Château d'Aiguilhe 2023

Plenty of fruit—plump cherry, plum, blackberry—with floral notes; lush, sweet fruit countered by acidity and fine tannins, peppery spice, and a wonderfully fresh finish. Underscores the fresher style of recent vintages.

With almost chalky wet stone and ripe dark fruit aromas, this wine provides much pleasure, as it comes from limestone and clay soils on hillsides along the plateau of the appellation. With a 3.4 pH to balance the alcohol, the tannins are a bit tight but the overall sense is of a cohesive, balanced and rounded palate that will gain from ageing in 20% new oak, with promising potential for a higher score.

The 2023 Château d'Aiguilhe has a light nose, just a little herbaceous at first, tightly wound black fruit with a distinct marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with powdery tannins, cohering nicely toward the finish, so that after a "wobbly start" it finishes with a bit of panache. A second bottle just tapered away a bit short.

It is the refreshing mouthfeel, along with its chalky character, that sets this apart from other wines from the Cotes. Long, ripe, and intense, with vibrancy, the salty, chalky accents to the red pit fruits stand out on the nose, palate, and finish. The wine is made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV. Drink from 2027-2039. 92-94 pts.

Dark ruby, purple reflections. Fresh cherries, a hint of cranberries, fine herbal savoriness, hints of mandarin zest. Medium body, firm, nuances of strawberry confit, freshly structured, mineral and salty, a balanced wine for the table, already accessible.

Score: 89–91. Pure and floral, the bouquet is all about freshness and lightness, with a mineral touch. The palate, round and fleshy, is balanced, generous, with good chew. A very lovely wine

A lovely fruity nose, precise, textured, elongated. It offers notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, roasted-juicy raspberry and, more lightly, fairly ripe red berries, along with hints of violet, lily, and sweet pepper. The palate is nicely juicy and fruity, with indulgent richness, a certain suppleness, a saline edge, and energy. It shows notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry, bright plum and, more lightly, roasted-juicy red berries, with touches of cornflower and star anise, plus subtle hints of sap and pepper. Good length. A chalky and cocoa-tinged note in the background, lovely silkiness and creaminess, indulgence and finesse, with supple richness.

Pretty and pure, with a steady beam of nicely rendered bitter cherry and raspberry fruit laced with violet and iris. The cool-breeze finish lets a subtle savory note twinkle. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2033. 12,500 cases made.