2024 Futures
-
Since 2010, Claire Villars (also at Ferrière and La Gurgue), puts back in the saddle Haut-Bages Liberal. With a qualitative terroir (adjacent to Latour), this certified organic wine since 2019 has become, for a reasonable price, the good deal of Pauillac.
La Revue du Vin de France : 92-94/100 « Le cru continue sa progression dans l’expression de la finesse, tout en gardant une belle structure. Ce 2024 est tout en équilibre, avec un grain délicat et une jolie finale allongée. Sans aucun doute une affaire pour les amateurs de vins friands et accessibles. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 92/100 « Coloré, charnu, tannin harmonieux, bien dans le caractère de son appellation, avec des nuances discrètes mais bien présentes. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 « The 2024 Haut-Bages Libéral is a classy, polished wine. Silky contours meld around a core of succulent red-toned fruit, white pepper, blood orange and cinnamon. The 2024 is airy and a bit lighter texturally than most vintages, but all the signatures of the property are quite present. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Haut-Bages Libéral has a lucid purple hue. The nose is a little timid at first but opens with a few swirls of the glass, revealing blackberry; wild hedgerow and light tobacco scents. The palate is medium-bodied, reserved in style and grainy in texture, with lighter tannins than the previous vintages and a graphite-infused finish. Unashamedly classic Pauillac in style, this is a successful biodynamic wine taht has a spring to its step."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2019
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 94 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 % Merlot, 1 % Cabernet Franc
-
Ideally located on the Mouton plateau, next to prestigious crus classés such as d'Armailhac, Clerc-Milon and Pontet-Canet, Pibran is owned by the insurance company AXA and benefits from the expertise of the technical team of Pichon-Baron (same owner). There are only a few unclassified wines left in Pauillac, and Pibran is by far the best of them!
J-M Quarin : 92/100 « Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Joli nez très aromatique, fin, pur, fruité et subtil. Délicat en entrée de bouche, juteux et savoureux au milieu, avec du corps, le vin évolue parfumé sur une jolie présence en finale. Bonne longueur. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 91/100 « Beaucoup de grâce aromatique et de fraîcheur, tendre pour le millésime mais sans faiblesse, impeccable réussite. »
La Revue du Vin de France : 90-92/100 « Cette propriété du groupe Axa produit un vin régulièrement délicieux et accessible, misant sur le fruit et la gourmandise. Le 2024 est dans l’esprit, bénéficiant de la belle rondeur d’un merlot juteux et frais. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 90-92/100 "The 2024 Pibran is bright and punchy right out of the gate. Brisk acids and lively floral top notes run through a core of red/purplish fruit, rose petal, cinnamon and blood orange. There's very fine energy and tons of character here."
Vinous (N. Martin): 87-89/100 "The 2024 Pibran has a pleasant, light, Japanese wakame-scented bouquet with a hint of liquorice. It shows fine delineation, though not powerful. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannins, fresh on the entry with a keen thread of acidity and graphite-tinged black fruit on the understated finish."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 54 % merlot, 46 % cabernet sauvignon
-
The arrival of Mr. Dhalluin in 2004 not only benefited Mouton-Rothschild, but also the two other classified growths of Barony: d'Armailhac and Clerc-Milon. Their vines occupy the southern (d'Armailhac) and northern (Clerc-Milon) part of the Mouton gravel plateau. D'Armailhac is barely less rich than Clerc-Milon, but it gives the same aromatic nobility of blackcurrant, tobacco and cedar blends.
La Revue du Vin de France : 93-94/100 « Le cru est sérieux, avec une belle tension, de la définition dans le fruit qui vibre bien en bouche. On perçoit bien la trame des cabernet-sauvignon et franc, finement enrobée. Un vin classique et racé. »
J-M Quarin : 92/100 « Beau rouge sombre, profond. Nez intense, fin, pur et fruité. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu, le vin caresse le palais vers une finale longue et parfumée qui ne marque jamais le tannin. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 90-92/100 "The 2024 Château d'Armailhac has a slightly distant nose at first that demands coaxing fron the glass. This is not its usual outgoing self, though that said, it is well-defined with black fruit and light damp loam scents. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a peppery entry. This lingers nicely in the mouth with fine grip and a pleasant roundness that emerges toward the graphite-tinged finish."
Vinous (A. Galloni): 90-92/100 "The 2024 d'Armailhac is a very beautiful wine. Dark, layered and intensly aromatic, the 2024 is so expressive. The percentage of Cabernet Franc from 60+ year-old vines is high in this vintage, and that very much comes through in the wine's perfume and saline intensity. All the elements are so well integrated. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, cedar, and new leather explode on the finish."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 72 % cabernet sauvignon, 14 % merlot, 14 % cabernet franc
-
Second wine of Pichon-Comtesse de Lalande: velvety, generous, with well-polished tannins and aromas of ripe fruit with a very Pauillaise cedar note. A reliable and regular value, quickly developed.
J-M Quarin : 93/100 « Très beau rouge sombre. Nez intense, au fruité mûr, évoluant sur une touche de vanille bourbon à l'agitation du verre. Bouche délicate et délicieuse, fondante, aimable, avec plus de goût que de corps. Longueur normale. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Réserve de la Comtesse is a very racy, sexy wine. Crushed flowers, mint, lavender, new leather, mocha and spice all grace this exquisite, wonderfully nuanced Réserve. All the elements are so well balanced. Silky tannins add to the wine's total feeling of finesse, but the aromatics are just as inviting."
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100 « Bon corps, texture sans maigreur, tannin fin, assez complexe, c’est tout ce qu’on attend. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 89-91/100 "The 2024 Réserve de la Comtesse offers raspberry and mulberry scents, with light damp undergrowth aromas percolating through, almost moss-like. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly rustic tannins on the entry and some wood tannins present, although there will be less in the final blend. Light cedar notes emerge towards the finish, moderate in length, clean and classic in style."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2024
- Alcohol degree:
- 12.5%
- Grape varieties:
- 72 % cabernet sauvignon, 24 % merlot, 4 % cabernet franc
-
Grand-Puy-Lacoste is the finest of Pauillac's 5th classified growths, held with competence and care by Mr. François-Xavier Borie and his children. The latest vintages show even greater aromatic precision and tannin nobility, especially the superb 2020 vintage.
Variation Case
In music, a variation is an evolution based on a defined theme. Grand-Puy-Lacoste has thus chosen to combine 3 different formats in a single case, enabling the evolution of the wine to be followed over time. The "Caisse Variation" thus contains 1 Double-Magnum, 2 Magnums and 4 Bottles, equivalent in volume to 12 bottles, as well as an invitation to an exclusive visit and tasting at the Château for 4 people (valid indefinitely).J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Couleur sombre, aux reflets noirs. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité et subtil, sentant bon le cabernet sauvignon. Touches de fruits noirs. Moelleux en entrée de bouche et de suite très raffiné au toucher, (la texture évoque le gras fin d'un vin blanc sec), tout fond, subtil, délicat et incrachable. C'est très bon. »
Le Point : 17/20 " S'ouvre à l'aération, floral, bouche élégante, tramée par des tanins fins, fraîche, vin étiré. Un Pauillac délicat."
