2023 Pomerol wines are well worth considering. At their best, they provide all the sensuous, wine-tasting thrills readers should expect from Pomerol. Opulent, lush, and flamboyant, with an energetic, nuance to fruits, providing the perfect balance between lift, and heft. Purity and refinement, as well as being age-worthy are just some of the attributes of 2023 Pomerol.
Of course, as you would expect, the best wines come from the plateau. Not all 2023 Pomerol are created equal, so readers should carefully read the tasting notes, as well as the scores below. It is also interesting to note that while producers with healthy percentages of Cabernet Franc did extremely well, the two best wines of the vintage are 100% Merlot. Go figure!
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
All of the following 2023 Pomerol 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, Consultants, or with various trade groups. Several of the wines were tasted on more than one occasion.
2023 Pomerol Wine Report
2023 Beauregard – Pomerol – Chocolate, flowers, black cherries, plums, spice, truffle, and licorice nuances open the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, polished, fresh, dark, and chewy, with chalky, dark red pit fruits, along with touches of orange rind, espresso, and cocoa on the backend. Give this just a few years, and it will be fully ready-to-go. The wine blends 74% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2027-2042. 13.5% ABV. 92-94 Pts
2023 Beauregard Benjamin de Beauregard – Pomerol – Bright red fruits, with a touch of spice, cocoa, and back raspberries. The wine is forward, medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and fruity with a savory-edge in the backend. The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2032.
2023 Bel-Air-Pomerol – Pomerol – Flowers, wet earth, and dark cherries form the core of this medium-bodied, forward, chewy Merlot wine that finishes with a touch of citrus on top of the cherries, with a nice hint of chocolate-mint in the backend. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-91 Pts
2023 Bellegrave – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, fresh, forward, fruity, light in weight, with a soft, early-drinking, forward character. You can enjoy this on release and over the near term. Drink from 2026-2034. 88-90 Pts
2023 Bon Pasteur – Pomerol – Spicy, fresh, and silky, the wine is loaded with incense, flowers, cherries, plums, and chocolate. Medium-bodied, elegant, vibrant, lifted, and fresh, the fruits offer energy, and refinement. The wine blends 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 Bonalgue – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, fresh, silky, and vibrant, the wine leans to its elegant, fruity side, with soft, refined tannins, and sweet, ripe, dark, cherries, with plums in the finish. Give it a year or two in the cellar, and it will be even better. The wine is made from blending 95% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2042. 90-92 Pts
2023 Bourgneuf – Pomerol – Flowers, cherries, and truffle, with nuances of chocolate are a treat in the nose. The medium-bodied palate, is vibrant, fresh, and juicy, finishing with black raspberries, cocoa, and a hint of spice that comes in on the backend of the finish. The wine blends 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts.
2023 Cantereau – Pomerol – Produced from 100% Merlot, the medium-bodied wine is forward, fruity, with chocolate, and plums, with a nice hint of truffles, adding complexity to the nose, and the finish. Drink from 2026-2035. 88-90 Pts
2023 Certan de May – Pomerol – Black raspberries, truffle, flowers, plums, and chocolate show easily in the nose. The wine is elegant, soft, refined, and silky on the palate, finishing with dark chocolate, ripe, black cherries, plums, and a touch of orange rind on the backend. The wine blends 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2027-2043. 92-94 Pts
2023 Clinet – Pomerol – Lilacs, violets, smoke, spice, cherries, plums, licorice, orange rind, and chocolate mint fill the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is energetic, vibrant, long, and up-beat. The fruit offers purity, persistence, length, and width. It takes a few sips before you find its heart. But, once you do, it’s apparent that the layers of vibrant, red fruits, complicated by the nuances of orange zest, are special. The refined, silky, finish builds as it lingers. The keys to the vintage here were the combination of cloudy summer skies with heat spells in September. In the cellars this is the first vintage with a pre-maceration cool-down which helped protect the grapes from oxidation. The wine blends 75% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14% ABV, 3.7 pH. Harvesting took place September 13 – September 20 for the Merlot, and September 25-26 for the Cabernet. Drink from 2027-2060. 95-97 Pts
