Château Labégorce 2023

Plenty of ripe cassis, spicy notes; firm on the attack, powerful mid-palate, well structured, grainy tannins, impressive length. Can age.

Great aromatics, herbal raspberry leaf, plums and red cherries. Smooth and supple, nice tension and vibrancy to this, lovely juiciness but not too overt acidity with a slightly chalky creaminess. I like the mixture of all the elements, clean and clear on the finish like licking stones. Nice balance, feels like they've done a good job of getting ripeness, keeping acidity and getting fine tannins to give a sleek structure. Slightly crushed velvet in texture. I like this a lot and I love the cool mint freshness on the finish. Very charming and approachable. 3% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

The 2023 Labégorce has a well-defined bouquet with vivacious redcurrant, strawberry and violet scents that could only come from Margaux. The oak is neatly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth tannins, well-judged acidity that lends just the right amount of tension. Lightly spiced on the finish that lingers in the mouth with pleasing saline notes on the aftertaste. This should age well in bottle.

Black cherries, flowers, licorice, red cherries, and blackberries pop in the aromatics. Soft, fresh, and sweet, with charm and refinement, this is already showing well, and is only going to get better from here. The wine blends 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2050.

Strong ruby colour, purple reflections. Fine cherry fruit, greengage, hints of mandarin zest, still a little shy. Slender, red cherries, subtle fruit, ripe tannins, remains persistent, a lively food wine with good provenance, has certain ageing potential.

Opulent blueberry-scented bouquet, alluring violets, dark chocolate and iris. On the compact palate, with a silky texture, supportive freshness and a straight, very dense frame. The focused aromatic finish shows dark-berried contours, exotic fine wood and Brazilian tobacco.

Score: 92–94. A penetrating nose of aromatic herbs and stone, like a big breath of mountain air, with a certain floral sweetness and refined oak. The fruit comes through nicely on the palate, with the acidity of redcurrant and blueberry, the juiciness of black cherry, all wrapped in a voluptuous, silky texture—irresistible. A triumph.

The nose is nicely crafted, indulgent, elegant, racy, with a lovely textured side. It reveals notes of creamy-fresh blackberry, bright strawberry and, more lightly, violet, combined with iodized touches, racy gravel tones, as well as fine hints of smoke and a discreet touch of sweet blond tobacco. The palate is pleasantly juicy and fruity, offering minerality, a fresh/tangy backbone, and precision. It shows notes of juicy/pulpy cherry, small roasted-juicy fruits and, more lightly, fresh raspberry, combined with racy minerality/gravel nuances, fine hints of fresh cornflower and fresh licorice stick in the background. The tannins are savory and supple, plush, fresh, with a hint of hazelnut.

Subdued on the first nose, again showing that parts of Margaux need a little bit of coaxing in this vintage to open up at this early stage. When it does, you find sculpted and deliciously spicy fruit, rose petals, cocoa bean and cassis, with tannic grip that slowly builds through the palate. 32 hl/ha yield, 62.5 ha in production, 25% new oak barrels for ageing, with the rest one year old. Marjolaine de Coninck technical director, Nathalie Perrodo owner.