All En Primeur

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pure blackberry liqueur and damson notes on the nose. The palate is silky smooth with hints of chocolate, more blackberry, black cherry and a savoury mineral edge. The tannins, although clearly present, are nicely integrated and finely structured. The Terrasse du Diable sits at 250-400 meters and is surrounded by woodland, which helps to protect from the heat and brings a tantalising freshness to the wine. 3-10+years.

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

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

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

Rich and weighty the nose this is all tarte tatin and honey but with a gentle anise note of fennel. It is soft and silky on the palate with enough juiciness to maintain balance and a long characterful finish. 3-9 years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Juicy red fruits on the nose with a smoky note, morello cherry and strawberry with a hint of black cherry too. There are some nice ripe, rounded tannins and the vintages characteristically juicy finish with a savoury note. 3-9 years.

Rich and dark with black raspberry fruit and a touch of spice. There is nice sweetness to the fruit and some gently gripping tannins with plums and black cherry fruit coupled to a long, elegant finish. 3-9 years.

From a super vineyard situated to the left of Le Montrachet, this is fresh and elegant with a pretty, floral nose. The palate is racy and clean with plenty of ripe pear fruit with an attractive, lemon zest character running throughout. 3-9 years.

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

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

A very elegant wine this year with notes of white flowers amongst some sweet orchard fruit. There is a touch of oak spice on the palate and plenty of fruit to carry it. The finish is light and fresh with nice texture. 3-9 years.

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

Another really good Angludet that stood out at the Margaux tasting for its equilibrium and restraint while some others were more clumsy. Plenty of violet on the nose, then juicy, round black fruit coupled with silky tannins, with purity and freshness forging through to the finish. Balanced and accurate, a very successful Margaux. 5-15 years.

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

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

An exotic floral nose with hints of creamy Kirsch and framboise. Fresh and polished with excellent depth and purity of fruit. This is wonderfully intergrated, a very classy second wine! 5-15 years.

Delicious hints of framboise, morello cherries, rose petal and garrigue lead onto a dense mid-palate of plums, spice, crumble and sweet black cherry. Full-bodied with warming notes of creamy oak and touch of salinity on the long finish. 5-15+ years.

Frederic Casteja makes things happen in Bordeaux. “A good campaign is a quick campaign,” he said, while berating neighbours who watch the market and sit on their hands. His tenure at Batailley has improved the quality while keeping the price under control, and his wine is once again a firm recommendation. Almost minty on the nose, over sweet black fruit. Then dense on the palate with a bit of chew, currant on the back palate. Linear and grainy with an oak framework, this feels blocky, gourmand and should keep a bit.

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

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

On the nose the violets, black cherry and blackcurrant are followed by a plush, deep black core of summer fruit and hints of liquorice. Quite sumptous with nicely intergrated tannins, this is an excellent release from this ever improving estate. 3-9 years.

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

Often overlooked, this estate is definitely one to seek out. A beautifully crafted wine, the 2022 offers up enticing notes of damson, forest fruits, plums and flora. Big in structure but still supple, the minerality and youthful acidity shine through. Long and layered on the finish, this is another classy release from this consistently excellent Chateau. 5-15 years

Another superb nose, full of fruit and blossom, very attractive. Nice sweet fruit in the mouth, great balance and soft, rounded feel in the finish. Enough structure but an earlier drinker than some. 3-9 years.

One of the stars of the commune that keeps delivering. A most lovely nose of cassis, violet, blackberry and blueberry fool cascades onto the palate backed by classy, creamy oak. Good grip that balances the richness of fruit, quite chalky on the finish with warmth and good length. Feels like a keeper. 5-15+ years.

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

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

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

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

Hugely impressive from the dominant Calon-Segur stable, there?s a lovely round feel to this. Blackcurrant and blackberry fool, then an energy and finesse on the palate backed up by firm but supple new oak and good length. Great wine and great value.

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

Mulberry fruit on the nose, more on the palate with a ripe compote feel, lovely texture with chalky tannins propping up the mouthfeel. Generous and attractive, cool and fresh in the finish. Neat and polished. Drink 5-15 years.

