Château Monbousquet 2023

Expressive, floral, lots of spices and a hint of fruit tea, complex; on the palate, dense, showing drive and opulence while remaining elegant, velvety tannins, excellent length. Outstanding. Can age.

Broad, toasty and with a frankly polished frame, this red offers up generous notes of cassis and plum sauce infused liberally with roasted vanilla, cedar, melted licorice and sweet tobacco. In the not-shy style, but the fruit does drip. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2027 through 2038.

Dark ripe fruit, raspberry, strawberry and cherry with lots of floral elements too. Smooth and so soft on the palate with a chalky undertone giving some length and body. Chewy and ripe summer berry fruits, but with a soft sweet juiciness on the mid palate too before the tightness comes in with some clear clove and wood spice as well as lots of graphite and liquorice freshness. Overall finessed and pristine. A nice expression that will be good to drink in three-five years. Ageing 18 months, 50% new oak, 50% one year.

65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. Juicy, aromatic and flavoursome. Attractive fruit with finely etched tannins. A drinking wine that should be approachable at an early age. (JL)

The 2023 Monbousquet is a delicate, elegant wine. Floral top notes lead into a core of dark cherry/plum fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice and incense. The typically boisterous Monbousquet expression of fruit is dialed back a bit, which I think helps the wine's balance, as the 2023 is not as overt as most vintages. Floral overtones reappear to lift the vibrant finish. Gorgeous.

Flowers, liquorice, black raspberries, and black cherries open the perfume. The wine has a depth of flavor; the fruits are fresh as well as ripe, sweet, and long, with lift and vibrancy in the finish, which allows the cream-textured wine to linger. The wine blends 65% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.15% ABV. Drink from 2028-2040-2042. 92-94 Pts.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Ripe, dark berry fruit, sweet plum, a hint of nougat, delicate dried fruit nuances, fine notes of oak are in the background. Complex, juicy, elegant, black cherry, vivid, integrated tannins, mineral on the finish, good persistence, a full-bodied food companion, salty aftertaste, good certain ageing potential.

Bitter black chocolate on the opening beats, along with espresso and rosemary. There are juicy ruby fruits alongside, and the Pavie signature. Gravelly soils with sand and sandy clay, the most impacted by the vintage’s heat spikes of all the Pavie wines this year; harvested September 13 to 23. 50% new oak, with the rest in one-year barrels.

Score: 91-93. A magnificent, refined bouquet with notes of cherry, raspberry and blueberry, both sweet and fresh like a breath of cold air. On the palate, with its blue-fruit character, it is silky, supple and satiny, yet with lively freshness and a tannic presence that is delightfully granular and caressing on the finish.