The 2023 Château Lafite-Rothschild is based on 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, resting in 90% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. It's another deeply hued barrel sample that has thrilling (and classic Lafite) aromatics of darker currants, freshly sharpened pencils, leather, flowers, and graphite. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied and has a seamless, layered, elegant mouthfeel and ultra-fine tannins. I don’t see it hitting the heights of the 2018, 2019, or 2020, but it's an incredible wine in the vintage and is going to be an ultra-classic beauty from this château that will evolve for decades. The alcohol is a respectable 12.9% and the pH is 3.78. (Lafite always tends to have a higher pH.) Rated (95-97). - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com May, 2024

The 2023 Château Leoville Las Cases is another absolute classic 2023 from the Médoc. Pure crème de cassis, leather, graphite, violets, and a Latour-like sense of minerality define the aromatics, and it's incredibly concentrated, has medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, focused, structured mouthfeel, and plenty of both tannins and acidity. While the tannins are incredibly ripe and polished, this beauty is nevertheless one for the cellar and will demand bottle age. Rated (94-97). - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com May, 2024

The 2023 Château Leoville Barton is another terrific wine from this château, and it plays in the fresh, vibrant, lively style of the vintage beautifully. Utterly classic blackcurrants, ripe tobacco, graphite, and cedar pencil notes define the aromatics, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, has terrific concentration, the pure, focused, mineral-driven style of the vintage, building yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. It has plenty of acidity as well as tannins and is built for the cellar. The blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, raised in 60% new oak. Harvest dates were the 12th of September to the 2nd of October. Rated (93‑95+). - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com May, 2024

The 2023 Léoville-Barton marries the classicism the château is so well-known for with an extra kick of textural intensity from the heat of the year. It’s powerful, dark and serious, with compelling notes of black cherry, lavender, spice and blackberry. This is an especially dense, somber Léoville-Barton endowed with tremendous presence. The blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the first time Franc has appeared in the blend. This will need time to soften, as the tannins are imposing. Tasted two times. Drink 2030‑2063. Rated (92‑94). - Antonio Galloni, vinous.com April, 2024

The 2023 Château Langoa Barton checks in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc that's resting in 60% new French oak. It hit 13% alcohol and has a deep purple hue as well as impressive notes of black cherries, darker currants, graphite, and spring flowers. It's balanced, medium-bodied, has bright acidity, and ripe, focusing tannins. It's clearly an outstanding wine, but it’s going to need time. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Rated (91‑93+). - Jeb Dunnuck,jebdunnuck.com May, 2024

Coming from a vintage where the estate experienced mildew, frost, and a touch of hail, the 2023 Château Mauvesin Barton is deep purple-hued and reveals solid aromatics of pretty red berries, raspberries, sappy flowers, and subtle tobacco and herbal notes. A pretty, medium-bodied, elegant Moulis with bright acidity and fine yet building tannins, the blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, hitting 13.4 alcohol, raised in one-third new oak. Harvest here stretched from the 14th to the 26th of September. Rated 89‑91. ‑ Jeb Dunnuck,jebdunnuck.com May, 2024

A year-in, year-out smoking value, the 2023 Château Puygueraud will be no exception. Based on 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec brought up in 30% new French oak, it has ripe, upfront red and black (even some blue) fruits as well as attractive tobacco and spicy notes. This ripe, round, medium-bodied, pleasure-bent beauty will drink nicely for 5-7 years. Rated (90-92). ‑ Jeb Dunnuck,jebdunnuck.com May, 2024