All of the following 2023 St. Emilion wines were tasted in Bordeaux in April in non-blind tasting conditions. Most of the wines were tasted at the property. However, I also tasted several wines at Negociants, and Consultants, as well as 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 Saint Emilion, due to its size, and myriad of terroirs, and diverse set of climatic conditions varies widely. 2023 St. Emilion is climatically difficult to handicap due to how localized climatic patterns were in 2023 with rainfall. In fact, the amount and distribution of moisture varied widely. For example, between May and June in St. Emilion, in the western part of the of the appellation, where Cheval Blanc, Figeac and others are located, they received close to 160 MM of rain, depending on the vineyard. While vineyards located in the east of the appellation, for example, Valandraud, and its neighbors received closer to 60 MM of rain.
When you consider variants in terroir, coupled with individual approaches from each chateaux, the character, style, and level of quality differs from vineyard to vineyard, and wine to wine. But, make no mistake, as you can see from the tasting notes below, there are numerous wines worth trying, and buying. Vineyards on the limestone plateau produced a plethora of sublime wines.
You also find strong wines from the terroir with water retentive clay, and of course gravel soils. Vineyards with Cabernet Franc were also quite successful. At their best, the wines are intense, elegant, vibrant, and pure. Aromatic, and complex, as well as forward, most of the wines will offer pleasure early in life.
However, as you can see in this report on 2023 St. Emilion wines, there are producers that should have taken it easy in their extractions, and perhaps reduced the amount of new, French oak for the aging. The results from those estates are all too often, harsh tannins, and dryness, with greenness. Those estates would have made better wine, had they sought to produce wines focused on elegance, and freshness, instead of concentration, which they did not have.
Because we have close tasting notes for close to 160 different, 2023 Saint Emilion wines, this report has been divided into 3 separate articles. Part 2 covers wines E – L, and Part 3 concludes with wines M-Z
2023 St. Emilion Report Part 1, Wines A-D
2023 Adaugusta -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Forward, fresh, medium-bodied, fruity, with a lean to the red cherry side, made even better with a juicy touch of citrus, and cocoa in the easy-going, soft-textured finish. The wine is going to be easy to taste on release. Drink from 2026-2036. 89-91 Pts
2023 Angelus -St. Émilion Grand Cru -The nose pops with its bouquet of flowers, mint, tobacco leaf, licorice, and black cherries, The essence in this wine it its purity balanced with its racy, freshness. The finish delivers soft, long, energetic, red berries with nuances of espresso, chalk, crushed stone, cherries, plums, and cocoa. There is depth and concentration but the wine feels light on its feet. The Cabernet Franc makes an impression in 2023. The team was nervous about the vintage until the first days in September before they knew the vintage was going to be special. The key to the vintage was in part due to longer fermentations at cooler temperatures, which never rose above 22 Celsius, along with no sulfur during the fermentations which aided the elegance and purity of the wine. The wine blends 60% Merlot, with 40% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV, 3.65 pH. Harvesting took place, September 6 – September 28. Drink from 2029-2060. 96-98 Pts
2023 Angelus Carillon d’ Angélus -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Flowers, licorice, cherries, plums, black raspberries, vanilla, and a hint of spice open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is polished, soft, and displays red pit fruits, chalk, and spice that you taste, and feel on the palate, and in the finish, with a touch of refreshing mint on the backend. The wine blends 90% Merlot, with 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts
2023 Angelus No 3 -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Fruity, and fresh in the nose, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, forward, and juicy, with sweetness, and lift from the mid-palate, which carries its red berry character through to the finish. You can enjoy this on release and over the next decade. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2026-2033. 89-91 Pts
