2023 Futures
For each vintage and each appellation, there are always wines that distinguished themselves by being cheaper than others with the same quality level, or by being far better than others in the same range of prices.
These “best values for money” of the current vintage are highlighted in this category.
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The star of Graves blancs, offering each vintage a very pure and straightforward wine, discreetly woody. It is not surprising to see this regularity in performance, as it is the own property of Florence & Denis Dubourdieu, hence the name of the wine.
Quarin : 91/100 « Délicat en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu, avec un beau toucher soyeux et une énergie qui lui est propre, ce vin subtil fond au palais, aromatique et long. »
Galloni : 91-93/100 « The 2023 Clos Floridène Blanc is a heady dry white from the Dubourdieu family. Tangerine peel, chamonile, apricot and honeyed notes build in a creamy, layered white that shows the richer side of the year. Readers will find a voluptuous, extroverted wine that will shine at its brightest at the dinner table. »
Martin : 88-90/100 « The 2023 Clos Floridène Blanc has a lively and well-defined bouquet with yellow fruit, Granny Smith and light stony aromas. The palate is fresh and crisp with grapefruit and orange rind notes. It's a little pithier than its peers, with a slightly resinous finish. Fine. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 62 % Sémillon, 38 % Sauvignon blanc
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Family property of the Dubourdieu family. Always very bouquety and expressive, round with buttered notes, perfect to accompany a cheese platter.
Galloni : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Blanc Sec is stellar and also one of the most distinctive whites of the year. Rich, layered and super-expressive, the Blanc Sec possesses exceptional pedigree and structure. Dried apricot, lemon peel, sage and dried flowers build effortlessly in the glass. The 2023 is seriously intense, yet nothing whatsoever is out of place. It is also an absolute steal. Fabulous. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 100% Sauvignon
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Known to produce Léognan's most voluminous and expressive white wine, Larrivet Haut-Brion has gained in freshness, precision and aromatic complexity since the arrival of Mr Lemoine (cellar master from Montrose), advised by Mr Derenoncourt, and vinifications in ovoid vats.
Revue du Vin de France : 91-93/100 ♥ Coup de coeur « Très belle matière ! Elle est encore en travail mais offre à ce stade beaucoup de relief et de saveur (pêche blanche et tilleul au premier plan), de la profondeur, avec un réel tranchant, un caractère incisif qui assure la cohésion de l’ensemble. »
Quarin : 91/100 « Couleur jaune pâle, aux reflets verts. Nez intense, fin, fruité et subtil. Délicatement charnu en entrée de bouche, avec de l'élégance dans la texture et des saveurs profondes de fruits blancs, fruits exotiques et fleurs, le vin fond au palais précisément accompagné par le bois. Bonne longueur savoureuse. »
Galloni : 94-96/100 « The 2023 Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc is a rich, exotic wine. Tangerine peel, spice, lemon confit and passion fruit build as this explosive, resonant white shows off its considerable pedigree. All the elements are so well balanced. Readers should expect a pretty overt style. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.60%
- Blend:
- 95% Sauvignon blanc, 5% Sémillon
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With near-maniacal intransigence at every stage of its development, the Bonnie family delights us with each vintage with its white wine, very Sauvignon (80 to 90%), combining energy, supreme finesse and exemplary straightness.
Revue du Vin de France : 90-91/100 « Clair et expressif, déjà formé, dans un style soigné mais convenu, toujours très sauvignon, le blanc de Malartic affiche une belle allonge, avec une tonalité grillée un peu en avant par rapport à la perception du fruit. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 95/100 ♥ Coup de cœur « Remarquable intensité de caractère et de sève, rivalisera avec ses pairs du secteur dans l’expression typique du sauvignon à Léognan, entre notes de pin, d’acacia et de fleurs blanches. »
Le Point : 15/20 « Pêche jaune, pomelo, note anisée, bouche onctueuse, saline, finale relevée. »
Quarin : 93/100 « Couleur jaune vert. Nez intense, fin, subtil, fruité et complexe. Gras à l'attaque, ample au développement, aromatique, avec de la classe dans le toucher, le vin va ascendant entre le milieu et la finale. Il s'achève sur une belle saveur de poire mêlée au bois, sans jamais perdre sa texture délicatement grasse. Une expression générale rarement vue à Pessac Léognan. »
Galloni : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc is a seriously beautiful wine. Explosive aromatics meld into a core of orchard and citrus fruits. Bright acids pull it all together. I especially admire the wine's inner perfume and balance. This is one of the better dry whites of the year. A kiss of French oak lingers. »
Martin : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc has a taut, correct and, in some ways, conservative bouquet that takes time to unfold in the glass. But, I appreciate the tension and mineralité. Hints of petrichor and Granny Smiths eventually take control. The palate is very well balanced with a fresh lemon sherbet-, orange pith- and lemongrass-tinged opening. There's a very appealing texture and impressive weight on the finish. Overall, this is a superb white Malartic to drink over the next 20 years. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 80% Sauvignon, 20% Sémillon
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In white, Domaine de Chevalier produces a model unique among its peers, made of tension, vivacity and energy. Its mineral side and its capacity to age (30 years and more) bring it closer to the greatest Burgundy whites.