La Revue du Vin de France : 93-94/100 « Ce pauillac bien typé est doté d’une belle matière avec une pointe acidulée qui apporte une touche tonique à la finale. Joli fruit frais et souplesse des tanins, voilà un vin déjà très séduisant. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a light bouquet for this estate, primarily revealing fresh black fruit laced with tobacco and light smoky scents. It is simple but exhibits impressive delineation. You get the feeling that the aromatics are holding something back. The palate is medium-bodied and classic Pauillac in style with all that graphite-tinged black fruit and edgy tannins. This is not a complex Grand-Puy-Lacoste per se, but I admire its balance, charm and gentle grip on the finish. This is classy in an unpretentious way."
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is pure charm. This is an especially soft, fruity Grand-Puy-Lacoste with good aromatic presence and fine freshness, if not quite the depth or complexity of the very best years. Floral overtones lift the finish effortlessly. This is a delicate, understated Pauillac that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The balance between the 13% alcohol and 70% new oak is sublime. I won't be surprised if the 2024 turns out to be even better from bottle, especially if it gains a bit of mid-palate pliancy in barrel."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 78 % cabernet sauvignon, 22 % merlot.
-
Known for producing one of the firmest and tightest (even robust) Pauillacs available, Duhart-Milon has since 2010 refined its style to gradually approach that of Lafite (same owner and same team). New direction and progress amply confirmed, with an unprecedented charm and fatness from the 2015 vintage onwards. Given the quality of its terroir (the only 4th Grand Cru Classé in Pauillac), Duhart-Milon has certainly not finished its progression.
As the latest Bettane & Desseauve guide (2025) points out, “So many changes in recent vintages, with a great wine that has rediscovered the depth and dimension of the greatest Pauillacs”!
Bettane & Desseauve : 94-95/100 « Complet, particulièrement précis et raffiné dans sa texture et son intégration du boisé, long, c’est un vrai petit frère du Lafite. Il nous a rarement autant plu dès sa naissance. »
La Revue du Vin de France : 93-94/100 « Le cru est droit, séveux et bien en place. Dans un esprit de noble classicisme, d’harmonie et d’équilibre. Rien ne dépasse, la bouche est traçante avec des tanins de belle fraîcheur. Délicieux, posé. »
J-M Quarin : 92/100 « Belle couleur sombre. Nez moyennement intense, au fruité mûr, devenant suave à l'agitation du verre. Bouche au corps tendre et particulièrement fruitée, se développant un peu coulante, mais très savoureuse et très parfumée dans la persistance. Longueur normale. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Duhart-Milon opens with strong Cabernet Sauvignon inflections. Blue-toned fruit, lavender, spice and dried herbs open first, all framed by brisk acids and supporting tannins that lend shape. The 2024 includes 14% press wines, about the norm here. This is a very promising Duhart."
Vinous (N. Martin): 90-92/100 "The 2024 Duhart-Milon was matured in 50% new oak. The aromatics take their time to coalesce. It's a little herbaceous at first although that ebbs away to reveal quite pure blackcurrant, raspberry and Morello scents. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a mixture of red and black fruit and a dab of licorice toward the finish that just tapers slightly. Overall, this is a decent Pauillac in an old-school style that I approve of."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2024
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 78% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 22% Merlot
-
Property Rothschild (Mouton), with d'Armailhac. Apart from the terroir, the main difference between the two crus is the increased proportion of Merlot in Clerc-Milon (35% as opposed to 20%), giving it additional smoothness and richness. Since 2007 Clerc-Milon has benefited from its own vat room, a new winery and a dedicated team of 21 people so that Clerc-Milon can compete qualitatively with Lynch-Bages and Pontet-Canet.
La Revue du Vin de France : 93-94/100 « Il est charmeur, introduit par un nez de fruits noirs, de réglisse. La bouche se montre suave, bien remplie en son milieu puis étirée avec élégance. Un ensemble séduisant et équilibré. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 92-93/100 « Tout le caractère d’un pauillac classique, entre cèdre, havane, épices douces, et délicates nuances empyreumatiques. »
J-M Quarin : 92/100 « Couleur rouge sombre, intense. Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr et subtil, évoluant pur et très agréable dans le verre. Juteux à l'attaque, savoureux au milieu, avec un déroulé à la fois velouté et vif, le vin persiste sur une bonne longueur agréable. Touche d'acidité à fondre à l'élevage. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Clerc Milon has a fragant bouquet with blackberry, briar and light iodine scents that unfold nicely in the glass, though it's not as vigorous as the top vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with finely cut tannins. It has moderate weight and density, with a pleasing sweetness of fruit that comes through on the finish. This Clerc Milon has an appealing sense of composure."
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Clerc Milon is packed with blue/purplish fruit, lavender, sage, dried flowers and mocha. Juicy and forward, Clerc Milon has a lot to go recommend it. Time in the glass brings out gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon savoriness to complement the wine's mid-wzight structure. Lovely."
Le Point : 17/20 " Nez réglisse, mûre, bouche élégante, fraîche, vin gourmand, assez classe, finale relevée, étirée. Très fin."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 66 % cabernet sauvignon, 24 % merlot, 8 % cabernet franc, 1 % carmenère, 1 % petit verdot
-
Contiguous to Mouton-Rothschild, Pontet-Canet is in good vintages the very type of great Pauillac, straight and racy. The first of the Grands Crus Classés to be certified "organic" (in 2010), Pontet-Canet has been at the top of the Médoc since 2000.
La Revue du Vin de France : 94-96/100 « Le vin se distingue une nouvelle fois par son élégance et son soyeux, avec une texture délicate mais un cœur de bouche juteux et une finale enrobée, très posée. Un beau classique qui ravira par son équilibre et son harmonie. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 94-96/100 "The 2024 Pontet-Canet is one of the most elegant wines I have tasted here in some time, as in a long time. Brisk acids and beams of tannin shape a mid-weight, classically built Pontet-Canet unlike any I have tasted. The 2024 is not an abvious wine, it does not have the opulence of most recent years, rather it is a wine that impresses with its energy, tension and class. Floral, spice and mineral notes stain the palate in this vibrant, beautifully sculpted Pontet-Canet. The 2024 is seriously impressive, but it is also less immediate than what was once the norm because of shift towards a style that favors greater energy and vibrancy than in the recent past. The evolution here is going to be fascinating to follow in the coming year."
