critic reviews
Love this wine, and enjoy how juicy and characterful it is, with this sappy olive pit, squid ink, cassis, bilberry, black tea; Sits squarely within the DNA of a great classified Margaux. Harvest September 11 to October 4. Leopold Valentin technical director, Eric Boissenot consultant.
Touch of reduction on first nose, a ton of energy, power, coiled mint, eucalyptus, cloves, pomegranate, liquorice, crayon and squid ink, so much flavour and flesh and expansion, exceptionally good. Harvest September 11 to October 4, 35hl/h yield, 3.66ph, 66% new oak, 33% amphoras for ageing. I said this was right up there with the best of Margaux during my En Primeur tastings, and that translates to a single point upscore at this point.
The 2023 Durfort Vivens is once again dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which represents 92% of the blend. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of minty cassis, plums and berries mingled with hints of pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with good concentration, sweet tannins and a long, penetrating finish. With a pH of 3.66 and 13.7% alcohol, it's a resounding success.