Château Grand Village, Rouge, Bordeaux Supérieur, 2023

Omri explained 2023 is "not a solaire vintage, it’s not a “classical” cool vintage, it’s not another hybrid vintage like 2016, 2018 or 2020 with a wet, cold spring and then a very hot, dry summer… The best we’ve come up with so far is it’s an extreme vintage with no real extremes… It felt extreme when we were working in the vineyard, it was challenging and complex, but when we look back at the data, it was quite unremarkable.” The wines they have produced certainly are remarkable and very much appeal to our palates. They are dense, but less overly fruity than recent greats like 2019 and 2022. They have wonderful aromatics and bright, tense cores of fruit framed by gloriously ripe tannins packed with detail. It's a masterful range, which sits right up there with the very best from these estates. All the Merlots from Perrieres have been utilised in Grand Village this year. Salty, tangy, high-definition Merlot fruit. Dark berries, flowers and freshness. Very vivid and pixelated. A dancing Grand Village that puts freshness to the fore. Wonderful energy on the finish – lots of tension and salty fruits.