Bettane & Desseauve : 94-95/100 « Texture raffinée, tendresse naturelle du soutien tannique, beau fruit avec un peu plus de souplesse et de profondeur que dans les millésimes précédents. D’un naturel parfait. »
Le Point : 17-17.5/20 « Baies noires, poivre, bouche souple, onctueuse, généreuse, dense. Vin bien construit. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 93-95/100 "The 2024 Pontet Canet has a very pure bouquet with black cherry, wild strawberry, cassis and light violet scents vying for attention. This is not quite as complex as the '22s I tasted a few months earlier. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannins on the entry, a keen line of acidity and veins of blue fruit commingling with black pepper and light graphite notes. Cohesive on the finish, there is an attractive linearity to this Pontet Canet, with satisfying sustain that delivers about as much precision as anyone could hope for in this vintage."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2010
- Grape varieties:
- Cabernet Sauvignon 52% Merlot 43% Petit Verdot 4% Cabernet Franc 1%
-
Apart from the first great classified growths, no other Bordeaux wine is as world famous as Lynch-Bages. Its worldwide success comes as much from its opulent, full-bodied and robust style, from its unfailing regularity since 1975, and from its media promotion orchestrated by Jean-Michel Cazes. Lynch-Bages was the first wine sent into space (Discovery shuttle in 1985). It is even said that it is him who gave the taste of Bordeaux to the Americans!
Bettane & Desseauve : 95/100 « Charpenté et vertical, profil très pauillacais, avec des notes déjà expressives de havane, un grain de tanin ultra précis et une fraîcheur remarquable. Sans développer la grande vinosité des millésimes glorieux, il définit avec intensité et fermeté une ligne exigeante et sincère. »
La Revue du Vin de France : 94-95/100 « Le vin affiche une admirable concentration, beaucoup de profondeur et de précision dans le fruit. On retrouve la patte du cru, très suave et avenant mais avec une définition et une précision qui ne cessent de progresser. Déjà sacrément bon, il ira aussi fort loin. »
J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Beau rouge sombre, aux reflets pourpres. Nez très aromatique, pur, fruité et subtil, évoluant légèrement fumé dans le verre. Moelleux à l'attaque, juteux en milieu de bouche, avec du goût et sans perte de velouté, le vin fond sur le palais très parfumé, sur des tannins bien enrobés. C'est très bon. »
Vinous (A.Galloni): 93-95/100 "The 2024 Lynch-Bages is packed. Cedar, scorched earth, licorice, incense and pipe tobacco weave through a core of dark, sepia-toned fruit. I especially admire the long, polished finish and overall balance here. The 2024 is a virile Lynch Bages with a bright future."
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Lynch-Bages has some initial reduction that is shaken off after several minutes. Very pure blackberry and blueberry fruit emerges with hints of melted tar and graphite, and iodine eventually lends more complexity. The palate is medium-bodied and quite focused with grippy tannins that are impressive for their fineness. The 2024 possesses palpable mineralité and a poised finish. Though this does not touch the skyscraping heights that have been achieved in recent years, it is a "capable" Lynch-Bages."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 70 % cabernet sauvignon, 24 % merlot, 3 % cabernet franc, 3 % petit verdot
-
Bought in 1986 by the AXA group, initially under the leadership of Mr. Cazes (Lynch-Bages), Pichon-Longueville Baron regained its best form in the powerful and distinguished style of the great Pauillac. It must be said that a small half of its vines are located next to those of Latour, on a first growth terroir! For the Revue du Vin de France: "Pichon-Baron is at the top in the last vintages".
La Revue du Vin de France : 95-96/100 « Le vin affiche une grande race et beaucoup de profondeur. Un Pichon à la trame sérieuse, avec beaucoup de volume et une belle chair qui l’enrobe. Les tanins sont mûrs, avec un grain fin. L’allonge est admirable. Il ira loin. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 95-96/100 « Coloré, ferme, épicé, grand tannin, très sérieux. A l’air, la violette et les arômes se développent parfaitement. »
J-M Quarin : 95/100 « Beau rouge sombre, aux reflets pourpres. Nez intense, fin, pur et fruité. Nuances de violette et réglisse zan à l'agitation du verre. Moelleux en entrée de bouche, puis de suite très savoureux, avec du corps et un déroulé très enrobé et même suave, le vin s'achève long, sur une tannicité présente, mais parfumée. Qu'il est agréable de retrouver du tannin et du bon en finale, c'est si rare cette année. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 94-96/100 "The 2024 Pichon Baron is a very sexy wine. Deep and layered on the palate, with fine depth, the 2024 exudes balance. Sumptuous black cherry, mocha, new leather, licorice, menthol, lavender and pine are all dialed up. There's gorgeous breadth and overall presence here. The Cabernet Sauvignon is quite high at 87%, but it is really the wine's balance that speaks loudest."
Vinous (N. Martin): 92-94/100 "The nose of the 2024 Pichon Baron is immediate and well-defined, with mineral-driven black fruit, a touch of pencil box and subtle estuarine scents. It is quintessential Pichon Baron. The palate is fresh and delineated on the entry, endowed with a core of sapid black olive tapenade-infused black fruit. I appreciate the energy that comes through, especially towards the second half, which maintains a sense of symmetry. It will be earlier drinking compared to the 2020 or 2022, but it is a successful Pauillac in the context of the challenging growing season, though it might require a little more time in bottle."
Le Point : 17/20 " Réglisse, mûre, baies noires, bouche ronde, tanins moelleux en milieu de bouche, de l'éclat, joli fruit moins sévère que certaines années."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 12.5%
- Grape varieties:
- 87 % cabernet sauvignon, 13 % merlot
-
Second wine of Lafite-Rothschild.
J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Couleur rouge sombre, intense. Nez très aromatique, fruité, frais et parfumé. Bouche moelleuse, ronde, juteuse et appétente, avec beaucoup de classe dans le toucher. Ensemble caressant et fondant. Jolie finale de fruits noirs, avec paradoxalement une touche de vivacité qui reste à fondre à l'élevage. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 93-94/100 « Fusion réussie entre merlots et cabernet-sauvignon, excellent volume de bouche, tannin raffiné, finale fraîche et montante. C’est une grande réussite. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Carruades de Lafite is plush, sensual and inviting right out of the gate. Soft contours wrap around a core of plum, black cherry, gravel, incense, licorice and baking spice. This is a rare Carruades that is Merlot-driven. It's a blance that works quite well. This showy, inviting Carruades is quite the charmer."
Vinous (N. Martin): 90-92/100 "The 2024 Carruades de Lafite has fine purity on the nose, black cherries mixed with cassis and pencil box aromas. Impressive delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a fresh and focused entry. The 2024 is very well balanced with gentle grip, plenty of tension and a hint of black truffle on the finish. This is a commendable Deuxième Vin."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2024
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 45% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 6% Cabernet franc, 2% Petit Verdot
-
On the terroir of Pez, known to be the best in St-Estèphe (excluding classified growths), the Cazes family uses the same recipes here as those that made Lynch-Bages so successful: generous fruit and opulent texture. Ormes de Pez is an'almost' Lynch-Bages but at a quarter of the price!
