Château Le Crock 2023

Ripe-fruited, warm in expression, cool at the core, crisp fruit, finely woven tannins, herbal finish, can age.

Aromatic and floral with some milk chocolate and red cherries. Sleek and clean, with lovely purity and direction from start to finish. Crunchy and really charming, not too austere or too acidic; not especially layered either, but it feels like they struck a nice balance and got some easy charm out of this. Hints of liquorice, graphite and cedar add spice at the end as well as some tension throughout. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

Cocoa, cedar, leafy herbs, mint, currants, and black cherries create the enticing aromatic profile. Medium-bodied, lifted, energetic, and fresh, the red fruits are sweet and lively from start to finish, which is where you discover the refreshing minty edge. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2040.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Herbs, dark berries, a hint of liquorice, orange zest in the background. Medium body, red berries, fresh acidity, mineral, lively, offers uncomplicated drinking pleasure.

Delivers on En Primeur promise, this is an irresistibly easy to drink choice, blue and red fruits, sappy fresh herbs, cocoa beans and liquorice, balanced, firm tannins. 25% new oak, final year of organic conversation, and 52hl/h yields, so a particularly good crop. Harvest September 8 to 29. One point upscore, one to look out for.

Score: 91–93. On the nose, a stony character mingles with pronounced notes of black and blue fruits. On the palate, the wine overflows with sweet blue fruits, lifted by a hint of cassis leaf, whose flavors carry through to a limpid, sapid finish.

The finesse, subtlety and complexity of Le Crock’s bouquet highlight its depth. A fine balance of black berry notes, lingonberry, sweet spices and peppermint. The interplay between freshness and ripeness is spot on! The nimble attack paves the way for an airy texture. The wine unfolds seamlessly, supported by well-set tannins that assert themselves on the finish, while the acidity provides a structuring backbone. A sleek, powerful wine that will certainly be enjoyable in its youth, but for now it deserves some time in the cellar.

On the nose, there is a slightly yeasty note at first, which disappears with aeration and gives way to a more spicy profile (liquorice, white pepper in the background, a hint of nutmeg, and a very light touch of vanilla). It also shows an elegant floral side (violet, wild rose), along with sappy notes and pine needles that emerge after aeration. The fruit on the nose is tangy, with mostly dark fruits (morello cherry, blackcurrant, black plum, a hint of blackberry in the background, and a touch of tart red cherry). The palate is juicy, precise and firm, with a pleasant bitterness, a fine mouthwatering, fresh acidity, and a mentholated touch with dried mint on the finish. It delivers flavours of ripe, tangy fruit (morello cherry, blackcurrant, red cherry, black plum), along with sweet spices (liquorice, nutmeg) and violet. The finish shows tension, but is not very dry or closed.

This is solid, with winery black currant and black cherry reduction notes that have good cut, thanks to chalky minerality. Violet, chestnut and tobacco notes help fuel the finish as the fruit keeps pace. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2038. 11,100 cases made.

Logo on the cork: CS Beautiful deep color with blackish highlights. A lovely, intense nose, fruity and smooth, with an elegant backdrop of fine oak. Creamier when the glass is swirled. Soft on the attack, savory on the mid-palate, with a velvety body; the wine develops with fine texture and a long finish. Very good.

Since Antoine Médeville of Oenoconseil has taken charge of vinification, this estate has gained in precision and fruit clarity, and the 2023 Le Crock is no exception. Bursting from the glass with aromas of cassis, mulberries, cherries, spices and rose petals, it is medium- to full-bodied, dense and seamless, offering good depth at the core, with well-integrated acids and sweet tannins and concluding with a mouthwatering, mineral finish. Balanced and expressive, it stands out as one of the most convincing renditions of Le Crock in recent years.