2023 Clos 56 – Pomerol – Produced from 100% old vine Merlot, the wine pops with chocolate, flowers, cherries, citrus, and licorice. There is a charming, lush, round, creamy quality to the earthy, black cherries, chocolate, and espresso in the finish that resonates. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Clos Beausejour – Pomerol – Sweet, juicy, fresh, and vibrant, with a core of ripe, bright, red cherries, soft-tannins, and a creamy, fruity finish. Drink from 2023-2034. 89-91 Pts
2023 Clos Bel Air – Pomerol – Round, forward, soft, and polished, with a sweetness to the lifted, red, with black fruits, and a touch of cocoa on the mid-palate that sticks with you through to the finish. Drink from 2026-2036. 89-91 Pts
2023 – Clos du Clocher – Pomerol – Flowers, plums, blackberries, truffle, black cherries, dark chocolate, smoke, and espresso show readily in the nose, The palate is lush, supple, creamy, and vibrant, with silky tannins, length, and loads of ripe, black cherries, blue fruit, that are all accompanied by dark chocolate. Harvesting took place September 5 – October 4, making this one of the longest harvests in the history of the estate. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. 13.9% ABV, 3.58 pH. Drink from 2028-2045. 94-96 Pts
2023 Clos LEglise – Pomerol – Chocolate mint, flowers, plums, truffle, black cherries, licorice, and herbs create the aromatic profile. The palate is even better with its layers of silky, sensuous, velvety fruits that linger. The finish is all about the sexy, chocolate-drenched, sweet, elegant plums. The wine is deep, concentrated, opulent, and sexy. Picture molten dark chocolate-coated, black plums coating your palate with lingering, sweet, fresh, lifted fruits that stick with you. The harvest took place September 12-13 for the Merlot and October 1 for the Cabernet Franc. The blend is 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc, making this the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc ever used in the blend. 14% ABV 3.7 pH. Drink from 2028-2050. 94-96 Pts
2023 Clos Rene – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, soft, silky, and fresh, the fruit delivers a vibrancy, elegance, and creamy character that allows the earthy, cherries, and chocolate to express their essence. The wine blends 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. Drink from 2027-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Clos-de-la-Vieille-Eglise – Pomerol – Flowers, black raspberries, licorice, and earth in the nose lead the way to a bright, fresh, vibrant, medium-bodied wine loaded with cherries, raspberries, and chocolate-coated strawberries. Drink from 2026-2039. 90-92 Pts
2023 Clos-du-Beau-Pere – Pomerol – Truffle, black cherry, smoke, and licorice in a forward style, with a crisp, firm, fruity finish is made even better with its shaved, dark chocolate endnote. For those seeking something unique, check out the white wine from Le Clos du Beau Pere! Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 ClosVieuxTaillefer – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, with a strong floral character, the wine is fruity, with red cherries, red plums, and licorice. The medium-bodied wine is fresh, forward, fruity, and lifted, with a red pit fruit filled finish. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2026-2036. 89-91 Pts
2023 Croix du Casse – Pomerol – Plums, cocoa, herbs, and flowers form the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, juicy, fruity, soft-textured, forward, upbeat, and already charming in your glass, with its minty, plummy, and cocoa endnote. The wine blends 96% Merlot, with 4% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Domaine-de-LEglise – Pomerol – Soft, lush, polished, silky, and refined, this elegantly styled Pomerol focuses you on its chocolate-covered plums, black cherries, and licorice character with ease. The wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, and refined. It is perfectly balanced between its sweetness, lift, and ripe pit fruits that show on the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 98% Merlot with 2% Cabernet Franc. 14.8% ABV. Drink from 2028–2042. 92-94 Pts
2023 Enclos Tourmaline – Pomerol – Incense, flowers, cherries, cocoa, and black raspberries fill the bouquet. Silky, elegant, and medium-bodied, this discreet wine is pure, refreshing, and long with a refined character to the red berries, and chocolate-mint nuances in the finish. The wine is a blend of 97% and 3% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2047. 93-95 Pts
2023 Fayat – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, vibrant, fresh, lifted, red–berry oriented wine. On the palate, you find lift, and energy, with a bright, crisp, sweet, red plum, raspberry, cocoa, and licorice filled finish. You can enjoy this on release or with just a year or two of age. The wine blends 95% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc.13.6% ABV. Drink from 2027-2039. 90-92 Pts
