Chateau Grand Village 2023

DECANTER: "Great aromatics, really ripe and expressive, deep and almost heady on the nose. Dark fruits, floral notes and liquorice spice. Round and supple, a lovely depth and layering of ripe fruit but so juicy and finessed at the same time. Spice and minerality around the edges - lots of bite and mineral grip. I love the character, really bright and tangy, high acidity but with ripe strawberry and red cherry alongside cooling liquorice, wet stone and a blueberry tang that stays and stays. Charming but with character too. Well constructed. Flavours really last - a vibrating wine, energetic but still with grip and tang. 3.45pH."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Green apples, lemons, pomelo, pineapples, and white flowers create the perfume. The wine is bright, and energetic, the fruit, and freshness of a ripe Meyer lemon on the palate. The wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, picked August 28-August 30. Drink from 2025-2034."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Aromas of cassis, blueberries, dark wild berries and flowers introduce the 2023 Grand Village, a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy wine with a deep core of fruit that's framed by powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. As readers may remember, Grand Village is one of the best values in Bordeaux, and this year, it exceeds expectations. It's one of the sleepers of the vintage. This is a blend of 91% Merlot (picked between the 11th and 14th of September) and 9% Cabernet Franc (picked on the 20th of September)."

VINUM: "Herrlicher Duft mit viel Würze, Veilchen, kräuterwürzige Noten; saftiger Gaumen, kalkige, pudrige Tannine, reife Frucht, viel Zug, salines Finale, hallt auf dunkle Beeren nach. Ungemein knackig, mit guten Reserven."

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Zart nach Lakritze, reife rote Herzkirschen, etwas Zwetschken, kandierte Orangenzesten. Saftig, elegant, feines Nugat, runde Tannine, gute Frische, mineralisch und anhaftend, bereits zugänglich, salziger Touch, ein stoffiger Umami-Speisenbegleiter, Preiselbeeren im Nachhall."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Crunchy and flavorful with chocolate and currant notes, as well as an orange-peel undertone. It’s medium-bodied with creamy tannins and a savory finish. Spicy and salty at the end. A blend of 91% merlot and 9% bouchet (cabernet franc)."