For a detailed overview of the 2023 Bordeaux vintage, growing season, and harvest, with links to all of our appellation reports 2023 Bordeaux Vintage Analysis with Buying Tips for the Best Wines of the Vintage
All of the following 2023 St. Estephe wines were tasted in Bordeaux in April in non-blind tasting conditions. Most of the wines were tasted at the property. However, I also tasted several wines at Negociants, Consultants, or with various trade groups. Whenever possible the wines were tasted on more than one occasion.
2023 Beau-Site – St. Estèphe – Cedar, mint leaves, tobacco, currants, and flowers blend together in this forward, fresh, lifted, vibrant, medium-bodied, chewy wine. There’s a lot of character here without a big price tag. The wine blends 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Beau-Site Haut-Vignoble Seguin – St. Estèphe – Forward, easy-to-like, and easy-to-drink, medium-bodied, cherry, and currant-filled wine for early-drinking pleasure. Drink from 2023-2030. 86-88 Pts
2023 Calon Segur – St. Estèphe – The black fruits, dark red berries, flowers, licorice, spice, smoke, and crème de cassis in the perfume is a knockout! The wine is rich, balanced, well-defined, supple, creamy, and vibrant. The fruits have weight, depth, length, and purity. The concentrated layers of fruit start off strong, and keep on going. The refreshing waves of red with black fruits, sprig of mint, and touches of spice hang with you for close to 50 seconds in the up-beat finish. The wine blends 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. 14% ABV, 3.7 pH. The harvest took place September 6 – September 30. Only 55% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2028-2060. 95-97 Pts
2023 Calon Segur Le Marquis de Calon Segur – St. Estèphe – Supple, creamy, energetic layers of black, and red berries taste as good as they feel. As the fruit lingers, the wine expands and intensifies. There is a nice depth of flavor, with vibrancy here, made even better with its freshness. The wine is a blend of 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. 14.6% ABV, 3.6 pH. Drink from 2026-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Capbern – St. Estèphe – Mint, tobacco leaf, cedar, cherries, and currants pop in the nose. The medium-bodied, refined, soft, forward, fruity-palate is going to provide delicious drinking on release. The wine blends 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 14.6% ABV, 3.7 pH. Drink from 2026-2040. 92-94 Pts
2023 Cos Labory – St. Estèphe – The debut vintage produced by the team from Cos d’Estournel. The wine pops with dark red fruits, flowers, and cocoa in the nose. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, chalky, crisp, and chewy, with black raspberries, and chocolate in the finish. The wine blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. 13% ABV. Drink from 2027-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Cos dEstournel – St. Estèphe – It takes some coaxing to find the red, purple, and white floral bouquet, but it comes with swirling, along with Asian spice, smoke, tobacco, and licorice. But, it is the palate that offers thrills with its silky, fresh, opulent textures. There is a vivid quality to the fruit, coupled with a relaxed character, finishing with black, red, and blue fruits complicated by Indian spices. It reminds me of a modern version of the 1990, with selection. The wine was made from blending 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, 3.75 pH. The harvest took place September 12 to September 29. This is the first vintage, since 2008 the estate green harvested. The Grand Vin was produced from 53% of the harvest. The wine is going to be approachable early in its life, yet it has the ability to age for decades. Drink from 2029-2060. 96-98 Pts
2023 Cos dEstournel Les Pagodes de Cos – St. Estèphe – Licorice, flowers, cherries, and a hint of chocolate create the perfume. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, and focused on freshness over volume. This is a refined vintage for Les Pagodes de Cos, finishing with fresh, red, and dark red fruits, a touch of spice, and just a hint of cocoa in the finish. This is going to be delicious if tasted early, and it will age well too. The wine blends 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, 3.74 pH. Drink from 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts
Cos d’Estournel Blanc – Bordeaux – Pomelo, lemongrass, flowers, white peach, and crisp, green apples form the bouquet. The palate is zesty, fresh, and spicy, with a flattering crispness to the fruits, paired with a touch of honeysuckle that shines in the endnotes of the finish. This is the first vintage to include the new blocks, bringing the vineyard to 10 hectares of white wine grape varietals. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2032. 95 Pts
Cos dEstournel Pagodes de Cos Blanc – Bordeaux – Marzipan, white peach, honeysuckle, and lemon grass permeate the nose. The palate is round, bright fresh, and juicy, with white peaches and citrus in the finish. The wine is made from 80% Sauvignon Blanc with 20% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 92 Pts
2023 De Pez – St. Estèphe – Forward, fruity, and already fun to drink, the wine delivers its message of accessible black cherries, savory herbs, and wet earth with ease. Soft, round, and fresh, you can drink this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2026-2031. 89-91 Pts
