A stellar wine from this newly-named Château Beauséjour estate (removing the Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse). Herbal and dark fruit on the nose, blackcurrant with cocoa powder, liquorice, some exotic spices as well as purple floral notes, peonies and roses. Juicy supple and alive in the glass, this has lift and get-go from the start, super clean and precise with a lovely bite and grip to the tannins. Fine and chalky, mouthfilling, so you get the ample structure but keeps its direction and flow. Power is there for sure, which some 2023s don’t have, but this is also elegant and so precise. The flavour also really lingers. This has a vertical aspect, layered with muscle and fine sinew. Juicy and succulent, pure and moreish - really makes you want another sip and somehow feels approachable already. Balanced and delicious. Consultants Julien Viaud and Axel Marchal. 46hl/ha yield. 3.4pH. Ageing 14-16 months, 60% new oak. 70% grand vin.
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, matured predominantly in Taransaud and Cadus barrels, the 2023 Beauséjour (Duffau Lagarrosse) has turned out brilliantly. It reveals a complex, fresh and compelling bouquet of spices, fresh licorice, violet, dark berries and incense. Medium- to full-bodied, concentrated and sapid, it is seamless and built around a fleshy core of fruit framed by powdery, velvety tannins that extend into a lead-pencil-inflected finish. Fully in line with expectations, this is a bottle that merits cellaring to allow the full potential of this remarkable terroir to unfold.
Winemaking and terroir speak at the same volume in this red. Aromas of chalk, warm toast, blackberries, graphite, chocolate and pepper. Almost full-bodied, but nothing heavy. Tight tannins, chalky vibrations and a touch of wood firmness. A bit early now. Drink from 2028.
Josephine's third vintage since arriving here, the 2023 Château Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) sports a deep ruby hue as well as a gorgeous nose of ripe black raspberries, cassis, smoky tobacco, crushed stone-like limestone, and floral nuances. It's medium to full-bodied and has a seamless, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It's an ultra-classic Beausejour that readers will love to have in the cellar. It already offers pleasure yet will keep for 30+ years if you're so inclined. It's just a complete, layered, absolutely classy wine. I'll be a buyer. Drink 2026-2056.
The 2023 Beauséjour J. Duffau-Lagarrosse is exceptionally beautiful. Silky on the palate, the 2023 is all class. Bright red-toned fruit, rose petal, cedar and delicate spice overtones are all deftly woven together. Polished tannins extend the resonant, utterly exquisite finish. This is such a fine example of the house style under the direction of Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse.
TWI
95pts
The Wine Independent
94-95 2023 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse has a fine and elegant nose of ripe fruit, red berries and a tickling, creamy, dense taste. The wine first seems a bit underplayed but don’t get it wrong as there is a plentiful reservoir of cassis waiting below. It has a very structured and powerful taste with notable tannins at the end. It is not 2023 you should approach early on as it will benefit from 5-7 years cellaring.
This is elegant and perfumed, with rooibos tea and dried rose petal notes leading off, followed by red currant, cherry and blackberry preserve fruit. Red licorice, iris and a dusting of chalky minerality add range and tension through the fine-grained finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2038.