Chateau Couhins 2023

Herbal and red-fruit aromas, rose tea, milk chocolate; a firm, grippy palate, slightly powdery tannins, a fine bitterness on the finish. Leaner than before.

Herbaceous and red fruit aromas introduce a rather austere palate that lacks the depth required to achieve a higher score. Maybe ageing in 40% new oak will fill some of the mid-palate, but it’s a disappointing sample.

The 2023 Couhins is a big wine. Dark, powerful and imposing, the 2023 offers plenty of impact. Blackberry, gravel, incense, licorice, dried flowers and scorched earth saturate the palate, followed by hints of grilled herbs, chocolate and lavender. Exotic floral overtones extend the finish. This is such a complete and beguiling red.

Bright red fruits, orange rind, flowers, tobacco and espresso form the character here. The medium-bodied palate is forward, round, and fresh, with black cherries, peppery spice, dark chocolate, and espresso from the mid-palate, through to the savory-edged, mildly chewy, spicy finish. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2039.

This estate has lacked consistency over the past decade, but here it shows just how good it can be: luscious blackberry and loganberry, graphite and violet, impressively supple tannins, still with a burst of minty freshness. Alix Bern, winemaker. 33% new oak for ageing.

Score: 90–92. A sanguine edge, with almost ferrous notes, and aromas of wild blackberry and blueberry contribute to a bouquet that is still a touch austere. The palate shows more vibrant, fleshy, juicy fruit. The tannins carry the fresh substance through to the finish, with a faintly velvety grain.

Complex, the bouquet reveals notes of black berries, sweet spices and licorice, followed by a floral touch. The generous attack leads into a compact, elegant wine. Its fine-grained tannins provide subtle vigor, while a touch of austerity ensures freshness and persistence on the finish. A savory, convincing wine whose finish will soften over time.

Deep, intense colour. Very aromatic, fruity nose, with a hint of tar. Delicate on the attack and juicy on the mid-palate, the wine caresses the palate as it extends into a lovely, nuanced and sappy finish, with flavours of red and white fruits. A tender profile, very Pessac Léognan.