93-
95
Lisa Perrotti-Brown: Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 La Vieille Cure rocks up with exuberant notes of plum preserves and stewed black cherries, followed by hints of Chinese five spice, cedar chest, and wet slate. The full-bodied palate has a solid structure of grainy tannins and refreshing acidity to support the taut, muscular black fruit, finishing savory."
93
Jane Anson: Deep plum colour, vivid with a sense of energy through the palate, cocoa bean and espresso, plenty of liquorice and estate signature. The low ph levels can be particularly striking in Fronsac in this vintage, but here you get consistency to the estate style, and it's enjoyable. Harvest September 15 to 22. 35hl/ha. 50% new oak"
92-
93
James Suckling: Medium- to full-bodied with chalky tannins, a delicate expression of dark fruit and violets, and a chalky finish. Great precision."
92
Falstaff: Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Frische dunkle Waldbeerfrucht, schwarze Kirschen, reife Zwetschken klingen an, Orangenzesten unterlegt. Saftig, elegant, feine Tannine, gute Frische, mineralisch im Abgang, bereits zugänglich, wird bereits früh antrinkbar sein."
91-
93
The Wine Cellar Insider: Flowers, licorice, black cherries, espresso, and chocolate aromatics open the wine. Medium-bodied, creamy, and fresh, with a core of sweet, chocolate-covered, ripe cherries, this is already a pleasure to imbibe and will be delicious to enjoy on release. Drink from 2028-2040."
91
Decanter: The aromatic profile shows real promise, with ripe dark plum and black cherry interwoven with spice and a touch of floral lift. There is an appealing depth and concentration here, suggesting a wine with underlying character and potential. However, it is a pity that these qualities are overshadowed by the imprint of oak; at 50% new barrels, the influence feels more pronounced than ideal, muting fruit purity. On the palate, the initial impression of ripe fruit is curtailed by drying, oak-derived tannins which, combined with the naturally firm fruit tannins of the vintage, assert themselves with noticeable grip. As a result, the wine, at this stage, comes across as rather austere, with its structural elements outpacing its charm. A conserative score."
