2024 Futures
Under the name « gems », we refer to unsung producers who make admirable wines due to their excellent vineyards and their own talent.
These wines are always produced in very small amounts, in vineyards maintained as gardens by gifted and meticulous wine-growers. Even if they do not make the headlines of magazines, they highly deserve to be discovered and tasted for their exemplary quality.
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This classified growth, owned by INRA, has grown considerably since the Institute's researchers decided to apply the results of their most advanced research to it, and the arrival of Mr Derenoncourt as an advisor. In a rather lively and tense style, Couhins is today by its price the best deal among the white classified growths of Pessac-Léognan.
Vinous (A. Galloni): 94-96/100 "The 2024 Couhins Blanc is a regal, elegant wine. Readers who want to enjoy a world-class dry white that is still affordable will delight in this gorgeous, sculpted offering from Couhins. Slate, chalk, mint and white pepper drive through a core of citrus-inflected fruit. Couhins Blanc is one of the finest dry whites of the year. If recent pas vintages are any indication, it should also be a steal."
La Revue du Vin de France : 90-92/100 « L’acidité tranchante, l’éclat citronné font presque oublier l’indéniable profondeur de matière de ce pur sauvignon sur substrat calcaire, tendu comme une arbalète. »
J-M Quarin : 90/100 « Couleur jaune pâle. Nez intense, fin et fruité. Bouche au port très élancé, se développant savoureuse et dynamique, vers une finale longue et parfumée. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2022
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Mrs Papon-Nouvel is known for her 2 wonderful Saint-Émilion wines: Clos Saint-Julien and Petit-Gravet Aîné. But it also owns Peyrou, a small vineyard (10 ha) of the Côtes de Castillon in organic farming. Excellent and highly recommended.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2011
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In 2008, Denis Durantou acquired this Château for which he fell in love at first sight. A splendid 12 hectare clay-limestone vineyard on the first line of the Dordogne hillside, Montlandrie is in Castillon (which it directly overlooks) the equivalent of Ausone in Saint-Émilion.
As in his other properties (L'Église-Clinet, Les Cruzelles, La Chenade...), Denis Durantou used all his know-how and perfectionism to produce a fresh and floral wine, with a crisp and juicy fruitiness. Few Bordeaux wines are as deserving of the term "vibrant wine" as Montlandrie.Vinous (A. Galloni) : 91-94/100 "The 2024 Montlandrie is a potent, deep wine with strong Cabernet character. Dried herbs, licorice, menthol, lavender and blue/purplish Merlot fruit all race across the palate before Cabernet Sauvignon tannins come alive to frame the potent, explosive finish. Superb"
J-M Quarin : 92/100 « Couleur noire. Nez intense, fin, fruité et subtil, se développant parfumé dans le verre. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, très savoureux au milieu, le vin avance juteux et fin vers une finale fraîche, mûre et séveuse. C'est très bon. »
Vinous (N. Martin) : 89-91/100 "The 2024 Montlandrie has a more low-key bouquet than the Les Cruzelles with tightly wound black plum and tertiary aromas. The palate is more expressive with smooth tannins and a keen line of acidity, though it is more linear on the finish than the aforementioned Lalande-de-Pomerol."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
- Blend:
- 65 % merlot, 20 % cabernet sauvignon, 15 % cabernet franc
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Mr Derenoncourt, Bordeaux's most sought-after consultant, is also a producer. Obviously, he (with his wife) applies in his vineyards the methods that have made his success: respect for the terroir and biotope, subtle vinification and maturation, wines of great aromatic precision.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
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Started in 2003, the adventure of Clos Louie is a textbook case: doll's vineyard (2.3 ha) on a beautiful clay-limestone terroir of Castillon, very old vines (150 years old!) mostly Merlot and red tail malbec, careful biodynamic cultivation, double manual sorting during the harvest, little interventionist vinification, gentle maturing in 500-litre demi-muids. A true artist's wine, absent from the guides but that informed amateurs know well.
Vinous (A. Galloni): 89-90/100 "The 2024 Clos Louie is a rich, burly Côtes de Castillon. A blast of dark fruit, espresso, licorice, spice and menthol races across the palate. This potent 2024 could turn out to be quite good if the tannins are polished with elevage."