2023 Feytit-Clinet – Pomerol – The nose delivers its blend of flowers, spice, smoke, mint leaves, and red fruits along with wet earth in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is creamy, fresh, long, and chewy, finishing with spicy, ripe red cherries, plums, and chocolate, with a silky, refined, racy edge. The wine blends 90% Merlot, with 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2050. 93-95 Pts
2023 Gazin – Pomerol – There is richness, energy, layers of fruit, and finesse here. The fruits are ripe, silky, vibrant, and fresh. The truffle, flower, and chocolate accents add to the experience. Give the wine just a few years to age, and this will be a strong Pomerol wine. The wine blends 89% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2028-2042. 92-94 Pts
2023 Guillot Clauzel – Pomerol – On the floral side, you also find complimentary notes of leaves, cedar, tobacco, and marine climatic influences along with sweet, ripe, juicy, red plums, chocolate, and ripe, cherries. The wine is vibrant, almost racy, with its vivid, sweet, ripe red berries, and a salty edge in the elegant, lingering, fresh finish. The endnotes with their aromatics on the palate add to the length with their refreshing edge, This is an insiders secret Pomerol. The production averages only 500 cases per vintage. If you are a fan of Pomerol, and you want to try something new, check it out. The wine blends 83% Merlot with 17% Cabernet Franc.14% ABV, 3.74 pH. Guillaume Thienpont of VCC Certan is in charge of the estate. Drink from 2026-2050. 94-96 Pts
2023 Haut-Maillet – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, with flowers, chocolate, and sweet, red berries in the nose, and on the palate. There is freshness, softness, elegance, and refinement, with a touch of chocolate adding roundness to the red fruits in the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 90% Merlot, with 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-91 Pts
2023 Hosanna – Pomerol – Black plums, black raspberries, black cherries, flowers, and dark chocolate pop effortlessly in the perfume. On the palate the wine is luscious, vibrant, sensuous, and rich. There is a serious depth of flavor, good concentration, and length. The finish is as dark as the perfume with dark chocolate coated plums, black cherries, espresso, and licorice. There is a refreshing, floral mouth aromatic in the finish adding complexity, and freshness. With aging, this is going to be one of my favorite vintages of Hosanna. The wine blends 74% Merlot, with 26% Cabernet Franc. The harvest took place September 7-September 19. Drink from 2029-2055. 95-97 Pts
2023 LEgliseClinet – Pomerol – The wine quickly focuses you on its floral characteristics paired with black raspberries, plums, black, with white cherries, dark chocolate, and just an edge of coffee beans. The palate however, is where the excitement takes place. The wine is opulent, rich, aromatic, concentrated, and long. The mark of freshness is there, but, you also experience the wine’s elegance, and silky tannins, as well as its length, and width on the mid-palate, and finish. Interestingly, here, it was the moderate amount of sun hours that helped make the vintage as it shielded the grapes from the late summer heat wave. From a blend of 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, 14.60% ABV. The harvest took place September 10-September 14. It is great to see continuing strong wines from the Durantou family. Drink from 2029-2060. 97-99 Pts
2023 LEglise Clinet La Petite Eglise – Pomerol – Flowers, boysenberries, black cherries, cocoa, and plums are unmistakable in the nose. The palate is creamy, lifted, sweet, and fresh, with ripe, black cherries, freshness, dark chocolate, and the aftertaste aromas of spring flowers. Enjoy this while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. 14.4% ABV. Drink from 2027-2042. 92-94 Pts
2023 LEnclos – Pomerol – Elegant, soft, silky, floral, and fresh, the medium-bodied wine does not rely on density, Instead, here, you find a wine embracing its refined character, with sweetness, and purity in the fruit, the mid-palate, and in the backend of the finish. The wine blends 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. Drink from 2026-2037. 91-93 Pts
2023 LEvangile – Pomerol – Violets, lilacs, chocolate, truffle, black cherries, smoke, licorice, and plums fill the nose. But, the magic is on the palate with its lush, supple, creamy, elegant textures, soft, polished tannins, length, and depth, finishing with layers of ripe, black plums, and cherries with peppery, spicy, chocolate on the backend. The wine blends 78% Merlot with 21% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.6% ABV, 3.75. The key to the vintage here is the rains that fell in the end of June, which refreshed the vines at the right moment. The harvest took place September 4 – September 28, which is long for L’Evangile. The wine is aging in a combination of 50% new, French oak, 15% amphora and used oak barrels. The Grand Vin was made from 55% of the harvest. Drink from 2029-2050. 96-98 Pts
