Château Sénéjac 2023

The 2023 Sénéjac was bottled at the end of May. It has an open-knit bouquet with brambly red berry fruit and briar, just a touch of cinnamon in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip. Just a little earthiness toward the finish, a touch of black pepper lingering on the aftertaste. Not quite as long-term as I estimated from barrel but still a decent Sénéjac that will hopefully develop a bit more weight on the back end.

Mineral-driven on the nose, blond tobacco, cherry, blackberry; soft attack, polished tannins, harmonious, finely spiced, pleasantly long. A lot of wine for the money.

Showing off aromas of tobacco, ripe red fruit and blackberry, this wine has a soft attack with tannins that are a bit austere, but overall the sense is that the finesse conquers the structure, leading to an almost creamy mid palate and seashell freshness. Tried on two occasions, but one sample was not nearly as good.

Vibrant, bright and fresh, with sweetness to the fruits, and a nice, crisp, minty edge, the wine needs just a year or so in the bottle. Drink from 2027-2038.

Soft but plentiful tannins from the first moment, this is lovely, with a real sense of grip and life. It rises gently across the palate, with touches of tomato leaf and liquorice root, coupled with ruby brambled fruit and an overall sense of balance and cheer. Classic Haut-Médoc typicity, austere tannins on the finish, but in a way that suggests the ability to age, and the ability to bring you out of the glass and into the place and the terroir. Nancy Bignon Cordier, also owner of Château Talbot in St-Julien. A value wine, one to look out for.

The nose is fresh, with a touch of graphite and a small, crisp, taut grain. It shows notes of blackberry and violet, and more subtly fresh lily, with hints of blackberry and tonka bean, as well as a very discreet touch of clove. The palate is beautifully juicy and fruity, offering freshness, minerality, good definition, precision, a zesty backbone, and energy. It reveals notes of juicy/pulpy cherry, juicy/fleshy raspberry, and more subtly juicy/fleshy blackberry, together with hints of violet and touches of toast and fresh almond. A very discreet sappy note. Good length.