Bordeaux under $50

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Juicy peach nectar and wild strawberry meet vibrant acidity and a floral flicker on the exit. Even the rosy hue is just calling out for mixing with bubbles or gin. Sip or mix.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

James Suckling writes:  Some nice, floral character to the plum and berry aromas and flavors. Some leaves. Medium-bodied with medium, polished tannins and a medium finish. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 90

Neal Martin writes:  The 2018 Greysac has a well-defined bouquet of wild strawberry and raspberry fruit laced with cigar box and smoky aromas. The finely balanced palate offers sappy red fruit laced with black pepper and tobacco. I admire the cohesion here, and there is fine weight on the finish. Definitely a cut above a lot of Cru Bourgeois Médocs, though it deserves 2–3 years in bottle.  Drinking 2023 - 2030.   - Vinous 

James Lawther MW writes:  Big and bold with plenty of dark fruit and chocolatey oak. Sweet and generous on the palate, the oak again evident but integrated and the fruit present. Perhaps more winemaking than terroir.  Drinking 2023 -2028.  - Jancis Robinson 15.5

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Georgina Hindle of Decanter writes 93 Points | A nuanced nose, lots going on, sweet spice, perfume and bramble fruits. Chewy, this is round and plump - opulent but then so precise on the palate with real tension. Cooling blue fruits and liquorice, it's the cool freshness that really gives this life. Yes, the tannins are abundant and mouth coating but they're soft and fine and this has great execution. You can feel the intensity but it's carried very well. A blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc.  Drinking 2023 - 2035. (2019). 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 90 Points | The 2019 Bel-Air Jean & Gabriel is impeccable. Soft, creamy and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2019 is especially fine for Lussac, where the wines are rarely this polished. Black cherry, chocolate, licorice and dark spice build over time. There is a bit of grip on the finish, but also more than enough fruit to make it all work. (2019). 

Jane Anson writes:  Firm berry fruits, clear austerity on the tannins, set against highly charged smoked oak notes. An enjoyable wine from Lussac, well made and carefully handled.  Drinking 2022 - 2032  - Decanter

Expert Review - Vintage 2016

Decanter 90 Points | Plum, lilac and vanilla, with a touch of toasted cinnamon alongside the bright red fruits. Powerful, even masculine, with chewy but refined tannins and plenty of life ahead. 

Winemaker Description 

Deep ruby color. Dark and rich on the nose, with intense berry and Indian spices. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and silky tannin structure. Balanced and polished. Winery Notes Classified Cru Bourgeois in 1932, Château Picard, in the heart of the village of Saint-Estèphe, has always been considered one of the best of this appellation.

The last of the properties acquired by Mähler-Besse (1997), this 8 hectares estate was chosen for its development potential and its average surface area, allowing complete control of its production. Since the acquisition of Château Picard, Mähler-Besse, who has renovated the Napoleon III-style cellars, has endowed the property with an efficient wine-making tool, with entry of the harvest by gravity.

Its exceptional terroir with a clayey tendency, characteristic of Saint-Estèphe, presents soils loaded with calcified remains of cockles and sea urchins. This vineyard with a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon produces finely smoked and spicy wines of very good class. Blend : 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot

Expert Review - Vintage 2018

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | A high proportion of Merlot in this blend gives richness and fruity intensity. The wine is juicy, succulent with black-plum flavors that are full and fleshy in the mouth. Its structure promises plenty of aging, so wait to drink the wine until 2024.

Winemaker Description 

Chateau Lamarche Canon is a red wine from the brand Jean Yves Millaire. This wine offers a smooth and rich flavor profile, with notes of dark fruits and a hint of spice. It pairs well with grilled meats and hearty dishes. Enjoy the complex aromas and velvety texture of this red wine.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2021

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Tasted on two seperate occasions, the 2021 Chateau Cote de Baleau reveals a dense ruby hue to go with beautiful aromatics of ripe black cherries, roasted herbs, leather, and smoked tobacco. It's a rich, medium-bodied nicely concentrated, elegant Saint Emilion with a supple, layered mouthfeel, ample tannins, and outstanding length. It's a gorgeous 2021 that readers will love. Drink bottles over 

The Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Owned by the Cuvelier family, owners of Premier Grand Cru Classé Clos Fourtet, this estate of 44 acres has produced an elegant wine. A fine line of fresh acidity cuts through perfumed black fruits and still firm tannins.