2023 Ausone -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Dark garnet in color, the wine is intensely floral, with lilacs, violets, roses, licorice, espresso, black raspberries, black cherries, and red currants. As good as the nose is, the palate is even better. The wine is rich, intense, and most importantly, elegant. There is a majestic sense of lift, purity, and refinement that is complimented by the strong touch its oceanic influence felt on its layers of dark red, black, and blue fruits, espresso, and spice. The seamless finish lingers long after the wine has left the glass. The key to the vintage here is the late, and light September rains that refreshed the Cabernet Franc just before harvesting. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc with 40% Merlot.14.2% ABV, 3.63 pH. Harvesting took place September 14-19 for the Merlot ,and September 25-30 for the Cabernet Franc. 2,000 cases were produced. Drink from 2030-2065. 97-99 Pts
2023 Ausone Chapelle d’Ausone -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Violets, roses, black raspberries, licorice, and cherry aromatics carry the perfume. On the palate, the wine is elegant, polished, sweet, and lively. The tannins are soft, the fruits are lifted, and creamy. There is a vibrance, and energy here with an understated approach this is perfect for the vintage. It is difficult to believe this is a second wine. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2028-2047. 93-95 Pts
2023 Badette -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Creamy, with a strong oak accent, the wine focuses on its espresso, dark chocolate, and black cherry core. Concentrated, bright, and chewy, this is going to need time to allow the oak to integrate fully into the wine. Drink from 2028-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Barde Haut -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Deeply colored, the wine pops with flowers, licorice, bacon fat, mint, cherries, and black plums create the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine balances its supple, characteristics with its vibrant side to produce a creamy, mineral-driven, red berry filled wine with energy, softness and a crushed-rock, cherry-infused finish. The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc.14.55% ABV, 3.4 pH. Drink from 2027-2045. 93-95 Pts
2023 Beau-Sejour Becot -St. Émilion Grand Cru -The intensity, length, and purity are impossible to ignore this year. The wine offers strong floral characteristics coupled with sweet, ripe, red cherries, licorice, black raspberries, and a hint of cocoa. The wine is silky, elegant, long, and refined. The fruit is incredibly, soft, sweet, and pure. The key point in the vintage was their water-retentive, limestone terroir that nourished the vines during the dry part of the growing season. 2023 is the first vintage produced in the estates new cellars, which allowed for precision wine making, which was needed in this difficult vintage. The aging is different starting with the 2023 as well, now the wine is aged in 55% new, French oak barrels, with 20% of the harvest aging in foudres. The wine blends 77% Merlot, with 22% Cabernet Franc. 14.1%, ABV, 3.5 pH. The harvest took place, September 7 – October 4. Drink from 2029-2060. 96-98 Pts
2023 Beausejour -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Quite floral in nature, the perfume adds nuances of cherries, licorice, red fruits, cocoa, and spice. Themedium-bodied palate balances its freshness, elegance, silky tannins, and most importantly, purity in its layers of sweet, ripe, red fruits. Complex, and refined, everything is in balance here with no hard edges. The lingering finish delivers layers of vibrant red berries. This is effortless to drink. But, do not let that fool you, as this is also a candidate for decades of aging. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV, 3.41 pH. The harvest took place September 13 – September 29 for the Merlot, and October 2-3 for Cabernet Franc. This is the longest harvest in the history of the estate. Drink from 2028- 2055. 97-99 Pts
2023 Croix de Beausejour -St. Émilion Grand Cru -There is ample freshness here. You sense this in the nose, with its black raspberries, and flowery presence, as well as on the medium-bodied palate, with its vibrant, red fruits, peppery spice, and refined, minty-edged finish. This should be delicious on release. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-91 Pts
2023 Belair-Monange -St. Émilion -The second vintage produced in the new cellars opens with flowers, crushed rocks, black cherries, cocoa, and spice. The wine is lifted, and fresh, with vitality, coupled with sweetness to the fruits, elegant tannins, and good energy on the palate. The mineral-driven finish serves up its display of crushed rocks, oceanic influences, mint, Indian spices, and bright red fruits effortlessly. There is length, and a raciness to the fruits in the finish that allows the wine to linger long after the wine has left the glass. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2029-2055. 95-97 Pts
2023 Belair-Monange Annonce -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Medium-bodied, soft, fresh, fruity, and forward, this is going to be delicious on release with all of its upfront, sweet, ripe cherries, chocolate, and plums. Produced from 98% Merlot, with 2% Cabernet Franc, this is the second wine of Belair Monange. Drink from 2026-2036. 90-92 Pts
