critic reviews
Juicy and supple, it is concentrated as ever, but there are some excellent ripe red fruits alongside, and this is an enjoyable wine with concentration and shoulders. harvest september 13 to 23. 50% new oak, with the rest on one year. This is a single point upscore.
The 2023 Monbousquet was tasted on two occasions. It has quite a dense bouquet with more black than red fruit, mixed with melted tar and pencil-box aromas. It is what you might call “full throttle.” The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. Quite firm in structure, for me, this needs to muster a bit more precision on the finish and assimilate the oak better, they protrude a little too much vis-a-vis its peers.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Monbousquet shoots from the glass with vibrant scents of fresh blackcurrants and Bing cherries plus hints of pencil lead, underbrush, and wild sage. The medium-bodied palate delivers lightly chewy tannins and just enough freshness to support the delicate black fruit layers, finishing long and savory. The blend is 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.