Lacoste-Borie 2023

Seductive, playful, fruity, floral; crisp on the palate, with delicate fruit, showing freshness and length. A sneak preview of the Grand Vin.

Ripe blackcurrants and cherries. Some black pepper and crushed stones on the nose too. Clean and juicy, very light and fragrant, subtle, soft and calm. It’s not high-toned but certainly on the fresher side, yet very linear overall. Very pleasant with a real salty, dark, tangy liquorice grip on the finish with excellent purity of fruit. Persistent and gently powdery. Charming and easy to drink. pH 3.56. 45% second wine production. A yield of 48 hl/ha.

56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Round, fresh and seemingly relatively open. Crunchy fruit and fine tannins. Plenty of energy. Appealing now but should keep a while. (JL)

Vibrant red fruits, cedar, tobacco, and herbs open the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, crisp, bright, and forward, with a charming, spicy red currant finish. The wine blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2026-2036. 89-91 Pts

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Ripe plum, black cherry, delicate herbal savouriness, fine orange zest. Medium body, fresh cherry fruit, delicate tannin, lively, mineral salty finish, an elegant food companion.

Medium-intensity ruby red, good grip and slightly old-school tannins, but this has real charm and juice, savoury and easy to drink, good Pauillac typicity. 42% new oak (reduced from 50% over the last few years).

A lovely fruity, aromatic, elegant, gourmand nose, offering substance and a certain touch of richness and depth. It reveals notes of boysenberry, ripe-ish blackcurrant and, more subtly, roasted-juicy tones, joined by a hint of almost aromatic herbs, as well as fine nuances of infusion and star anise. The palate is fruity, delivering juiciness, minerality, freshness, a fine definition, a certain gourmet feel, accuracy, and a zesty backbone. It shows notes of juicy/fresh blackberry, roasted-juicy raspberry and, more delicately, aromatic herbs, with touches of spice, as well as fine hints of star anise, cornflower and a hint of infusion. Good length. Tannins are sapid and fresh. Good freshness. The mid-palate is finely tender.