La Revue du Vin de France : 91-93/100 « Le vin séduit par sa belle rondeur et son côté généreusement fruité. La bouche est ciselée, nette, marquée par les fruits rouges. Très jolie finale tendue. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100 « Un vin bien construit qui séduit par son joli fruit, sa souplesse et son bon volume en bouche. Belle réussite. »
J-M Quarin : 91/100 « Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr. Bouche moelleuse à souhait, avec un corps fondant, un déroulé velouté, du goût et du parfum. Bonne longueur. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 90-92/100 "The 2024 Ormes de Pez is a very pretty, expressive Saint-Estèphe. Strong floral, savory and earthy elements abound. Bright red-toned fruit, spice, cedar and new leather lend notable punch. This is a very fine vintage for Ormes de Pez."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 48 % merlot, 41 % cabernet sauvignon, 6 % cabernet franc, 5 % petit verdot
-
Second wine of Calon Ségur with, since 2013, a heart on the label like its big brother. With an increased proportion of well-ripened Merlot grapes, it possesses the voluptuousness of a Pomerol set against a Médoc backdrop.
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 "THe 2024 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur is a classy, polished wine. Dark cherry, spice, new leather, cedar, incense and tobacco fill out the layers nicely. Medium in body, with terrific depth, the 2024 is impeccably done. It offers lovely textural resonance and fine balance, making for a very impressive second wine from the château."
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100 « Texture souple et raffinée, très bon corps, tannin fondu, belle longueur, c’est un séducteur. »
J-M Quarin : 91/100 « Couleur rouge sombre, aux reflets noirs. Nez discret au premier abord et plus suave à l'agitation du verre. Bouche ample et séduisante à souhait, avec sa nuance de fruits mûrs et son gras fin. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 86-88/100 "The 2024 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur is missing some fruit concentration on the nose. Therefore, it comes across a little austere, especially when compared to recent vintages. The palate is simple with rounded tannins, fine acidity, light spiced black fruit and touches of brown spices on the finish. But it just lacks some bite and complexity, so this one for earlier drinking."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 63 % merlot, 37 % cabernet sauvignon
-
Unquestionably the most popular vintage of the Médoc. Over the years, Haut-Marbuzet has been able to gain in finesse and balance by keeping its Merlot dominance and maturing in new oak barrels. Delicious !
Bettane & Desseauve : 92-93/100 « Frais, élégant, fringant même, avec un tannin qui doit encore se nourrir dans ses belles barriques neuves. »
La Revue du Vin de France : 91-93/100 « Issu des rendements les plus faibles depuis 1991, soit 19 hl/h, le vin est toutefois très soyeux, tout en fruit, avec une trame droite portée par une proportion plus importante de cabernets qu’à son habitude. Il est toutefois dans l’ADN du cru, avec son velouté habituel. »
J-M Quarin : 90/100 « Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Nez très aromatique, pur, au fruité mûr. Bouche tout en délicatesse tactile, au moelleux délicat, évoluant parfumée et tellement agréable. Longueur normale. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 90-92/100 "The 2024 Haut-Marbuzet has quite an exuberant bouquet with orange rind-infused red berry fruit, hints of violet and peony that emerge with time. The palate is grippy and medium-bodied with grainy tannins and a fresh, minerally finish. It will need 2 or 3 years to shave its edges, but there is energy here."
Vinous (A. Galloni): 85-87/100 "The 2024 Haut-Marbuzet is a bit awkward. The aromatics are unfocused and the contours are angular. There's good depth of fruit and brightness underlying it all, but also a metallic edge that is impossible to look past. It will be interesting to see if the 2024 comes together. The undated samples tasted a week apart do not reflect well on the château, one whose wines I have long admired."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 55 % cabernet sauvignon, 35 % merlot, 5 % cabernet franc, 5 % petit verdot.
-
Phélan-Ségur is one of Saint-Estèphe's historic estates, with a 70-hectare vineyard on the front line of the Gironde estuary, bordered to the north by Calon-Ségur and to the south by Meyney and Montrose. The arrival in 2018 of a new Belgian owner (Mr. Van de Vyvere) ushered in a new era and new ambitions at Phélan-Ségur: 20 hectares under organic management, braiding of the vines (instead of trimming), gradual reduction in planting density to 8,000 vines/ha to combat summer drought, sparing use of sulfur, parcel-by-parcel vinification using indigenous yeasts...
Recent vintages have been very convincing, with racy wines combining intensity, vinosity and finesse in the image of Calon-Ségur.Bettane & Desseauve : 94-95/100 « Nez élégant, fruit raffiné, notes florales et de menthe fraîche, bouche ample à l’attaque avec des tannins francs et une belle fraîcheur en finale. Du caractère et une présence énergique. »
La Revue du Vin de France : 92-94/100 « Le cru confirme sa belle forme, avec des vins qui ont gagné en précision ces dernières années. Le 2024 s’inscrit dans cette dynamique : il est précis, longiligne, persistant, avec un fruit frais et des tanins épicés élégants. Notons les progrès réalisés sur le second vin, vraiment délicieux en 2024. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 92-94/100 "The 2024 Phélan Ségur is an absolute delight. Dark and ample, the 2024 offers up a compelling mix of black cherry, leather, game, incense, licorice, gravel and pipe tobacco. All the elements are so well balanced. The blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, in other words, a very high percentage of Cabernet. That comes through nicely in the wine's aromatic finish. Phélan Ségur is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the year."
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "In the 2024 Phélan Ségur, 12,9% alcohol (analytical), Cabernet Sauvignon clearly exerts the most influence over its understated bouquet with blackberry, cedar and light graphite scents. The nose displays fine delineation, though obviously not the intensity of, say, the 2022 vintage. The palate is medium-bodied and linear in style with lighter tannins than in recent vintages and an attractive sapid note that runs from start to finish. The strict, black-olive-tinged finale seems almost Pauillac-like. There is an appealing classicism to the 2024."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 68 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot, 2 % Petit Verdot
-
Acquired in 2012 and completely renovated (vineyard, cellar and château) by a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel, Calon-Ségur quickly regained the level of excellence that had made it famous in the middle of the last century. Its style, combining pedigree and exuberance, gives it a special place among the classified growths of Saint-Estèphe. It is also the only vineyard in the Médoc to be both a single block and entirely surrounded by a wall.