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

This consistent performer instantly draws you in with aromas of grapefruit and honeysuckle. Zesty and fresh on the palate, with notes of lime, green apple and white currant and a lingering mineral finish. It hits the mark again! 0-5 years.

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

The high point of a superb tasting at Ducru-Beaucaillou. Spiced damson to start, then blueberry and mulberry cascades onto the palate with silky tannins, very fine, intense with poise and finesse, very fluid, clean finish and lovely persistence. The whole feels very complete, nicely concentrated with impeccable balance. Lots of energy about it, definitely worthy of its status and rank. 5-15 years.

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

Very fresh with a core of raspberry and red plum fruit at its centre, black fruit coming through behind. Lovely poise as you expect from the Lafite stable, good focus and purity, then fresh on the finish. 5-15 years.

Gonzargue Lurton has fashioned a delicious, structured yet ripe and concentrated wine this year. For a second growth Durfort is always good value and the depth and definition of the black fruit is wrapped in chunky, grainy tannins that work well to support the texture here. Biodynamic practices have created a bright, vibrant character, lots of freshness on the finish. A super effort and a Margaux to admire. 5-15 years.

Appealing, fresh blackberry and currant on the nose that continues to the palate where a framework of toasty oak takes over with a lick of liquorice in behind. Claire Villars-Lurton explained that the tannins here have got silkier from better vine management and stopping pumping-over several vintages back. Ferrière is stylish, has a swish feel to it, and is rather overlooked in Margaux in general - it is a Third growth and Eric Boissenot consults.

Intoxicating notes of violets and plum leap out of the glass, quickly followed by a dense core of purple fruits, dark chocolate, cherry tobacco and graphite. Medium bodied, with well-integrated tannins, its deceptively smooth with a long finish. A return to form for this underrated estate. 5-15 years.

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

Gorgeous blackberry jelly nose with a touch of spice. Velvety with a complex mix of classic clarety flavours on the palate. Tobacco and cedar are in the background at this stage, but that great GPL structure of long, fine, silky tannins underpin some lush fruit. Restrained in the finish yet very persistent. Length and precision, the hallmarks of another great Pauillac at a decent price. 5-15 years.

Super mix of fruit: damson, plum, raspberry and a shot of currant. Soft, round and svelte in the mouth, restrained and mineral with plenty of power but refined tannins and great persistence. Very good length too. Superb focus and definition, a very good to excellent wine. 5-15+ years.

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

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

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

With the highest yield across Pauillac, this wine has done well with very good balanced proportions. Blackberry fruit with damson jelly gives a juicy, ripe but pure feel to it. Forward with generous flavours, some tannin and a keen seam of acidity, good depth and concentration at the end. The whole effect is charming and a success. 5-15 years.

Lovely nose with toasty oak underpining attractive plum and damson fruit on the nose. Fresh on the palate, with a bit more blueberry and a jacket of ripe, grainy tannins. Good Pauillac character, this feels like it will take on more weight with age. 5-10 years.

Richer and more mouth filling with riper fruit feel than La Mission, there is again plenty of concentration and density, grainy tannins power through the middle and it is very long in the mouth. This is a wine of real presence and, while it feels a bit clumsy at the moment, should deliver in spades in the long run. 5-15+ years.

Sleek and fresh this was so moreish. Less power than its counterparts but brimming with intense purple & black fruit and liquorice. The fine tannins and lifted acidity are seamless, a real precise engaging wine which I adored! 5-12 years.

The 12th vintage of this sought after estate delivers alluring aromatics of mulberry and spice. With some appealing grippy tannins, this is intense yet wonderfully fresh and plush in style. Rich and polished with a hint of salinity on the finish, the increasing use of Cabernet Franc in the blend is paying dividends. 5-15 years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Starts with a mulberry nose, then layers of cassis and raspberry on the entry. Soft, complex red-fruit gives way to ripe blackberry behind. This supple, fresh core of fruit is wrapped in silky, fine tannins, such a smooth texture, pretty and effortless at the same time as structured but not over-wrought. The length is exceptional, the whole oozes class and finesse. A wonderful wine. 5-15+ years