Château Pédesclaux 2023

Noble on the nose and well-structured on the palate, with silky tannins, racy acidity, precise and balanced, charming with great length. An excellent, juicy Pédesclaux.

Mint and dark chocolate on the nose with bramble fruit. Structured and almost chewy, this has texture and body, a real step up, certainly less lively and fruit-forward than second wine Fleur; this is more serious with well-defined tannins, gorgeous minty, blackcurrant Cabernet markers and balanced acidity. Cool for sure but with no hint of greenness—full of ripe fruit. Lots of Pauillac signature without any harshness or excessive tension. There’s a gentle softness from the Merlot that calms the expression. Lovely tannins give a powdery, chalky fleshiness around the cheeks and a long, lifted, minty finish. Feels elegant, precise and focused. Still tense and a little strict, but this is complete and has charm. Longest harvest ever, 17 days instead of 11. 14.5% press. pH 3.76. Aging in 65% new oak.

Cigar box, tobacco, cedar, flowers, and blackberries, with just a hint of espresso, create the nose. The medium-bodied, energetic palate delivers a vibrancy in its core of red fruits you can feel. There is a cool, refreshing touch of mint, with hints of peppery spice in the endnote that adds complexity. Give it a few years in the cellar, and enjoy it over the following 2 or more decades. The wine is blended using 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2029-2050.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Dark forest berries, fine cassis, black cherry, fine herbal savouriness, delicate hints of nougat, inviting bouquet. Medium body, ripe red cherry fruit, fine tannins, good freshness, firm, well-adhering, mineral, shows length and certain ageing potential.

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, the Petit Verdot was entirely used in the second wine, 13.3% abv. Expansive blueberry-scented bouquet, refined cassis spice, beguiling violet perfume and blueberry drops. On the juicy palate with a creamy texture, captivating extract richness, tightly knit tannin structure and a trained, athletic body. In the focused aromatic finish, a full basket of blueberries, licorice and finely grained astringency.

This is good quality, if not quite at the level of the exceptional quality of the 202. It has sculpted black fruits, good precision and a fresh mint character, with sculpted cassis and bilberry, plus pencil and graphite notes. Harvest ran from September 13 through October 4, with 65% new oak for aging. Second vintage certified organic.

Score: 93–95. Generous and intriguing, aromas of ripe black fruits mingle with floral scents (peony, iris) and raspberry leaf in a charming bouquet. Pure and silky, the palate is sumptuous and savory, with velvety tannins and floral freshness.

A lovely mineral nose, precise and racy, with good definition. It shows notes of blackberry, juicy raspberry and, more subtly, cornflower, combined with touches of racy minerality, as well as fine hints of liquorice pastille, tonka bean and a discreet touch of graphite. The palate is nicely guided, precise and juicy, offering a tangy backbone, tension, juiciness, a certain indulgence, fine roundness and accuracy. It reveals notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, gourmand blackcurrant and, more subtly, graphite, joined by touches of tonka bean, raspberry and toast. Lovely freshness, notes of pulpy/quite ripe red cherry, as well as fine toasty hints. The tannins are supple, indulgent and ripe. Lovely sapidity and gourmandise on the finish/persistence. Nice suppleness and sapidity. Indulgence, a tangy frame and a fine pulpy feel on the finish/persistence, with a subtle floral touch in the background. Lovely sapidity and gourmandise in the background.

Pédesclaux’s bouquet unfolds with subtlety and authenticity. It reveals hints of graphite and cedar, before giving way to notes of blackberry and liquorice, set against a subtly woody, chocolatey backdrop. On the palate, the wine gradually comes into focus with precision. It develops calmly and in a linear fashion, supported by perfectly integrated tannins that provide well-framed power, while the acidity adds character and a juicy texture. A savoury, harmonious and persistent wine. The finish still needs to open up a little more, but there is enough substance to bring it all together. A fine success!

Dark plum and red currant fruit is imbued with cut and drive as it spills over a cast iron framework, ending with iris, violet and ink notes while the finish stretches out. Wins on focus and purity. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2037.

Deep, intense, beautiful red color. Very aromatic nose, with ripe fruit notes and a hint of citrus. Delicate on the attack, very flavorful on the mid-palate, with body and fine tannins; the wine lingers for a long time, with a graceful, silky feel. Great sappy, perfumed persistence. It’s very good.