All of the following 2023 Haut Medoc, 2023 Listrac, and 2023 Moulis 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.
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
2023 Agassac – Haut-Médoc – Soft, fresh, fruity, and round, with sweet currants, cherries, licorice, espresso, and floral notes in the nose, and on the palate. The wine is crisp, juicy, soft, and vibrant on the palate, and in the finish. Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Beaumont – Haut-Médoc – Spicy, fresh, forward, charming, medium-bodied, Left Bank wine that offers drinkability, and character that sells for a song. If you are looking for value, check this out. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-91 Pts
2023 Belgrave – Haut-Médoc – Tobacco leaves, spearmint, and black currants with background notes of licorice, and flowers create the character here. The mid-palate, and finish wrap everything up nicely with soft, polished, fresh, red berries, mint, and a dash of chocolate. Drink from 2027-2044. 91-93 Pts
2023 Belle-Vue – Haut-Médoc – Sweet, black raspberries, peppery spice, and flowers crowd into the perfume. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, fresh, fruity, medium-bodied, spicy, and chewy, leaving you with lift, spice, and a refreshing touch of mint in the finish. It is interesting to note that Belle-Vue is one of the few Bordeaux wines produced using 5 allowable grape varieties. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Bellegrave du Poujeau – Haut-Médoc – Savory-edged, mint-accented, red fruits with a refreshing, herbal edge, leaves you with a fresh bright, chewy, red currant finish. Drink from 2026-2035. 88-90 Pts
2023 Bernadotte – Haut-Médoc – Flowers, tobacco, spearmint, and currants blend together to form this medium-bodied, juicy, fruit-filled, firm wine that leaves you with a refreshing, herbal, edge that rides along with its red berries. Drink from 2026-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Beychevelle Les Brulieres de Beychevelle – Haut-Médoc – Round, plummy, forward, and fresh, this is perfect for early-drinking Bordeaux charm, with ample fruit, and a nice chewy finish. This is going to be delicious on release. The wine is produced from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 40% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2034. 88-90 Pts
2023 Branas-Grand-Poujeaux – Moulis en Médoc – Chewy, with an herbal, floral, bright, firm character from start to finish, give it a year or two in the bottle to round out its edges. Drink from 2026-2036. 90-92 Pts
2023 Cambon La Pelouse – Haut-Médoc – There is a wealth of sweet, ripe, juicy, vibrant, chewy red fruits with a savory here, on the nose, and palate. Forward, fresh, and vibrant, this is going to be great on release for its lift, touch of chocolate, and red berries in the finish. Drink from 2026-2039. 89-91 Pts
2023 Camensac – Haut-Médoc – Savory herbs with black currants, cedar, flowers, and tobacco blend perfectly in this chewy, fruity wine that will offer easy-pleasure in its youth. A year or two in the cellar will add even more to the wine. Drink from 2027-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Charmail – Haut-Médoc – Floral, with cedar, tobacco, camphor, and bright, red fruits from start to finish, the wine is creamy on the palate, with a fresh, fruity finish. This is one of those super value wines from the Haut Medoc that savvy wine buyers should be all over. Drink from 2026-2036. 90-92 Pts
2023 Chasse Spleen – Moulis en Médoc – Flowers, herbs, cedar, tobacco, and red berries, shine in this medium-bodied, fresh, bright, effort, The wine is crisp, and chewy, with a chalky, firm finish. Drink from 2026-2043. 89-91 Pts
2023 Cissac – Haut-Médoc – Cedar, herbs, tobacco, and currants are readily apparent in this fresh, and fruity, medium-bodied charmer. The fruits are sweet, and chewy, with a spicy, minty edge. Drink from 2026-2040. 88-90 Pts
2023 Citran – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, red berries with floral accents come through easily in the medium-bodied, vibrant, crisp, chalky palate. Drink from 2027-2042. 88-90 Pts
2023 Clarke – Listrac-Médoc – Forward, fruity, medium-bodied, with tobacco, and floral accents, the cherry filled, soft-textured wine is already easy-to-drink, with a chocolate edge to the finish. Chateau Clarke is one of the very few wines in the Medoc that is planted to 100% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2037. 89-91 Pts
2023 Clement Pichon – Haut-Médoc – Tobacco, herbs, cigar wrapper, flowers, and currants form the core of the wine in the nose, and on the palate. Forward, round, fruity, and savory, with ample, savory fruits on the palate, and in the finish. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. The wine blends 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 19% Merlot. 13.3% ABV. Drink from 2026-2036. 90-92 Pts
