Château Siran 2023

Dark-fruited, smoky, tar, peat; dense palate, crisp fruit, slightly firm tannins; very good length. Needs to age.

Ripe blackberry and cassis aromas with a hint of tar introduce a palate of both brambly red fruit and juicy plum, with deft, if slightly tart, tannins. Tasted twice, one sample showed steelier tannins than the other, but both displayed a more linear rather than broad texture leading to a medium finish. While I like the precision, there was something a bit more homespun about this fine wine compared to some of its Margaux peers, but barrel aging should lend more depth on the palate.

The 2023 Siran is a tasty, easygoing Margaux to drink now and over the next decade or so. Super-ripe black cherry, chocolate, new leather, licorice, menthol and sweet spice are front and center. The 2023 is a fine drink, although I would prefer to see a touch more complexity.

Smoke, flowers, licorice, and black raspberries pop in the perfume, while the soft, elegant, sweet, fruity palate seals the deal. Drink from 2028-2042.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening at the rim. Delicate nougat, blackberries, ripe plums, fine oak nuances. Complex, with depth, a full-bodied style, hints of chocolate and dried fruit, round tannins, remains persistent, has certain ageing potential.

Open blueberry-scented bouquet with a fragrant hint of lilac, light tobacco and blueberry candy. On the palate, ripe and generous with a soft texture, tightly knit tannic frame and medium body. Focused, finely aromatic finish with blue fruits, graphite and fine-grained astringency.

One of the insider wines of Margaux, a poster child for quality outside of the 1855 classified ranks. Reduction gunsmoke opening, then softens to rose petals, liquorice root, cassis, bilberry and damson fruit. Great stuff, with tension and a mouthwatering finish, owner Edouard Miailhe and winemaker Marjolaine Defrance. 35% new oak for ageing. A buy.

Score: 93–95. An interlacing of floral (rose, peony) and fruity (raspberry, Burlat cherry) aromas creates a complex, shimmering, highly indulgent nose that evokes a late-summer garden. On the palate, immense concentration of ripe, rich fruit comes with a mouthwatering, tangy backbone, and impressive, full-bodied tannins on the finish for a Siran built to age. Deliciously good, almost sensual.

The nose is well-crafted, offering fine concentration, accuracy, precision, and a touch of breadth. It reveals notes of blackberry, boysenberry, ripe wild blackcurrant and, more lightly, fleshy wild strawberry, combined with hints of camphor, racy minerality, ripe/fresh red berries, and a delicate touch of sweet blond tobacco. The palate is fruity and delivers indulgence, suppleness and sapidity, finesse, and a certain focused, fine concentration. It shows notes of concentrated blackberry, pulpy/juicy raspberry, violet and, more subtly, ripe-fresh red berries, with a fine hint of racy minerality, wisteria, and delicate touches of star anise and smoke. The tannins are sapid and supple. Good length. Lovely minerality and texture. Lovely supple persistence.

This sophisticated wine with its ripe tannins and beautifully balanced texture, is rich and structured. With its spice aroma and fine layers of black currant fruits, the wine will develop at a stately pace. Drink from 2029.

A deliciously inviting style, with a soft-edged core of plum and black cherry compote that rolls along steadily over the underlying juiciness, while flashes of ink, chestnut leaf and violet fill in. Silky in structure and fresh through the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2037. 9,000 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.

Bright and expressive, Siran 2023’s bouquet offers red berry notes and plenty of freshness, along with hints of licorice wood. The subtle, delicate attack leads into an elegant, well-balanced, mouthwatering wine. Its vibrant character makes it especially refreshing, while the tannins provide perfectly controlled structure. An elegant, harmonious, savory and persistent wine. A real success!

Logo on the cork: V A deep, beautiful colour, youthful and vibrant. An intense nose with ripe, subtle fruit. On the palate, more precise than ever, with a fine, silky richness throughout. The wine develops aromatically into a long, savoury finish.