2023 LEvangile Blason de L’Evangile – Pomerol – Cocoa, and roses, with hints of licorice are already easy to spot in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, sweet, polished, fresh, and easy-to like, due to its creamy-textured, chocolate-covered cherry character. You can enjoy this on release, and over the near term while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 95% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2037. 90-92 Pts
2023 La Cabanne – Pomerol – Flowers, plums, and cocoa open the nose. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, fresh, crisp, and elegant, finishing with sweet, black raspberries, chocolate, and espresso with a lifted, finish. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. 14.1% ABV. Drink from 2028-2042. 91-93 Pts
2023 La Clemence – Pomerol – Incense, licorice, spice, espresso, smoke, and red fruits work in concert here to produce a medium-bodied, round, creamy, fruity wine. Drink from 2026-2040. 89-91 Pts
2023 La Conseillante – Pomerol – Violets, black raspberries, spice, chocolate, truffle, and black cherries begin the perfume. The palate is where the wine shines, with its vibrant display of black with red fruits. The striking purity, elegance, and textures, silky tannins, and length leave quite an impression. The adage, “Patience is a virtue” is the key the success this year, as they needed to wait for the desired level of phenolic maturity. The wine blends 88% Merlot with 12% Cabernet Franc. 7.5% press wine. 14% ABV, 3.68 pH. The harvest took place September 7 – October 2. Drink from 2029-2060. 97-99 Pts
2023 La Creation – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, forward, plummy, cherry filled wine with licorice, cocoa, and spearmint from start to finish, on the nose and on the palate. Drink from 2026-2034. 88-90 Pts
2023 La Croix St. Georges – Pomerol – Flowers, chocolate covered cherries, licorice, and a leaf, or two of mint create the aromatic profile. The medium-bodied palate is even better with its crisp, soft, lush, silky, vibrant, polished, fresh character. The fruits are sweet, ripe, and juicy. There is purity matched with elegance. The finish is long, and lingering with its chocolate-coated black, and red fruits, with just a hint of smoke, and espresso to add another accent. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. 14.61 ABV, 3.67 pH. This is clearly the start of another level for La Croix St. Georges. When bottled, it is possible the score could rise even further. Drink from 2028-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 La Fleur de Gay – Pomerol – Flowers, black cherries, and dark chocolate in a voluptuous, opulent style, with freshness, layers of dark red pit fruits, wet earth, and a velvety, lush, finish. This is a hedonistic wine that will deliver a lot of pleasure over the next 15-20 years. The wine was produced from 100% old vine Merlot. Drink from 2028-2047. 94-96 Pts
2023 La Grave – Pomerol – Mint, cherries, cocoa, and flowers decorate the perfume. The wine is medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, and polished, with silky tannins, and freshness, as well as a nice dollop of dark chocolate in the finish. The wine blends 89% Merlot with 11% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2039. 91-93 Pts
2023 La Patache – Pomerol – Flowers, cherries, spice, and a background note of truffle open the wine. Medium-bodied, vibrant, and elegant, the wine is focused on its fresh core of fruits, and energy. You can enjoy this on release and over the next 10-15 years easily. The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026- 2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 La Pointe – Pomerol – Sweet red berries with chocolate are what you initially notice in the perfume. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is bright, crisp, elegant, and juicy, with lift, energy, and most importantly, a refreshing touches of citrus and dark chocolate in the backend of the finish. Drink from 2026-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 La Violette – Pomerol – Dark in color, the wine is equally intense on the palate with its layers of black with red fruits, dark chocolate, black cherries, black raspberries, black plums, and chalk. There is depth, concentration, and richness with power, lift, and opulence in the mid-palate, that carries through to the finish. The key to the vintage was the long hang time with harvesting starting September 11-September 20. The length of the harvest is due to manual destemming. The wine was produced from 100% Merlot, 14 % ABV. Drink from 2029-2050. 95-97 Pts