2023 Coufran – Haut-Médoc – Chocolate, black cherries, licorice, just a hint of espresso, and mint fill the nose, and the medium-bodied, bright, dusty, savory palate. Drink from 2026-2038. 88-90 Pts
2023 D’Arcins – Haut-Médoc – Flowers, licorice, cedar, tobacco, and cherries come through with ease here. Medium-bodied, vibrant, creamy, and fresh, you can enjoy this for all of its sweet, ripe, cherries, mint, and currants, with their spicy edge. This will be easy-to-taste on release with pleasure. Drink from 2026-2037. 89-91 Pts
2023 Fonreaud – Listrac-Médoc – Red, and black cherries, espresso, chocolate, licorice, and spice are all over the place here, in the perfume, and on the soft, creamy-textured, palate. It will be easy to enjoy this on-release. Drink from 2026-2037. 89-91 Pts
2023 Fourcas Hosten – Listrac-Médoc – Cedar, tobacco, spearmint, and currants hit your nose. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is fresh, fruity, peppery, and forward, making it perfect for early drinking pleasure. Drink from 2026-2035. 88-90 Pts
2023 Fourcas-Dupre – Listrac-Médoc – Round, forward, fruity, and savory, with a tobacco edge to the currants, the wine is medium-bodied, and should be easy to enjoy shortly after release. Drink from 2026-2035. 89-91 Pts
2023 Giscours Haut-Medoc – Haut-Médoc – Herbal, earthy, spicy, minty, and floral with a core of currants works well in the nose, and on the chewy, spicy, palate. blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2036. 89-91 Pts
2023 Haut-Madrac – Haut-Médoc – Cigar box, cocoa, flowers, and earthy nuances with the red fruits in the nose, and on the medium-bodied palate to produce a charming, easy-to-enjoy, Left Bank. Cabernet Sauvignon filled charmer. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2026-2033. 88-90 Pts
2023 La Lagune – Haut-Médoc – Indian spice, flowers, smoke, red pit fruits, and a drop of espresso fill the complex nose. The medium-bodied, palate is elegant, refined, and silky, with lift, and sweetness to the red berries with a touch of chocolate in the end note that fills things out. Drink from 2027-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 La Tour Carnet – Haut-Médoc – Flowers, tobacco and red fruits define the core of this wine on the nose, and on the palate. Medium-boded, with more freshness than in previous vintages, the wine ends with a complicating nuance of citrus in the finish that I really like. You can enjoy this in its youth. The wine blends 75% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 La Tour Carnet Blanc – Bordeaux – Vibrant from the initial sniff, the wine is loaded with yellow citrus, pineapples, flowers, and mangos in the perfume. The palate is bright, and citrusy, with a crisp, pineapple, lemon and banana finish. The wine blends 67% Sauvignon Blanc with 33% Semillon. This is going to offer delicious drinking on release. Drink from 2025-2030. 92 Pts
2023 Lamarque – Haut-Médoc – Flowers, mint, and tobacco add to the juicy, red currants in the nose, and on the medium-bodied, energetic, dusty, firm, palate. Give it a year or so in the cellar and it should add more softness to the wine. Drink from 2026-2042. 88-90 Pts
2023 Lanessan – Haut-Médoc – Espresso, black currants, licorice, tobacco, and herbs are all over the place here. Forward, chewy, lifted, and fresh, the fruits are bright, sweet, and chewy, with a savory, tobacco, and blackberry finish. Drink from 2027-2045. 90-92 Pts
2023 Larose Perganson – Haut-Médoc – Bright, vibrant red berries with herbs, mint, and cigar box notes show in the nose, and on the fresh, lifted, red currant, and cherry palate. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-91 Pts
2023 Larose-Trintaudon – Haut-Médoc – Medium-forward, bright red fruit, and tobacco-filled, early-drinking charmer, with accents of mint at the end, offering a refreshing finish. This is fine for early, uncomplicated drinking pleasure. Drink from 2026-2033. 88-90 Pts
2023 Larrivaux – Haut-Médoc – Forward, chewy, vibrant, and firm, with stoic cherries, cedar, tobacco and herbs to compliment the fruit, give it a year or two before opening a bottle. Drink from 2027-2036. 88-90 Pts
2023 Les Hauts de Lynch-Moussas – Haut-Médoc – Wet earth, cigar box, and red berries define the wine with ease. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fruity and fresh, with sweetness to the soft, red currants in the finish. It is interesting to note that the wine is produced using fruit from 2 appellations, Pauillac and Haut-Medoc. Drink from 2026-2032. 88-90 Pts