Vinous (N. Martin) : 86-88/100 "The 2024 Clos Louie has a light nose with dark plum and briar scents that have a pleasant edginess to them. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannins, but I appreciate the blackberry, cassis fruit and the composure on the finish. Fine."
La Revue du Vin de France : 93-94/100 « Très belle approche florale, une aromatique aérienne, et surtout cette délicatesse de texture d’entrée de jeu. Un beau délié et un certain raffinement tannique. Une belle réussite. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2012
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Although Les Carmes is adjacent to Haut-Brion and its vines were once part of those of Haut-Brion, the wines produced there are radically different from those of its prestigious neighbour. Due to a particular subsoil with the presence of clay, the vines are mainly Cabernet Franc (42%) and Merlot (40%) and the wines, deep and tasty, have an immediate generosity more typical of the right bank than the left bank. The new team set up following the acquisition in 2010 immediately propelled Les Carmes to the top of the Pessac-Léognan's wines.
Vinous (A. Galloni) : 95-97/100 "Seamless and silky in the glass, with superb balance, the 2024 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is one of the wines of the vintage. All the elements are so weel balanced, always a sign of a superior vintage at this address. Floral notes, spice, leather and mocha run through a core of layered, beautifully persistent dark red fruit. Harvest took place between September 17 and 25, during one of the rare windows with little rain. As always , Les Carmes is done with a high percentage of stems (52%), specifically 100% for the Cabernet Franc, 50% for the Merlot and 20% for the Cabernet Sauvignon. Aging is 70% new oak barrels, 19% 18HL foudre and 11% amphora. New oak is already very nicely integrated, another sign of a superb vintage. The 2024 is a brilliant effort by the team led by Technical Director."
J-M Quarin : 95/100 « Couleur sombre et presque noire. Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité et légèrement fumé. Moelleux en entrée de bouche, suave au milieu, avec de la classe dans le toucher, le vin glisse, fond jusqu'en finale où il rebondit profond, un tantinet austère, mais sans se départir de son gras. Persistance normale. »
Vinous (N. Martin) : 94-96/100 "The 2024 Les Carmes Haut-Brion contains more Cabernet Franc at 48% of the blend. This has impressive fruit concentration on the nose with redcurrant and blackberry fruit, hints of cassis and a dab of dark chocolate. Fine delineation. After time, there is something that nods to the Northern Rhône without losing typicité. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh with fine tannins, a subtle pepperiness imparted by the whole bunches and a tingle of pain d'épices towards the finish. Very harmonious and very delicious, this should provide 20 to 25 years of drinking pleasure. 13.2% abv."
La Revue du Vin de France : 94-96/100 « Cette interprétation du millésime est à la fois fidèle et ambitieuse. « Le propriétaire nous a donné les moyens de sélectionner », affirme Guillaume Pouthier, et cela se ressent dans la densité pleine de nuances de la robe, l’évidence du fruit et une forme de plénitude gracile. Les merlots ayant coulé, la dominante cabernets (48 % de franc et 29 % de sauvignon) est marquée ; la vendange entière appliquée sur plus de la moitié des raisins. La prise de bois canalise la bouche, en même temps que l’élan donné par la veine acide, sans que le naturel du fruit (impression “ligérienne” ?), supérieur à tout ce que nous avons goûté dans le millésime, n’en soit affecté. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
- Blend:
- 48 % cabernet franc, 29 % cabernet sauvignon, 23 % merlot
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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.
J-M Quarin : 91/100 « Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Nez moyennement intense, au fruité pur et mûr. Subtil. Evolution vanillée et suave dans le verre. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, avec un joli toucher, un corps fondant, le vin caresse le palais. Il avance doucement, bien enveloppé vers une jolie finale aromatique. Découvert il y a 20 ans maintenant, le cru n'a jamais faibli ! »
Vinous (A. Galloni): 86-88/100 "The 2024 Clos Manou is tasty Médoc. Dark fruit, chocolate, leather, incense and blackberry make a strong opening statement. The mid-palate is a bit light, but there may be just enough to pull this together with elevage."