Vinous 91 Points | The 2021 Côte de Baleau is a delight. Plump, juicy and forward, the 2021 is a fine choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Charming. - Antonio Galloni

Expert Review - Vintage 2018

Roger Voss writes:  With the extra year, this wine has softened from its initial tight and crisp character. It has an attractive touch of spice along with bright apple and tangy lemon zest. Drink this balanced wine now.   - Wine Enthusiast 90

Winemaker Description 

The 2018 Lacroix-Martillac White is pale yellow. The nose is complex and fruity, with notes of citrus, peach and verbena. In the mouth, the wine is soft, round and fleshy. The finish is both fresh and delightfully flavored.

2018 was a year marked by a spell of frost in April, reminiscent of the frost experienced in 2017 and followed in quick succession by an episode of hail on the 26th of May. The year was also marked by heavy downpours in Spring (113mm in the month of March alone!) and by a particularly hot and dry summer. Despite the attack of mildew at the beginning of the summer in certain parcels of red vines, the sunny period from July through to the beginning of October (with record temperatures in July and September) trully saved the vintage and guaranteed a good ripening of the grapes. The harvest began on the 28th of August with the whites and finished on the 13th of September.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

91 Points Decanter | This is open overall in terms of its tannic structure, and there are lovely plum and blackberry fruits, with a slate texture through the finish. Enjoyable, with St Estèphe character. 40% new oak. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038

91 Points James Suckling | Blackcurrants, brambleberries, walnut husks, dried leaves and dark spices on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Fresh and structured. Crushed stone comes through in the aftertaste. Better from 2024.

Winemaker Description 

Château Laffitte Carcasset benefits from the mild climate typical of the great terroirs on the left river bank of the estuary.

The average age of the vineyard is 30 years old, composed of 60% of Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% of Merlot and 5% of Cabernet Franc.

Faithful to Saint-Estèphe’s style, Château Laffitte Carcasset produces complex and fruity red wines with a beautiful tannic structure giving a very good aging potential. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 92 Points | This shows a lot of floral notes, such as lilacs and violets, together with aromas of dark fruit, cloves and bark. It has medium body and a soft, polished-tannin structure. Juicy, lingering fruit and firm, fine-grained finish.

Wine Spectator 87 Points | Delivers a compact core of plum and black cherry flavors, which are framed by singed cedar on the direct finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2025. 12,000 cases made.

Winemaker Description 

The modernity and fruitiness of a Second Wine with a savoury and charming structure, recalling the elegance typical of Margaux. Produced from younger vines, it is harvested, vinified and aged with the same care as the Grand Cru. A dominant Merlot blend, which favors roundness and a silky touch on the palate. The numerous qualities of the vintage can be found in Confidences 2020, whose gourmet expression and velvety structure ensure immediate drinking pleasure.

The modernity and fruitiness of a Second Wine with a savoury and charming structure, recalling the elegance typical of Margaux. Produced from younger vines, it is harvested, vinified and aged with the same care as the Grand Cru. A dominant Merlot blend, which favors roundness and a silky touch on the palate. The numerous qualities of the vintage can be found in Confidences 2020, whose gourmet expression and velvety structure ensure immediate drinking pleasure.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling 94+ Points | This is a fantastic Blason with deep and dark fruit with hazelnut and chocolate aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with juicy tannins and a structured finish. What a second wine. 55% merlot, 44% cabernet sauvignon and 1% petit verdot.

Decanter 92 Points | Beautiful aromatics, fresh and floral dark blackcurrant fruit, milk chocolate. Intensely concentrated, a real bite to the fruit with powdery, firm and filling tannins. A gorgeous mouthfeel, fresh but straight and tense, keeps the focus and direction. You can feel his has been well worked with balanced ripeness and acidity. Feels nicely focussed and detailed, juicy and concentrated with purity and strength. Impressive and persistent. This will be great in 5 - 10 years. 1% PV planted in 1982. 14% press wine. Percentage of production: 46%. Total acidity: 3.62. 35% new barrels. 3.60pH.

The Wine Advocate 89+ Points | An attractive effort that shares some of the style and personality of the grand vin this year, the 2022 Blason d'Issan exhibits aromas of sweet blackberries, violets, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium to full-bodied, sweet and fleshy palate built around powdery tannins.

Vinous 89+ Points | The 2022 Blason d'Issan is a soft, easygoing wine that shows the more charming side of the vintage off to great effect. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, lavender, mint and a touch of spice all grace a Blason that will delight readers for a number of years upon release.