Revue du Vin de France : 93-95/100 « Le blanc de Chevalier se démarque par son développement particulièrement articulé, mais aussi par sa richesse et sa puissance. [...] L’allonge et la densité inscrivent le vin dans la sphère des grands vins blancs de texture et de garde. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 94-95/100 ♥ Coup de cœur « Admirable tension et parfums très élaborés avec les notes habituelles de pin et d’acacia, enrobées par la maturité des nuances de fruits. »
Le Point : 17/20 « Nez élégant, fruits blancs, notes florales, bouche raffinée, délicate, onctueuse, finale nette, saline, touche minérale. »
Quarin : 94/100 « Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité, suave et subtil. Touche de poire et de vanille. Délicieux en entrée de bouche, très aromatique au milieu, avec un toucher gras, le vin évolue juteux, long et parfumé. »
Galloni : 94-96/100 « The 2023 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is one of the best dry whites of the year. Creamy and expansive, with terrific brightness, this exudes balance. [...] I expect it will offer exceptional drinking for the next several decades. »
Martin : 94-96/100 « This has wonderful purity on the nose, revealing scents of lime, green apple and crushed stone-one of the most precise I have encountered at this early stage. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity that lends this white Pessac-Léognan superb focus. There's real intensity here, building with a sense of nascent confidence toward the mineral, almost slate-like finish. Very long and tender, this is a white Domaine de Chevalier from the top drawer.»More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
- Blend:
- 70% Sauvignon blanc, 30% Sémillon
- Organic certification:
- 2023
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Doisy-Daëne may never be the sweetest wine in its sector, but its expression and aromatic refinement are unrivalled. A pure Barsac, brilliantly orchestrated by Denis Dubourdieu until 2016. The 2014 vintage was rated 94-96/100 by the Revue du Vin de France « with pure fruit and generous liquor, it is balanced by the finesse and minerality of the soil »; 96/100 for the 2016 vintage « sparkling, crystal-clear fruit, the pure character of the Barsac terroir ».
Revue du Vin de France : 95-97/100 « D’un exotisme alléchant mais jamais démonstratif (mangue, ananas…), “haute définition”, extrêmement généreux, le fruit prélude à une liqueur intense, offerte, aérienne, d’une grande subtilité. Une fois de plus, le cru de la famille Dubourdieu allie comme nul autre gourmandise, grâce et précision aromatique. »
Le Point : 17/20 « Fruits blancs, pêche jaune, bouche pointe de gaz, vivacité, fruits de la passion, citron, agrumes, finale poivrée. »
Quarin : 96/100 «Couleur dorée. Nez intense, fruité, subtil et profond. Touche de poire. Bouche tout en minutie tactile complexe, avec un déroulé haut de gamme, évoluant sans faille sur une note de citron qui pointe en finale. Tout caresse, minutieux, gras, fondant. Ensemble d'une magnifique expression. »
Galloni : 94-96/100 «The 2023 Doisy-Daëne is all class. Lifted aromatics open first. Delicate and understated in feel, with fine balance, the 2023 has so much to offer. Tangerine peel, passion fruit, mint, apricot and a kiss of sweet spice blossom with a bit of aeration. Doisy-Daëne remains one of the most sublime wines in Barsac and Sauternes. »
Martin : 95-97/100 «The 2023 Doisy-Daëne, takes time to unfurl on the nose. Notes of lemon curd, dried peach and a touch of marmalade are all nicely defined, developing subtle pithy elements with aeration. The palate is just wonderful. Very harmonious with perfectly judged acidity, it's extremely pure with a tensile finish. This is Barsac in full flight. It will be outstanding once bottled. Bravo! »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon
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A 6 ha property (92% Merlot) acquired in 2011 by Mr. Thienpont (Pavie-Macquin, Larcis-Ducasse...). After a break-in period, Alcée takes off in 2016, standing out from its neighbours by its emphasis on finesse, minerality and distinction. A wine with more length than breadth.
According to the Guide Bettane & Desseauve 2025, “Alcée has become the favourite vintage of wine lovers looking for excellent value among Bordeaux wines”.