2023 Bellefont-Belcier -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Spice, crushed rocks, flowers, red plums, incense, and mint create the nose. On the palate, the wine is racy, silky, lifted, elegant, and polished, with cocoa-topped black cherries, and plums from start to finish. The wine blends 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.14.5% ABV, 3.56 pH. Harvesting took place September 19 – October 5. Drink from 2027 – 2048. 93-95 Pts
2023 Bellevue St. Émilion Grand Cru -St. Émilion Grand Cru -The wine pops with aromas of roses, violets, cherries, plum, and cocoa. Balanced between its racy, and elegant side, the wine is long, vibrant, clean, and pure, with silky, velvet-tannins, and a refined character in the finish that sticks with you. While the wine feels light on its feet, the finish really holds on, leaving you with vivid, sweet, red cherries that linger. The key to the wine here is the length of the harvest as they spent 3 weeks picking 3 hectares of vines! Produced from 100% old, vine Merlot, 14% ABV. Drink from 2027-2045. 93-95 Pts
2023 Berliquet -St. Émilion Grand Cru -With a single swirl, the wine is floral, with raspberries, black cherries, plums, cigar wrapper and spice. The wine is medium-bodied, elegant, energetic, and spicy, with layers of sweet, and pure, red berries with lift, and energy that you feel on the mineral-accented backend. This is the first vintage produced in the irnew cellar, which expanded from 9 tanks to 24 vats, allowing for parcel by parcel vinification. You can taste and feel the difference here. The wine blends 59% Merlot, with 41% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV. Drink from 2026-2048. 93-95 Pts
2023 Cadet Bon -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Supple, creamy, and fresh, the wine is loaded with chocolate-covered black cherries, plums, licorice, espresso, and refreshing hints of mint. The wine has concentration, and polished textures, with loads of sweet, ripe fruits, and more of that refreshing mint nuance in the finish. The wine blends 70% Merlot, with 30% Cabernet Franc. For the first time, 8% of the wine was whole bunch fermented. Drink from 2027-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Calicem -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Black raspberries, flowers, licorice, and cherries form the perfume. On the palate, the wine is lush, creamy, and fresh. Here you find minerality, along with mint that accents the layers of ripe, dark red berries. The long creamy, fruit-filled finish wraps everything up nicely. The wine is made from 100% old vine Merlot planted in 1961. Drink from 2027-2043. 93-95 Pts
2023 Candale -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Round, forward, sweet, black cherries, with licorice, cocoa, and a sprig of mint come through in the nose, and on the soft, polished palate. This is going to be delicious on release, and should provide pleasure, while improving for at least a decade after that. The wine blends 75% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2037. 91-93 Pts
2023 Canon -St. Émilion Grand Cru – Violets, roses, and lilacs kick off the floral display. You also find cherries, plums, black raspberries, cigar box, and spice, with a touch of licorice. There is a balance between the vivacity, and sweetness, a strong sense of crushed rocks, and stones, depth, and intensity. The finish is racy, in all the best ways, which is the perfect backdrop for the wine’s layers of salt-tinged fruits that linger. The best part of the wine is that the fruit expresses a beautiful sense of purity, with no hard . edges. The wine blends 71% Merlot with 29% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV. 3.41. Harvesting took place September 6 – October 4. The length of the harvest is one of the key points to the vintage, as the estate was able to stop, start, and wait for phenolic ripeness. Drink from 2030- 2060. 97-99 Pts
2023 Canon Croix Canon -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Black raspberries, flowers, mint, cedar, and tobacco produce the aromatic profile. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, refined, and bright, the red fruits are vibrant, with a refreshing spearmint edge to the finish. The wine blends 54% Merlot with 46% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Canon la Gaffeliere -St. Émilion Grand Cru -The perfume is similar to walking into a flower shop, carrying a basket of black raspberries, peppery cherries, and plums. Silky, refined, long, pure, and elegant, the fruit lingers on your palate, as well as in the finish, with touches of spice, mint, cigar wrappers, and licorice. The success of the vintage is due to finding phenolic ripeness in each parcel, coupled with gentle extractions. The wine blends 45% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13% ABV. The harvest took place September 20-29. Drink from 2028-2050. 95-97 Pts