2023 Lestage – Listrac-Médoc – Creamy, soft, round cherries, licorice, and chocolate form the core of this wine. This is going to be delicious on release, and is perfect for value seekers looking for Left Bank wines with character, that won’t break the bank. Drink from 2026-2038. 89-92 Pts
2023 Madame de Beaucaillou – Haut-Médoc – Flowers, currants, spice, and mint fill the perfume. Forward, easy-to-like, medium-bodied, fresh, and fruity, with a dab of cocoa in the finish, this is a perfect easy, drinking charmer. The wine blends 59% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot.13% ABV. Drink from 2026-2033. 89-91 Pts
2023 Malescasse – Haut-Médoc – Juicy, vibrant, forward, and fresh, the blackberries, strawberries, and currants, with their licorice, and tobacco edge are ripe, chewy, and vibrant. This is one of those top value Left Bank wines with character that sell for a song. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Malleret – Haut-Médoc – Tobacco, cedar, and currants with flowers, and licorice come through with ease. The wine is loaded with sweet, ripe, red berries, espresso, cocoa, licorice, and a refreshing touch of mint on the backend. This will be quite nice to enjoy on release, yet it has more than a decade of aging potential. Drink from 2027-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Maucaillou – Moulis en Médoc – Flowers, cherries, licorice, currants, and tobacco come together in this round, soft, easy-to-like wine, with its creamy, soft-textured, chocolate-accented, cherry-filled finish. Drink from 2026-2036. 89-91 Pts
2023 Mauvesin Barton – Moulis en Médoc – On the fruity side with a focus on blackberries and cherries, the medium-bodied wine is fresh, chewy, savory, and chalky with a nice, red berry note that comes in at the end. The wine will be easy to enjoy on release. The wine blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-90 Pts
2023 Mayne Lalande – Listrac-Médoc – Currants, orange rind, tobacco leaf and herbs are easy to spot in the nose, and on the palate of this forward, medium-bodied, bright, chewy, firm, savory-edged wine. Drink from 2026-2037. 88-90 Pts
2023 Moulin de Blanchon – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, forward, fresh, crisp, and juicy, the wine serves up with bright, chewy, red berries with ease. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2026-2033. 86-88 Pts
2023 Paloumey – Haut-Médoc – Forward, soft, round, and creamy, the wine is packed with sweet, bright, chalky red berries, licorice, mint, tobacco and chocolate. Round, sweet, and forward, you can enjoy. Drink from 2026-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Peyrabon – Haut-Médoc – Forward, crisp, red currants shine in this medium-bodied, crunchy, vibrant, floral wine. This well-priced charmer should deliver a lot of please with just a year or so of aging. The wine blends, 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2037 89-91 Pts
2023 Peyredon Lagravette – Haut-Médoc – Cedar, herbs, red fruits, and tobacco form the core of this wine in the nose, and on the palate. Soft, and supple, with freshness and vivacity, this is a well-priced, Left Bank value that is worth seeking out. This is going to be easy to taste on release, but it will age for a decade or so as well. Drink from 2026-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Poujeaux – Moulis en Médoc – Licorice, black currants, mint, tobacco, and cedar, with flowers open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, and filled with chewy black, with red currant, anise, spice, and flowers. There is a vibrancy that lingers on the palate, and in the finish that give the wine a real upbeat nuance. The wine blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot, 12.5% ABV, 3.8 pH. Drink from 2028-2042. 91-93 Pts
2023 Saransot-Dupre – Listrac-Médoc – Lush, dark cherries, and even darker chocolate create the initial sensation on the palate. Creamy, and fresh, the soft, fruity, vibrant finish lingers. Drink from 2026-2038. 91-93 Pts
2023 Senejac – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, bright, vibrant, and fresh, with a crispness to the fruits that are competently edged with tobacco leaves, cocoa, spice, and a touch of mint. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts
2023 Sociando Mallet – Haut-Médoc – Chewy black currants, blackberries, herbs, cedar, and tobacco show easily. The palate is juicy, and sweet, and chewy. The fruits are sweet, bright, and fresh, with lift, concentration, and energy in the fruit-filled, chalky finish. Drink from 2029-2055. 92-94 Pts
Up next, we cover all of the best 2023 Medoc Wines before we move over to the Right Bank with Pomerol and St. Emilion.
