11 samples tasted.

A superb vintage on Pauillac, no faux pas. The aromatic expression is there, the tannins are refined, firm but of remarkable nobility, the wines are very fresh.

My top 3:

• Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
• Château Duhart-Milon
• Château Grand-Puy Ducasse

Once again, the château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande produces a remarkable wine. Worthy of the greatest wines of the appellation. Harmoniously blends refinement, character and aromatic expression.

The Duhart-Milon castle, meanwhile, has just skipped an extra step. After a 2022 vintage full of purity and elegance, this year again the property has produced a wine in the continuity of its elders.

Finally, what allowed Château Grand-Puy Ducasse to be included in my Top 3 this year is due to the fact that over the years the wines gain in finesse and precision. Constantly growing over the last few years, the new wine cellar should allow them to climb one step higher!

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• Château Batailley                                                                                            95-96/100

Pure, deep and very elegant nose with intense notes of black fruits, spices with fine woody notes. The attack on the palate is ample, dense, very refined and of great precision. Remarkable structure and superb balance. The tannins are firm and supported by a fresh acidity. Finish full of elegance, freshness and length. A very nice vintage for Château Batailley.

• Château Clerc Milon                                                                                      95-96/100

Airy, precise and mesmerizing, the nose reveals its delightful bouquet of black fruits, spices with elegant chocolate notes and its very delicate woody. In the mouth, it is refined, very well structured, perfectly balanced with remarkable aromatic intensity. Firm tannins and a very elegant acidity, which brings a lot of freshness on the finish. Delightful length, in addition.

• Château Croizet-Bages                                                                                 93-94/100

Racy nose with notes of black fruits and spices. On the palate, it is expressive, well structured and well balanced. The tannins are firm and are accompanied by a fine acidity. Fruity finish, fresh and of a correct length.

• Château d’Armailhac                                                                                     94-95/100

Pure, precise and expressive, the nose offers us a very nice bouquet of black fruit notes, mixed with delicate spicy notes and a fine woody. Broad, dense mouth with a beautiful aromatic intensity and a very nice structure. The tannins are firm and accompanied by a fine tension. Final both fresh, fruity and elegant persistence.

• Château Duhart-Milon                                                                                 95-96/100

Airy, elegant and very expressive, the nose opens with intense notes of black fruits, mixed with subtle spicy notes and a very delicate woody. On the palate, it is fine, elegant, with a beautiful aromatic expression, remarkable structure and perfect balance. The tannins are firm, racy and supported by a fine acidity. Fresh finish, persistence and very refined. Remarkable vintage for the château Duhart-Milon.

• Château Grand-Puy Ducasse                                                                      95-96/100

Mesmerizing, charming and pure, the nose reveals its wonderful bouquet of black fruits, spices and subtle woody notes. The palate is ample, expressive, very well structured and remarkably balanced. The tannins are very noble and are accompanied by a fresh acidity. Finish that combines elegance, freshness and length.

• Château Grand-Puy Lacoste                                                                       95-96/100

Fresh, precise and refined, you can easily perceive its intense notes of black fruits, its very delicate woody with its subtle spicy notes. Full, dense mouth with a delightful aromatic intensity. Very beautiful structure and ideal balance. The tannins are firm and accompanied by a fine tension. Elegant, fresh finish with a very nice length.

• Château Haut-Batailley                                                                                94-95/100

Rich and complex, the nose reveals its intense bouquet of black fruits, spices, with elegant woody notes. On the palate, it is very expressive, with a superb balance. A firm tannic weave that brings considerable structure, and is accompanied by a fine tension, which gives a lot of freshness. The finish is full of fruit, refinement, but especially length.

• Château Lynch-Bages                                                                                   95-96/100

Precise, complex and of great depth, the nose offers us its superb notes of black fruits, mixed with fine spicy notes and subtle woody notes. The palate is both ample, dense with a beautiful aromatic intensity. Very beautiful structure brought by firm tannins, the perceived tension brings, on the other hand, freshness. The finish is very elegant, fruity with a nice persistence.

• Château Lynch-Moussas                                                                             94-95/100

Fresh, refined and expressive, we discover its very nice notes of black fruits, spices with subtle floral notes and a fine woody. Rich mouth, full of volume and remarkable aromatic intensity. Very beautiful structure and remarkable balance. The tannins are firm and are accompanied by a fresh acidity. Final where elegance, freshness and length blend. A very nice vintage for the property.

• Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande                            97-98/100

Mesmerizing, airy and rich, the nose reveals its wonderful bouquet of black fruits, spices, incense with subtle notes of vanilla and wood. Fine, elegant, complex and of remarkable structure, where the aromatic expression is at its peak. The tannic weave is firm and supported by considerable tension. The finish is full of elegance, balance, freshness, but especially length. Once again, what a success!