Bettane & Desseauve : 96-97/100 « Notes légèrement truffées grand soyeux de texture liée à la haute maturité habituelle du raisin de ce cru si solaire. Grand avenir pour ce vin parfaitement typé de son origine. »
La Revue du Vin de France : 95-96/100 « Nous retrouvons un Calon de grand équilibre et saluons le beau travail sur la texture du vin, point fort ici, avec un grain d’une finesse admirable. Le vin est très posé, avec un fruit explosif, une finale de grande ampleur qui s’épanouit dans un registre frais, avec une minéralité saline. »
J-M Quarin : 95/100 « Couleur noire. Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité et suave, se développant floral, réglissé et fumé dans le verre. Magnifique entrée en bouche, ample, juteuse et soyeuse, puis le vin fond, noble dans son déroulé vers une grande longueur séveuse et délicatement parfumée par un fond boisé subtil. C'est incrachable ! Calon Ségur navigue de plus en plus fréquemment dans 90 % de cabernet. Improbable il y a quelques années ! »
Le Point : 17/20 « Fruits noirs, épices, boisé, bouche souple, fraîche, élégante, tendue, étiré, fin, tanins délicats. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 93-95/100 "The 2024 Calon Ségur is shaping up very nicely. Dark and ample, with terrific balance, the 2024 is another strong wine from the team led by Technical Director Vincent Millet. Readers will find a Calon Ségur of inner strenght, its deceptively mid-weight structure notwithstanding. The 2024 is a wine of restraint and class more than power, never a bad thing at this property. The 100% new oak is very nicely balanced, even in the early going. This has great potential."
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Calon Ségur has a well-defined bouquet, with more prominent wood than previous recent vintages, which consequently obscures the property's DNA. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid black fruit tinged with black olive. It's quite lively, with a liberal sprinkling of white pepper and thyme. I admire the freshness of this Saint-Estèphe and there is decent length on the finish. This is not a top-ranking Calon-Ségur, but it should still provide up to 20 years of drinking pleasure."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 82 % cabernet sauvignon, 9 % merlot, 8 % cabernet franc, 1 % petit verdot
-
Attention: great wine! Quietly, Feytit-Clinet is closing in on the biggest names in Pomerol, with only the price lagging behind. As the Revue du Vin de France rightly points out, "there are no spectacular château or ultra-modern wineries here", the reputation of this cru is built solely on the consistent quality of its wines.
More impressive than its success in great vintages is Feytit-Clinet's performance in "smaller" vintages: the 2013 is a Guide Hachette Coup de Coeur, the 2017 is one of the wines of the vintage according to A. Galloni (Vinous)...Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-94/100 "The 2024 Feytit-Clinet is a very good wine in a challenging harvest marked by hail, mildew, coulure and millerandage. Dark and layered, with very good textural presence, the 2024 possesses notable depth. Black-toned fruit, leather, spice, gravel, incense and licorice convey an impression of somber gravitas. Some saignée in vinification as well as bâtonnage helped build attractive texture. As has been the case for some years now, the tannins are quite a bit less imposing here than they were in the past."
J-M Quarin : 90/100 « Nez très aromatique, fruité et un brin boisé. Bouche fruitée, élancée, savoureuse, agréable et de longueur moyenne. »
La Revue du Vin de France : 89-91/100 « Le terroir tendre de Feytit-Clinet, combiné à la fraîcheur du millésime, a enfanté un pomerol simple, aux tanins poudrés, à la tension citronnée. Le bâtonnage prévu permettra sûrement d’envelopper le toucher et les notes racinaires. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13.5%
- Grape varieties:
- 88 % merlot, 12 % cabernet franc.
-
Always of a high standard for a reasonable price (in Pomerol), the wines of Gazin, medium-bodied and marked by truffles, are the archetype of the appellation and of exemplary consistency vintage after vintage. “One of Pomerol's best wines, with happy surprises after 10 years” for Bettane & Desseauve as for us.
Bettane & Desseauve : 94-95/100 « On apprécie sa délicatesse soyeuse et son tannin qui s’étoffe et gagne en densité. Une valeur sûre dans un style classique chic. »
J-M Quarin : 93/100 « Beau rouge sombre, aux reflets noirs. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité et subtil. Délicat en entrée de bouche, très savoureux au milieu, le vin fond sur le palais, juteux, subtil et long. C'est très bien fait et difficile à cracher. Ce pourcentage de cabernet sauvignon est très appréciable. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 92-94/100 "The 2024 Gazin is classy and elegant even if it is a bit strict at this stage. Rose petal, mint, blood orange and cinnamon meld into a core of red-toned fruit. There’s gorgeous textural depth and resonance here. Clean saline notes extend the finish. All this needs is a bit of polish and pliancy in the mid-palate, but elevage should take care of that. Gazin is distinguished in 2024 by its unusually high presence of Cabernet Sauvignon (10%), along with 90% Merlot and no Cabernet Franc in this vintage."
La Revue du Vin de France : 91-92/100 « Le profil frais du millésime rappelle la réserve naturelle du cru. Sans être austère, il laisse entrevoir une droiture singulière tout en gardant de l’harmonie et de la chair. Les tanins crayeux (10 % de cabernet-sauvignon) étirent la finale avec grâce. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 89-91/100 "The 2024 Gazin has a light, tertiary bouquet with blackberry and raspberry fruit. This needs a little more vigor but it is nicely defined. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins, a healthy dash of white pepper and a structured, grippier finish than its peers. I appreciate the freshness in this Pomerol and it should show well once in bottle, but this needs more substance."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13.5%
- Grape varieties:
- 90 % merlot, 10 % cabernet sauvignon.
-
One of the appellation's ripest and most hedonistic crus until 2000, Clinet has since gained in distinction and refinement through successive touches (15% Cabernet in the vines, state-of-the-art technical equipment...). All this without losing the aromatic intensity and depth of flesh that are its hallmarks. Today, Clinet is unquestionably one of Pomerol's finest wines.
J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Couleur noire. Nez intense, au fruité mûr. Délicat en entrée de bouche, très aromatique au milieu, avec un toucher velouté, le vin glisse sur le palais, aérien, vers une finale à la saveur de mûre et sans angle tannique. C'est bon et c'est du Clinet. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 92-94/100 "The 2024 Clinet is a dark stylish wine. Black cherry, lavender, spice, licorice and blue-toned fruit are beautifully delineated. Dark and vibrant in the glass, with terrific depth, Clinet is super-expressive in 2024. Ronan Laborde bled the musts to bring the wine into the rich, textured style he seeks here. Clinet is a rare Pomerol that is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the Cabernet very much in evidence."
Bettane & Desseauve : 92-93/100 « Belle entrée en bouche, voluptueuse se développant sur un toucher caressant, et soyeux avec des notes de violette et de fruit noirs frais. »
La Revue du Vin de France : 92-93/100 « Le style classiquement généreux de Clinet est tempéré par le millésime. Avec 13° et 20 % de cabernet-sauvignon, 2024 offre donc un Clinet sans excès, très digeste, avec de beaux tanins traçants du cabernet mis en avant par une réduction de barriques neuves (60 %). Gourmand et défini, il vieillira avec grâce. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Clinet was matured in 60% new oak. The bouquet opens with red and black fruit, pencil shavings from the Cabernet and light tertiary scents in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. The oak is neatly integrated and benefits from slightly less new wood, which allows the terroir to show through. Cohesive toward the finish with decent length, this is thoughtfully produced Clinet."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 80 % merlot, 20 % cabernet sauvignon
-
The terraces of Moulin Saint-Georges (7 ha) face those of Ausone (same owner). Thanks to the quality of its terroir and the refined style of its wines, Moulin Saint-Georges is a sure bet in the appellation. As the Revue du Vin de France's 2024 guide points out, "quality has been impressively consistent for over two decades, and prices remain reasonable. The only regret is the quantities available...".
