Chateau Badette 2023

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2023 Château Badette is smoking good, with a nicely oaked nose of ripe black fruits (there are some red fruits as well) intermixed with scorched earth, graphite, and chalky mineral nuances. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant red with polished tannins, the vintage's pure, graceful style, and a great finish. I was able to taste this on multiple occasions, and it always rated 93 to 95."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Dunkle Herzkirschen, Brombeerkonfit, zart nach Nugat, kandierte Orangenzesten. Saftig, kraftvoll, reife Zwetschken, feine Fruchtsüße, reife Tannine, schokoladig-mineralisch, zitroniger Touch im Nachhall."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Plenty of fruit in the center-palate with berry and chocolate flavors and wood detectible now, but it will come together nicely over the coming months. Medium to full body. Creamy texture at the end."

WEINWISSER: "Verspieltes blaubeeriges Bouquet, zartes Veilchenparfüm, Lakritze und heller Tabak. Am geradlinigen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktfülle, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und trainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale mit einer vollen Ladung Heidelbeere, Lakritze und edler Cassiswürze."

DECANTER: "With engaging aromas of bright plum, red cherry and blackberry, liquorice and oak-derived toast, this 15% alcohol wine is balanced by the acidity in the 2023 vintage. Harvest between 28 September and 10 October brought in ripe fruit, and I like the tangy finish, although tannins do show some rawness, which 17 months of barrel ageing in 75% new oak should tame. An often under-the-radar wine that deserves attention."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Creamy, with a strong oak accent, the wine focuses on its espresso, dark chocolate, and black cherry core. Concentrated, bright, and chewy, this is going to need time to allow the oak to integrate fully into the wine. Drink from 2028-2040."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2023 Badette has a deep garnet-purple color. It comes tearing out of the glass with powerful notes of juicy plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, underbrush, and black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm structure of lightly chewy tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the muscular fruit, finishing on a woody note."