Red Chateau Olivier 2019

Sleek, showing inviting cassis and plum purée notes, with black licorice accents and a hint of singed cedar at the very end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2026. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 10,000 cases made.

Expressive nose of bright red cherries and strawberries. Good juiciness here, this has life for sure, but the fruit is still a little in high definition right now and edged with spicy oak elements that are quite dominant. Definitely lots going on, and this has power, precision, good fruit and acidity, but it needs more time to soften and integrate. A peppery, quite savoury finish.

Tobacco, blackcurrant and crushed stone. Ash, too. Full-bodied with very polished and juicy tannins that are firm, yet polished and long. Wonderful finish. Give it three or four years to come together. Try after 2025.

The 2019 Olivier is a powerful, brooding wine. Dark cherry, tobacco, iron, game, menthol and dried herbs lend quite a bit of complexity and nuance to this hearty, earthy Pessac-Léognan. From bottle, the 2019 comes across as a bit burly, while the fruit is not quite as forward as it was en primeur.

This is a superb vintage for Chateau Olivier. Rich, silky, velvety and refined, the fruit tastes as good as it feels on the palate. Elegant, fresh and pure, there is length, energy and complexity with a fabulous sense of richness on the palate that remains with you all the way through to the finish. Give this a few years in the cellar and it should really start to shine. Drink from 2024-2039.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fine plum fruit, a hint of blackberry confit, candied orange zest. Juicy, elegant, sweet texture, ripe tannins, pleasant cherry fruit, fresh structure, already accessible, a multi-faceted food wine.

Bright dark purple colour. The nose offers ripe dark fruit, sweet plum, cassis, dark cherry, aniseed, leather and fine oak. A rather dense palate with a youthful texture, savoury dark berry flavours and some meaty notes, an herbal spiciness and fine length.

Blackcurrants, darker cherries, earth, and spicy oak notes all emerge from the 2019 Château Olivier, a young, unevolved, promising 2019 with medium to full body, ripe, nicely polished tannins, the vintage's elegant style, and a great finish. Give it 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 10-15.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 14.6% alc./vol., production 120,000 bottles) Silky, sweet, medium-bodied bouquet, red and blue berries, mint candy, caramel. Silky, fine palate with medium, sweet fruit, airy aromatics, slightly tangy acidity, powdery tannins, delicate finish. Has room to improve.

(55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 14.6% abv, production 120,000 bottles) Velvety, sweet, medium-intensity bouquet, red and blue berries, mint candy, caramel. Silky, fine palate with medium, sweet fruit, airy aromatics, slightly zesty acidity, mealy tannins, refined finish. Can still improve. 16/20 2024 - 2036

Great quality with fragrant raspberry leaf aromatics, followed by savoury cassis fruits balanced with liquorice and cigar box. Good persistency, white pepper spice, olive tapenade and rosemary spice, this is subdued but opens up to show lovely complexity, and has great signature Pessac-Léognan precision and balance. More subtle than some in the lineup, with a mouthwatering finish.

The 2019 Olivier Rouge is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it features notes of redcurrants, juicy blackberries, and mossy tree bark with hints of crushed rocks and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush and vibrant with lovely red and black fruit layers and a lifted finish.

With delicate, refined oak, the wine is developing well and will appeal for its subtle aromatics, the quality of its oak, and its precise extraction, offering good value for money—but you need to appreciate the classic Bordeaux style. Drink from 2017. With delicate, refined oak, the wine is developing well and will appeal for its subtle aromatics, the quality of its oak, and its precise extraction, offering good value for money—but you need to appreciate the classic Bordeaux style. Drink from 2017.

The nose, with restrained elegance, reveals gentle aromas of orange fruits. The palate, vibrant and lively, shows great aromatic expressiveness, delivering layered, varied flavors—from fruity notes to mineral nuances. Full of presence and panache.

Finesse was already Olivier’s hallmark during the En Primeur tastings. It remains delicate, elegant, and shows aromas of red berries followed by a menthol note. Its juicy, velvety palate makes it already very approachable; moreover, the acid structure adds a pleasant freshness. An elegant, sapid wine.

Logo on the capsule: JL (Lafitte Liège) Now bottled, the cru confirms it is one of the best I taste. Dark, intense color. Highly aromatic nose, delicate, fruity, pure and slightly smoky. Supple on entry, very fruity mid-palate, flavorful with a melting, seamless body; the wine gains sap between the mid-palate and the finish. It ends on fresh flavors and a more precise texture than ever. It’s very good. Estate on the rise.

The fortified chateau dating to the 12th century is now the home of the Bethmann family. This latest release indicates the high quality the estate now produces. Rich in tannins and with a dense structure, the wine is full of juicy acidity. The texture and dry core promise aging. Drink from 2026.