Château Latour-Martillac 2023 red

Pleasantly deep, dark-fruited, with violets and blond tobacco; straightforward on the palate, very fresh, light-footed, with a creamy texture and fine-grained tannins, lovely length, a spicy, red-fruited finish ending on blood orange. Burgundy-like in character, vinified with a delicate touch.

Lovely aromas and flavours of leafy tobacco, red fruit and plum enchant, and the palate has freshness and verve, but the tannins show some austerity that needs to be resolved. Conservative score, as we await the 14 months ageing in 40% new oak.

66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 14% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Dark fruit with a minerally edge. Juicy fruit on attack. Harmonious with a bit of grip on the finish. Classic Graves. (JL)

Flowers, chocolate, black cherries, smoke, and cigar wrapper pop in the perfume. The wine is rich, supple, and creamy with sweetness and lift on the palate, and in the finish. This should age quite nice well, yet be approachable young. The wine blends 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2043.

Restrained bouquet, red and blue berries, light tobacco and sandalwood. On the compact palate, delicately firm texture, sandy extract and a sinewy body. In the focused finish, sour cherry, rosewood and finely crumbly astringency. Rounded off.

Grilled oak, deep ruby colour, a touch of rose petals on the nose, more floral than many in the appellation, giving a pretty feel to the opening beats. This sits on the fresher side of the vintage yet still with ripe fruits, and a cushion of air running through the palate. Good quality, elegant, medium-term drinking, should be good to go within four or five years, just allow the architecture to soften. 40% new oak, 33hl/ha yield.

Score: 92–94. Very delicate oak drives a restrained, discreet and highly seductive bouquet of sweet blueberries and wild flowers. The palate is fleshy and juicy, with fluid, concentrated fruit, very fresh with fine, polished tannins. Beautiful harmony and delightful freshness.

The nose is reserved, with discreet aromas of elderflower and violet, as well as redcurrant jelly and blackberry. Currently in an austere phase, the attack is taut yet refreshing, developing fine bitters. Cabernet in style, with a noble, rooty vegetal character, this wine has good potential and will soften over time.

Sleek and fresh, with a subtle sanguine twinge running along the edges of the dark currant and cherry preserve notes. Licorice root and ink fill in through the lengthy and focused finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2036. 11,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported.