Chateau Clos de Sarpe 2023

JEB DUNNUCK: "Coming from tiny yields of 35 hectoliters per hectare (and the 100th vintage for the Beyney Family), the 2023 Château Clos De Sarpe is 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot raised in 70% new Burgundy barrels. A rich, concentrated wine, it boasts a deep purple hue and delivers powerful aromatics of cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and spicy wood, medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mouthfeel, and beautiful yet building tannins. It picks up more floral and spicy nuances with air and is a beautiful, absolutely classic wine from this château that readers will love. The 2023 hit 14.5% alcohol with an incredibly low pH of 3.35. It’s going to have 50+ years of life."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Clos de Sarpe jumps from the glass with bold notes of juicy plums and black cherries followed by hints of Indian spices, violets, and licorice. The medium to full-bodied palate has a racy backbone and fine-grained tannins supporting the bright black fruit flavors, finishing with a cheeky floral lift. The blend is 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Very polished and refined, with succulent fruit and a creamy texture. Medium body. Bright finish. From organically grown grapes."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholznuancn, zart nach Lakritze und schwarzen Beeren, Kirschen, frische Mandarinenzesten. Straff, engmaschig, zarte Weichselfrucht, etwas trockene Tannine, salziger Nachhall, rotbeerig und frisch im Nachhall, wird von Flaschenreife profitieren."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The oceanic influence is what you initially smell before getting to all of the flowers, black raspberries, plums, licorice, and chocolate. Vibrant, fresh, and quite spicy, with a salty, peppery edge to the bright red fruits on the palate. But, it is the crushed rock character that is quite strong, giving the wine vitality, and a uniqueness of character. Give it time to come together. It is worth the wait. Drink from 2029-2055."

VINUM: "Sehr reife Frucht, eingemachte Pflaumen, auch Brombeere, Feigen und Eukalyptus; vollmundig, reiffruchtig, viel Gerbstoff, etwas trocknend im Abgang. Am oberen Limit der Extraktion. Die Bewertung in der Hoffnung, dass der Ausbau mehr Schliff bringt."

DECANTER: "Plenty of ripe plums and blackberry, with high-toned red fruit - and prominent oak toast aromas. The palate is tangy and smooth enough, with acidity accentuating more a red fruit character, but with some astringent, oak-derived tannins: the wine is ageing in 70% new oak, and I feel this on the finish and wonder how it will taste one bottled. Good if you like a more oak-driven style."