BORDEAUX 2023 EN PRIMEUR

• Across the region we have heard of a vintage which made the châteaux work exceptionally hard to battle mildew & sunburn. Those who succeeded saw increased concentration in the healthy grapes, delivering wines with intense fruit and an inviting vibrancy.

• The quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant factor in all the best wines we have tasted so far, making up a higher proportion of the blend than in previous vintages. The taste profile is classic; cassis, precise and elegant. Freshness has been a theme throughout and, as such, the wines should offer a great drinking experience.

• The Right Bank has excelled in 2023. It was particularly evident in Pomerol that its unique location shielded it from the negative effects of rain and mildew, accentuating the exceptional quality of the best Merlots in this vintage.
  
• The wines boasted tremendous sweetness and plush fruit, indicative of their superb quality. Additionally, the advantage afforded to those chateaux on St Emilion’s limestone plateau was unmistakable; Cabernet Franc in particular has been very successful in the most renowned locations.

"We LOVE the 2023 vintage. It has given us freedom of interpretation, and wines all across the Médoc are very varied. It was also a vintage of luck; the rainfall map shows that exactly where you were in Pauillac dictated how well you could battle the mildew. We were very lucky, but still experienced great variation in rainfall from one plot to another on our own estate. Stylistically, 2023 reminds me of 2016, the sense of classicism in particular. The temperatures over summer almost closely resemble 2019, and the wines are similar to but without the opulence of the 2019 vintage. " Saskia de Rothschild, Ch Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac

"If we reason objectively, by analyzing the season's weather, everything aligned to make 2023 a great vintage. I will remember two significant elements from this year, which required a lot of work in the vineyard. The first was an exceptional budding and flowering, not seen since 2004, forcing us to regulate production to achieve perfect maturity in a context of severe drought. The second was the strong pressure from mildew, which is becoming increasingly common. Our teams met the challenge of fighting it perfectly. The final yield is proof of our dual success. The wines have a lot of fruits they are extremely colorful and, despite reaching unprecedented tannic levels (the highest IPT ever) are very smooth, subtle, and incredibly silky. They combine maturity, freshness, power, and balance." Henri Lurton, Ch Brane Cantenac, Margaux