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 Clos Manou has a wonderful bouquet for the vintage, which I expected from this producer. It's delicate, but there is real presence. The palate is vibrant, tensile and quite mineral-driven with a complex, persistent finish. It shows a lot of the more aggrandizing Grands Crus how it's done. This is superb."
La Revue du Vin de France : 91-92/100 « Ce cru du nord du Médoc s’appuie sur de jolis merlots et livre un vin dans l’air du temps, avec un côté friand et onctueux. Il est posé, les tanins sont présents mais souples. Une belle cuvée à déguster autour de ses cinq ans. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Potential alcohol:
- 12.5%
- Blend:
- 52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet sauvignon, 3.5% Petit verdot, 2.5% Cabernet franc
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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.
Vinous (A. Galloni) : 90-92/100 "The 2024 Deyrem Valentin is packed with inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, incense, mocha and espresso. Ample and generous, Deyrem Valentin has plenty to offer. The 2024 is not exactly subtle, but then again, Deyrem Valentin seldom is. Readers who like flamboyant wines will adore this."
J-M Quarin : 89/100 « Beau rouge sombre, intense. Nez très aromatique, au fruité pur, mûr et subtil. Délicat en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu, le vin évolue agréable, avant de montrer des tannins un peu fermes en finale. C'est Soussans. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
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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. »
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
- Potential alcohol:
- 13%
- Blend:
- 54 % merlot, 46 % cabernet sauvignon
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The late Mr. Durantou's confidential Pomerol, made from a 0.6-acre parcel belonging to L'Église-Clinet. Its very high proportion of Merlot (90%) and sandier terroir give it a softer profile and an almost immediate charm. More rapidly accessible, without excessive stature, with crisp fruit and fine ageing, La Petite Église is a fine entry into the Durantou universe.
More than a second wine, it's certainly one of the appellation's best value for money.J-M Quarin : 91/100 « Couleur rouge sombre, intense. Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr et subtil. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu, le vin glisse sur le palais avant de marquer un peu le tannin dans la persistance. Longueur normale. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 La Petite Église was showing a bit of reduction on the nose that made it a little harder to read, but there is certainly decent fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and impressive structure given the vintage and that this is a Deuxième Vin with plenty of mineral-driven black fruit on the vivacious finish. It is excellent."
La Revue du Vin de France : 92-93/100 « Assurément un des meilleurs rapports prix/plaisir de Pomerol ! Dès le nez, on devine un fruit de qualité, avec un accent mis sur la délicatesse. Les tanins sont particulièrement soignés, poudrés, soulignés par les notes traçantes des 10 % de cabernet franc. »
Vinous (A. Galloni) : 91-93/100 "The 2024 La Petite Eglise is really in a class by itself when it comes to the second wines of Pomerol. Dark and sumptuous in the glass, the 2024 exudes attractive inner perfume and fabulous balance. Inky dark red fruit, pomegranate lavender, spice, menthol, incense and rose petal stain the palate. This racy, striking Pomerol is lights out. I would be thrilled to own it."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
- Blend:
- 90 % merlot, 10 % cabernet franc
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Garcin property (Barde-Haut, Poesia), 5.9 ha ideally located on the Pomerol plateau (between Clinet and L'Église-Clinet). Clos L'Église has been returning since 2011 to a more harmonious, melting and tasty version, similar to the style of La Conseillante.
J-M Quarin : 94/100 « Couleur sombre et intense. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, très savoureux au milieu, avec un gras fin prenant le palais, le vin fond, subtil, parfumé, long et très bon. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
- Blend:
- 70 % merlot, 30 % cabernet franc.
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A doll-like vineyard comprising 4 pure Merlot parcels, located between Lafleur-Pétrus, Le Pin and Trotanoy. Henri Parent, owner and son of the late Mme Péré-Vergé, is committed to producing at La Violette the most melting, radiant and exuberant version of Pomerol. All this under the guidance of oenologist Michel Roland, who has made La Violette a showcase for his expertise: the search for the most accomplished maturity, manual de-stemming grain by grain, complete vinification in barrel, etc. The critics have succumbed to the charm of La Violette.
Critics succumb to La Violette's charm: “A great wine of emotion that touches the heart as much as the mind” for M. Bettane, “More than ever, La Violette offers a unique experience in Pomerol” for La Revue du Vin de France.
