Best Médoc & Haut-Médoc, Moulis & Listrac 2019 wines tasted en primeur
At the top level there are some deep and concentrated wines worthy of recommendation but Jane Anson was disappointed at the lack of stand out wines that should have been here in 2019...
Search all Médoc & Haut-Médoc, Moulis & Listrac 2019 wine ratings
In terms of a comparison, the classified wines from the Médoc peninsula (classifieds included) seem to be like 1996, 2000 or 2010 in style with regard to depth and concentration, but are less consistent when you head down to cru bourgeois and similar level.
Scroll down to see the top-rated Médoc & Haut-Médoc, Moulis & Listrac 2019 wines
Changes
The major news across these appellations is the new Cru Bourgeois classification, with a return to the three-tier system.
Personally, I was a little disappointed that the Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels were not all standout wines that I was hoping for – Agassac, Arnauld and Belle-Vue notable exceptions (as are the St Estèphes, that all performed strongly).
I also found the same thing with the Cru Bourgeois Superieurs – there are some wonderful wines but not as many standouts as I was expecting to truly reflect the new system in terms of consumer confidence and expectations in such a good vintage.
That is not to say there weren’t great wines among them, but it was not a slam-dunk for them all. I’m looking forward to watching the system develop though, and hope to see more consistency from those who have been rewarded with these higher levels over the next few vintages.
Look out for a 100% Petit Verdot at Château Loustaneuf – first vintage of this wine but with real promise.
At 94 points we have Château La Lagune, performing brilliantly in this vintage. And a brilliant Sociando-Mallet to mark Jean Gautreau’s final vintage.
Top Scorers (all are good value)
Médoc/Haut-Médoc: Gironville, Belle-Vue, Tour Séran, Bel-Air Gloria (owned by Domaines Henri Martin), Escurac, Maurac, Coudot, Les Grands Chênes, Belgrave, Senejac.
Listrac/Moulis: Chasse-Spleen, Poujeaux, Maucaillou, Fonréaud, Clarke, Fourcas Dupré, Fourcas Hosten.
See the top-rated Médoc & Haut-Médoc, Moulis & Listrac 2019 wines
The following wines have all been scored 92 points and above
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Château La Lagune, Haut-Médoc, 3ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Full intensity plum colour, highly attractive aromatics that float up as soon as it hits the glass. Clear energy and tension through the body of...
2019
Château La LaguneHaut-Médoc
Château Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
The last vintage under Jean Gautreau, and it's a great one to remember him by. Serious, with shoulders and muscles, reflecting the excellent gravel and...
2019
Château Sociando-MalletHaut-Médoc
Château La Tour Carnet, Haut-Médoc, 4ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Magrez's flagship Haut-Médoc estate has been producing sterling wines over recent years and this is another success. Confident and ambitious as is his signature, this...
2019
Château La Tour CarnetHaut-Médoc
Château Belle-Vue, Haut-Médoc, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Deep purple colour, medium to full intensity, and a feeling of confident tannic hold from the off. Such an impressive run of vintages at this...
2019
Château Belle-VueHaut-Médoc
Château Arnauld, Haut-Médoc, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Bordeaux, France, 2019
A new Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel this year, on excellent terroir just to the north of the Margaux appellation. Beautifully bright violet colour, and extremely smooth...
2019
Château ArnauldHaut-Médoc
Château de Lamarque, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
On the edges of Haut-Médoc as it heads towards St Julien, this increasingly impressive estate has delivered a complex, well balanced wine in 2019 that...
2019
Château de LamarqueHaut-Médoc
Château Potensac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Elegance and classicism , really feel that you are in good hands in a great claret property. The fruit is ripe and yet fresh, there...
2019
Château PotensacMédoc
Château d'Escurac, Haut-Médoc, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, Bordeaux, France, 2019
As ever it is concentrated and intense, and reminds us of why Escurac is one of the great values of the Médoc. Plum, damson, tight...
2019
Château d'EscuracHaut-Médoc
Château d’Agassac, Haut-Médoc, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Bordeaux, France, 2019
A newly-christened Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel flexing its muscles here. Blackberry and cassis fruits, gentle tannins that build up through the palate and turn almost chewy...
2019
Château d’AgassacHaut-Médoc
Château La Cardonne, Médoc, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Deep ruby in colour with lovely violet reflections. A classic young Médoc mix of black fruits, menthol and austere tannins with good grip, fairly high...
2019
Château La CardonneMédoc
Château Les Grands Chênes, Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
One of my favourite of the Magrez stable for signposting what quality is available in AOC Médoc, here showing inky depths to the colour and...
2019
Château Les Grands ChênesMédoc
Château Fonréaud, Listrac, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Focused, great concentration from Vignobles Chanfreau. Lovely deep plum colour, lots of fine tannins, well structured, this is rivalling their 2016, certainly in terms of...
2019
Château FonréaudListrac
Château Cantemerle, Haut-Médoc, 5ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Enticing aromatics, clear cassis fruits, astringency on the tannins which bodes well for the ageing as they also have good pliability. Not quite up with...
2019
Château CantemerleHaut-Médoc
Château Cos d'Estournel, La Goulée, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
High Merlot levels that clearly reached full ripeness in the summer heat, just about avoiding the tip over into fig character. Accessible already, but should...
2019
Château Cos d'EstournelHaut-Médoc
