All of the following 2023 Pessac Leognan Red and White Bordeaux wines were tasted in Bordeaux in April. Most of the wines were tasted at the property. However, I also tasted several wines at Negociants, Consultants, or with various trade groups. Whenever possible the wines were tasted on more than one occasion.
For a detailed overview of the 2023 Bordeaux vintage, growing season, and harvest, with links to all of our appellation reports 2023 Bordeaux Vintage Analysis with Buying Tips for the Best Wines of the Vintage
2023 Baret – Pessac-Léognan – Bright, fresh, medium-bodied, crisp, smoky and vibrant at its core, this will be quite nice to enjoy on release. The wine is a blend of 70% Merlot, and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2026-2032. 89-91 Pts
2023 Baret – Pessac-Léognan – Waxy lemons, pomelo, flowers, and lemon grass notes are in the nose, and on the sweet, vibrant, yellow citrus-filled palate, with a nice hint of pineapples coming in at the end of the finish. The wine is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2025-2030. 90 Pts
2023 Bouscaut Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White peach, vanilla, lemon curd, spice, and pineapple aromas are all over the place. On the palate, the wine is zesty, spicy, crisp, and racy, with a juicy, yellow citrus finish that leaves you with a hint of spice, and marzipan on the backend. The wine is a blend of 59% Sauvignon Blanc, with 41% Semillon. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2025-2032. 93 Pts
2023 Cantelys Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pineapple, yellow citrus. white peach and mango notes shine through in the nose, and on the fresh, almost, zesty, creamy, palate. Drink from 2025-2030. 91 Pts
2023 Cantelys Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Tobacco leaf, cedar, spearmint, and cherries pop in the nose, and on the fresh, medium-bodied, soft, fresh, palate. The wine finishes with a touch of herbs that come though in the endnote. Drink from 2026-2035. 89-91 Pts
2023 Carbonnieux – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, black raspberries, smoke, tobacco, and a sprig of mint create the perfume. The medium-bodied palate is soft, polished, fresh, racy, and round, finishing with chocolate-covered cherries, espresso, and a touch of spice on the sweet, and fruity, backend. The wine blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. 14% ABV. 3.64. Drink from 2027-2045. 91-93 Pts
2023 Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Granny Smith apples, flowers, lemon rind, honeysuckle, white peach, and pineapple is there with just a swirl or two in the perfume. Vibrant, fresh, and fruity with sweetness, spice, roundness, finishing with pineapples, white peach, and lemon curd, with the touch of crushed sones in the backend. The wine blends 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2035. 93 Pts
2023 Chantegrive – Graves – Leafy herbs, cocoa, tobacco and cherries show easily in the nose, and on the soft, lifted, red berry palate. Medium-bodied, forward, and with the perfect amount of chocolate to add some roundness to the finish. Drink from 2026-2032. 88-90 Pts
2023 Chantegrive Blanc – Graves – Floral in nature, with green apples, spice, and white peach notes that show in the perfume, and on the sweet, ripe, and fresh, juicy palate. Drink from 2025-2030, 90 Pts
2023 Chantegrive Caroline Blanc – Graves – Juicy, fresh, and crisp yellow citrus, flowers, and pineapples, show easily in the nose. The palate, is sweet, ripe, energetic, and fresh, with loads of juicy, yellow citrus in the creamy finish. Drink from 2025-2032. 92 Pts
2021 – Clarendelle – Pessac Leognan – Tobacco leaves with soft, juicy currants provide an early-drinking, elegant, fruity, and fresh example of Pessac Leognan, that is ready to go on release. Enjoy it over the next few years. Drink from 2026-2031. 89-91 Pts
2023 Clos Marsalette – Pessac-Léognan – Tobacco, blackberries, and barbecue smoke open the nose. Medium-bodied, forward, soft, ripe, and accessible, the wine is sweet, round, and fruity. The wine blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2036. 90-92 Pts
2023 Clos Marsalette Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, green apples, white, with spicy accents of ginger, and peppery spice, the wine is bright, fresh and crisp, with a citrus, chalk, and green apple finish. The wine blends 56% Sauvignon Blanc with 44% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 91 Pts
2023 Couhins – Pessac-Léognan – Black cherries, chocolate, flowers, and espresso form the character here. The medium-bodied palate is round, chewy, and loaded with black cherries, peppery spice, dark chocolate, espresso, and crisp red currants. Bright, and chewy in the finish, give it a few years in the bottle and it promises to be even better. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. 14 ABV. Drink from 2027-2039. 90-92 Pts
2023 Couhins Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lemon grass, green apples, lemon rind, pomelo, and white flowers are easy to spot in the nose, and on the crisp, bright, citrus and pineapple filled palate. Fresh, and juicy, with a powdery texture in the finish, this should be ready-to-go on release. The wine blends 96% Sauvignon Blanc with 4% Sauvignon Gris. Drink from 2025-2032. 91 Pts
