En Primeur 2017

The 2017 Barde-Haut was picked from 18 September to 2 October, matured in 80% new oak for 18 months. It has a sensual bouquet with black cherries, a touch of oyster shell and iodine, well defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity, more volume than the Poesia, especially towards the finish that exerts a gentle grip in the mouth. It feels very silky in texture with a persistent finish. This is a really excellent Barde-Haut, in my opinion, with the upper hand over the Clos l’Eglise this year, frankly not far off the 2016 in quality. Bravo Hélène et Patrice Garçin-Léveque.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2022-2042

Barde-Haut didn't see any frost this year due to the altitude of the vineyards. Composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Barde-Haut gives notions of baked blackberries, blueberry compote and Black Forest cake with touches of potpourri, dusty soil and cast iron pan. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a firm frame of grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and minerally.

Score: 91 - 93 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, robertparker.com

The deep, inky-colored 2017 Barde-Haut is a seriously good 2017 from Hélène Garcin-Lévêque that offers tons of kirsch, ripe black cherries, and spice aromas and flavors in a rounded, silky, sexy style. It has wonderful purity of fruit, no hard edges, and a great finish. I suspect it will be reasonably approachable on release yet capable of lasting for 10-15 years. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc which will spend 18 months in 80% new French oak.

Score: 92 - 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

The 2017 Batailley was picked between 19 and 27 September at 52hl/ha. Like the deuxième vin, the nose demands coaxing from the glass, initially quite restrained with cedar and cigar box infused black fruit that finally begin to unfold after five minutes. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannin, fine depth and balance, well judged acidity and a precise, quintessential Pauillac finish. This feels long on the aftertaste – a fine follow-up to the 2015 and 2016 and it may well land at the top of my banded score. Tasted three times with consistent notes.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2022-2040

Blended of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Batailley gives profound notes of crème de cassis, preserved plums and licorice over a core of espresso, tapenade and Marmite toast. Medium-bodied with a ripe, firm backbone of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the vivacious, sustained fruit, it finishes long with a red fruit lift.

Score: 91 - 93 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, robertparker.com

Focused, if slightly taut and austere in style, with cedar and tobacco notes leading off, pulling red currant and damson plum fruit along with them. A cedar edge hangs on the finish, where a savory streak checks in.

Score: 89 - 92 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The 2017 Batailley is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Inky dark fruit, leather, lavender, spice and menthol open with some coaxing, with beams of supporting tannin that extend the mid-palate into the finish nicely.

Score: 89 - 92 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media.com

The 2017 Beaumont has a simple blackberry, raspberry preserve and charcoal-tinged bouquet, nicely defined but not intense. It doesn’t have to be. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly tough tannin on the entry, structured and quite dense with a stocky finish that has a pleasant blackberry and iodine aftertaste. Fine.

Score: 86 - 88 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2020-2028

The 2017 Beaumont is a tasty Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois with good depth and personality. Leather, smoke, grilled herbs, licorice and incense give the 2017 a distinctly earthy personality. There is a good bit of Cabernet character in this pleasantly rustic red. Sadly, yields are down 50%.

Score: 87 - 89 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media.com

The 2017 Beauregard, whose lower reaches were hit by the frost, has a straightforward bouquet with touches of mint and fennel infusing the red and black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, a little bitterness towards the second half that just deprives this of the harmony it might have otherwise had. There is a fairly long finish so let’s see how this performs once in bottle.

Score: 88 - 90 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2021-2031

The lower lying part of this vineyard in Pomerol received some frost. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Beauregard is medium garnet-purple colored with a nose of warm red currants and kirsch plus suggestions of potpourri and dusty soil. Medium-bodied, it is just a little lean in the mid-palate with grippy tannins leading to a firm finish. (86-88+)

Score: 86 - 88 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, robertparker.com

A bright, floral style, with red currant and cherry fruit flavors streaking through, along with savory and incense notes. Fresh acidity makes the finish lengthy and focused.

Score: 89 - 92 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Very little aroma, just a hint of graphite. Could do with more flesh in the middle to help with the light but dry tannins. Pretty lean.

Score: 15 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2027

The 2017 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse was picked at 38hl/ha from 22 September to 2 October for the Merlot and 29 September to 2 October for the Cabernet Franc. Around two-thirds of the crop entered the Grand Vin and 55% is matured in new oak. It has a not dissimilar bouquet to the Pavie-Macquin (also overseen by Nicolas Thienpont) perhaps showing a little more volume and decadence: macerated small dark cherries, fig, black plum and a touch of marmalade. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannin, a fine bead of acidity, closing in a little towards the second half compared to the Pavie-Macquin that remains open throughout. There is a fine mineral core to this Saint-Émilion with a sappy, saliva-inducing finish. This will require four or five years in bottle and I wager that it should be consumed after the Pavie Macquin.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2023-2045

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Beausejour Heritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse is slightly closed, revealing glimpses at bright, cheery black cherries, black berries and wild blueberries with very serious preserved plums, licorice and mocha in the background and a waft of fragrant soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm frame of ripe tannins and seamless freshness supporting the subdued, earthy layers, finishing long and minerally. It should be wonderfully long-lived but will need time to enjoy!

Score: 94 - 96 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, robertparker.com

Intense, with juicy layers of fig, boysenberry and blackberry compote coursing through. Bramble and spice notes fire up on the finish, which kicks in with an extra bolt of energy at the end. A showy wine that pulls it off.

Score: 93 - 96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Very dark. Ripe, dark black plums and just a touch of red cherry. Then quite oaky on the palate, rich, firm, smooth, with chocolate on the finish from the oak. Needs quite a bit of time. Chewy on the second taste. No lack of fruit but the structure dominates at the moment. (16+ Points)

Score: 16 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2034