En Primeur 2024

The 2024 Canon is superb. One of the standouts of the vintage, the 2024 possesses striking mid-palate depth to match its vertical personality. Chalk, white pepper, mint, lavender, rose petal, slate and blue/purplish fruit all stain the palate. There's gorgeous depth and density here, and yet the 2024 remains a super-classic wine from the property. This is a real stunner. That's all there is to it. Tasted four times.

Score: 95 - 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2034-2059

The 2024 Canon was picked from September 19 to October 9, a harvest that I witnessed firsthand while joining the pickers on one afternoon. It aged in 49% new oak and 6% casks for between 16 and 18 months. The bouquet is well defined with pure black cherry, raspberry and a subtle marine influence that develops in the glass, though I find the Troplong Mondot tasted alongside has more amplitude. The palate is medium-bodied and pliant with fine tannins and finesse. One bottle at the château had more weight on the finish than others that feel attenuated and missing a bit of substance.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2029-2050

The 2024 Cantemerle is bold and expressive in the glass. Dried herbs, incense, tobacco, mocha, plum and leather build nicely in a mid-weight Haut-Médoc with plenty of layers and fine overall persistence. There's a good bit of potential here.

Score: 88 - 91 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026-2034

The 2024 Cantemerle has a nicely composed bouquet with blackberry, sous-bois and subtle cedar scents percolating through with time. The palate is fresh and vibrant with saturated tannins, a keen line of acidity, well-integrated new oak and a very well-proportioned finish. This exceeds my expectations and is a great success in the context of the vintage. It could end up at the top of my banded score.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028-2040

The 2024 Capbern is a very pretty, delicate Saint-Estèphe. Cabernet Sauvignon takes the leading role in this elegant, nuanced wine. Crushed flowers, spice, new leather, cedar, licorice and incense are all delineated in the glass. Vibrant floral notes reappear on the long, persistent finish.

Score: 90 - 92 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026-2036

Enticing aromatics on this wine, soft waves of rose petals, blackberry fruit, crayon and pencil lead, with measured oak use. Acidity puts the tannins into a little overly-focused position on the finish, and the austerity that needs to be softened over ageing. Fairly old school, with charm. 3.60 pH. 45 hl/ha. 60% new oak.

Score: 91 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2028-2028

Seamless and silky in the glass, with superb balance, the 2024 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is one of the wines of the vintage. All the elements are so well balanced, always a sign of a superior vintage at this address. Floral notes, spice, leather and mocha run through a core of layered, beautifully persistent dark red fruit. Harvest took place between September 17 and 25, during one of the rare windows with little rain. As always, Les Carmes is done with a high percentage of stems (52%), specifically 100% for the Cabernet Franc, 50% for the Merlot and 20% for the Cabernet Sauvignon. Aging is 70% new oak barrels, 19% 18HL foudre and 11% amphora. New oak is already very nicely integrated, another sign of a superb vintage. The 2024 is a brilliant effort by the team led by Technical Director Olivier Pouthier.

Score: 95 - 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2034-2054

Inky depths to the colour, touch of reduction on the opening as is often the case with En Primeur Carmes, this delivers energy, density, clarity. Austerity on the finish, but plenty of interest, savoury and muscular juicy black fruits, expect a wine that is built around about texture, architecture and savour, which is not something that I have found in many bottles in the vintage. 90% new oak, split between barrels and casks, 11% amphoras. Harvest 17 to 27 September. 3.61 pH, clay and limestone, 60 years old average vine age. 46hl/H yield in vineyard, 41hl/h after picking selection, then 24hl/h after cellar selection. All press used, no chaptilisation.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2030-2042

The 2024 Carruades de Lafite is plush, sensual and inviting right out of the gate. Soft contours wrap around a core of plum, black cherry, gravel, incense, licorice and baking spice. This is a rare Carruades that is Merlot-driven. It's a balance that works quite well. This showy, inviting Carruades is quite the charmer

Score: 91 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2029-2044

Gorgeous deep plum colour, very juicy, extremely well handled, savoury and mouthwatering, cassis bud, roses, crayon, shorter on the finish than a typical Carruades, but this has plenty of subtle pleasure and will be ready to drink sooner than usual. Harvest 23 September to 7 October, 32hl/h yield, 47% of the harvest is in this wine, 12% press.

Score: 92 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2029-2040