Like all Vauthier vineyards (Ausone, La Clotte, Haut-Simard...), Moulin Saint-Georges began its conversion to organic farming in 2020.J-M Quarin : 93/100 « Couleur vive, d'intensité normale. Nez intense, fin, fruité et subtil, évoluant truffé à l'agitation du verre. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, puis rapidement très aromatique et soyeux, le vin évolue juteux, vers une finale profonde et incrachable. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 92-93/100 « Vin expressif à la bouche veloutée et enveloppante. La finale de bonne longueur lui donne une belle personnalité. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 89-91/100 "The 2024 Moulin Saint-Georges is all charm. Soft, plummy and forward, the 2024 offers up an attractive mix of blue/purplish fruit, spice, lavender, menthol and violet. There's a touch of sweet oak from the 100% new barrels, but the 2024 has enough depth to handle it. Pliant contours wrap it all together very pretty wine for the year."
La Revue du Vin de France : 88-90/100 « Élaboré depuis les 7 hectares orientés plein ouest en face d'Ausone, ce Moulin cherche la légereté, avec des arômes racinaires et d'orange sanguine. Il conclut sur une allonge vigoureuse. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2023
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 80 % merlot, 20 % cabernet franc
-
With today 11 ha, the vineyard of Valandraud allows Mr. Thunevin to tighten his selections for the great wine and his second, Virginie de Valandraud (there is a 3rd, Clos Badon, and even a 4th wine!). Rich in colour, always delicious with an elegant tannic structure, Virginie de Valandraud makes those who think that second wines have no soul lie.
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100 « Nez frais et intense, profil mûr et frais, en bouche avec une texture crémeuse qui lui donne beaucoup de charme. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 90-93/100 "The 2024 Virginie de Valandraud is a dense, potent wine. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice and a good dose of new oak lend notable richness to the Virginie. Readers will find a dense, opulent Saint-Émilion. This is in line with the style of the Grand Vin in terms of its flamboyant fruit intensity."
J-M Quarin : 90/100 « Beau rouge sombre, intense. Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr. Bouche suave, parfumée, évoluant tendre, juteuse et très difficile à cracher. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 88-90/100 "The 2024 Virginie de Valandraud has an intense black plum and cassis-scentend nose driven by the wood at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, pointed acidity and is quite spicy towards the pastille-like finish. Hopefully, this will soak up the oak with bottle age."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 90 % merlot, 5 % cabernet franc, 5 % cabernet sauvignon
-
An oenologist by training, Ms. Papon-Nouvel owns two tiny properties at the bottom of Saint-Émilion near Canon-La Gaffelière: Petit Gravet Aîné (2.4 ha) and Clos Saint-Julien (1.3 ha), where the vines are mainly old cabernets francs. From the vine to the cellar, she manages all the stages in the production of her wines on her own and, whatever the vintage, her talent as an instinctive winemaker gives wines of natural elegance and exemplary sweetness.
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Petit Gravet Ainé, mostly Cabernet Franc, is so distinctive. Mocha, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco and macerated cherry lift the bouquet nicely. The 2024 is a bit strict on the palate, but that may change with élevage. This is very nicely done, if a touch reticent."
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100 « Grande fraîcheur aromatique de l’attaque à la finale, donnant du tonus à la bouche élancée et subtile. »
J-M Quarin : 89/100 « Couleur sombre et intense. Nez un peu discret, sentant bon les fruits mûrs. Touche florale. Juteux à l'attaque, savoureux en milieu de bouche, le vin se développe aromatique et très agréable sur une longueur moyenne, mais avec beaucoup de goût. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 87-89/100 "The 2024 Petit Gravet Ainé has a straightforward bouquet with kirsch and blueberry scents that gradually reveal a touch of cola. It just misses some complexity compared to previous vintages. The palate is medium-bodied, lightly tannic and fleshly but doesn't have much grip. Though smooth in texture, it doesn't quite translate its 90% Cabernet Franc as well as, say, the 2022."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2011
-
From 2005, La Dominique, prestigious terroir adjacent to Cheval Blanc, L'Évangile and La Conseillante, returns in great shape. His velvety and sensual style places him halfway between Saint-Émilion and Pomerol : “the tannin texture is very Pomerol-like, then the silky, floral, firm follow-through continues with the class of the great Saint-Emilions” (Bettane & Desseauve).
Bettane & Desseauve : 93-94/100 « Les tannins enveloppent la bouche avec délicatesse, offrant une structure qui porte le fruit sans le dominer. La complexité se déploie peu à peu, en parfaite harmonie avec une texture soyeuse. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 La Dominique, matured in 50% new oak, is distinctly fresher on the nose than many of its peers. This is nowhere near as complex as the 2022 yet it conveys brightness and a sense of place. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh, with crisp, ripe tannins and a marine-influenced finish. It's a little reserved in style. This is not a blockbuster and nor should it be. It's just a well-crafted Saint-Émilion."
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 "The 2024 La Dominique is a very pretty wine for this reemerging Saint-Émilion estate on the Pomerol border. Creamy and textured, with lovely mid-palate presence and bright fruit, La Dominique is quite attractive. Supple contours wrap around a core of red-toned fruit, blood orange, cinnamon and mocha, building into the soft, caressing finish. Production is down about 50% due to drastic selection."
La Revue du Vin de France : 88-90/100 « 50% des volumes de la propriété ont été consacrés au grand vin. La tendresse spécifique de La Dominique se profile : chair pulpeuse, allonge suave, avec ce soin apporté au moelleux de tanins. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13.5%
- Grape varieties:
- 85 % merlot, 15 % cabernet franc
-
Mrs Papon-Nouvel's other grand cru (with Petit Gravet Aîné). Same organic culture, same sensitivity, same style, with extra flesh and depth. Great wine! Great wine, logically promoted to grand cru classé in 2022.
Bettane & Desseauve : 93-94/100 « Nez poivré et floral, typique des cabernets francs. On retrouve cette aromatique dans une bouche énergique, parfaitement structurée. »
J-M Quarin : 93/100 « Couleur sombre, aux reflets pourpres. Nez pour l'instant un peu discret, mais subtil. Joli fruité. Minutieux dès l'entrée en bouche et très vite très savoureux au milieu, le vin fond sur le palais, séveux et long, sur une jolie texture. C'est très bon. Après le grand succès du 2022, Catherine Papon ne lâche rien ! »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Clos Saint-Julien is a very pretty wine. Black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather, licorice and lavender all meld together. The oak is not totally integrated just yet, but that is a question of elevage."