Revue du Vin de France : 91-92/100 « Issu d’un plateau calcaire, c’est un castillon de bonne constitution. Une chair dynamique, traçante. Idéal pour découvrir l’appellation. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100 ♥ Coup de cœur « C’est à la fois énergique, soyeux, fin et raffiné. Progressivement, le vin se met en place et il donnera du plaisir très rapidement. »
Galloni : 88-90/100 « The 2023 Alcée is a dense, plush, explosive wine. Inky dark fruit, leather, licorice, mocha, sage and chocolate are all amplified to the maximum. Poor soils yielded an especially dense, opulent Alcée. There's just a bit of dryness on the finish. Tasted four times. »
Martin : 90-92/100 « Both samples were showing just a little reduction on the nose, though it opens in the glass with black cherries, boysenberry and light floral scents, violets and iris. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid black fruit, fine acidity, a more muscular Alcée here but at least there is freshness on the finish. The second sample at the end of my tasting exhibited more length and complexity and my score reflects this. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
- Blend:
- 88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc
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A 4 ha plot selection from Château Rigaud, La Mauriane is not yet another luxurious cuvée on the right bank but a wine built on fine grain tannins where the brilliance and precision of the fruit prevail. A true gem in the right bank !
Quarin : 92/100 « Couleur noire. Nez intense, au fruité mûr et subtil. Un peu plus parfumé que d'habitude. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, très savoureux au milieu, avec de l'éclat, le vin s'étire en finale, long, juteux, séveux et parfumé. Jolie enveloppe tannique. C'est très bon. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Organic certification:
- 2012
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Since its acquisition in 1998 by Mr. De Neipperg (Clos de l'Oratoire, Canon-La Gaffelière, La Mondotte), d'Aiguilhe has been part of the new generation of very ambitious wines that bring the appellation of the Côtes de Castillon to a new level. It has just won a second star in the 2023 guide of the Revue du Vin de France.
Revue du Vin de France : 92-93/100 « Un ravissant nez éclatant de mûre, de fruits noirs et une aromatique très bien définie. La trame calcaire jaillit immédiatement. Un équilibre svelte, une trame ciselée, tout en ayant une certaine tendresse de chair.»
Bettane & Desseauve : 91/100 « Ample et charnu, ce vin ne manque pas de distinction, on apprécie son soyeux, avec en finale des accents de menthe poivrée qui équilibrent l’ensemble. »
Galloni : 90-92/100 « The 2023 d'Aiguilhe is packed with blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice. Bright saline notes lend freshness and verve. The vibrancy of the flavors is really quite striking. »
Martin : 90-92/100 « There is a sense of airiness on the nose deriving from the limestone/clay soil-just a little diffuse. Maybe barrel-aging with bind the aromatics together. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure. It's quite foursquare, demonstrating more complexity than the preceding Clos Marsalette, with fine delineation and mineralité on the finish. Excellent. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 90 % Merlot, 10 % Cabernet franc
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Les Trois Croix is the personal property of Mr. Léon, who was technical director of Mouton-Rothschild for more than 20 years. He is dedicated to producing straightforward, digestible Fronsacs, among the most elegant and distinguished in the sector. The dresses are not the darkest but the power and harmony are there. In confidence!
Bettane & Desseauve : 90/100 « Beau toucher de tannin, grand charme, de l’énergie et une finale savoureuse sur les fruits noirs. »
Quarin : 89/100 « Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr. Juteux à l'attaque, savoureux en milieu de bouche, le vin évolue agréable et bien bâti sur une longueur normale et parfumée. »
Martin : 91-93/100 « The 2023 Les Trois Croix has a slight metallic trait on the nose, though there seems to be sufficient black fruit underneath. This improves in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. It's fleshy and ripe, with fine structure and a touch of mineralité on the finish. This is just one of the best Fronsac wines out there. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
- Blend:
- 83 % Merlot, 17 % Cabernet franc
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Under the leadership of M. Thunevin (Valandraud), La Vieille Cure presents a more greedy and less square profile than before and reveals itself as one of Fronsac's major properties.
Quarin : 87/100 « Bouche plus discrète qu'attendue. »
Martin : 89-91/100 « The 2023 La Vieille Cure has a pleasant nose with raspberry coulis and black berry fruit, touches of sous-bois evolving in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, impressive depth and focus. The oak is neatly integrated, with just a bit of hardness on the finish. It should mellow with bottle age and come good in the end. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
- Blend:
- 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet franc, 5% Cabernet sauvignon
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With 12 hectares cultivated in biodynamic farming, certified since the 2007 vintage, Clos Puy-Arnaud is one of the great Côtes de Castillon wines that have nothing to envy to neighbouring Saint-Émilion.
Uncompromising, the great wine that has made the estate's reputation is an authentic cuvée, straightforward, deep and made for laying down.Bettane & Desseauve : 91/100 « Beau raffinement avec un tannin délié délicat et un fruit vif et énergique. »
Quarin : 89/100 « Couleur sombre et intense. Nez un peu discret et fruité. Délicat en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu, le vin glisse sur le palais, charnu, agréable, sur une longueur moyenne. »
Galloni : 90-93/100 « The 2023 Clos Puy Arnaud is a huge, powerful, intense wine with a ton of fruit density. This feels a bit heavy and overdone - unusually so. Sark fruit and mocha linger. We will see where this goes. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
- Organic certification:
- 2009
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L'Esprit de Chevalier follows the same path as a great wine: an increasingly fine structure, a remarkable qualitative evolution in recent vintages, and an ever-relevant quality-price ratio.