2023 Haut Marbuzet – St. Estèphe – Supple, fresh, and juicy, the wine is vibrant, fruity, soft, creamy, and loaded with sweet, ripe, black cherries, pepper, chocolate, and herbs. There is good length, and energy, with blackberries, espresso, dark chocolate, spice, and currants in the finish. Drink from 2028-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 Lafon Rochet – St. Estèphe – Blackberries, black cherries, spice, and tobacco leaves with a touch of spice fill the nose. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, soft, and polished with ripe, brisk tannins, and a chewy, fresh, peppery finish. The wine was made from blending 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13.35%. This is only the second vintage with the new owner, Jackie Lorenzetti, and the team of Emmanuel Cruse fully in charge. Drink from 2028-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 Lafon Rochet Les Pelerins – St. Estèphe – Fresh, spicy tobacco, and currants come through easily in the nose, and on the chewy, peppery, currant-filled palate of this easy-to-like, and easy-to-enjoy, charmer. Drink from 2025-2032. 89-91 Pts
2023 Le Boscq – St. Estèphe – Black currants, espresso, chocolate and tobacco leaf notes are all over the wine in the perfume, and on the palate. The wine is forward, soft, polished, and energetic, with a bright, yet, soft-textured finish. Drink from 2026-2040. 90-92 Pts
2023 Le Crock – St. Estèphe – Cedar, leafy herbs, mint, and red currants pop in the nose. Medium-bodied, the wine is on the savory edge, with notes of leafy, red currants in the mid-palate, finishing with juicy fruits and soft-tannins, with a nice spicy, fresh not that comes in at the end of the finish. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc.13.45% ABV. Le Crock is the process of converting to organic farming, expecting to be certified for the 2025 vintage. Drink from 2026-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Lilian Ladouys – St. Estèphe – Herbs, cherries, spice, tobacco, and red currants show in the nose, and on the medium-bodied, fresh, soft, brisk, spicy, chewy, red berry palate. The wine blends 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 12.9% ABV, 3.81 pH. Drink from 2028-2042. 91-93 Pts
2023 Meyney – St. Estèphe – Black currants, flowers, tobacco, and mint add to the perfume. The fruits are chewy, dense, ripe, and lifted. There is a vibrance in the blackberry, tobacco, and herb-filled finish. Drink from 2028-2045. 91-93 Pts
2023 Montrose – St. Estèphe – The complex perfume displays its flowers, crushed rock, black raspberry, and currants with just a swirl or two. There is freshness, with a sense of purity, lift, and elegance on the palate. The wine is long, complex, and refined. This is not a blockbuster styled vintage. Instead, it is focused, harmonious, balanced, and long, with sweetness, spice, and energy that lingers in the finish. The wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13.6% ABV, pH 3.7. Harvesting took place September 5 – September 28. Drink from 2030-2065. 97-99 Pts
2023 Montrose La-Dame-de-Montrose – St. Estèphe – Orange blossoms, flowers, red berries, and black cherry aromas show up with ease. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, fresh, long, and spicy. The fruits are clean, energized, and lively. This is going to offer its significant charms shortly after release. The wine blends 61% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Ormes-de-Pez – St. Estèphe – Cedar, mint, tobacco and currants come to the front of the wine with ease. The medium-bodied palate is soft, chewy, and fresh, with a peppery edge to the red cherries, and currants in the finish. Give it a year or two in the bottle, and this should be quite nice. The wine is a blend of 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2042. 90-92 Pts
2023 Petit-Bocq – St. Estèphe – Medium-bodied, fresh, and fruity, with a core of ripe, red, with black currants, tobacco, and herbs. The wine is fresh, spicy, and tinted with cedar, and savory herbs. Drink from 2027-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Phelan Segur – St. Estèphe – Flowers, black raspberries, cherries, mint, and Asian spices fill the nose. There is richness, freshness, balance, and complexity. The wine finishes with minerality, red berries, and a touch of minty, chalk on the back end. This should be quite nice shortly after release. Drink from 2027-2047. 92-94 Pts
2023 Phélan Ségur Frank Phelan – St. Estèphe – Medium-bodied, forward, and charming, the wine focuses on its core of minty, red fruits, spice, and leafy herbs from start to finish. Drink this on release. Drink from 2026-2032. 89-91 Pts
2023 Tour Saint-Fort – St. Estèphe – Bright, crisp, juicy, spicy, red fruits shine in this medium-bodied, vibrant, crisp, chewy wine. Drink from 2026-2037. 87-89 Pts
2023 Tronquoy – St. Estèphe – Flowers, mint, cherries, and a whisp of smoke fill the perfume. Medium-bodied, forward, fresh, supple, and focused on its sweet, vibrant, core of red fruit, you can enjoy this on release, and over the following decade with ease. The wine blends 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 11% Petit Verdot. 13.2% ABV. Drink from 2026-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Tronquoy Blanc de Tronquoy – Bordeaux – Flowers, green apples, orange rind, and white peach aromas jump from the glass. The palate is lush, round, and fruity, expressing its tropical nature with ripe, vibrant, pineapple, white peach, mango, and tangerine. The wine is an equal blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Gris. Drink from 2025-2031. 92 Pts
Up next, we cover all of the best 2023 Margaux before moving on to 2023 St. Julien.