Jeb Dunnuck 89+ Points | Lots of red and black fruits, sandalwood, and spicy notes emerge from the 2022 Blason D'Issan, a blend of 55% Merlot and 44% Cabernet Sauvignon. This medium to full-bodied, up-front, charming, and undeniably delicious second wine is going to drink nicely right out of the gate.

Winemaker Description

Clarendelle belongs to Clarence Dillon Wines, which also owns the legendary Bordeaux Châteaux Haut-Brion. Of course, Clarendelle's vines don't grow next to Haut-Brion's.

However, the great art of Bordeaux wines (even the best ones) is the blending, the ability to combine wines from different locations and grape varieties in such a way that the result is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

The same team that is responsible for the top wines at Clarence Dillon Wines also makes the assemblages at Clarendelle. The result is very good Bordeaux at affordable prices.

Critic Notes

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2019 Margaux de Brane is bright, floral and perfumed, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. The vibrancy of the fruit in this Merlot-driven red is especially alluring. In 2019 the Brane is an absolute delight.  Drinking 2022 to 2029.  - Vinous 90

James Suckling writes:  Perfumed nose of plums, raspberries, roses, chocolate, praline and sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied with silky tannins. Floral and fresh with pretty spice notes. Drink after 2023.  - James Suckling 90

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The second wine of Brane-Cantenac, the 2019 Baron De Brane is more Merlot-dominated and has a fleshy, medium-bodied, supple style as well as rock-solid aromatics of black cherries, cedar pencil, and chocolaty herbs. It's already drinking nicely yet should keep for a decade.  Drinking 2022 to 2032.  - Jeb Dunnuck

Tasting notes

Very expressive nose, bursting with strawberry and cherry aromas, with floral and vanilla hints. Sweet and subtle attack on the palate, very round-bodied, with a velvety texture and a long aromatic finish. Charming wine with a lot of freshness and lovely soft tannins.

About the winery
Chateau Brane-Cantenac was for many years the home of Lucien Lurton - it is now owned and run by his son Henri. Its vineyards are located west of the village of Cantenac in the Margaux appellation. Brane-Cantenac's vineyards are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (40%), Cabernet Franc (4.5%), and Carmenere 0,5%, and lie on fine, gravelly soils. Vinification includes up to 18 months of wood ageing, a third to a half in new 'barriques'.

Winemaker Description 

Sinewy and graceful, minerally with plenty of ravishing botrytis. It is a habit-forming aperitif that marries better with cheeses than most reds. The French are known to admire it with Sunday’s roast chicken. With dessert? Yes. As dessert? Yes. 

Winemaker Description

Appealing and elegant ruby robe. Delicate red fruit aromas. A subtle overtone of wood reveals its spicy bouquet. Remarkable balance with round and ripe tannins. Elegant and silky on the palate, it finishes with a delectable touch offemininity. This is a great wine to sip on the patio on a hot summer’s day or as a cocktail. The wine goes well with shell fish, white fish, sushi and curry, as well as white-meat dishes.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Still young and juicy, the wine is full of bright black-currant fruits. It also has a firm structure that will allow it age. Drink this succulent wine from 2025.

90 Points James Suckling | Plums, berry fruit and crushed stones on the nose. It’s juicy and mineral with a medium body, lightly chalky tannins and a soft finish. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot. From organically grown grapes.

90 Points Decanter | Concentrated and scented on the nose. Smooth and oh so succulent, this is juicy and bright with tons of energy and a subtle vibrancy to the blackcurrant, black cherry and plum fruit that is edged with liquorice, graphite and crushed stone elements. Nicely compacted right now, there is a core of cool and creamy blue fruit and a drive of freshness and life that goes all the way through. Touches of minerality come back on the finish that is long and sustained. Excellent potential here with intensity, acidity and structure. Darkly charming and will improve more over ageing.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 93-94 Points | This is very balanced and round with lovely softness. Plenty of fruity. Medium body. Lots of salinity and savoriness. Long and delicious. Friendly already. 44% merlot, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 22% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

The Wine Advocate 88-90 Points | With a medium to deep garnet-purple color, it offers up eager-to-please notes of fresh Bing cherries, redcurrants and black raspberries, plus hints of dried Provence herbs, dusty soil, wild mushrooms and tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate has a good concentration of red and black fruits with a chewy texture and just enough freshness, finishing earthy.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Reserved in style, this moves steadily and methodically along, with a textbook core of cassis and bitter cherry notes laced with light anise, wet stone and iron. Shows good mouthwatering cut on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Winemaker Description 

Historically owned by the Marcelis family, passionate about viticulture, Château Moutinot is now run by the Helfrich family.

