A blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 Certan de May opens with aromas of licorice, chocolate and toast, shaped by a marked new-oak imprint. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and structured, it is built around a fleshy core of fruit, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a firm, assertive finish.

The 2023 Lafleur-Gazin reveals aromas of baked dark berries, spices, licorice, clove and oak, followed by a medium- to full-bodied palate that is layered and enveloping, built around a fleshy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins. Finishing long and delicately oaked, this Merlot-only cuvée represents a strong effort.

The 2023 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is showing a more brooding, serious profile in bottle than it did from cask, unwinding in the glass with notes of blueberries, blackberries and plums mingled with hints of pencil shavings, violet and crushed mint. Medium- to full-bodied, deep and dense, with a nicely integrated chassis of sweet structuring tannin, it's classically proportioned, with a long, penetrating finish. This blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc checks in at 13% alcohol.

As anticipated, the 2023 Bourgneuf has turned out very well, revealing aromas of dark berries, dark cherries, incense and lilac. Medium- to full-bodied, it is seamless and layered, built around a fleshy core of fruit perfectly framed by velvety, powdery tannins and concluding with a long, perfumed finish. The blend comprises 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc.

A forward, charming wine that retains plenty of the estate's signature, the 2023 Resèrve de la Comtesse bursts with notes of sweet blackberries, cassis, burning embers and anise. Medium- to full-bodied, fleshy and supple, with a soft, giving profile, this will offer a broad drinking window.