Chateau Capbern 2024

JAMES SUCKLING: "Good depth on the nose with a juicier palate this year, with a mixture of berries, red peppers and cherries. The chalky tannins are still quite firm and the wine delivers lots of fruit, with a long finish. Tight and tense. 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot."

DECANTER: "Dark black bramble fruits with a creaminess to them. Vanilla, quite intense aromatics, and a vivid dark purple colour in the glass. Very Cabernet on the nose. Slightly chewy and cool - cola, blueberries and liquorice straight away. Fruit is there but it’s not dense it’s streamlined and provides the gentle structure with super fine tannins, really fine and well integrated. Overall a lighter style but gentle and balanced. A little chewy which is nice, this should age well and increase in density a little. Not bad at all. I love the freshness and sense of ease to this. Well done. 3.6pH. A yield of 45 hl/ha. Ageing 60% new oak."

ANSON: "Enticing aromatics on this wine, soft waves of rose petals, blackberry fruit, crayon and pencil lead, with measured oak use. Acidity puts the tannins into a little overly-focused position on the finish, and the austerity that needs to be softened over ageing. Fairly old school, with charm. 3.60 pH. 45 hl/ha. 60% new oak."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the 2024 Capbern is a polished classic, offering up notions of cassis, lilac, licorice and pencil shavings, followed by a medium-bodied, supple and polished palate with good underlying cut and grip. It checks in at 12.9% alcohol."

VINUM: "Feinduftig, rotfruchtig, Blutorangen, kühler Rauch, Veilchen; der Gaumen ist gradlinig, straff, zupackende Tannine, knackige Frucht, zeigt Rasse und Biss, zeigt den Charakter der Appellation."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Made by the team from Calon Ségur with the same technique, the 2024 Château Capbern is based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc aging in 60% new oak. It shows the purity and elegance of this team in 2024 with its lively cherry, currant, and juicy cassis fruit as well as a beautiful floral character, medium body, a soft, supple, layered mouthfeel, and ultra-fine tannins."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Black raspberries with floral aromatics open the wine. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, and vibrant, with more of those sweet black raspberries, coupled with savory herbs in the mid-palate, and in the finish. This is perfect to enjoy on release. The wine blends 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 30% Merlot. 12.9% ABV. Drink from 2027-2038."