Chateau Haut Bages Monpelou 2023

DECANTER: "Perfumed and expressive on the nose. Really quite ripe and heady. Filling and concentrated, juicy and clean, but great energy here, this has spark and bite with grip and tang. I love the expression, it’s clean but so lifted and so well rounded. This has power but is suave, a soft hit of sweet red cherry and strawberry fruit allied to graphite-edged tannins that give the salinity. Something extremely good about this with direction, finesse but great brightness. Wonderful appellation signature and likely to be great value."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This shows good volume and fruit concentration with medium body and firm tannins. Broad and mouth-filling. The cabernet character comes through in this. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot and 2% cabernet franc."