Vinous (N. Martin): 90-92/100 "The 2024 Clos Saint-Julien has a perfumed, Margaux-like bouquet with a mélange of blueberry and blackcurrant fruit. This has fine delineation and the oak is neatly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, decent weight on the mid-palate and just a bit of grip on the finish that bodes well for the future. This is one to keep an eye on."
La Revue du Vin de France : 87-89/100 « Une certaine suavité se dégage de ce vin, construit sur la légère pente sableuse et calcaire orientée au nord, à l'entrée de Saint-Émilion. Son toucher de bouche tout doux propose une allonge élancée. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2011
-
Dazzling success since 2015 of this great terroir just below Ausone: aromatic precision, superlative but harmonious depth, a big congratulations to Mr. Mallet (owner) and Mr. Derenoncourt (consultant). Since 2010, La Gaffelière is undoubtedly flying from success to success!
"We are here at the heart of what is most sensual and singular in Saint-Emilion", according to the Revue du Vin de France.Bettane & Desseauve : 96/100 « Grande précision aromatique entre fruits rouges et touches crayeuses, avec des touches salines qui enrichissent le bouquet aromatique et la texture en bouche. Cela donne au vin de la profondeur et une complexité supplémentaire. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 94-96/100 "The 2024 La Gaffelière confirms its place as one of the top properties in Saint-Émilion in this challenging vintage. Bright and dynamic in the glass, with terrific persistence, the 2024 sizzles with tension. Crushed flowers, mint, lavender and crushed rocks open in the glass. The finesse of the tannins is impossible to miss. The 2024 is not a huge wine, but its finesse is evident. Blue/purplish fruit, slate and clean mineral overtones extend the long, sculpted finish."
Le Point : coup de ♥ 17/20 "Fruits noirs, sureau, beaucoup de finesse, violette, bonne acidité en milieu de bouche, ronce, beaucoup de fond, tanins serrés, sérieux, vin de calcaire typé, amer fin. Très bon vin."
J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Beau rouge sombre, aux reflets pourpres. Nez moyennement intense, au fruité pur et mûr. Touches de cerise et de fleurs à l'agitation du verre. La bouche se déroule tout en douceur pulpeuse, avec de la classe dans le toucher et un corps fondant. C'est délicieux ! Bonne finale parfumée. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 93-95/100 "The 2024 La Gaffelière has a very seductive bouquet with black cherries, boysenberry and light Indian ink scents unfolding in the glass. The palate is very well balanced with succulent tannins, impressive mid-weight density and a crisp, mineral finish. La Gaffelière has been on a run of form recently and the 2024 overcomes the challenges of the vintage with style."
La Revue du Vin de France : 90-92/100 « Immédiatement, le floral et la réglisse s'expriment au bouquet, dans ce vin profilé comme une flèche. Sa droiture et sa tension le rendent un peu ferme en finale à ce stade. Une sensation pierreuse signe la finale de cet assemblage 60% de merlot et 40% de cabernet franc. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13.5%
- Grape varieties:
- 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc
-
Beau-Séjour Bécot is now in the hands of the third generation, represented by Juliette Bécot and her husband Julien Barthe. These dynamic forty-somethings have no shortage of inspiration when it comes to producing “modern” wines, adapted to climatic challenges and consumer expectations: replanting in a north/south direction to avoid overheating the grapes, the choice of a new consultant oenologist (Thomas Duclot) who favors wines that are not overly demonstrative, early harvesting and measured extractions to preserve the freshness of the fruit, less new wood (55%) and the use of tuns and jars (20%) to lighten the tannic structure...
Since the construction of the new winery in 2023, the wines have excelled thanks to their elegant, uncluttered structure, their gourmet, fruity and floral aromas, and their dynamic, sapid finishes. For the Revue du Vin de France, as for us, “this is the archetypal Bordeaux that can be enjoyed now, but also put away in the cellar”.Vinous (A. Galloni): 95-97/100 « The 2024 Beau-Séjour Bécot is deep, vivid and wonderfully alive. Dynamic and explosive, with striking inner perfume, Beau-Séjour Bécot is hauntingly beautiful. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice and rose petal soar out of the glass. Silky, refined tannins add to the wine's finesse. The increase of Cabernet Franc in the blend has added aromatic depth and textural elegance. There's a feeling of transparency here that is impossible to miss. Beau-Séjour Bécot has grown into one of the most distinctive wines in Bordeaux. Simply put, the 2024 is magnificent. That's all there is to it. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 95-96/100 « D’une grande subtilité où cabernet franc et terroir calcaire se combinent de la plus belle des façons. Vibrant et précis en bouche, complexe, avec du rebond en final. Long, persistant, portée par une fraîcheur de fleurs poivrées et une minéralité subtile. »
J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Couleur rouge bordeaux, intense, aux reflets pourpres. Nez intense, fin, fruité, subtil et noble. Magnifique entrée en bouche, très aromatique, à la texture de rêve. L'ensemble, complexe et noble, fond sur le palais, délicat, délicieux et incrachable. Un monde brillant de minutie. »
La Revue du Vin de France : 93-95/100 « Les sélections massales de cabernet franc (22 %) plantées il y a quinze pour accompagner les merlots portent leurs fruits. Il s'aligne parfaitement avec les derniers millésimes au château. Une superbe robe violine, pleine d'entrain. Sa distinction aromatique florale, très marquée par la violette, le place au sommet de Saint-Émilion en 2024. Sa silhouette finement dessinée, à la fois douce et traçante, conduit jusqu'à une finale extrêmement salivante. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc
-
Owned by Mr. Neipperg (Clos de l'Oratoire, La Mondotte, d'Aiguilhe) at the foot of the hill Ausone.
Bettane & Desseauve : 95/100 « Grande délicatesse du bouquet de fleurs sauvages, mêlé aux effluves de fruits noirs mûrs. Le fruit est dense, précis, profond, accompagnée par des tannins soyeux et soutenu par la fraîcheur saline et florale de la finale. »
Le Point : 17-17.5/20 « Besoin d'air, fruits rouges, cerise, juteux, sur la réserve à ce stade, profond, tanins serrés, feuillage, amer délicat. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 93-96/100 "The 2024 Canon La Gaffelière is all class. Delicate and pliant, the 2024 is another fine offering in this range from Stephan von Neipperg. Dark red-toned fruit, pomegranate, spice, blood orange, new leather and pipe tobacco build in the glass. Like all the wines here, Canon-La Gaffelière is on the lighter side, but it very much retains all of its signatures. Exquisite."