2023 La-FleurPetrus – Pomerol – Flowers, spice, black raspberries, espresso, cherries, and licorice are abundant in the aromatic profile. On the palate, this is sensuous, silky, and sexy. It is polished, rich, and velvety, with layers of dark chocolate-covered black cherries, mint, spice, licorice, smoke, espresso, and plums. This is long, as well as intense, with energy, and complexity. You can enjoy this with pleasure with only a few years in the cellar. But give it a decade, and this is going to offer incredible drinking. The wine blends 96.5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and .05 Petit Verdot. The harvest took place September 7 – September 19. Drink from 2029-2050. 96-98 Pts
2023 Lafleur – Pomerol – Plums, black raspberries, flowers, boysenberries, tobacco, and truffles create the nose. On the palate, the wine pops with its layers of bright, sweet, ripe, and energetic red fruits, cigar wrapper, and chewy black cherries. This is a classic vintage of Lafleur which exchanges its opulence, and power for lift, refinement, concentration, length, and complexity. The wine requires at least a decade, or even more time in the bottle before it is ready and enjoyable to drink. The estate calls their 2023 a wine from an extreme vintage, without any extremes. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Franc, and 46% Merlot. 14.2% ABV, 3.75 pH. Harvesting took place for the Merlot September 7, 8, Cabernet Franc was harvested September 17. Drink from 2030-2065. 97-99 Pts
2023 Lafleur Les Pensees – Pomerol – Quite floral in nature, you also find cherries, plums, chocolate, and a hint of citrus that is with you from the attack through to the backend. The wine is medium-bodied, ripe, round, and vibrant, with sweetness to the red pit fruits accompanied by a cocoa-infused edge, with drops of tangerine skins that you find on the palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. The harvest took place September 9- September 17. Drink from 2028-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 Lafleur-Gazin – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, refined, elegant, and vibrant, the fruits are soft, pure, sweet, and on the red berry side, with a licorice, dark cocoa, and savory edge in the finish. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Lagrange-Pomerol – Pomerol – The nose offers a hint of oak, a touch of chocolate, red berries, and flowers. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine is supple, vibrant, and refined, with lift, and sweetness in the finish. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2037. 90-92 Pts
2023 LatourPomerol – Pomerol – Quite floral in its character, the wine is elegant, dark, and sensuous, with loads of ripe, dark red berries, chocolate, spice, mint, and licorice. The creamy-textured, lifted finish lingers, with its layers of sweet, and spicy fruit topped with shaved dark chocolate. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2028-2047. 92-94 Pts
2023 Le Chemin – Pomerol – Rich, supple, and creamy, the wine is all about its layers of soft, creamy, ripe, chocolate-covered black cherries, licorice, plums, flowers, and espresso. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Made from 65% Merlot with 35% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2039. 90-92 Pts
2023 Le Gay – Pomerol – Truffle, licorice, smoke, dark chocolate, violets, and black cherries on the nose. The palate is creamy, fresh, vibrant, and juicy, with a bright edge to the red fruits, dark chocolate, spice, and licorice nuances that linger on the mid-palate, through to the finish. The wine will require at least a few years of aging before it begins to really start to show its best. The score could rise as the wine develops. The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV, 3.7 pH. Drink from 2029-2055. 94-96 Pts
2023 Le Moulin – Pomerol – Black cherries, espresso, figs, and chocolate spring from the glass. Round, polished, and glossy, the fruity finish come along with creamy-textured, figs, cherries, and espresso. Drink from 2027-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Le Pin – Pomerol – Quite floral in nature, it is the vivacious nature, sensuality, and freshness in the fruits that stand out. Picture, velvety-textured, black plums with dark chocolate, saffron, orange peel, cumin and black raspberries that caress and paint your palate with layers of fruit. There is a sublime sense of purity, paired with elegance and vivacity that sticks with you in the precise finish for close to 60 seconds. Produced from 100% Merlot, 14.4% ABV, 3.77 pH, the harvest took place September 6 – September 17. Yields were only 29 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2055. 98-100 Pts
2023 Lecuyer – Pomerol – With a bright, crisp, almost chewy character, the wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, sweet, and chocolatey, with a core of red plums, black raspberries, espresso, and cherries. The finish is vibrant, elegant, refined, and floral, with a focus on its length, elegance, and purity. This little-known gem still sells for a song. But, not for long. The estate was recently purchased by Ronan Laborde of Chateau Clinet, so you can expect the quality to rise, as well as the price. The wine blends 75% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc, with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.14.% ABV. Drink from 2027-2042. 91-93 Pts
