Today’s 2023 Bordeaux Releases Are Powerhouse Collectible Bargains
Today brings the highly anticipated release of the potential wine-of-the-vintage Château Canon as well as my personal favorite, Pavie Macquin, along with critics’ darlings Les Carmes Haut-Brion and Rauzan-Ségla. The clear throughline here is that all four wines fall squarely into the collectible bargain category—presenting an incredibly impressive performance with a price that comes in a range of bargain to sweet-spot pricing. All these properties dropped their pricing between 25% to 30% over that of 2022—well done! I’ve included a note on each offering below for further insight as to why each and every one of these releases is worthy of cellar consideration.
Pavie-Macquin
2023 Pavie-Macquin, St-Emilion (Pre-Arrival) $64.99 *TRACEY’S PICK – A WINE OF THE VINTAGE* 98-99JS 95-97AG 95-97TWI 96DC
2023 Pavie-Macquin, St-Emilion 6-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) $389
2023 Pavie-Macquin, St-Emilion (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival) $129
2023 Pavie-Macquin, St-Emilion (1.5L) 3-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) $389
I took notice of Pavie Macquin tasting a 2011 En Primeur sample—if it was impressive in such a difficult vintage, what would it be like in a great, or even good vintage? And I have been duly impressed with every single vintage since. There has been much investment and improvement over the last decade with director Nicolas Thienpont at the helm (and Stéphane Derenencourt consulting), and this wine has only gone from strength to strength, with 2023 possibly the best I have ever tasted. This sentiment is echoed by multiple reviewers. Suckling: “Best Ever?” Galloni: “Star of the Vintage. Exceptional, Stellar, Brilliant.” Lisa Perotti-Brown: “WOW!” Jane Anson: “A joyful expression of the power of terroir.” I could go on, but you get the point. This is a truly undervalued wine that is hitting all-time highs with every new release. At an incredibly affordable price point aligned with exceptional quality, Pavie Macquin is not only a best value of the vintage, but lands as a most memorable wine of 2023 for me. A bargain in any recent vintage, the 2023 is even sharper priced at 29% down from 2022—I cannot recommend it enough!
Tracey’s Tasting Note: If there was one wine I was looking forward to tasting in this vintage, it was my personal favorite, Pavie Macquin...and it did not disappoint!! Leaps and bounds above anything else in its category, this Premier Grand Cru Classé is a multi-dimensional delight that brings everything to the table. Lip-smacking blackberry and black raspberry flavors are intense and exciting, washing over the palate with vivacious concentration and refreshing acidity. Notes of cedar, rose petal, and minerality from the limestone plateau come through to support in perfect harmony, all ending on an electric and seriously long finish. Honestly, I know En Primeur is supposed to be serious, but this nervy little number was just a delight, and my notes say, "yummy, yum, yum," followed by a big smiley face. This is the kind of wine you want to drink with gusto. An absolute stunner and a DON'T MISS wine for me.
Les Carmes Haut-Brion
2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (Pre-Arrival) $109.99 *COLLECTIBLE BARGAIN* 98-99JS 97-99WA 96-98TWI 97DC
2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan 6-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) $650
2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival) $219.99
2023 Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (1.5L) 3-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) $650
Les Carmes Haut Brion is still an under-the-radar wine that stands as a critics’ darling with high-banded scores since its recent revival in 2015 with new ownership. With every passing vintage more people are coming to understand how great this wine is. This is a wine that nips at the heels of La Mission and Haut Brion, yet comes in at a fraction of the price. My personal experience of blind tasting a 1955 that tasted easily 30 years younger proved unequivocally to me that the Les Carmes vineyard has the goods to compete with the very best in the world. Originally the Les Carmes vineyard was part of the original Haut Brion parcel, split off and gifted to the monks back in the day. Winemaker Guillaume Pouthier brought secrets from working at Chapoutier, putting this property on a decidedly upward trajectory. However, those old wines tell the tale—this is a property that will rise to the top, and there is no better time to start your vertical of Les Carmes Haut-Brion than with the 2023 vintage.
Rauzan-Ségla
2023 Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux (Pre-Arrival) $81.99 *RISING STAR* 97-98JS 96-98AG 95-97TWI 96DC
2023 Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux 6-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) - $485
2023 Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival) $163.99
2023 Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux (1.5L) 3-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) $485
Tracey’s Tasting note: WOW! I hadn’t known why everyone’s been so over the moon with Rauzan-Ségla…until tasting the 2023. The color is dark and saturated followed by a very classic nose of chocolate-covered cherry and rose petal. This is suave and elegant on the attack with super sweet fruit—black cherry, hints of black raspberry—with just the right amount of palate-cleansing acidity. Sublime tannins are nearly imperceptible leading to a finish that is long with echoes of ash and chalk (but not a chalky texture). I can see why people get excited about this polished, elegant and pure-fruited wine that is humming on all cylinders in 2023. At 29% down over 2022’s price, Rauzan-Ségla is a great entry point for anyone looking to experience serious, high-quality Bordeaux.
Canon
2023 Canon, St-Emilion (Pre-Arrival) $124.99 *CRITIC’S FAVORITE* 99-100JS 98-100TWI 98DC
2023 Canon, St-Emilion 6-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) - $740
2023 Canon, St-Emilion (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival) - $249.99
2023 Canon, St-Emilion (1.5L) 3-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) - $740
This is the wine everyone has been talking about! A #1 wine for colleagues, critics, and industry insiders, Canon was top of mind for so many people as we tasted through the En Primeur week. Down 25% in price over 2022, Château Canon priced 2023 right, positioning itself as a sweet-spot collectible, powerhouse, and highlight of En Primeur week.
Decanter Tasting Note: Another excellent wine from the team at Canon benefitting from its position on the limestone plateau. Deep florals, violets, black fruits, some purple fruits too with cocoa powder and cool fresh blueberries. Smooth and so refined, this has a comfort in the mouth that few others have—a certain weight that defies the vintage—almost fleshy but more thick juice rather than lean, with a sweet core as well as biting acidity that provides a great contrast. This is a serious wine, it has structure and movement, supple tannins, so fine with a touch of chalk, strawberry, cranberry and red cherry fruit with liquorice spice on the finish. Assured winemaking, ripe fruit, great acidity and body, ending clean and pure with wet stones and graphite touches. Just delicious, a wine that tastes great now and feels like it’ll always be that way. Expansive in the best way. Aging 16-18 months in 50% new oak as well as foudre.
- Tracey Rose, Key Accounts Specialist