La Violette is undoubtedly the most sensual and extrovert Pomerol, but also one of the rarest (800 cases per year).J-M Quarin : 95/100 « Couleur noire. Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité et profond. Ample à l'attaque, minutieux en milieu de bouche, très aromatique, le vin fond sur le palais, juteux et dense. C'est long, complexe et noble. Bravo ! »
Vinous (N. Martin): 91-93/100 "The 2024 La Violette has a gorgeous bouquet with pure black cherries and crushed violet scents–well defined while retaining that opulent style. The palate is medium-bodied with plush tannins in its signature style, not as complex as the best vintages but it maintains balance and purity to the end."
La Revue du Vin de France : 92-93/100 « Particulièrement profond et sapide. La vinification en barrique apporte un enrobage bienvenu dans ce millésime filiforme ; elle apport de l’amplitude, du dynamisme. Son relief acide de belle qualité promet à ce pomerol une belle capacité de garde. »
Vinous (A. Galloni) : 93-95/100 "The 2024 La Violette is a sensual yet powerful Pomerol. Blue/Purplish fruit, lavender, menthol, chocolate and espresso all meld together. La violette is vinified entirely in Franch oak barrels. It's an approach that seems especially well-suited to this wine, as the wood amplifies flavor intensity. In recent years, La Violette has shed some of the heavy extraction that was penalizing in the past."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
- Blend:
- 100 % merlot
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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.
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
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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.
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 (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. »
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."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2011
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Rocheyron is the result of a friendly and professional partnership between Sylvio Denz (Faugères and Lafaurie-Peyraguey) and Peter Sisseck (Pingus). Since 2010, they have been investing in this small 8-hectare vineyard, located entirely on the asteriated limestone plateau characteristic of Saint-Émilion: tilling the soil, conversion to organic farming (certified in 2020), gentle vinification at low temperatures... Rocheyron is constantly progressing, and each year offers wines with an unequalled tannic softness.
La Revue du Vin de France : 92-94/100 « « Le vin espagnol naît au soleil, le vin de bordeaux naît dans le puits ». Peter Sisseck aime rappeler ce vieil adage pour évoquer ce millésime sauvé des eaux. Mais quelle réussite à Rocheyron ! D'abord de subtiles nuances aromatiques, à la fois florales, réglisse et cerise. C'est le fruité que l'on apprécie tant à ce stade, et pourtant si difficile à retrouver ailleurs. En bouche ? Une silhouette traçante, filiforme, imprégnée de son terroir calcaire tardif. Loin d'être un vin consensuel, c'est une flèche calcaire qui file jusqu'à une finale extrêmement revigorante. »
Vinous (N. Martin): 88-90/100 "The 2024 Rocheyron was picked from September to October 3 at 33 hl/ha, underwent has pumping over during extraction, and was matured in 10% new French oak and 10% in foudre. It offers red plum and crushed strawberry on the nose, with a slight confit-like quality. The palate has a fleshy entry, rounded in texture with pretty red fruit, but it lacks grip and backbone on the finish. As such, this latest iteration will be more for early drinking before broaching the excellent '22."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Organic certification:
- 2020
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A small estate located near Troplong-Mondot and Valandraud, acquired in 2009 by Jacques Thienpont (already owner of Ch. Le Pin). A wine that is as exceptional as it is confidential (6 hectares)!
J-M Quarin : 95/100 « Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Beau nez très aromatique, fin, pur, sentant bon les fruits noirs. Immédiatement délicieux dès l'entrée en bouche, très savoureux, avec du goût, de l'équilibre et une présence allongée, le vin glisse sur le palais, long, suave et complexe dans la persistance. C'est superbe ! Une grande réussite du millésime. »
Vinous (N. Martin) : 90-92/100 "The 2024 L'If has a fragrant bouquet, with mainly red fruit and slate-like scents. The palate is medium-bodied and balanced, with slightly chalky tannins and a little flesh on the mid-palate. Lightly spiced on the finish, this is a comparatively straightforward L'If compared to previous vintages that will serve as a fine earlier drinking Saint-Émilion."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2027
- Potential alcohol:
- 13%
- Blend:
- 85 % merlot, 15 % cabernet franc