2023 Cantin -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Licorice, spice, flowers, and cherries load up the aromatic profile. The palate continues with that theme with its medium-bodied, creamy, silky, fruity, and forward. You can enjoy this on release and for over a decade after that. Drink from 2027-2040. 90-92 Pts
2023 Cap de Mourlin -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Juicy, sweet, red, with black plums, cherries, espresso and dark chocolate notes are all over the place here in the nose, and on the medium-bodied, round-textured palate. There is vibrancy as well as creamy tannins making this easy to enjoy with just a year or two of release. Drink from 2027-2039. 90-92 Pts
2023 Capet-Guillier -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Forward, with an elegant charm, the wine offers its chocolate-covered cherries, espresso, and licorice characteristics with ease. Medium-bodied, with ripe, fresh, fruits, and more chocolate in the finish, this will be easy to enjoy on the young side. The wine blends 70% Merlot, with 30% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Chauvin -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Espresso, licorice, and black cherry notes open the wine. The medium-bodied palate is soft, fragrant, and fresh, delivering a lot of sweet, though, firm, red fruits with energy, as well as a chalky texture on the palate, and in the finish. You can either enjoy this just about on release, or wait a bit, for more complexity. Drink from 2026-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Cheval Blanc -St. Émilion Grand Cru -The Cabernet Franc makes a strong impression in the nose with its tobacco, flowers, black, with red fruits, chocolate, orange skin, and mint leaf in the nose. However, it is on the palate with its length, purity, vibrance, elegance, and refinement that is the star of the show. The wine starts slow, building in intensity as it lingers. But once it gets going, you find layer, after layer of vibrant, silky, electric fruits. Perfectly ripe, balanced, and fresh, the finish holds with you for close to 60 seconds. The chateau thinks it is better than the 2022, I am not sure. But, I am ready to blind taste both, again, and again to find out for sure. The key to the vintage this year is the uniqueness, and inclusion of each parcel. With 2023, all 41 parcels produced fruit used in the Grand Vin allowing for a true representation of the vineyard into the wine. In other words, 2023 is a vintage where the terroir provides the shape, and character to the wine, more than the climatic conditions. The wine is made from 52% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.65% ABV, 3.8 pH. The harvest began September 6 for the Merlot. The Cabernet Franc took place September 12 – October 3. Drink from 2030-2065. 97-99 Pts
2023 Cheval Blanc Le Petit Cheval -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Cherry blossoms, chocolate, plums, black cherries, and flowers create the aromatics. Medium-bodied, silky, elegant, and fresh, with a voluptuous texture that sets the table for the chocolate-covered black cherries, plums, and truffles. The wine is perfectly balanced between its freshness, and its opulent, nature. There was a time when second wines were simply second wines. Clearly, that is no longer the case. You can enjoy this on release and for the following 2 decades after that. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Franc, with 50% Merlot. Drink from 2027-2042. 93-95 Pts
2023 Clarendelle Saint Emilion -St. Émilion -Forward, fresh, lively red fruits focusing on cherries, currants and red plums. The wine is soft- already delicious for early-drinking, uncomplicated pleasure. Drink from 2026-2032. 89-91 Pts
2023 Clavis Orea -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Espresso, black cherries, and chocolate open this forward, round, creamy, fresh, medium-bodied wine. I like the zesty, red berry, and chocolatey finish with its freshness, and ripe, black cherry end note. However, the wine expresses an oaky character that if it better integrates, it will be a better wine. So, let it age a year or two. Drink from 2027-2036. 90-92 Pts
2023 Clos Badon Thunevin -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Flowers, crushed rocks, cherries, licorice, smoke, and black raspberries are easy to find, in the nose, and on the palate. Firm, and fresh, with a mineralistic-edge to the sweet, ripe, red fruits on the palate, and in the finish Give this just a year or two to soften, and come together and enjoy it over the next 12 or more years. Drink from 2027-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Clos Dubreuil -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Black cherries, licorice, espresso, chocolate, flowers, and ripe strawberries show with ease in the perfume. Lush, creamy, polished, and sweet, with concentration, and silky tannins, you can enjoy this with pleasure on release, or age it for more earthy complexity. Drink from 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts
