Lirac & Tavel 2023: Report and top-scoring wines
Often the regions that suffer the most in hot vintages, Lirac and Tavel pulled off a real coup in 2023, with a crop of fresh and pleasurable wines to drink young.
Lirac
In challenging years, it’s often the west bank of the southern Rhône that bears the brunt. But somehow, between the dry start, disease pressure and heatwave, Lirac managed to turn out a collection of very impressive wines in 2023.
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The reds have more freshness and better structure than many on the east bank, with good concentration, and the alcohols appear better balanced here than in neighbouring appellations. They will drink well young, and develop in bottle with interest.
The standard of white Lirac is also very high. Wines are of consistently good quality, showing the improved standard of winemaking here in recent years.
These are fresh, balanced wines that will show their best while young.
Tavel
Tavel also had a good year – fresh, with balanced acidity and concentrated strawberry and raspberry flavours.
It feels like a vintage to enjoy young, as only the very best have the intensity to endure.
Key Lirac & Tavel producers in 2023
- Château de Montfaucon – Lirac
- Château d’Aqueria – Lirac
- Domaine l’Anglore – Tavel
- Château Boucarut – Tavel
Best-value Lirac & Tavel wines in 2023
- Château Boucarut, Pierres Vivantes, Lirac 2023
- Domaine Maby, La Fermade, Lirac 2023
- Chateau d’Aqueria, Lirac 2023
Under-the-radar Lirac & Tavel producers in 2023
- Alexandre Hôte
- Château Boucarut
- Rocca Maura
Rhône 2023 full report and top-scoring wines
Southern Rhône 2023: The connoisseur’s guide
Compare vintages: See our coverage of Lirac & Tavel wines from previous years
Lirac & Tavel 2022: Report and top-scoring wines
Lirac & Tavel 2021: Report and top-scoring wines
Lirac & Tavel 2020: Report and top-scoring wines
Matt Walls’ top-scoring Lirac & Tavel 2023 wines:
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Domaine l'Anglore, Les Sables, Tavel, Rhône, France, 2023
Pale red, darker than their other Tavel cuvées this year. Raspberry and wild strawberry. Has a bit more generosity on the palate, which delivers great...
2023
Domaine l'AngloreTavel
Domaine l'Anglore, Vaucroze, Tavel, Rhône, France, 2023
Rose, wild strawberry and raspberry aromas. Some more noble bitter elements in this cuvée, which is a rounder style of Tavel, with weight and a...
2023
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Domaine l'Anglore, Vintage, Tavel, Rhône, France, 2023
Musky spice, rose and wild strawberry. Fuller in body than the producer's other cuvées. Rich and rounded, very well balanced, showing great energy and freshness;...
2023
Domaine l'AngloreTavel
Domaine l'Anglore, Tavel, Rhône, France, 2023
Pale red, not pink. Beautiful rose water and raspberry scent. Light-bodied, lovely balance, so fresh and full of energy and great acidity. Smashable, yes, but...
2023
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Château Boucarut, Qu'est ce qu'on attend, Tavel, Rhône, France, 2023
A very pale example, even though it was macerated for six days. Light raspberry and redcurrant fragrance. Light- to medium-bodied in a very fresh style;...
2023
Château BoucarutTavel
Domaine l'Anglore, Prima, Tavel, Rhône, France, 2023
Very pale red rather than pink. Cinnamon and cherries, a touch of bubblegum on the nose. Has some puppy fat, but a lightness and freshness,...
2023
Domaine l'AngloreTavel
Château de Montfaucon, Vin de Madame la Comtesse, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
Full-bodied, with ample and generous oak work, which is providing richness and spice, but good sense of freshness. This is a relatively powerful, oaked style...
2023
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Château Boucarut, D'Schlanga, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
D'Schlanga means snake in the Alsatian dialect – and they often find snakes in this vineyard. Medium-bodied, very fresh with good acidity. A brisk and...
2023
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Château de Montfaucon, Comtesse Madeleine, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
Relatively dark in the glass, with copper-gold hues. Lovely expression of fresh fruit, with melon, pear and yellow plum alongside honeysuckle florals. Very fresh but...
2023
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Château de Montfaucon, Vin de Monsieur le Baron de Montfaucon, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
This is showing richness, depth, intensity, freshness, plus incredible focus and vibrancy that really give thrust and energy to its ripe blackberry and blackcurrant fruit....
2023
Château de MontfauconLirac
Château d'Aqueria, Héritage d'Aqueria, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
A ripe, dense, concentrated style of Lirac, very fresh and well balanced, with notes of juniper and rosemary over blackberry fruit. It has the fairly...
2023
Château d'AqueriaLirac
Château de Montfaucon, Baron Louis, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
Good weight of fruit, the oak work is well judged and nicely integrated, lending polish and spice to the rich black fruits. The tannins are...
2023
Château de MontfauconLirac
Château Boucarut, Pierres Vivantes, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
Gorgeously expressive herbal freshness on the nose. There's a tangy, slightly balsamic edge to the forest berry fruit, zingy acidity and an overall sense of...
2023
Château BoucarutLirac
Château d'Aqueria, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
Distinctly herbal, with blackcurrant leaf notes to the blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Powerful, focused and fresh, lovely acidity, enjoyably fresh tannin and a long finish....
2023
Château d'AqueriaLirac
Domaine Coudoulis, Evidence, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
Very powerful, dense and concentrated style of Lirac. Good energy and focus, this is jam-packed full of ripe tannin that is going to take a...
2023
Domaine CoudoulisLirac
Domaine des Carabiniers, Lirac, Rhône, France, 2023
An enjoyable herbal note brings freshness to the aromatics and adds complexity. This is fresh, drinkable and juicy, but has plenty of crisp, fresh tannins,...
2023
Domaine des CarabiniersLirac
