Château Margaux 2023

An enchanting bouquet, the archetype of a Château Margaux, layers of aromas—playful, floral, mint, red berries—immensely deep with a balance on the palate that is second to none; perfectly interwoven tannins support the crisp fruit, a fresh, long‑lasting finish—this is a delicacy like no other. Stunning!

The 2023 Château Margaux unwinds in the glass with notes of sweet red and black fruits mingled with hints of violets, orange zest and petals, lavishly framed by spicy, toasty oak that is quite prominent out of the gates. Medium- to full-bodied, with a deep core of primary fruit built around bright acids and chalky structuring tannins, it's youthful and vibrant and will require a bit of patience. It's a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot that attained 13% alcohol, with the Cabernet Sauvignon seeing somewhat shorter than usual macerations and the inverse for Merlot.

Quite a herbal nose, full of blackcurrant leaf and bramble fruit, dark chocolate, violets – subtle, not shouting, but interesting. Round and ripe, a nice weight on the palate, silky, but also like crushed velvet, mouthwatering acidity, so juicy and clean, a lovely texture in the mouth. Not chewy at all, but there’s depth here, a cushioning to the palate with incredible juiciness. Charming, gentle yet lively. It’s just so appealing, but this will also benefit from oak ageing. Carefully made, the tannins are wonderful and the acidity doesn’t stick out. You don’t sense the heat, but the fruit is ripe, with freshness all the way through. A wonderful wine in 2023. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend with 4% Cabernet Franc, the highest percentage ever in the blend. 41% grand vin production. 3.6 pH, 15% press wine. Officially certified organic as of 2023. Ageing 100% new oak, 18 months.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Fine oak savoriness, delicate hints of nougat and clove, dark forest berries, cassis, liquorice, floral touch, delicate tangerine zest, seductive bouquet. Juicy, highly elegant, ripe heart cherry, silky, supporting tannins, lively, finely structured, a hint of chocolate and blackberry on the finish, harmonious, balanced, mineral-salty, lingers for a very long time. A perfect reflection of this unique terroir.

Vibrant peony and ruby red colour, this hums with movement and energy through the palate, a complex bloom of lavender and white rose flowers, fresh and dense at the same time. Classical Margaux, with the savoury quality of the best wines of the year, a ton of fine tannins with a reserved, sculpted architecture. The drinkability of this vintage is such a welcome return, and this is exceptionally good quality, and a real pleasure to taste. Superb winemaking from Philippe Bascaules. 41 hl/ha yield (compared to 25 hl/ha last year), 41% of the production in this 1st wine.

A lovely, elegant nose—aromatic, complex, indulgent—offering a charming silky grain, fine intensity, and a beautiful multi-layered profile. It shows notes of boysenberry, crushed raspberry and, more subtly, bright small plum, with touches of fresh blond tobacco, infusion, and a hint of smoke, plus fine hints of fresh toast, a discreet floral touch (an almost imperceptible hint of wisteria), and nutmeg. The palate is beautifully mineral, fresh, elegant, and balanced, with a zesty backbone, precision, tension, minerality, and good definition. It reveals notes of juicy/fresh blackberry, fresh/crunchy plum and, more lightly, violet, joined by touches of fresh/crunchy red berries, as well as fine floral nuances and delicate hints of violet and lilac, with a subtle note of fresh small red plum, a subtle hint of toast, infusion, and smoke. The tannins are supple and sapid, delightfully gourmand, fresh, elegant, and complex. Beautifully classic in freshness—charming, delicate, and unfolding with accuracy and melodious grace. There is also a hint of toasted/roasted almond on the finish, with a fine chew and a touch of salinity.

In competition for wine of the vintage, with a single swirl, you find roses, violets, lilacs, blackcurrants, with red cherries, espresso, cocoa, and boysenberries in the haunting aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is silky, velvety, energetic, and lively. Instead of the weight and intensity found in 2022, the 2023 focuses on its purity, refinement, length, vivacity, and sensual textures. The seamless finish resonates for 60 seconds, leaving you with lingering waves of incredibly sweet, pure cherries. Part of the reason for the success of the vintage at Margaux is due to the combination of the amount of rain and, even more importantly, the timing of the rains, which helped the vines reach a better level of maturity. It is interesting to note that macerations were slow and easy, with some vats taking 28 days due to the lower ABV levels. The wine blends 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. 13.1% ABV. pH 3.61, 15% press wine. 41% of the crop was placed into the Grand Vin. Picking took place September 11–October 6. The length of the harvest was due to intermittent periods of rain during picking, so harvesting stopped and started, which is another key to the success in 2023. Drink from 2030–2065. 98–100 pts.

97-99. Barrel Sample. This is a smoky wine, full of bright black fruits, acidity and a dense structure. Dominated by 89% Cabernet Sauvignon with almost equal amounts of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it is impressively rich with powerful tannins and perfumed fruit in fine harmony.