2023 Clos Fourtet -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Floral in nature, with only a swirl you find black raspberries, red plums, cherries, spice, and crushed stones in the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is balanced between its sweet, bright, red pit fruits, and salty, oceanic influences. The fruits are clean, precise, and energetic. There is length, purity, and refinement, with a lingering sensation of minerality that adds to the sweetness of the berries. This is the second vintage where the parcels of Grandes Murailles were integrated into Clos Fourtet. The wine blends 87% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV, 3.54 pH. The harvest took place, September 14 – October 3. Drink from 2028-2055. 95-97 Pts
2023 Clos Fourtet La Closerie de Fourtet -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Sweet cherries with flowers forms the character here. On the palate, the medium-bodied charming wine is forward, fresh, and sweet, making this simply delicious on release, making it easy to enjoy in a bistro, or cafe. The wine was made from blending 85% Merlot, with 15% Cabernet Franc. The wine comes from a parcel selection. Drink from 2026-2032. 89-91 Pts
2023 Clos Hédoné -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Black cherries, flowers, and plums show in the nose, and on the round, supple, fruit-filled palate. The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Clos Junet -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Spicy, floral, and fruity, the dark red berries are round, polished, sweet, and fresh, with licorice, chocolate, and flowers on the medium-bodied palate, and in the bright, fruity, finish. The wine blends 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Malbec. The wine is a Signature Selections Exclusive. Drink from 2026-2035. 89-91 Pts
2023 Clos Lardiére -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Ripe, round, forward, and fruity, with a licorice edge, and hints of chocolate will provide pleasure on release and over the next few years. Drink from 2026-2031. 89-91 Pts
2023 Clos Romanile -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Flowers, licorice, espresso, incense, cherries, and smoke create the character here. The wine is medium-bodied, bright, fresh. and juicy, with a vibrant endnote. This will be fun to enjoy in its youth. Drink from 2026-2034. 90-92 Pts
2023 Clos St. Julien – St. Émilion Grand Cru – Flowers, crushed stones, licorice, and bright, fresh, red fruit notes are all over the place, on the palate, and in the perfume. Medium-bodied, elegant, vibrant, and with finishing touches salted-chocolate-topped red fruits, this should age quite well. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Franc with 50% Merlot. Drink from 2029-2045. 94-96 Pts
2023 Clos St. Martin -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Plums, chocolate, flowers, and black raspberries show with little effort in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, elegant, upbeat, and fresh. The fruits are clean, pure, and long, with a juicy refreshing finish packed with with lingering dark chocolate, espresso, and black cherries, a touch of mint, and chalk in the finish. The wine blends 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a new style for Clos Saint Martin, with much less new oak, and a larger percentage of the wine aging in amphora. Drink from 2028-2041. 93-95 Pts
2023 Clos de Sarpe -St. Émilion Grand Cru -The oceanic influence is what you initially smell before getting to all of the flowers, black raspberries, plums, licorice, and chocolate. Vibrant, fresh, and quite spicy, with a salty, peppery edge to the bright red fruits on the palate. But, it is the crushed rock character that is quite strong, giving the wine vitality, and a uniqueness of character. Give it time to come together. It is worth the wait. Drink from 2029-2055. 92-94 Pts
2023 Clos des Jacobins -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Quite chocolatey, with an oaky edge that gives richness, as well as an espresso, dusty-edge to all of the sweet, dark red berries on the palate, and in the finish. Drink from 2026-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Clos-de-lOratoire -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Flowers, black raspberries, incense, and licorice fill the nose. On the palate, the wine is supple, creamy, fresh, and vibrant. The fruits show the influence of the Cabernet Franc with their spice, and floral edge. There is lift to the sweet, ripe, round berries on the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 75% Merlot, with 25% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2042. 93-95 Pts
2023 Corbin -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Black plums, black cherries, flowers, and licorice shine in the perfume. Elegant, refined, soft, medium-bodied, and with sweet, ripe, fruits, with freshness, this is already charming in your glass. And it is only going to get better with a year or two in the bottle. The wine blends 95% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2042. 92-94 Pts
