Chateau Clos de Bouard 2023

Refined bouquet, subtle oak, oregano; slender attack, clean fruit, fine-grained tannins, solid length, slightly drying finish.

Quite floral in its nature, the wine is fresh, fruity, elegant, lively, and packed with crushed rocks, sweet cherries, spice, espresso, licorice, and chocolate. Medium-bodied, with sweetness, and ripe berries with hints of salty cocoa, and racy acidities, this will offer pleasure in its youth, as well as age for over a decade. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2026-2038. 91-93 Pts.

Attractive, well paced, ruby red colour, savoury with blueberry and raspberry fruits woven through with a ton of aniseed, liquorice and black tea. This has lots to love, with a bitter fennel signoff.

Perfumed and nicely aromatic on the nose. Softly chewy with some grip to the tannins and a powdery, and also slightly toasted finish. A bit of clove and tobacco spice. There’s lots of juiciness but also a bit of tightness at the moment. Still, good definition.

Playful red-berry bouquet, enchanting violet perfume, light tobacco and blackcurrant nectar. The palate is juicy with a finely crisp texture, a tight-knit tannin framework and supporting vibrancy. The focused, aromatic finish shows sour cherry juice, tarragon and a finely sandy astringency.