Martin : 91-93/100 « The 2023 L'Esprit de Chevalier has a refined yet focused bouquet with black cherries, wild strawberries, touches of camphor and Provençal herbs, all delivered with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins on the entry, but it immediately segues into a surprisingly structured and grippy mid-palate. Quite bold for an Esprit, with a dash of white pepper on the finish. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13%
- Blend:
- 65% Cabernet sauvignon, 30% Merlot 30 %, 5% Petit verdot
- Organic certification:
- 2024
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Mr. Derenoncourt's arrival as a consultant in 2006 has given the Domaine de Chevalier an extra touch of charm and softness, while preserving its distinguished finesse. Its success has been dazzling in recent vintages, gradually raising it to the pinnacle of the appellation.
Revue du Vin de France : 93-95/100 « La matière ne bombe pas inutilement le torse. Parfumée, charmeuse, elle déroule en souplesse, mais sans creux ni hésitation. Très convaincant, l’échantillon se place sans baisse de régime dans l’impressionnant crescendo des rouges de Chevalier. Déjà complexe, racé, ce dernier millésime s’exprime de façon très articulée et promet un plaisir (relativement) précoce. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 95/100 ♥ Coup de cœur « Élégant, complexe, maturité, très juste extraction du tannin et boisé travaillé et intégré, un rien en dessous de la plénitude absolue du 2022. Beau style et avenir assuré. »
Le Point : 18/20 « Nez frais, fruité pur, cerise, juteux, tanins serrés, matière riche. Très racé et élégant, élevage harmonieux. »
Quarin : 94/100 « Nez très aromatique, au fruité frais. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu et bien constitué, le vin évolue juteux et velouté dans la seconde partie du palais. Il s'achève ascendant et très bon. »
Galloni : 94-96/100 « The 2023 Domaine de Chevalier is beautifully resonant in the glass. Deep, layered and quite persistent, the 2023 has so much to offer. In many vintages, this red needs time to be at its best, but this edition has enough forward fruit to make me think it will drink well with minimal cellaring, even if the acids remain brisk. [...] The 2023 is all finesse. »
Martin : 94-96/100 « This is quintessential "DdC" on the nose: black fruit, sous-bois and hints of black olive at first, subtle marine notes emerging with time in the glass. There's wonderful focus and delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pencil-shaving-tinged black fruit on the entry. [...] This is very traditional in style, with a tremendously long and satisfying saline finish. Superb. »2.15.0.0More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13%
- Blend:
- 65% Cabernet sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit verdot, 5% Cabernet franc
- Organic certification:
- 2024
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Since 1985, Pape Clément has magnificently combined the bouquet and natural finesse of the Graves with the power of its terroir (comparable to that of the greatest Pauillac wines). It is undoubtedly one of the super seconds on the left bank, what is confirmed by the marks attributed to its latest vintages.
Bettane & Desseauve : 95-96/100 ♥ Coup de cœur « Excellent corps et texture charnue avec une grande sensualité typique de Pessac par rapport à Léognan, un vrai pape-clément qui enchantera ses consommateurs fidèles. »
Quarin : 91/100 « La couleur est intense et pour le cru, le nez me semble un peu discret. Bouche tendre, savoureuse et agréable, où le vin retrouve ses arômes originaux en finale. Longueur normale. »
Galloni : 95-97/100 « The 2023 Pape Clément is one of the most exciting wines I have tasted here in a long time, maybe ever. Intensely aromatic and layered, the 2023 is simply stunning. Dried flowers, mint, licorice, mocha, cedar and tobacco soar out of the glass. The purity of the flavors is simply mind-blowing. Plum, pomegranate, blood orange and spice build in the glass, adding notable textural richness and resonance. [...] For readers who want to taste the "new" Bordeaux, this is it. What a wine! »
Martin : 93-95/100 « It's much more classic in style, almost reserved, with tightly wound black fruit mixed with briar and light gravelly scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a light entry, just a pinch of spice and moderate depth. The silky, peppery, finish is more tertiary than you would expect to find on what was once quite a bombastic Pessac-Léognan. [...] Very fine. I like this new direction. though I would not regard this as a benchmark for future vintages. This will be interesting to revisit after bottling. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet sauvignon, 3% Cabernet franc, 2% Petit verdot
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A family property since the 1950s, the arrival of a new generation has awakened this 32-hectare cru bourgeois in Cussac-Fort-Médoc, between Saint-Julien and Margaux. Revealed in 2012, du Retout climbs another notch in 2018 and 2019 with enthusiastic, sincere and tasty Haut-Médoc, full of fruit and carried by fresh tannins. Congratulations!
