Château Olivier 2023 red

With blackcurrant, plum and lead pencil aromas setting the tone, the medium-bodied palate exudes bright and crunchy red fruit, but not without some austere tannin, which barrel ageing will hopefully soften, hence a conservative score. Yet again, an example where the red is not quite up to the level of the white in Pessac-Léognan in 2023.

Medium-bodied, floral-oriented wine with loads of ripe black cherries, along with cherry and licorice in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, elegant, soft, and approachable, with freshness and vibrancy from start to finish. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2042.

Gunsmoke reduction on the first nose, this really needs time to soften and open, and although there is lovely sculpting and careful construction, it is savoury to the point of being a little austere. Love the cassis and iris character. 45hl/ha yield.

Score: 90–92. A slightly aloof bouquet of freshly cut flowers and terracotta, with a dominant oak note before some red-fruit hints manage to emerge. This wood dominance persists on the palate in this barrel sample, making it difficult to predict the wine’s evolution, which is full of promise and should express itself better once in bottle.

Kirsch, red licorice and dried violet notes mix in this focused version, with a twinge of dusty cedar underlining the open-knit finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 14,000 cases made.

A deep, intense and beautiful color. A highly aromatic and subtle nose. Ripe fruit with smokier nuances more present than ever. Delicate on the attack, precise on the mid-palate and very well built, the wine finishes long and sinewy, rich in flavor, with a fine touch of oak.