The property concerned with respect for the environment is committed to a High Environmental Value approach and promotes a living land, where human intervention on the vine is limited to what is strictly necessary, in the respect for flora and fauna but also for the health of farmers and consumers. The wine of Château Moutinot is an elegant wine, which combines fruity and gluttony.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points: From a large, 113-acre estate, this wine is dense, structured and full of dark coffee and spice flavors allied to rich tannins. Blackberry fruits shine through this texture promising aging. Drink from 2026.
Cellar Selection

James Suckling 92 Points: Sweet currant and berry aromas with some very flowers follow through to a medium body, with firm and creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. I like the walnut and chocolate undertones. 59% merlot, 37% cabernet sauvignon, 3% petit verdot and 1% cabernet franc. Better after 2023.

Decanter 91 Points: Lovely, expressive nose of sweet ripe fruits. The tannins are a bit too present at the moment, they take over and have a drying effect due to quite high acidity. There is definitely a core of ripe dark fruits with herb and liquorice edges but this needs more time to integrate

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points: This château continues to bring the goods, and their 2019 Château Lilian Ladouys offers a medium-bodied, supple, elegant, and certainly delicious style as well as complex notes of redcurrants, darker mulberries, cedary spice, and dried herbs. It shows the elegant, more mid-weight side to the vintage, yet the balance is spot on, it has ripe tannins, and it’s going to keep for 15+ years. Best After 2022

Decanter Magazine 91 Points: Lovely, expressive nose of sweet ripe fruits. The tannins are a bit too present at the moment, they take over and have a drying effect due to quite high acidity. There is definitely a core of ripe dark fruits with herb and liquorice edges but this needs more time to integrate.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points: Offering up aromas of sweet berries, cherries, licorice and spices, the 2019 Lilian Ladouys is medium to full-bodied, ample and charming, with a giving, easygoing profile and a clean, precise finish. It's a competent effort that shows none of the appellation's stereo typically hard edges. Best After 2021

Winemaker Notes

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 88 Points | Juicy and direct, with plum and blackberry fruit leading the way, while light anise and applewood notes add energy through the finish. Accessible now. Drink now through 2025. 4,200 cases made, 400 cases imported. 

Winemaker Description

Dark red in color with aromas of cherry, cocoa, black olive and toasted hazelnut on the nose. On the palate, mellow tannins with a spicy vanilla and chocolate finish.

Winemaker Description 

60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is marked by a vibrant ruby/garnet color married to a richly spicy nose with hints of tobacco and coffee in the background; the flavors are dominated by red currant, cassis, and raspberry; the texture is silky and the wine is smooth and generous on the palate; Organic.

Winemaker Notes

Deep purple colour with intense aromas of red and black fruits, crushed violets and a touch of mocha. The palate has generous ripe fruits and a plush, velvety texture supported by vibrant acidity, with fruits and spices that linger on the finish. Extreme refinement.

Critic Notes

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The 2019 Le Petit Ducru De Ducru-Beaucaillou is also Merlot-dominated and includes 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. It offers classic Saint-Julien elegance and purity in its darker currant and cherry fruits as well as notes of tobacco, violets, and lead pencil. With medium-bodied richness on the palate, it has wonderful tannins, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, and outstanding length. It needs air to show at its best and is just a charming, elegant, layered 2019 to enjoy over any time over the coming decade.  Drinking 2022 to 3032.  - Jeb Dunnuck 91

Georgina Hindle writes:  Lovely, fresh, delicate and fruity nose; smells quite rich and ripe. Good push of plush fruit, bright cherry straight away then darkens to something more serious and sensual. Tannins are overpowering, just so abundant, covering the tongue and cheeks but they're soft - you need that structure to give it life. Feels sculpted if a little excessive right now, but good freshness and drive, and round on the mid-palate with no angles. Some spice at the end. From the western part of the appellation, a parcel of about 25ha purchased in the 1970s. 10ha in the process of being replanted - so 15ha in production. This is the third wine and receives declassified fruit from the higher wines, although produced with the same philosophy.  Drinking 2023 to 2031  - Decanter 90