Quarin : 90/100 « Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr, épicé, vanillé et pour la première fois plus floral que jamais. Moelleux en entrée de bouche, très aromatique au milieu, avec un grand équilibre dans le déroulé, le vin avance juteux, savoureux, sur un des grains de tannin les plus nuancés dans ce cru. Qu'il est doux de remarquer que sur ces terroirs réputés austères, le travail des hommes a permis de révéler un potentiel de parfums jusqu'alors caché. De l'art de faire bouger les lignes. Bravo ! »
Martin : 85-87/100 « The 2023 Château du Retout has an intense and perfumed bouquet with layers of black cherries, red plum and a hint of camphor emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet entry, maybe just a little too saccharine compared to the best Haut-Médocs, although it does offer a sense of lusciousness that I appreciate. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.05%
- Blend:
- 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
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Second wine of Clos Manou, the Médoc as we like it: generous, sweet and balanced by a good vivacity. A real treat!
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.95%
- Blend:
- 52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet sauvignon, 3,5% Petit verdot, 2,5% Cabernet franc
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Vinified in the cellars of Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou, this cuvée benefits from the best care. Its higher proportion of Merlot (68%) makes it a wine of pleasure, gourmet and quickly enjoyable.
Le Point : 15/20 « Epices, fruits noirs, bon équilibre, gourmand. Un vin facile, savoureux, bien à sa place dans sa gamme. »
Galloni : 90-92/100 « The 2023 Madame de Beaucaillou is a very pretty, aromatic wine. Crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon, dried herbs and a kiss of French oak are all nicely delineated. This juicy, perfumed, Merlot-based Haut-Médoc is a fine choice for drinking over the next decade or so. The 2023 is absolutely delicious. »
Martin : 88-90/100 «The 2023 Madame de Beaucaillou has a delightful bouquet with brambly red fruit, rose petals and cedar. Less Petit Verdot in the blend means it is less floral than the 2022. The palate is grippy and quite peppery on the entry-a little angular at the moment, but barrel-maturation will smooth the edges. That cracked black pepper element reappears toward the finish that needs more persistency. Give it three to four years in bottle if you can. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 59% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot
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With remarkable consistency, Potensac has been one of the most regular crus bourgeois in the northern Médoc for 30 years, proof of the know-how of the Léoville-Las Cases team (same owner). Its ability to age is always surprising, even and especially in the "early years".
Revue du Vin de France : 91-93/100 « La proportion de cabernets monte progressivement et le vin prend une dimension plus stricte, mais aussi plus racée. Tendu, mais avec du volume et des tanins structurants, il s’inscrit comme un Potensac de garde. »
Quarin : 89/100 « Couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez aromatique, au fruité mûr. Bouche juteuse, savoureuse, à la saveur franche de fruits mûrs. Finale de longueur normale. Tannicité enrobée. »
Galloni: 91-93/100 « The 2023 Potensac is a seriously beautiful wine that shows just how complex and nuanced wines from this property can be. Crushed flowers, spice, red/purplish fruit, rose petal and mint are some of the notes that lift from the glass. Bright saline tones underpin the mid-palate and finish. This is one of the most complete young Potensacs I can recall tasting. »
Martin : 90-92/100 « The 2023 Potensac has a well-defined nose: predominantly black fruit, with touches of seaweed in the background. I warm to it more with acquaintance, and it gradually coheres. The palate is medium- bodied with pliant tannins and a fine line of acidity. Silky-smooth in texture, you can tell that there is some quality new oak on the finish, which is simpatico with the fruit. It's a good, solid Potensac that will require three or four years in bottle. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.40%
- Blend:
- 48% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc
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The incessant work of Mr. and Mrs. Dief since 2000 is bearing fruit today: in a tense and distinguished style, Clos Manou shines with a vibrant, deep energy, with pure and radiant fruit, combining length and density. Undoubtedly the most beautiful revelation of the northern Médoc in recent vintages.
Revue du Vin de France : 90-92/100 « Comme à son habitude, cette propriété élabore un vin très charmeur et délicieux, habilement élevé et doté de beaucoup de fruit. Une valeur sûre à la belle évolution prévisible. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100 ♥ Coup de cœur « Axé sur le fruit, intense et précis, texture dense avec des tannins ronds
et de la fraîcheur en finale. Style chaleureux et charmeur, bien fait. »
Le Point : 17/20 « Baies noires, bouche en attaque, tendue ensuite. Fin, élégant, droit, long, finale saline, très persistant. »
Quarin : 92/100 « Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Nez aromatique, au fruité frais et épicé et pour la première fois mentholé. Délicatement charnu en entrée de bouche, aromatique au milieu, avec une construction impeccable où tout glisse dans un grand équilibre, le vin s'achève long et séveux. On halète en finale. »
Galloni : 88-90/100 « The 2023 Clos Manou is a bold, juicy Médoc. Plum, spice, leather, cedar and dried herbs are nicely pushed forward. The 2023 is a but rustic as this stage, but it has potential. Pretty top notes brighten the finish. »
Martin : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Clos Manou has a clean and precise nose of earthy black fruit, with touches of freshly rolled tobacco following through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and finely proportioned, with gentle grip and a keen line of acidity. There is a build in the mouth absent in many of its peers, as well as unquestionably greater persistency. Excellent. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.20%
- Blend:
- 70% Cabernet sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Petit verdot
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A small estate (12 ha), carefully tended and vinified with constant regularity, Deyrem Valentin is one of the most typical Margaux crus. Distinguished by the Revue du Vin de France among the hidden nuggets of the Médoc, "its Margaux wines draw a delicious balance".