2023 Corbin-Michotte -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Cherries, flowers, wet earth, espresso and cocoa form the core this wine. The medium-bodied palate is forward, fresh, and oaky in the finish. If the oak becomes better integrated with age, the wine will offer a better experience and a higher score. But, at the moment, the wood dominates the wine. Drink from 2026-2034. 87-89 Pts
2023 Cote de Baleau -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Anise, cherries, flowers, and black raspberries, with accents of espresso show nicely on the nose, and palate. The wine is fresh, spicy, bright, and lifted on the mid-palate, and in the elegant finish, leaving you with touches of dark chocolate, espresso, and sweet, red cherries. This should be quite a pleasure to enjoy on release, and over the next 10-12 years. The wine blends 95% Merlot, with 5% Cabernet Franc, 14% ABV. Drink from 2026-2036. 90-92 Pts
2023 Couspaude -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Creamy, dark, round, sweet, and supple, the wine is loaded with dark, black cherries, licorice, chocolate, and espresso. There is ripeness, as well as lift, that once the oak better integrates will be fun to enjoy. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Couvent des Jacobins -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Round, fruity rich, and dark, with loads of chocolate covered black cherries, licorice, flowers, and spice. The ripe, sweet, round, creamy finish really works this year. The wine blends 84% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Croix Cardinale, Revelation de Croix Cardinale -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Medium-bodied, forward, early-drinking charmer with a core of chocolate-covered cherries that is perfect for easy-to-like and early-drinking charm. This is the second wine of Croix Cardinale. Drink from 2026-2032. 88-90 Pts
2023 Croix de Labrie -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Deeply colored, the wine is rich, with dark red, black, and blueberries made even better with the addition of flowers, spice, licorice, and chocolate. There is ample freshness on the palate, paired with silky tannins, and a zesty, spicy, dark berry finish that leaves you with a light touch of citrus on the backend. The wine is produced and bottled with extremely low levels of sulfur. You can enjoy this young, or age it for more complexity, The wine blends 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. This is the first vintage with this much Cabernet in the blend. 14.2% ABV. 3.4 pH. The yields were only 27 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2050. 94-96 Pts
2023 Croix de Labrie Chapelle de Labrie -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Flowers, spice, red fruits, blue fruits, licorice and incense pop in the nose. The medium-bodied palate is soft, vibrant, energetic, with sweetness to the berries, lift in the mid-palate, and a spicy endnote, with a touch of licorice for complexity. The endnote displays a touch of salt in the backend. This is going to be a beauty on release, or with just a modicum of aging. Drink from 2026-2040. 90-92 Pts
2023 Dassault -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Dark in color, the wine is plush, polished, fresh juicy, and packed with layers of blackberries, black cherries, chocolate, and plums, with length vibrancy, and length in the round, polished, lush, salty, refreshing, spicy finish. This is the first vintage with Thomas Duclos as the consultant at Chateau Dassault. The wine blends 73% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts
2023 De Ferrand -St. Émilion Grand Cru -It is easy to find the chocolate-topped, crisp black cherries, flowers, licorice, espresso, and spice in the nose. On the palate, the wine is forward, supple, and vibrant. There is lift, and energy in the mouth, with touches of salty citrus, sweet, plums, cherries, and chocolate from the medium-bodied, mid-palate, through to the energetic, bright, red berry finish. The wine blends 65% Merlot, with 35% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Destieux -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Lush black cherries, black raspberries, espresso, mint, licorice, and flowers form the nose, as well as shape the round, creamy, fruit-filled palate. You can enjoy this with just a year or two of age for 12-15 years with ease. Drink from 2027-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Du Parc -St. Émilion Grand Cru -Vibrant, fresh, and fruity, with a crisp, freshness to the wine, and a touch of chocolate that shows on the medium-bodied palate that remains with you through to the finish. This will be charming to enjoy on release. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-91 Pts
Up next, we are continuing with 2023 Saint Emilion with 2023 Saint Emilion Pt. 2 Wines E -L followed by 2023 Saint Emilion Part 3 Wines Wines M-Z.
