Chateau Alcee 2023

DECANTER: "Milk chocolate, roses, violets and blackcurrants - something very alluring about the nose. Richly scented. Ripe and full in the mouth, this focuses on the density and weight of the tannins and ripe fruit giving it a weighty texture in the mouth although a shot of bright strawberry, almost sweet, acidity lifts the expression while a chalkiness expands round the mouth. A richer style, but equally as vibrant as La Prade which is more straight. Really very delicious, generous and appealing. This is a wine that makes you smile, more reminiscent of something from a hot vintage but with a low pH that just makes this sing. Great stuff and all while being so defined and finessed. Careful winemaking by Nicolas and Cyrille Thienpont. Lovely. 3.4pH. 18.5hl/ha yield."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Alcee comes bounding out with rambunctious notes of juicy blueberries, blackberry pie, and roses giving way to hints of menthol, chargrill, and a waft of orange peel. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers electric tension and tightly wound black fruit layers with mineral accents and fine-grained tannins, finishing long and wonderfully pure. Love it!"

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is very long and salty, with dark fruit and fine tannins. It highlights the quality of the vintage. Medium body and fine tannins. 88% merlot and 12% cabernet franc."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Flowers, blackberries, black cherries, and licorice, with a touch of spicy chocolate shows well in the nose, and on the medium-bodied palate. The wine is round, juicy, and fresh, with sweetness, lift, and a refreshing, spicy note on the backend in the finish. The wine was produced from 88% Merlot with 12% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2036."

WEINWISSER: "88 % Merlot, 12 % Cabernet Franc. Opulentes blaubeeriges Bouquet, Heidelbeersaft, Brombeergelee und Lakritze. Am saftigen Gaumen mit vibrierender Rasse, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und mittlerem Körper. Im gebündelten aromatischen Finale blaue Beeren, Lakritze und Veilchen."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Lots of ripe red and blue fruits, spicy oak, chocolate, and leather notes emerge from the 2023 Château Alcée, another winner from Thienpont that's medium-bodied, with a balanced, elegant mouthfeel and present yet ripe, polished tannins. It has terrific depth of fruit, some classic Castillon minerality, and outstanding length. Tasted multiple times with consistent notes."

VINUM: "Expressiv, Cassis, Cola, reife Pflaumen, eigenständig; reichhaltiger Gaumen, weich im Auftakt, wird dann straffer, pudriges Tannin, gute Säure; rotfruchtige Rückaromen."