Promoted to "Cru Bourgeois Supérieur" in 2020.
Quarin : 88/100 « Couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez moyennement aromatique, au fruité mûr et crémeux. Bouche caressante et suave, un peu légère, mais parfumée. Longueur normale. »
Galloni : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Deyrem Valentin is a terrific surprise. Rich, ample and explosive, Deyrem Valentin has a ton to offer. To be sure, readers should expect a dense, opulent style, but it works quite well here. Succulent red/purplish fruit, spice, rose petal and citrus peel build into the deeply satisfying, resonant finish. Well done. »
Martin : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Deyrem-Valentin has a quintessential Margaux bouquet that is extremely well defined. Pure black cherry and blueberry fruit tones gently unfurl in the glass. The oak here is neatly integrated. The palate is wonderfully balanced with gentle grip, sapid black fruit and veins of blueberry, harmonious and poised with an insistent tug on the finish. This over-performs given its status and comes highly recommended. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
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Second wine of Brane-Cantenac, Baron de Brane demonstrates even more than his big brother the progress made in this château over the last 15 years. With a silky smooth 2016, deliciously crisp and juicy on the finish, Baron de Brane is now more than a second wine, it is a brand in its own right!
Le Point : 15.5/20 « Fruits noirs, bouche avec des notes de torréfaction, tanins vifs. Juteux, droit, gourmand. »
Quarin : 89/100 « Beau rouge sombre. Nez intense, au fruité mûr. Délicat à l'attaque, savoureux au milieu, avec un beau toucher, le vin fond, puis prend de l'aisance entre le milieu et la finale. Longueur normale. »
Galloni : 88-90/100 « The 2023 Baron de Brane offers up dark-fleshed fruit, new leather, tobacco and incense. There's a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon than in most years, and the Merlot was saignéed. All of these elements yield an attractive wine that is still coming together. Today, the Baron is a bit of a bruiser. »
Martin : 89-91/100 « The 2023 Baron de Brane is well-defined on the nose with black cherries, wild mint and pencil box scents that are nicely focused. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a grippy entry. There's backbone on this Deuxième Vin, quite feisty on the finish with decent length. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13,8%
- Blend:
- 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère, 1% Petit Verdot
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Even though it is not classified, Siran has been in competition with the classified growths of Margaux for the last ten years, with wines that are at once delicate, firm and full-bodied with age. Aligning successes since 2015, Siran is now at its best, 2020 being its best vintage ever and hailed as such by the Revue du Vin de France: « réussite majeure pour le cru », rated 95/100.
The label for the 2022 vintage, by Italian artist Pietro Gallo, illustrates the technological revolution brought about by Artificial Intelligence.
Revue du Vin de France : 92-93/100 « Le château enchaîne une belle série de millésimes. 2023 est dans une veine plutôt charnue et mûre, à dominante de merlot, tout en préservant le croquant et la fraîcheur du fruit. Un vin de bel équilibre à la structure tannique bien intégrée. »
Le Point : 17/20 « Fruits noirs, bouche dense, riche, réglisse, tanins présents. Du fond, long, bien construit. »
Quarin : 89/100 « Couleur sombre. Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité. Touche de fruits noirs. Délicat en entrée de bouche, soyeux dans son déroulé, le vin fond au palais, très agréable sur une longueur normale et savoureuse. »
Galloni : 87-89/100 « The 2023 Siran is a rich, earthy Margaux. Cherry, tobacco, dried herbs and scorched earth add to an impression of rustic, wild power. This Siran has a ton of power, but incisive tannins give an impression of untamed intensity. »
Martin : 92-94/100 « The 2023 Siran has a well-defined bouquet that is not as complex as the previous vintage. It is focused and delineated, with black fruit mixed with graphite and melted tar, almost Saint-Julien in style. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, quite minerally and lively without the depth of the 2022, yet rather elegant and refined on the finish. This constitutes a very gracious Margaux and as I tried second and third bottles towards the end of my trip, it just seemed to get better and better. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
- Blend:
- 49% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot
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Second wine of Lagrange, of an incredible regularity in its quality as in its prices. This classic is an ideal "core of the cellar"!