2023 Couhins Lurton – Pessac-Léognan – With a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than usual, the wine opens with flowers, spice, black raspberries, and black cherries in the nose. Fresh, and fruity on the medium-bodied, palate, the wine is fresh, and vibrant with good energy, and elegance in the fruit-filled finish. This should be delicious to taste on release ,and get even better with a few years in the bottle. The wine is a blend of 85% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.5% ABV, pH 3.35. Drink from 2026-2040. 92-94 Pts
2023 Couhins-Lurton Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White flowers, lemons, grapefruit, green apples, vanilla, and a hint of white peach create the complex aromatic profile. Sweet, fresh, and vibrant, the wine displays its core of yellow citrus, with its salty, white peach accent the palate with ease. The wine is close to 100% whole bunch fermented, and aged in a combination of new, and used French oak barrels, amphora, and finished in stainless steel vats. The wine is always produced with 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 13.5% ABV 3.06 pH. Drink from 2025-2034. 92 Pts
2023 De-France – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, cherries, currants, tobacco, and thyme are elegantly presented in this medium-bodied, vibrant, forward, soft-textured, early-drinking, energetic wine. Drink from 2027-2037. 89-91 Pts
2023 De-France – Pessac-Léognan – Forward, fresh, fruity, vibrant, early-drinking, citrus filled wine that is perfect for easy-drinking pleasure on release, and over the next few years. Drink from 2025 – 2030. 91 Pts
2023 Domaine de Chevalier – Pessac-Léognan – Blackberries, back cherries, barbecue smoke, cedar, smoked mint, and cigar box aromatics create the perfume. The wine is chewy, fresh, long, concentrated, and complex. The finish is like eating peppery currants dripped over Cuban cigars. Long, spicy, and intense, this is a vintage that will benefit from time in the cellar. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, 3.68 pH. The harvest took place September 7 – September 30. Yields are among the lowest in the appellation at 31 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2029-2055. 95-97 Pts
2023 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Juicy lemons, white flowers, pomelo, green apples, and a hint of pineapples crowd into the perfume. The palate is packed with ripe, sweet, creamy, yellow citrus, green apples, honeysuckle , crushed stones, and vanilla-tinted orange rinds. You can enjoy this in its youth, or age it for more complexity. Either way, it is a treat. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc with 30% Semillon, 14% ABV, 3.21 pH. The harvest took place August 28 – September 6. Drink from 2026-2037. 95 Pts
2023 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, pomelo, green apples, and honeysuckle fills the perfume. Round, lush, creamy, and yet fresh, there is wealth of ripe, pineapple, mango, tangerine, and lemon curd nuances on the palate that already taste, and show great. The wine blends 65% Sauvignon Blanc, and 35% Semillon, 14% ABV. Drink from 2025-2032. 92 Pts
2023 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, bright, red berries, flowers, and cocoa show in the nose. Medium-bodied, the wine is elegant, soft, polished, silky, and vibrant, with sweet, ripe, red berries in the finish. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. 14% ABV. Drink from 2026-2036. 90-92 Pts
2023 Domaine de la Solitude – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, tobacco leaf, and cherries with a touch of spice show up in the nose. The palate is where this shines, with its wealth of rich, supple, smoky, red fruits, and cigar wrappers that linger from start to finish. Give it only a year or two in the cellar and it will be even better. In part, due to low yields, as well as their new cellars, this is clearly the finest vintage of Domaine de la Solitude ever produced. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. 14%ABV. Drink from 2027-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Domaine de la Solitude Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pineapple, vanilla, green apples, spice, pears, and white peach pop with little effort. The palate is juicy, creamy, and fresh, with sweet, yellow citrus from start to finish. The wine blends 65% Sauvignon Blanc, and 35% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 91 Pts
2023 Ferrande – Graves – Smoke, tobacco leaves, cedar, and cherries form the character here. The medium-bodied wine is forward, soft, fruity, and easy to drink with its smoky, red berry personality. Drink from 2026-2036. 89-91 Pts
2023 Ferrande Blanc – Graves – Ginger, spice, flowers, yellow citrus, and green apples are at the core of this bright, crisp, juicy, zesty, lemon, and pineapple filled wine. This is ready-to-go on release. The wine blends Sauvignon Blanc with Sauvignon Gris. Drink from 2025-2028. 90 Pts
