En Primeur Bordeaux 2023

The 2023 Coutet is stellar. Soaring aromatics and bright acids drive through a core of lemon confit, apricot, mint, spice, passion fruit and pineapple. The interplay of deep, layered flavors and energy is so compelling.

Score: 93 - 95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028-2048

Beautiful aromatics, fresh acidity that picks things up from the first moment, crisp citrus, mango, pineapple, grated ginger, and a twist of bitter aniseed on the finish. Richly concentrated, reflecting small yields, but once again a wine that shows the huge potential of this style in the 2023 vintage. Harvest between September 20 and October 11.

Score: 96 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2045

The 2023 Château Coutet is another decadent, powerful Barsac in the vintage. Honeyed orange, toasted spices, sautéed pineapple, and assorted tropical, floral notes all just about jump from the glass, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a wealth of fruit, good acidity, and a great finish.

Score: 95 - 97 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

The 2023 Doisy-Daëne is all class. Lifted aromatics open first. Delicate and understated in feel, with fine balance, the 2023 has so much to offer. Tangerine peel, passion fruit, mint, apricot and a kiss of sweet spice blossom with a bit of aeration. Doisy-Daëne remains one of the most sublime wines in Barsac and Sauternes.

Score: 94 - 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028-2053

Pale gold with vibrant edging, starts with concentrated and intense clove spices, luscious apricot fruit, opening to show juicy, sculpted slivers of steel and lime juice. A return to form for this excellent Barsac wine after the succulent but unbalanced 2022. Great stuff from this legendary Dubourdieu property, although once again the yields are extremely low and the character is more concentrated than you find in vintages like 2021. Ageing starts with 10 months in oak barrels, followed by 9 months in stainless steel tank before bottling.

Score: 95 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2045

The 2023 Château Doisy Daëne is another ripe, powerful wine, yet it brings a juicy, lively style in its sweet peach, citrus, and orange fruit as well as notes of candied ginger, mint, and sappy floral aromas and flavors. It has beautiful acidity, full-bodied richness, and a great finish.

Score: 96 - 98 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

The 2023 Doisy-Védrines is floral, elegant and classy. Jasmine, orange confit, mint, chamomile and lightly honeyed, floral overtones all grace this utterly exquisite, beguiling Barsac. Terrific.

Score: 92 - 94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028-2053

Silky texture, intense and opulent, this has the lift and sculpted acidities of the vintage in Barsac, with concentrated apricot, nectarine and pineapple. 9hl/ha yield.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2040

The 2023 Giraud is a statuesque, ravishing beauty. White flowers, passion fruit, mint, orange blossom and apricot are some of the many notes that soar out of the glass. Complex, deep and wonderfully dynamic, Giraud is a positively stellar wine in this great Sauternes vintage. I loved it.

Score: 95 - 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2030-2053

Vivid gold in colour, laced with white peach juice, grilled pear, stone fruits, lime juice, opulent but with sculpted lift and zest, this extends outwards and upwards through the palate, capturing the pleasure of 2023 sweet wines in Bordeaux. Has spice and character, gorgeously expressive even now, and will age with ease. Sandrine Garbay, long time winemaker of Yquem, is director at this 128ha estate, that has been farmed organically since 2011. Harvest began on September 27 and continued through to October 13.

Score: 96 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2045