. This is endowed with tension and purity, while a light marine influence imparts character. Armed with an energetic, spicy finish, this is a more classical Rauzan-Ségla that deserves five or six years in bottle. Even so, it already conveys an air of sophistication. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
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By the quality of the selections, and the creation of a 3rd wine from 2009, Pavillon Rouge would have easily been considered as the Great Wine of Château Margaux only 20 years ago.
Quarin : 95/100 « Couleur sombre, intense, pourpre. Nez très aromatique, fin, pur, fruité. Charnu en entrée de bouche, charnu au milieu, avec beaucoup de goût, le vin se développe juteux, précis, tout à la fois aérien et tramé. Très belle finale savoureuse, à la tannicité enveloppée. »
Galloni : 90-93/100 « The 2023 Pavillon Rouge is a deep, intense wine. Bright acids drive a core of dark red-toned fruit, spice and flowers. There's a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, which makes structural elements stand out, but the tannins are on the lower side analytically. I would give this a few years to come together. »
Martin : 90-92/100 « The 2023 Pavillon Rouge has a very pure and floral bouquet, with crushed violets and blue fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannins and moderate depth, quite linear and structured in style with white pepper and a touch of brine on the saline finish. There's good length, even if it's missing the amplitude of the previous vintage. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
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Palmer, a Cru apart from the Margaux, delivers an original interpretation of the appellation with wines that are always charming, melting and voluptuous, which explains its 50% Merlot grape variety.
Quarin : 96/100 « Couleur noire et violine. Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité, à la fois frais et mûr. Subtil. Aérien en entrée de bouche, très aromatique au milieu, avec de la classe dans le toucher, le vin prend un beau goût de fruits noirs dans la dernière partie du palais. Il s'achève long, savoureux et complexe. »
Galloni : 98/100 « A breathtaking wine, the 2023 Palmer is sensational. Inky, rich and explosive, the 2023 is a real head-turner. Readers will find an extroverted, dense Palmer that is immediately captivating. Here, too, the balance is mind-blowing. Ample and resonant, the 2023 is striking in its beauty. Waves of layered fruit rush out first, building through to the back end with stunning aromatic intensity. There is no other wine like Palmer in Bordeaux. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of a great Pomerol, as heretical as that might sound! If I could pick only one wine to own from the 2023 vintage, Palmer might very well be it. »
Martin : 95-97/100 « The nose is very intense, as normal, loaded with blackberry, boysenberry, violet and veins of blood orange in the background. Powerful, though not in the same way as the barnstorming 2022, it manages to retain focus. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip on the entry. This is quite a deep Palmer with touches of licorice-tinged black fruit. It's more opulent than almost all other Margaux wines this vintage, furnished with black pepper and allspice on the finish. It will require several years in bottle. The 2023 Palmer is one of the most long-term, serious wines on the Left Bank. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
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No other vintage can better express the magical association that is so difficult to obtain simultaneously finesse and power. A first growth without rival in its style!
Quarin : 97/100 « Couleur sombre, pourpre et vive. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité, subtil et noble, avec du fond et pour autant une note florale de violette. Ultra minutieux en entrée de bouche, délicat, subtil et aérien au milieu, le vin évolue dense, juteux et parfumé, sur un toucher fin. Il s'achève long, sur une saveur de fruits noirs. C'est superbe ! »
Galloni : 97-100/100 « The 2023 Château Margaux is fabulous. Sensual, silky and exceptionally polished, is shaping up to be a classic. Seamless, silky tannins wrap around a core of dark red/purplish fruit. Hints of spice, new leather, menthol, licorice and rose petal fill out the glass. There's a bit of new oak peeking through today, but that won't be an issue in a few years' time. Only Bordeaux can produce wines that offer so much flavor intensity at a low alcohols. Margaux is the least showy of the First Growths, but it is often the most refined. The 2023 is sublime. »
Martin : 97-99/100 « The 2023 Château Margaux, is quintessential Château Margaux. It immediately blossoms in the glass with irresistible crushed violets on the nose, instantly demanding attention-you will gladly give it. Exquisitely defined and very focused with supremely well integrated oak, this is blessed with laser-like precision. The palate is silky smooth on the entry, perhaps a little feistier than expected thanks to a liberal sprinkling of black pepper. Quite structured and gentle, you can almost overlook its grip. It finishes with a concentrated, graphite-tinged finish that lingers long in the mouth. This First Growth will require ten years in bottle to really show what it is capable of. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot