Best Pessac-Léognan 2023 wines tasted en primeur
Mildew pressure was high in Pessac-Léognan in 2023 but those who navigated the pitfalls have produced wines of great pleasure.
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Verdict & top-scoring wines | How the weather conditions shaped the vintage | Decoding the yields | Wine styles: what to expect
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Pessac-Léognan 2023: A more challenging vintage
Average yield for reds: 38.1hl/ha
Variance from 2022: +5%
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Pessac-Léognan and Graves en primeur 2023 wines
Vintage overview
Like Margaux, Pessac-Léognan, suffered more than other appellations from mildew pressure, registering lower-than-average yields than Bordeaux’s other major appellations.
In places, the damage was incredibly severe. For example, classified growth Château Bouscaut made no red wine at all – the white, however, is excellent.
Top estates had the means to treat vines (weekends included) and sort out mildew-affected grapes (at Smith-Haut-Lafitte, not just an optical sorter, but also densimetric) to make excellent red wines.
Nonetheless, while some wines are unqualified successes, others very clearly lack Merlot’s sumptuousness in blends dominated more than ever by the Cabernets.
For proper ripening of the Cabernets, a long hang time helped. At Smith Haut Lafitte the heat waves made for small, concentrated berries (but not as small as in 2022), and director Fabien Teitgen pointed out that picking after the September rains helped relieve some that had hydric stress.
Many other châteaux succeeded, and not just the pricey brands. From a lovely – and affordable – Château Brown, to one of the candidates for wine of the vintage, the majestic Château Haut-Brion, much pleasure can be found in red Pessac-Léognan.
See the top-scoring Pessac-Léognan 2023 en primeur wines
Search all 550+ Bordeaux 2023 en primeur ratings published
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Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
A stand out wine from Haut-Brion this year and one of the most charming Primeur samples from the estate. A little sombre on the nose,...
2023
Château Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2023
97
Dark and fragrant nose, scented and intense but not too rich and ripe, more cool, crisp and fresh. Aromatics of roses, floral elements and pot pourri - very welcoming. Big boned, this has expansion and intensity from the get go, powdery tannins fill the mouth with a juicy core and layers of freshness, mint, graphite, wet stones, herbs, cocoa and liquorice. Not as immediately as suave, soft and caressing as SHL can be, this is more serious, more straight and streamlined. Still finessed but this has muscle to it, forward and direct. It’s a beauty but will need time to expand and soften some more. Still very much on the Cabernet aromatics and power. I do like its density though, there is richness here, it’s not all straight and the tannins are filling. This has lovely potential with chewy strawberry and cranberry flavours. You don’t have the feeling of overt warmth with a cool freshness and touching on austere acidity, but this offers freshness and tension as well as ripeness. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.65pH. 26hl/ha yield, more or the less the same as usual winemaker Fabien Teitgen said.
2023
Château Smith Haut LafittePessac-Léognan
Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2023
A generously scented nose, very floral and perfumed, lovely high aromatics and fully expressive. Blue fruits, red cherries and some plum. Weighty and full, this...
2023
Château La Mission Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Extremely floral nose; peony, iris, rose, expressive and aromatic with black fruits too, liquorice, dark fruit, cedar, some black chocolate and coffee bitterness on the...
2023
Château Les Carmes Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Such pretty aromatics, gorgeous florally on the nose - roses and peonies, blackcurrant leaf, cranberries and cherries with some plum and black chocolate too. Soft...
2023
Château Haut-BaillyPessac-Léognan
Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Cool blue fruit and tobacco leaf denote this wine, which packs almost Pauillac like power in 2023, not as overtly charming as it can be....
2023
Domaine de ChevalierPessac-Léognan
Château Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Gorgeous fragrance, quite dark and perfumed, dark chocolate, spice and graphite. Smooth and supple, nicely agile in the glass. Good weight - it’s sleek but...
2023
Château Malartic-LagravièrePessac-Léognan
Château Couhins-Lurton, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Although it shows some tannic tightness, the very nice lovely floral aromatics along with graphite - the wine has more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual -...
2023
Château Couhins-LurtonPessac-Léognan
Château Haut-Brion, Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Brambly fruit, plummy and lively on the nose. Quite perfumed. Straight and sharp on the palate, this is brilliant in it’s direction and movement, lifted...
2023
Château Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château La Garde, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
A step change for La Garde this year with a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Floral and fragrant, really alive on the nose,...
2023
Château La GardePessac-Léognan
Château de Rouillac, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Strongly perfumed nose, with some herbal aromatics, some purple floral scents and dark forest fruits too with savoury notes of dark chocolate, espresso and tobacco....
2023
Château de RouillacPessac-Léognan
Château La Louvière, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Cool blueberry fruit with hints of crushed tobacco introduce a mouthful of wine, flattering and rich, but not without austerity on the finish as the...
2023
Château La LouvièrePessac-Léognan
Château La Mission Haut-Brion, La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Milk chocolate, blackcurrant and bramble fruit on the nose, gorgeous scents. Ripe and plummy, juicy and so bright, lovely clarity but such precision, really well...
2023
Château La Mission Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, C des Carmes, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Crunchy and bright on the nose, some herbal and crisp fresh fruits, cranberry, red cherry and strawberry. Herbal Cabernet elements too. Super bright and fresh,...
2023
Château Les Carmes Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château Haut-Bailly, Haut-Bailly II, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Fragrant nose, really quite floral - rose, violets and peonies on the nose with raspberry and red cherry. Soft and suave, this has a silky...
2023
Château Haut-BaillyPessac-Léognan
Château de Fieuzal, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Opening with a mix of floral bouquet, raspberry and plum, the wine is more ethereal than usual from this estate: delicate, smooth tannins lead to...
2023
Château de FieuzalPessac-Léognan
Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Fully aromatic, dark purple flowers and sweetly-scented blue and black berry notes. Sweet and supple, nice chalky powdery tannins give weight to the bright red...
2023
Château Larrivet Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan
Château Brown, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Wonderful deep rich colour, vibrant, and lots of expression on the nose, purple flowers, black fruits, vanilla, milk chocolate, some dried herbs and some oak...
2023
Château BrownPessac-Léognan
