Château Grand Corbin 2023

Fascinating nose with violet blossoms and rosemary, radiant fruit; creamy palate, fine-grained tannins, perfectly ripe fruit, no heaviness; great precision; long and fresh, showing plenty of elegance.

Mentholated chocolate aromas with just ripe enough plum presage a broad attack, revealing a smoothly textured wine. Solid in its expression of ripe fruit and friendly warmth, with energy. Harvested between September 14 and October 6, this wine comes from a large, nearly 29ha vineyard, with a 40-year-old average vine age. It is ageing in 35% new oak.

The 2023 Grand Corbin has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, briar and pencil box scents, another that is quite Left Bank in style, yet fresh. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannins, a patina of oak to be subsumed, though there is decent depth with a cohesive, slightly soft finish. Fine early-drinking fare.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Ripe black cherries, a hint of plums, some dried fruit, candied orange zest. Complex, chocolatey, subtle fruit, ripe tannins, nougat on the finish, a robust food wine with some length.

Score: 89–91. Lovely sapidity on the nose with alluring animal notes. On the palate, the limpid texture carries you along, fresh and straightforward. A fine energy rises from a basket of tasty small fruits and tannins that could be overlooked. Persistent finish.