La Revue du Vin de France : 92-94/100 « Le vin est issu d'un assemblage judicieux (43% merlot, 43% cabernet franc, le reste en cabernet-sauvignon). Grâce à un élevage qui utilise moins de bois neuf (de 40 à 20%) et 20% de cuves, il exprime un fruité particulier supplémentaire. Ce millésime peu démonstratif convient bien à ce Canon-La-Gaffelière, établi avec une texture cajolante et longue. »
J-M Quarin : 90/100 « Couleur sombre, d'intensité normale. Nez d'abord discret et fruité, évoluant sur une note de framboise et de fleurs à l'agitation du verre. Bouche agréablement veloutée, au corps fondant et aérien. Longueur normale. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 89-91/100 "The 2024 Canon La Gaffelière has a light and airy bouquet with tertiary red fruit and touches of tobacco coming through slowly in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a tiny bit of greenness on the entry, although I feel it will assimilate with time. This just needs more density and grip on the finish, so it is a Canon La Gaffelière that I should broach in the medium term."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2014
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 43 % merlot, 43 % cabernet franc, 14 % cabernet sauvignon.
-
Exceptional terroir of 4 hectares on a south-facing slope (like Pavie) at the entrance to the village of Saint-Émilion. Taken over in 2014 by the Vauthier family (Ausone), who is committed to highlighting the deep, juicy flesh of her grapes, with a confounding naturalness and a splendid aromatic radiance. La Clotte has everything it takes to quickly become one of the most cult wines of the appellation.
J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Couleur rouge sombre, intense et belle. Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr. Juteux à l'attaque, très minutieux au développement, avec de la classe dans le toucher, le vin fond au palais, aromatique et distingué. Bonne longueur. C'est superbe. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 92-95/100 "The 2024 La Clotte is a heady, engaging wine. Aromatic, deep and wonderfully dynamic, La Clotte shows the pedigree of this south-facing site. Rose petal, crushed flowers, mint, spice, cedar and tobacco all soar from the glass. Blood orange, red-toned fruit and white pepper open later. The 2024 is distinguished by its complexity and myriad shades of nuance. It is an especially fine 2024. Saldy, yields are just 22 hectoliters per hectare. As always, La Clotte speaks with eloquance."
Vinous (N. Martin): 92-94/100 "The 2024 La Clotte has one of my favorite aromatics amongst the Vauthier family's cuvées, with delightful wild strawberry, raspberry and iodine aromas, although it's quite tight on the nose at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth, almost silky opening, a fine bead of acidity and impressive precision on the finish. It is not as intense as the 2022 as you would expect, but this is a sophisticated Saint-Émilion."
La Revue du Vin de France : 91-93/100 « Le millésime a été dur à la propriété, avec des rendements de 25 hl/ha à cause de la coulure et du millerandage. Mais ce cru emblématique de la splendide vallée de Fongaban révèle une intensité aromatique particulière. Il est établi en demi-corps, d'une retenue qui pousse à l'introspection. La sève calcaire se révèlera avec le temps ! »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2023
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 80 % merlot, 20 % cabernet franc
-
Advised by Mr. Derenoncourt, Clos Fourtet regularly and unobtrusively demonstrates that the upper part of the Saint-Émilion plateau can produce wines as great as the Ausone or Pavie hillsides. Sobriety, depth, finesse and intensity are exemplary.
Bettane & Desseauve : 94-95/100 « Palette aromatique sur le fruit et des notes crayeuses qui apportent le salin à la finale encore compacte. Grand avenir d’un vin toujours difficile à juger à ce stade, mais qui fera une grande bouteille. »
Le Point : 17-17.5/20 « Touche de suie, fruits noirs, baies sauvages, élégant, beaucoup de finesse, tanins veloutés, note de réglisse, finale élégante, très beau grains de tanins. »
J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Couleur sombre, intense, belle, aux reflets grenat. Nez très aromatique, fin, pur, fruité et subtil. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, avec du goût au milieu, un corps élancé et savoureux, le vin fond sur le palais, avec un brin de vivacité dans la persistance. Mais c'est réellement incrachable. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 93-95/100 "The 2024 Clos Fourtet is a gorgeous, elegant wine. Medium in body, with terrific persistence and notable purity, Clos Fourtet impresses with its balance more than anything else. Dark Blue fruits, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and framed by bright chalky notes that lend freshness. In 2024, Clos Fourtet is built more on persistence than overt textural richness, as has, been the case in some recent vintages."
La Revue du Vin de France : 93-94/100 « À l'image de la propriété, le vin propose une élégante retenue aromatique, des nuances florales et de réglisse. En même temps qu'il est sombre, froid, presque impénétrable, le bouquet aromatique dévoile beaucoup d'éclat. Le vin, svelte cette année, est moins dense qu'à son habitude. Il évoluera lentement avec sa sensation calcaire particulière. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 92-94/100 "The 2024 Clos Fourtet is clearly a level-up from Le Closerie with pure, well defined and focused blueberry, raspberry, and blood orange scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. This is quite linear, keeping with the style of the vintage, so this doen't have a peacock's tail like the 2022. Yet this feels tensile and the limestone terroir shapes the mineral-driven finish. This is a well-crafted and delicious Clos Fourtet, a success given the challenges of the vintage."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 84 % cabernet sauvignon, 10 % cabernet franc, 6 % cabernet sauvignon.
-
In 2012, Haut-Brion bought and combined two grands crus classés (Tertre-Dauguay and L'Arrosée) on the slopes of Saint-Émilion (Côte Ausone), and put a foot in the right bank, called Quintus because it is their fifth property (after Haut-Brion, La Mission HB, Laville HB and Latour HB).
Their first objective is to make fine, long wines, focusing on freshness and delicacy rather than power or density, more typical of the left bank than the right bank.
Second objective: to shine in the next Saint-Emilion classifications (its immediate neighbours are Ausone, Belair-Monange, Angélus and Canon, all 1st classified grands crus).J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Beau rouge sombre, profond, aux reflets pourpres. Nez intense, au fruité pur, mûr. Ensemble subtil et légèrement vanillé. Délicat en entrée de bouche, très savoureux au milieu, avec beaucoup de goût, ce vin monte lentement vers une longue finale séveuse, fruitée, florale, au grain fin. C'est très bon. »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 93-95/100 "The 2024 Quintus is gracious, elegant and polished. Spice, tobacco, cedar and an exotic touch of blood orange give the 2024 lovely aromatic presence to match its mid-weight personality. There is a touch of new oak, but that should not be an issue with elevage. Here, too, the balance is very fine."
Bettane & Desseauve : 92/100 « Parfums floraux et fruités avec une touche délicate de poivre noir. Le tannin se montre svelte et élancé. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Quintus is streets ahead of the second and third wines on the nose, with pretty black cherry and blueberry fruit, a little Margaux-like in style thanks to the violet scent. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid black fruit mixed with blood orange and crushed stone towards the finish. Touches of cracked black pepper and cumin linger on the aftertaste. Very fine."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Alcohol degree:
- 13%
- Grape varieties:
- 77,2% Merlot, 22,8% Cabernet Franc