Château d’Armailhac Score 95–96 Deep crimson. Intense blackcurrant, redcurrant, praline aromas with espresso, vanilla herb/violet notes. Firm and assertive with dense blackcurrant, dark chocolate, espresso flavours and fine chocolaty tannins. Neatly balanced wine with underlying oak and firm minerally finish. 63% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 13% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot. 18 months in around 40% new French oak. 13% alc Château Pontet-Canet Score 95–96 Deep crimson. Lovely dark chocolate, blackberry, graphite aromas. Richly concentrated and voluminous dark chocolate, blackberry, blackcurrant flavours, integrated fine chocolaty/ cedary textures and savoury nuances. Beautifully balanced with very good density, mid-palate richness and vigour. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc 6% petit verdot. 50% new oak, 35% amphoras, 15% 1-year old oak. Saint-Julien Classical styles, many with blackcurrant aromas, dark chocolate/ espresso notes and vigorous/ animated textures. The wines are a touch more phenolic than Pauillac, but the grippiness/ firmness give the wine presence and carry the flavours to the finish. Ch Gruaud-Larose was a standout wine this year. Ch Ducru-Beaucaillou, Ch Léoville-Las Cases, Clos de Marquis, Ch Léoville-Barton and Ch Beychevelle all made stylish wines. Alcohols mostly hovered around 12.5–13.3%. Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Score 95–96 Deep crimson. Intense blackberry, dark chocolate, hint vanilla marzipan aromas. Sweet fruited, blackberry, dark chocolate flavours, lovely chocolaty textures. Almost plush with al dente notes. Brambly cedar finish. Impressively balanced. 98% cabernet sauvignon, 2% merlot. 18 months in 100% new French oak. 12.5% alc Château Gruaud-Larose Score 95–96 Deep crimson. Fresh graphite, blackcurrant aromas with praline notes. Fresh concentrated juicy dark berry blackcurrant fruits, underlying dark chocolate notes and persistent chalky/ fine-grained tannins. Very good mid-palate density and mineral length. Some savoury notes at the finish. Impressive definition and precision. A classic. 84% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot, 4% cabernet franc. 18–24 months in French oak. 12.5% alc Château Léoville-Las Cases Score 95–96 Medium-deep crimson. Blackcurrant lead-pencil cedar aromas with roasted chestnut notes. Classically structured wine with blackcurrant blackberry fruits, fine sinewy/ grainy tannins and roasted chestnut oak. Finishes muscular firm with leafy notes. Lovely precision. Fresh and voluminous but needs several years to show itself. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 5% merlot. Maturation in 85% new French oak. 13.2% alc
74 The Wine Journal – 2023
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