2023 Maillet – Pomerol – Flowers, smoke, charcoal, black cherries, licorice, and black cherries form the nose, and the core of the wine’s character on the palate. Forward, creamy, fresh, and uplifted, with a brightness to the red fruits, silky, soft, creamy textures, and cherries infused with licorice in the finish. Drink from 2027-2038. 92-94 Pts
2023 Mazeyres – Pomerol – Black cherries, espresso, plums, and chocolate show easily here in the perfume. The wine is medium-bodied, forward, fresh, round, edgy, and vibrant, with a bright, red pit fruit, and chocolate note, with a refreshing touch of spearmint in the finish. Drink from 2027-2035. 89-91 Pts
2023 Monregard La Croix – Pomerol – Flowers, black raspberries, and cherries with an oaky edge show in the perfume with little effort. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, and fruity, with vibrancy, and a bright edge to the red berries in the finish. The wine is always produced from 100% Merlot. Only 500 cases are made each vintage. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Montviel – Pomerol – Sweet, juicy, fresh, black cherries, with licorice, and a touch of cocoa in the nose and on the palate. Medium-bodied, bright, and vibrant, with a soft, elegant touch in the finish. The wine will offer pleasure on release. The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV. Drink from 2026-2037. 90-92 Pts
2023 Nenin – Pomerol – Red, and white flowers, cherries, plums, and black raspberries create the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, elegant, soft, sweet, and fresh, with silky textures, and purity to the fruits in the elegant, chalky finish. The wine blends 67% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the first vintage with Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.13.4% ABV. Drink from 2027-2042. 92-94 Pts
2023 Nenin Fugue de Nenin – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, fresh, sweet, bright, and juicy, the wine is on the red berry side of the style range, and will deliver its cherry-filled pleasure on release, and for close to a decade after that. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-91 Pts
2023 Petit Village – Pomerol – Lilacs, wet earth, spice, mint, cocoa, cherries, black plums, and smoke create the nose. On the palate, the wine the is medium-bodied, brisk, bright, and crisp, with a vibrant edging to the fruits bringing you lift, and energy. The wine blends 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.13.5% ABV. Drink from 2026-2055. 93-95 Pts
2023 Petit Village Le Petit – Pomerol – Forward, fresh, and fruity, with soft-textures, a medium-bodied, with a layer of chocolate-edged, black raspberries that stay with you from start to finish. The wine is produced by blending 88% Merlot with 12% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2035. 88-90 Pts
2023 Petrus – Pomerol – Flowers, chocolate, dried raspberries, cherries, spice, citrus, and a background note of truffle create the aromatic profile. On the palate, it is interesting to note the viscosity, coupled with freshness, length, and purity. There is an elegance that allows the purity in the berries to already express themselves. The velvet-textured finish, with its spices, chocolate, plums, and cherries stays with you for at least 60 seconds. The wine is perfectly balanced, seamless, and well, prefect. The success of the vintage is due in large part to waiting for the right moment to harvest, as well as taking their time to pick. With their deep, blue clay, they harvested September 11 – September 20, 14.5 ABV%, 3.65 pH. It is interesting to note that even though the wine has 30% more tannins, the wine feels soft, and silky. Drink from 2030-2065. 98-100 Pts
2023 Pierhem – Pomerol – Floral in nature, it is easy to find all of the chocolate, strawberries, black raspberries and licorice in the perfume. Medium-bodied, fresh, soft, forward, and fruity this is going to be fun to enjoy on release. Drink from 2026-2036. 89-91 Pts
2023 Plince – Pomerol – Incense, flowers, cherries, and spice fill nose, while the medium-bodied, palate is filled with bright, fresh, vibrant, red cherries, plums, and raspberries. This is a fresh, crisp styled, bright Pomerol. Drink from 2026-2036. 88-90 Pts
2023 Porte Chic – Pomerol – Flowers, cherries, licorice and black raspberries are easy to find in the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, supple, bright, fresh, and fruity, with a crisp, vibrant, red berry finish. This is going to be easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-91 Pts