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2019 Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou is plush, creamy and open-knit, all of which give it considerable immediacy, not to mention tons of charm. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha and licorice lend nuance in this racy, Merlot-based blend. The Petit Ducru is a new wine meant to be the third selection from the château.  Drinking 2025 to 2029.  - Vinous 92

Winemaker Description 

Purple colour. The nose is spicy and slightly smoky, with notes of tobacco evolving with airing into aromas of red fruits. The attack is silky, and the mid-palate is fleshy. The wine has a good balance and a tasty and aromatic finish.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2019

Wine Spectator 93 points | A solid, slightly burly version, featuring streaks of tar and bay leaf mixed with dark plum and black currant preserve flavors. The finish is underscored by a warm paving stone note, which adds cut, drive and a hint of old school. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024. (2019). 

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points |  From a reliable estate, this wine is firm in feel. It also has open black fruits that pair alongside the generous tannins. It is good long-term aging. Barrel Sample: 93-95Wine Advocate 92 points Deep purple-black in color, the 2019 Meyney strides confidently out of the glass with classic notes of cassis, warm plums and baked blackberries plus hints of cedar chest, bay leaves, pencil lead and clove oil plus a waft of underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate has a generous core of ripe black fruits with a slight touch of oak poking through and a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with impressive length. (2019).

Decanter 93 points | One of the wines I use as a marker of how good the vintage is in St Estèphe, because it isn't classified but is in a brilliant location right next door to Montrose. And this is good, extremely concentrated, pure cassis and bilberry flavours, tons of tannins, clear austerity and fairly high acidity as I am getting in a lot of these 2019s. Not the same luscious character as 2018, but in many ways that makes it more typical of the appellation, and the alcohol seems less over the top than in 2018. Lots to enjoy here, not quite up to 2016 standard but not far. Tasted two weeks apart, and if anything its expression had deepened second time around.  Barrel Sample: 93Jeb Dunnuck 94 points This estate has been on a roll of late, and the 2019 Château Meyney is a terrific wine. Beautiful notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, dried flowers, and dried tobacco all emerge from the glass, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, with a seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Count me impressed. Not a powerhouse, it should drink nicely right out of the gate yet also evolve for 20 years or more. Range: 92-94 Points. (2019).

James Suckling 92 Points |  Aromas of ripe berries, licorice and chocolate with a touch of mushroom and some dustiness. Silky, polished texture with medium body and firm tannins. Holds long and even, with a lingering sensation of crushed stones. Hold for a couple of years. Second wine of Meyney. Best after 2023.

Vinous 95 points The 2019 Meyney has a divine bouquet, so pure and winsome with floral red berry scents, beautifully integrated new oak and superb precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy to the point where you can almost overlook the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It could have been blowsy, yet it retains superb balance and feels luxuriant and long on the finish. This is a stellar showing easily eclipsing its performances either in barrel or just after bottling. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.  —  Neal Martin. (2019).

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | Spice-laden red and black fruits, leafy tobacco, savory flowers, and new leather notes all shine in the 2022 Château Tour Saint Christophe, another brilliant wine from this team. I love its complexity, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with fine tannins, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautifully integrated oak, and a great finish. Based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

James Suckling 96 Points | A very good year for Tour Saint Christophe, showing great depth and flavor despite high alcohol. Abundant dark minerals, fresh blackberries, black olives and a hint of cocoa powder. Pretty full-bodied and firm with crunchy, reactive tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Lots of density here.

Decanter 94 Points | Gorgeously scented on the nose, smooth, round and focused with purity and persistence. Tannins are so fine, really sculpting this wine, with a clear bite and almost strict tang to the overall structure giving a sense of tension. I like the terroir aspect, the saltiness but still with juicy richness. Less ample than Bellefonte but more precise. 

The Wine Advocate 93+ Points | This first vintage under the denomination of Grand Cru Classé, the 2022 Tour Saint Christophe is excellent, offering up aromas of spices, cassis, dark wild berries, orange peel and licorice mingled with delicate oaky notes. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and concentrated, it's layered and textured and framed by powdery, velvety tannins enhanced by a racy, pure, fresh finish. It should gain raciness with some time in the cellar.

Winemaker Description 

This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 94 Points | This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2020 Sociando Mallet has retained its impressive aromatics from its showing in barrel with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit, pressed violet and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm backbone, a little powdery in texture, fine backbone with ample freshness and tension towards its graphite-infused finish. Bravo!