Quarin : 89/100 « Beau rouge sombre. Nez très aromatique, fin, pur et fruité. Pulpeux en entrée de bouche et tout le long de la dégustation, le vin évolue savoureux, suave et long en finale. Joli déroulé bien équilibré. Une réussite, aidée par le petit verdot. »
Martin : 87-89/100 « Brambly black fruit, briar and light tobacco scents furnish the aromatics, perhaps not the most vigorous amongst the Saint-Julien wines, but suggestive of an approachable 2023. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly powdery tannins, mainly black fruit and a slight chalkiness toward the finish. It delivers a light peppery note on the aftertaste. Fine. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 46% Cabernet sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 13% Petit verdot
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Second wine of Talbot, creamy and quickly accessible.
Martin : 87-89/100 « The 2023 Connetable Talbot contains some Petit Verdot in the blend, as two plots were deselected from the Grand Vin. It has a well-defined bouquet, predominantly black fruit laced with tabacco and touches of sous-bois. There is a sorbet-like freshness here. The palate is medium-bodied with a crunchy entry. Alinear and nicely focused Connetable in the making, this shows a little more depth on the finish compared to recent vintages. Fine. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13,16%
- Blend:
- 56 % Merlot, 41 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 % Petit Verdot
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Second wine of Gruaud-Larose. In a rather powerful and tight register, Sarget is a serious and convincing Saint-Julien, with substance, at its best after 5 to 7 years of ageing.
Bettane & Desseauve : 90/100 « Délicat, tout en finesse aromatique et souplesse tannique, sans creux en milieu de bouche, la parfaite carafe pour faire connaissance avec le type Saint-Julien. »
Le Point : 15.5/20 « Souple, rond, gourmand, droit, pas de creux, savoureux, tanins glissants très agréables. »
Quarin : 88/100 « Vin coloré, au nez aromatique et fruité, à la bouche tendre, savoureuse, pulpeuse, évoluant sans angle tannique. Longueur normale. »
Galloni : 90-92/100 « The 2023 Sarget de Gruaud Larose is a pretty serious second wine. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice and mocha are all front and center. The presence of the fruit here is alluring. Soft, plush contours wrap it all together in style. I very much like the depth here. »
Martin : 86-88/100 « The nose is quite "punchy" for a Deuxième Vin, with plenty of black cherries, iodine and light cedar scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a structured, slightly chewy entry, licorice-infused black fruit and firm grip; there is a bullishness about this Sarget, so afford it a couple of years before pulling the cork. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 12.5%
- Blend:
- 52% Cabernet sauvignon, 40.5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet franc 4%, 3.5% Petit verdot
- Organic certification:
- 2022
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The best cru bourgeois of Saint-Julien (it could easily have been classified in 1855), kept by the Saint-Pierre team, even owner, and in very good shape in the last vintages. The Médoc's best value par excellence.
Revue du Vin de France : 91-93/100 « Le cru signe encore une belle réussite, avec une belle mise en avant de son fruité légèrement acidulé et très juteux. Un ensemble de bel équilibre, à la fois digeste et persistant en finale. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100 « Excellent fruit, très ouvert, très typé de son secteur, boisé presque insensible et vrai caractère saint-julien. »« Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité et subtil. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, charnu au milieu et surtout très aromatique dans le dernier tiers du palais, le vin glisse, suave et gras vers une finale séveuse et charmante. C'est très bon. »
Le Point : 17/20 « Ronce, framboise sauvage, bouche élégante, bonne matière. Long, fin, droit. »
Quarin : 92/100 « Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité et subtil. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, charnu au milieu et surtout très aromatique dans le dernier tiers du palais, le vin glisse, suave et gras vers une finale séveuse et charmante. C'est très bon. »
Galloni : 91-93/100 « The 2023 Gloria is bright, punchy and super-expressive. Red-toned fruit, crushed flowers, white pepper and mocha are nicely dialed up. this super-classic Saint-Julien delivers the goods. Best of all, it should be a great value. »
Martin : 90-92/100 « It has a succinct bouquet with black cherries, red plum and pronounced floral aromas that emanate from the Petit Verdot. The palate is medium-bodied with bright blackberry and raspberry fruit, quite a minerally Gloria with a more linear, stricter finish than the 2022, as you would expect. There's also fine salinity here. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.3%
- Blend:
- 50% Cabernet sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Petit verdot, 5% Cabernet franc
- Organic certification:
- 2024
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The most serious and regular of the great classified growths of Saint-Julien, and even of the Médoc. Whatever the vintage since 1986, Lagrange never disappoints, with a constancy and an accuracy that force respect!