2023 Fieuzal – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, cherries, black raspberries, plums, and a touch of spice create the perfume. Medium-bodied, with a strong sense of purity to the fruits, coupled with elegance, sweetness, racy tannins, and touches of spice, with herbs in the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 Fieuzal Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, green apples, white peaches, lemon peel, tangerine zest, and honeysuckle form the core here. The wine has vibrancy, elegance, and a touch of chalky dust in the endnotes that accompany all those, sweet, ripe, yellow citrus notes along with a drop or two of vanilla. This will be great in your glass on release. The wine blends 60% Sauvignon Blanc, with 40% Semillon. 13% ABV. Drink from 2025-2030. 92 Pts
2023 Haut Bailly – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, cedar, spice, and tobacco coupled with black raspberries, blackberries, and smoke aromatics are what initially grabs your attention. There is a vibrancy paired with elegant, firm tannins, and purity, and length that is impossible to ignore on the palate. The finish is silky, and refined, leaving you with lingering black raspberries, and black cherries, with a refreshing touch of mint in the slightly, firm endnote that make you want to take another sip. It was management of the mildew pressure, along with paying attention to the degree of alcohol which were the two key areas of attention here this year. The wine blends 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 4% Petit Verdot. 14.3% ABV, pH 3.75. 6% press wine. Picking took place September 11 – September 29. Drink from 2029-2060. 96-98 Pts
2023 Haut Bailly II – Pessac-Léognan – Spicy blackberries, black cherries, tobacco and flowers are already expressive in the nose. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine is soft, forward, silky, and lively, with sweet, black cherries, and a hint of chocolate in the finish. This is perfect to enjoy while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 64% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc. This is the second vintage incorporating the vines from Chateau Le Pape. Drink from 2027-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Haut Bergey – Pessac-Léognan – Using less oak for the aging, the wine shows more elegance, with additional purity in its character. The wine is soft, fruity, ripe, and elegant, with a smoky edge to the cherries in the finish. Drink from 2026-2040. 90-92 Pts
2023 Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Even the nose is vibrant this year. You instantly sense it in the perfume with its flowers, red currants, smoke, spice, and cherries. The wine is powerful, yet reserved, long, intense, silky, and vivacious. The fruit has this lift that elevates on the palate. There is richness, elegance, and purity here. But, what is most striking is that on the palate, the wine moves in every direction, covering both sides, as well as the roof of your mouth as the wealth of fruit lingers for over 60 seconds. Part of the success of the vintage is due to July, with its cloudy skies, providing protection from the sun, helping to keep alcohol levels down. There is also less green harvesting taking place this year. It is important to note that not only are the harvest dates becoming earlier here, they are also finishing later. More attention is paid to finding phenolic maturity on a parcel by harvest basis, adding nuance and balance. In the cellars, the extraction was soft, at lower temperatures, adding the elegance in the wine. The wine blends 52.3% Merlot, 38.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9.1% Cabernet Franc, 14.6% ABV. 3.7 pH. Harvesting took place, September 4 – October 4. Only 42% of the harvest was placed into the grand Vin. Drink from 2030-2065. 97-99 Pts
2023 Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, waxy lemon peels, ginger, and orange rind notes are all over the place. The wine is crisp, mineral-driven, fruity, and bright from start to finish. The wine is made from a blend of 58.1% Sauvignon Blanc, with 41.9% Semillon. 13.8% ABV. The picking took place August 21, finishing September 4. The length of harvest is extraordinary, considering there are only 2.5 hectares of vines. Drink from 2025-2040. 97 Pts
2023 Haut Brion La Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, flowers, spice, and white peach notes create the core of this wine. Juicy, sweet, and fresh, with a lemon rind, and white peach palate, this will offer its charms on release. The wine blends 56.3% Semillon, with 43.7% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2037. 93 Pts