2023 Rouget – Pomerol – Flowers, spice, black raspberries, cherries, and herbs create the nose. The wine is supple, creamy, fresh, and vibrant on the medium-bodied, palate. The energetic finish leaves you with loads of sweet, ripe, red fruits with a sprig of mint on the backend. Drink from 2027-2043. 92-94 Pts
2023 Sacre Coeur – Pomerol – White flowers, hints of chocolate, and plums are what you initially notice. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, fresh, clean, and pure, with elegance, and lift to the sweet, cherries, cocoa, and mint in the finish. The wine was produced from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Saint-Pierre-Pomerol – Pomerol – Lilacs, vanilla, cherry blossoms, and spice show along with chocolate-covered cherries, with a hint of Bourbon in the nose. Medium-bodied, elegant, racy, and refined, the wine focuses on its purity, length, and lift, instead of power, leaving you with a delicate touch of mint on the backend. The wine blends 90% Merlot, with 10% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV. 10% of the wine is whole bunch fermented. Drink from 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts
2023 Taillefer – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, you find a wealth of flowers, plums, and cherries, with bitter chocolate in the nose, and on the palate. Bright, fresh, and almost crisp, there is a refreshing touch of citrus on the backend that adds lift, and complexity. Drink from 2027-2038. 88-90 Pts
2023 Trotanoy – Pomerol – The essence of violets, roses, black cherries, black raspberries, spice, smoke, espresso, chocolate, and licorice nuances provide the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich, supple, creamy, vibrant. There is lift, intensity, length, and sensuality, with silky tannins. The fruits are ripe, deep, and penetrating. The berries come in layers, that build in intensity, as they linger. The seamless finish remains with you for over 50 seconds! Edouard Moueix feels 2023 provides the essence of each parcels terroir. However, he was not always sure about the vintage. In fact, it took until harvest time before he slowly became confident of the quality here. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. 14.5% ABV, 3.85 pH. The harvest took place September 7 – September 19. Drink from 2029-2060. 97-99 Pts
2023 Valois – Pomerol – With flowers, and cherries defining its aromatics, the wine is soft, medium-bodied, elegant, and refined, with a silky, chocolate, and cherry-edged finish. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2026-2036. 88-90 Pts
2023 Valois L’Eclat de – Pomerol – With strong notes of espresso, black coffee, dark chocolate, smoke, and deep red fruits, the wine is lively, round, and vibrant, on the palate, with a bit too much oak in the finish. If the oak better integrates, this will be a better wine. Let it age a bit to allow the wood to better integrate. The wine is a blend of 65% Merlot, with 35% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Vieux Chateau Certan – Pomerol – Black cherries, flowers, chocolate, truffles, blackberries, and a touch of cinnamon produce the aromatic profile. Elegance and power do not always go together. But with 2023 VCC, this is exactly what you find. There is intensity, richness, velvety tannins, chalky accents, and layers of chocolate-infused, dark pit fruits, with wet earth, and spice. The wine is rich, full, and deep, with uplifting acidities providing energy to the long, sensuous finish. The temperate conditions of the growing season, without extreme variances is what allowed the vintage to develop its characteristics. In the cellars, the extractions were slow, soft, and easy. Pump overs were reduced by 30% this year as well. The wine blends 82% Merlot, and 18% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV, 3.74 pH. The harvest took place September 18 – September 29. Drink from 2029-2060. 97-99 Pts
2023 Vieux Maillet – Pomerol – Medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant, floral, and forward, it will take no time at all until all the sweet, ripe plums, cherries, and cocoa begin offering their pleasures. Drink from 2027-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Vray Croix de Gay – Pomerol – Violets, chocolate, truffle, black cherries, and licorice form the perfume. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is elegant, supple, soft, and silky. The wine is fresh, vibrant, clean, and pure, finishing with chocolate-covered cherries, black raspberries, and a hint of peppery spice, that only shows up at the end of the finish. The wine blends 98% Merlot with 2% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV. This is the second vintage produced by the same team that also makes Calon Segur. Drink from 2026-2042. 91-93 Pts
Up next, we are continuing our look at the 2023 Right Bank wines 2023 Lalande de Pomerol followed by tasting notes and ratings for over 160 wines from St. Emilion which will be published in 3 articles starting with 2023 Saint Emilion Part 1 Wines A-D