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2020 Sociando-Mallet is very attractive, exhibiting aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pencil shavings, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with lively acids and powdery tannins, it's a strong effort from a site that always does well in warm vintages. The 2020 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Decanter 92 Points | Wonderfully fragrant on the nose, just stopping short of being potent. Glorious perfumed scents and rich, ripe black fruits. Clean and clear, this has a lively energy to it and a little bit of liquorice which gives a savoury, dark and sticky edge to the fruit. Clarity, classicism and precision on show. Sculpted, muscular, grippy and chewy. Excellent potential with a slate and coffee-toned finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This estate in eastern Margaux offers a finely balanced, ripe wine, smoothly polished with wood aging. Its structure is still firm but showing fine potential. Drink from 2027.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Juicy and open in feel, with a vibrant display of dark plum and boysenberry preserve flavors that are harnessed just right by streaks of alder and warm humus. A late hibiscus note and minimal toast add freshness.

James Suckling 92 Points | A juicy and vibrant Margaux that shows fine spices, subtle cream, hibiscus and lots of fresh currants. Lively and crunchy with medium body and vivid, fine-veined tannins. Succulent with a bright, medium-long finish.

Winemaker Description 

Intense deep purple robe. Seductive and intense nose of cassis, raspberries, spices, vanilla and unctuous grilled and toasty aromas. Well-structured wine that is at the same time rich and lush in the mouth with smooth tannins and a very long finish.

Winemaker Description

Chocolate profile with cherries and plum hints.  The wine is large to medium bodied but yet soft at the back end.  

A grand cru with great concentration and keeping freshness. Matter and elegance. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2018

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | From the team of Nicolas Glumineau at Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, the 2018 Château De Pez is a gorgeous 2018 that should be on every Bordeaux lover's radar (and should be a great value as well). Notes of blackcurrants, blueberries, candied violets, and graphite define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, rockingly polished tannins, terrific purity, and a great finish. It's terrific and is going to have 15-20 years or more of longevity. The blend is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | Under the same Rouzaud family ownership as Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac, this estate has produced a structured wine. It offers dense and solid tannins, rich with a firm texture and black currant fruits. The wine has weight and density that need aging. Drink from 2026.

James Suckling 93 Points | Spices and dark berries with some nutmeg and cedar. Medium to full body, really polished tannins and a refined and pretty finish. So fine. Tight yet balanced. Give it three or four years to open. Try after 2023.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | A blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 de Pez leaps from the glass with vibrant black cherries, ripe blackberries and blackcurrant pastilles notes, giving way to nuances of black olives, lavender and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate offers nicely rounded tannins and a lively backbone to counter the bold fruit, finishing savory.

Decanter 92 Points | Always an extremely classy St-Estèphe, and this is an excellent wine that has restraint but punch, and plenty of cassis and blackberry fruits, with a governing hand of tannins that are never overdone.

Wine Spectator 92 Points |  Fresh red currant and bitter cherry notes are laced with floral and chalk notes. Piercing in feel through the finish, with the fruit and minerality in lockstep as a touch of cedar appears, leaving a mouthwatering edge. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032.

Winemaker Notes
Very expressive nose of morello cherry and brown tobacco, with sweet notes of licorice candy and peony. A complex palate, expressing violet and fresh blackcurrant, finishing with hints of thyme and a touch of bitter orange zest that gives the finish a gourmet taste. It is a sensual and charming, yet restrained Saint-Estephe. Silky, smooth tannins give this Pez 2018 a precise and refined length.

91 Points James Suckling | Only ripe, blueberry and blackberry flavors with nice freshness and some healthy, supple tannins within the sleek frame, make this an immediately appealing red Bordeaux that’s very food-friendly. Drink or hold. (2016).

Wine Enthusiast  91 Points | This is a confident wine from a team that makes two of the top Pessac-Léognan wines. It comes partly from the Haut-Brion vineyard, giving classic tannins and juicy black fruits. Good acidity completes this balanced wine. *Editor's Choice* (2016).

A deep color and a soft bouquet of liquorice and blackcurrant. The wine has violet and slightly toasty nuances on the palate. The texture is velvety and the flavour altogether powerful and elegant. There is a wonderful refined balance between high-quality tannin, concentration, tension, and freshness. A lovely vintage for Clarendelle! Winemaker Description.