2023 Haut Brion Le Clarence de Haut-Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, red with black currants, smoke, cigar wrappers, and Indian spice create the aromatic profile. Medium-bodied, elegant, smoky, and loaded with tobacco, leafy herbs, juicy plums, and cherries, the wine is bright, long, and energetic, with a smoked herb, currant, and cigar oriented finish. This is definitely a baby Haut Brion that will drink well, quite early in life. The wine blends 55.5% Merlot, 40.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3.6% Cabernet Franc. 14.2% ABV, 3.7 pH. Drink 2027-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 La Louviere – Pessac-Léognan – Smoky black cherries, licorice, and flowers fill the medium-bodied, forward wine. Vibrant, fresh, fruity, and with a chocolate accent to the sweet, creamy, as well as chalky fruits, this is going to be quite nice with a year, or two of aging, and should deliver pleasure for at least 12-15 years. Drink from 2027-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 La Louviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Vibrant in nature, the wine is loaded with crisp, fresh, sweet, juicy, green apples, pomelo and touches of pineapple, and lemon rind. This is going to be quite nice to enjoy on release for all of its fruit, and vibrancy. Drink from 2025-2032. 92 Pts
2023 La-Mission-Haut-Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Blackberries, spice, smoke, flowers, and currants shine in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, yet, refined, long, deep, and intense. There is a vibrancy to the fruits that pairs perfectly with the smoky, currants, and blackberries, There is depth, length, and volume, with an easy-going elegance, and lift, Nothing is pushed. Everything is balanced, and in place. The sneaky finish builds, lingers, and resonates its essence. Part of the success of the vintage is due to July, with its cloudy skies, which provided protection from the sun, helping to keep alcohol levels down. In the cellars, the extraction was soft, at lower temperatures. The wine blends 52.7% Merlot, 29.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17.7% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV. 3.7 pH. Harvesting took place, September 6-October 3. Only 42% of the harvest was placed into the grand Vin. Drink from 2030-2060. 95-97 Pts
2023 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Waxy lemons, white peach, pineapple, and green apples come through in this vibrant, juicy, crisp, wine, which balances its juicy yellow citrus with its sweetness. The wine is made from a blend of 65.3% Semillon and 34.7% Sauvignon Blanc, picking took place August 24, and finishing September 5. The length of harvest is extraordinary, considering there are only 3.5 hectares of vines. 13.9% ABV, 3.3 pH. Drink from 2026-2040. 96 Pts
2023 La Mission La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Cigar box, smoke, currants, and dark red pit fruits show with ease. On the palate, the wine is dark in fruit, with the essence of tobacco, black currants, spice, and chalk, with a chewy, lifted, finish. Enjoy it while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 48% Merlot, 39.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12.3% Cabernet Franc, 14.3% ABV. 3.7 pH. Drink from 2025-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 La-Tour-Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Smoky, black cherries, blackberries, leafy herbs, cigar wrapper, flowers, and spice fill the perfume. The wine is rich, dark, and chewy on the palate, with a touch of spice that lingers along with all of that dark red pit fruits in the mid-palate, that carry through to the finish. This should age quite nice well, yet be approachable young. The wine blends 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV, pH 3.8. Drink from 2027-2043. 92-94 Pts
2023 La-Tour-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, white flowers, white peach, lemons, and honeysuckle are a treat to find in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, and focuses you easily on the crisp, juicy, sweet, lemons, and green apples in the palate, and in the finish. This will be easy to enjoy on release. The harvest took place August 18 – August 31.The wine blends 60% Sauvignon Blanc, with 40% Semillon. 13% ABV. Drink from 2025-2034. 93 Pts
2023 Larrivet Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Elegant, refined, soft, and focused, the medium-bodied wine offers complexity, vibrancy, soft-textured, sweet, ripe, red fruits and a floral, and smoky charm onthe mid-palate, that carries through to the finish. The finish is loaded with sweet, red pit fruits, with chocolate-mint coming in at the end of the refined finish. The wine is made from 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Yellow citrus, pomelo, white peach, flowers, and Granny Smith apple aromatics shoot from the glass. On the palate, the wine is sweet, vibrant, ripe, round, and fruity, finishing with a blend of ripe, grapefruits, white peaches, mango, and just a hint of spice that shows on the backend of the finish. The wine is produced from 86% Sauvignon Blanc, and 14% Semillon. Drink from 2026-2033. 94 Pts
2023 Le Petit Haut Lafitte – Pessac-Léognan – Cigar wrapper, mesquite, spearmint, and black with red currants are in the nose, and on the palate. The wine is vibrant sweet, lifted, long, and almost racy, finishing with a long, spicy, energetic, medium-bodied, fruity finish. The wine is made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 40% Merlot. 14% ABV, 3.65 pH. Drink from 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts
2023 Le Thil Comte Clary – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, cocoa, and black currants create the character here in the nose, and on the medium-bodied palate, which already displays its supple, round, fresh, sweet, chocolate-covered cherry core of fruits, with a hint of mint that shows in the finish. This is going to be a pleasure to enjoy on release, and for at least a decade, or more after that. The wine was produced from 92% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV. Drink from 2027-2037. 90-92 Pts
2023 Les Carmes HautBrion – Pessac-Léognan – Deep in color, the wine is equally deep, sporting nuances of blackberries, black cherries, flowers, blueberries, tar, herbs, and spices. On the palate, the wine is rich, full-bodied, supple, and deep. There is intensity, purity, length, and vibrancy. The wine is rich, and concentrated, yet, the cool part of the tasting is that the wine is also light on its feet. With all the obvious density, the wine never feels heavy. Although it is mouthcoating, its also elegant, leaving you with layers of crushed stones, herbs, and a wealth of ripe, sweet, dark fruits, with a touch of salty chocolate in the finish. The wine was made using 60% whole bunch clusters, blending 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, 13.5% ABV, pH 3.6. The wine is aging in a combination of 70% new, French oak, 20% foudres and 10% amphora. Picking took place September 11- September 23. Drink from 2025-2050. 96-98 Pts
2023 Les Carmes HautBrion C Les Carmes HautBrion – Pessac-Léognan – Dark berries with smoke, herbs, salt crusted rocks, oceanic influences, black currants, and cherries, and blackberries open the wines aromatics. Medium-bodied, crisp, fresh, and juicy, the wine delivers intense minerality, racy tannins, vibrant, floral-tinted fruits, and a spicy, refreshing, sapid endnote. Using 25% whole bunches the wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, 13% ABV, 3.6%. The wine is aged in 20% new, French oak barrels, with amphora. Drink from 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts
2023 Lespault-Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Lush, round, chocolatey, and creamy, this is loaded with loads of dark, ripe, black, with fresh, red fruits backed with equally dark chocolate, and smoke. This is going to be delicious on release, and will be even better with some time in the cellar, as it will easily age for at least a decade or more. The wine blends 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2039. 91-93 Pts
2023 Lespault-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, white peaches, flowers, pineapples, orange rind, and vanilla show in the nose, as well as on the sweet, ripe, and creamy, round palate, finishing with a sweet touch of honey on top of the citrus in the finish. The wine blends 70%, old vine, Sauvignon Blanc with 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030 92 Pts
2023 Malartic Lagraviere – Pessac-Léognan – Black cherries, flowers, licorice, smoke, and blackberries form the nucleus of the wine. Fresh, bright, and with a string sense of salt-crusted minerality on the palate, the wine finishes with a vibrant, chewy, spicy, character with an accent of garrigue accompanying the peppy red berries in the endnotes. The wine is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13.2% ABV. Drink from 2028-2050. 92-94 Pts
2023 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White peach, flowers, pineapple, lemon curd, papaya, and orange skin create the bouquet. The palate carries that same theme even further with its bright, zesty, creamy, sweet, yellow citrus, pineapples, and Granny Smith apples with a dash of chalk on the backend. The wine blends 80% Sauvignon Blanc, with 20% Semillon. 13.2% ABV, 3.18 pH. Drink from 2025-2035. 94 Pts
2023 Malartic Lagraviere Le Comte de Malartic – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, b right, fresh, raspberries, and red cherries blend together to create a forward, soft, early-drinking charmer. If you do not already know, Le Comte de Malartic is the new name for the second wine of Malartic La Graviere. The wine blends 77% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2031. 88-90 Pts
2023 Malartic Lagraviere Le Comte de Malartic Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, lemon rind, and crisp, green apples pop in the nose and on the palate in this juicy, fresh, ready-to-go white Bordeaux wine. Enjoy this over the next few years. Drink from 2025-2029. 90 Pts
2023 ChateauOlivier Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Black cherries stained with tobacco leaves, flowers, licorice, and smoke are what you initially notice. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, chewy, and brisk, with bright red berries, hint of cocoa, and spice in the juicy, finish. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, 13.8% ABV. Drink from 202702040. 92-94 Pts
2023 ChateauOlivier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, green apples, orange rind, and pineapples with a drizzle of white peach is easy to find, and enjoy on the nose, and on the crisp, fresh, mineral-accented, yellow-citrus oriented palate. This is going to be delicious to enjoy on release. The wine blends 80% Sauvignon Blanc, and 20% Semillon, 13.3% ABV. Drink from 2025-2032. 92 Pts