Bettane & Desseauve : 93-94/100 ♥ Coup de cœur « Bon corps, texture sérieuse, sur le tabac blond et les épices douces, bon boisé, encore un peu réservé aromatiquement mais bien dans le caractère 2023. »
Le Point : 16/20 « Cassis, discret, bouche tendue, sérieuse, un peu refermée. Structure à ce stade assez carrée, la douceur viendra avec l'élevage. »
Quarin : 94/100 « Couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez intense, fruité, mûr et subtil. Touche de goudron. Moelleux en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu, le vin se développe velouté, vers une belle finale à la tannicité enveloppée. C'est du Lagrange et c'est très bon. »
Martin : 92-95/100 « The 2023 Lagrange is bright, punchy and full of character. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, menthol, licorice and rose petal lend exuberance and freshness to this mid-weight Saint-Julien. Readers will find a wine of total class and sophistication. In a word: terrific. Tasted two times. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Organic certification:
- 84% Cabernet sauvignon, 16% Merlot
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Even if their evolution always involves a period of austerity, Léoville-Barton wines have a supreme class and elegance, due as much to the advanced age of the vines as to meticulous work. Always praised by the critics, as in 2015 "fine, sapid and very long, lots of class on the palate, with a juicy side and superb texture", rated 97/100 by the Revue du Vin de France.
Revue du Vin de France : 97-98/100 « Ce 2023 est fantastique de définition et de puissance. La matière, tout en muscle, est éclatante, juteuse et les tanins sont parfaitement extraits. Mais c’est une fois encore la finale qui impressionne par son allonge et son éclat. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 94-95/100 ♥ Coup de cœur « Excellent corps, boisé mieux intégré que dans les millésimes précédents, grâce à un travail intelligent sur l’origine des bois. La finale doit encore se fondre mais le vin a du style et même du panache. »
Le Point : 18.5/20 « Impeccable Barton. D'une régularité horlogère, ce cru géré par la famille Barton-Sartorius nous régale encore d'un vin superbe. Fruits noirs, bouche en fraîcheur et en tension, équilibre, harmonie, densité et élégance. »
Quarin : 95/100 « Nez très aromatique, fin, pur, fruité et subtil. Fond de fleurs et de fruits noirs. Délicat en entrée de bouche, suave au milieu, avec un beau toucher, le vin fond au palais, juteux et raffiné. Finale à la saveur profonde et légèrement réglissée. Tannicité très bien enveloppée. »
Galloni : 93-95/100 « The 2023 Léoville-Barton marries the classicism the château is so well-known for with an extra kick of textural intensity from the heat of the year. It's powerful, dark and serious, with compelling notes of black cherry, lavender, spice and blackberry. This is an especially dense, somber Léoville-Barton endowed with tremendous presence. »
Martin : 92-94/100 « A touch of dark chocolate infuses the black fruit, harmonious with a patina of new oak that will integrate with time. This is classic Léoville Barton from tip to toe, and whilst it does not match the imperious 2022, it is a very impressive follow-up due to its interwoven elegance. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Potential alcohol:
- 13%
- Blend:
- 87% Cabernet sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet franc
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With the help of Michel Rolland, Léoville-Poyferré has gained in depth since 1993, voluptuousness of texture and ability to age. It is now approaching the quality of its prestigious neighbours in which it is landlocked: Léoville-Las Cases and Pichon-Lalande. The competition between the three Léoville is intense but Léoville-Poyferré now prevails with an easier, more voluptuous approach, and a superior quality/price/pleasure ratio.
Revue du Vin de France : 95-96/100 « Le cru semble imprimer un petit virage stylistique, avec une recherche de finesse et non de puissance. Il en résulte un vin frais et très séduisant dans l’expression du fruit et dans la définition des tanins, moins extraits qu’à l’habitude. Une belle réussite. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 91/100 « Caractère plus cabernet que par le passé, assez complexe dans ses notes d’épices et de tabac, et très bien constitué. Une valeur sûre. »
Le Point : 17.5/20 « Toujours aussi fruité, mais avec une douceur de tanins en plus et de l'éclat. Belle matière généreuse, du charme, une aromatique riche. Futur vin gourmand. »
Quarin : 96/100 « Couleur noire. Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité et complexe. Touche de fruits noirs, de réglisse et goudron. Charnu en entrée de bouche, charnu au milieu, avec de la classe dans le toucher et beaucoup de goût, le vin fond sur le palais. Il évolue opulent et aromatique, vers une longue finale séveuse et parfumée. Il y a du vin dans le verre et c'est superbe ! »
Galloni : 95-97/100 « The 2023 Léoville-Poyferré is positively stellar. Medium in body, vibrant and beautifully persistent, the 2023 is all class. It also signals a shift away from the richer (but equally successful) style favored here in the recent past, now moving toward an approach that favors more vibrancy. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, mocha and cedar infuse the 2023 with notable freshness and verve. The new Léoville-Poyferré is quite the stunner. Tasted two times. »
Martin : 95-97/100 « This has an intense bouquet with black cherries and iodine, becoming more floral with aeration. The palate opens with a medium body and pliant tannins, fleshy and ripe, dovetailing into a dense and multi- tiered mid-palate. Typical Poyferré in style, blood orange and light graphite notes are embroidered into the ripe black fruit, and there is noticeable glycerol on the finish.[...] This is a contender for the best Saint-Julien in show. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available early 2026
- Blend:
- 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot