Château Joanin Bécot 2023

Floral, clear fruit, cherry, cassis, chalky minerality, great depth; sweet fruit, fine tannins, spice, breed and freshness; exceptionally successful.

Chalky, ripe black fruit on the nose with blackcurrant, raspberry, cherry and plum on the palate. Quite tense – there’s some linearity to this, direct and quite lean with a salty, liquorice and dark chocolate core. More juicy on the second taste with red fruits – cranberry and red cherry – alongside powdery tannins that fill the mouth. Charming though still straight and a touch lean with licks of wet stone and menthol freshness on the finish. 3.5 pH.

The 2023 Joanin-Bécot is superb. Crushed flowers, mint, sweet pipe tobacco and a good dose of Franc savoriness all grace this exquisite Côtes de Bordeaux. All the elements are very nicely balanced. This is a stellar showing from proprietors Juliette Bécot and Julien Barthe.

Initially, you are greeted with a bouquet of flowers, cherries, cocoa, and spice. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and lifted, with layers of sweet, ripe, supple-textured cherries, plums, and chocolate, and the perfect touch of minerality on the finish. The wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It is produced from some of the oldest vines in the appellation, with the oldest vines dating back to 1870! Drink from 2026-2035.

Vibrant plum colour, Merlot on clay profile, meaning round, soft and gourmet on the opening, giving a jolt of limestone chalk and pumice stone through the mid palate. Like this enormously, combines crunchy blue and red fruits with richer cocoa bean and liquorice. 25% new oak barrels for ageing, plus 25% one-year oak, and the rest split between stainless steel vats and oak casks. Harvest September 25 to October 4.

Friendly and open-knit, with a juicy edge to its dark cherry and raspberry notes. Flashes of anise and apple wood chime on the pure finish. Delicious. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2031. 6,250 cases made, 1,250 cases imported.