2023 Pape Clement – Pessac-Léognan – Deeply colored, the wine is packed with tobacco leaves, black with red fruits, herbs, espresso, and spices. The nose is cleaner due to the reduction in the amount of new oak used for the aging. Lush, lifted, and long, there is a nice vibrancy to all of the ripe fruits that lingers on the palate. The key to the vintage here was the work during the growing season, warding off mildew, and a lighter touch in the extractions, as well as introducing the addition of native, wild yeasts in the vineyard. All of that led to a more modern, vibrant style of wine here, that is easily noticeable in your glass. Aging takes place in 40% new, French oak, amphora, and foudres. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. 13.4% ABV. 3.81 pH. The harvest took place September 5 – October 3. Drink from 2026-2055. 95-97 Pts
2023 Pape Clement Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Quite floral in nature, with lemon rind, tangerine, vanilla, honeysuckle, pineapple, and white peach with a dab of honey are a pleasure in your glass. Fresh, vibrant, racy, clean, and pure, with a salty-honeyed note accompanying all of the sweet, ripe, orange, and yellow tropical fruits really works here in the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon, 4% Sauvignon Gris, and 1% Muscadelle. Picking took place August 23 – September 7. Drink from 2025-2035. 95 Pts
2023 Portets – Graves – Earthy, herbal, cedar, red berries, and tobacco come together in this forward, ready-to-go, medium-bodied, early-drinking wine. Drink from 2026-2032. 88-90 Pts
2023 Seguin – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, soft, round, chewy red fruits with accents of tobacco leaf, flowers, and a touch of smoke. The wine is forward, medium-bodied, and smoky in the mid-palate, as well as in the fruit-filled, soft finish. The wine blends 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 42% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Smith Haut Lafitte – Pessac-Léognan – The nose shoots out its tobacco, smoke, camphor, spice, floral, and black, with red fruits with only a swirl or two. The palate is even better with its fresh, energetic, black, with red fruit profile, along with its array of spices, chewy tannins, blue fruits, smoke, and dark chocolate. The wine is long, intense, focused, and complex, with a nice aromatic display in the mouth in the finish, which sticks with you for almost 50 seconds. The key to the vintage was finding the right dates to harvest coupled with a soft, gentle extraction. Picking took place from September 22 – October 5. The wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, and is aging in 60% New, French oak barrels for 18 months. 14% ABV. pH 3.65. Drink from 2028-2055. 96-98 Pts
2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Orange cream, flowers, vanilla, pomelo, ginger, green apples, and a splash of pineapple hit the nose. Juicy, creamy, with sweetness, and balancing acidity giving the wine length, lift, and sweet citrus with a splash of spicy white peaches in the mid-palate, which carry through to the finish. The harvest took place August 25 – September 7. The wine blends 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon, and 5% Sauvignon Gris. 14% ABV, 3.2 pH. Drink from 2025-2035. 95-95 Pts
2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, tangerine, mango, citrus rind, and lemon grass notes dominate the nose. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, fresh, and refreshing with a nice display of citrus, and floral notes in the finish. The wine is a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc, with 20% Semillon, 14% ABV. Drink from 2025-2034. 93 Pts
2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith – Pessac-Léognan – Cigar wrapper, flowers, black raspberries, and a dab of cocoa pop in the nose. Fresh, and fruity, the round-textured palate showcases its espresso, dark chocolate, and bright, red fruits with their spicy side. This should be close to ready-to-go on release, or with just a year or two of aging. The wine is a blend of 60% Merlot with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2025-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, lemon rind, honeysuckle, mango, white peach, vanilla, and sweet pineapples are all over the aromatics. The wine is juicy, fresh, and packed with yellow citrus, along with just a dab of honey in the finish. This is perfect for early-drinking pleasure. The wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2024-2030. 92 Pts
2023 Trigant – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and vibrant, with sweetness to the fruits, elegance in the creamy textures, and bright red fruits in the finish. You can enjoy this with ease on release. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 40% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2036. 89-91 Pts
Up next, we move to all of the best 2023 Haut Medoc, Listrac and Moulis Wines followed by 2023 2023 Medoc.
