Château du Tertre 2023

Open, with plum and pickled cherry fruit; soft attack, ripe tannins finely interwoven with the fruit, comes across a bit more ponderous than before.

Flowers, cocoa, raspberries, and spearmint nuances show in the perfume. Medium-bodied, soft, fruity, and fresh, this charmer is not shy about already starting to let you enjoy its black, and red fruit-filled, creamy-textured mid-palate, and finish. Drink from 2027-2045.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening at the rim. Ripe plums, some nougat, delicately spicy, candied orange zest in the underlay. Medium body, red cherries, subtle tannins, mineral, balanced, subtle fruit expression on the finish. A versatile wine for the table.

Delicate blueberry bouquet, refined cassis spice, perfumed pipe tobacco and blueberry drops. On the generous palate, silky texture, tightly knit tannic frame, wonderful extract richness, vibrant drive and a well-trained body. In the focused, long, finely aromatic finish: blackcurrant, licorice, graphite and a fine, sandy astringency.

Good quality, savoury with hidden power and complexity, fresh with plenty of black tea, damson and graphite. Second year under new owners the Helfrich family, Cynthia Capelaere estate director, Romain Beurienne technical director. Biodynamic farming, 60% new oak for ageing.

Score: 93–95. Intense and brooding, rich, opaque, the nose gradually reveals complex aromas of black fruits (blackcurrant, black cherry), black licorice, raspberry leaf, wisteria and lily. The palate is equally dark, with superb juiciness and velvety texture, full-bodied and hedonistic. Bravo!

The nose is both delicate and intense. It offers a fine, elongated grain, notes of blackberry, violet and, more subtly, graphite, combined with touches of grey pepper and delicate hints of licorice and sweet spices. The palate is fruity, mineral, and offers freshness, fine tension, juiciness, a zesty backbone, precision, and elegant finesse. It reveals notes of juicy/tangy blackcurrant, blackberry and, more lightly, tangy raspberry, combined with fresh/tangy red berries, as well as hints of cornflower, star anise, a subtle touch of salinity and a very discreet hint of infusion. The tannins are finely plush. Savory finish with lovely freshness.

Floral, intense and pure with a beautiful diversity of aromas ranging from red fruits, blackcurrant and cherry to very fine, slightly toasted wood, coffee and mocha. Supple on the palate with gentle extraction, voluminous and dense but elegant. A supple and persistent finish, a very nice wine with great potential.

A flattering red, with a caressing feel to its red and black cherry compote notes, while violet and iris add range. Judicious toast lets smoldering alder and savory flecks peek in gently on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032. 6,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

Gorgeous perfumed scents on the nose, smells heady and scented. A wonderful texture and harmony to this wine, everything in balance. It’s not the most complex or layered but the fruit is perfectly matched to the acidity and tannins so you get a really enjoyable and coherent glass of wine with flavour, structure and length. A great achievement in 2023. This also has a touch of richness to the fruit profile that many wines lack in this vintage. Glossy. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

A lovely intensity of fruit on the nose of Du Tertre, with notes of blackcurrant and blueberries, complemented by a touch of liquorice and eucalyptus, followed by hints of graphite. Creamy on the attack, the wine stands out for its velvety character and compact tannins that bring energy and provide a solid structure. Du Tertre is following a path devoted to detail and excellence. The persistence and finesse of the finish underscore this perfectly.

Logo on the cork: A in a circle (Amorim) Deep, intense, bright red colour. Medium-intensity nose, refined, fruity and subtle. Delicate on the attack, tasty on the mid-palate, with lovely aromatic precision, this airy wine builds on the finish and ends long, fragrant and very good.

The 2023 Château du Tertre has turned out beautifully, revealing aromas of cassis, dark wild berries, rose petals and fresh licorice, accented by refined spice. Medium- to full-bodied, it is round and sapid, layered and deep, built around a fleshy core of fruit framed by velvety, powdery tannins and a gently sweet profile. This blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot is a sleeper of the vintage.