Discovery
By Sylvain Patard, posted on 05 May 2026
The 2025 vintage enjoyed a balanced cycle, fairly dry and mild, which created especially favourable conditions and allowed perfectly ripe tannins to emerge alongside reasonable alcohol levels. But beyond the overall quality, which is beyond doubt, the key to this year is truly the terroir – it is what allowed (or not) the birth of great cellaring wines in Bordeaux's grand tradition. Here is our analysis, building on our previous take on the Médoc appellation.
Frédéric Comet and Sylvain Patard at Hangar 14
In red, the wines display particularly deep robes, with tannins both tight and silky. Ripeness is there, and so is freshness – almost always. Some terroirs come through better than others and project a sense of consistency that is far from universal. That is the case in the northern Médoc, especially Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. Saint-Julien is more uneven, like Margaux. The reds from Graves and Pessac-Léognan show stunning ease and harmony, which they no doubt owe in large part to their well-drained terroir. The dry whites are no slouch either: they stand out for their brightness and sap, often with exotic notes of grapefruit and pineapple – a sign of ripeness – which give them plenty of charm.
In Sauternes, what dominates is real consistency, expressed through wines full of energy: pure, intense, balanced by saving acidity. Probably a great vintage for sweet wines, but to know for sure we will need patience!
On the Right Bank, Saint-Émilion fares very well, especially the wines from limestone terroirs, which preserved freshness and density. Pomerol is less fortunate, with a number of wines that feel a touch dry and short on charm – a behaviour we sometimes see from Merlot, the appellation's flagship grape – but this could well improve once the final blends are in place.
Overall, 2025 looks appealing, in the measured style sought by buyers and wine lovers alike. On the terroirs that succeeded best, it impresses through controlled freshness and power, with a quality of tannins that should give the reds serious cellaring potential. But let us stay humble! It still remains to be seen how these wines will evolve and what their real potential will be once élevage is complete and they are in bottle. And above all, we have to learn the prices – an often thorny subject in Bordeaux – which should start to be released very soon. To go further, you can also explore our guide to falling in love with Crus Bourgeois wines.
Tasting and note-taking during the Bordeaux 2025 en primeur tastings
94/100 Domaine de Chevalier (see Domaine de Chevalier results at GGIC)
A full-bodied wine with fine tannins underlined by oak that is still dominant. You can already sense serious potential, and we can't wait to taste it from bottle.
93/100 Château de Fieuzal (see Château de Fieuzal results at GGIC)
A silky, structured wine, with fruity aromas full of freshness. An elegant profile, very promising.
93/100 Château Malartic-Lagravière (see Château Malartic-Lagravière results at GGIC)
A very balanced blend, with backbone provided by the Cabernet Sauvignon. A convincing whole, with a very pure style and no doubt built for long ageing.
92/100 Château Latour-Martillac (see Château Latour-Martillac results at GGIC)
Crunchy and ripe, with stone-fruit notes that signal real maturity. The palate is well built, in the same characterful register. An almost Médoc-like style.
91/100 Château Bouscaut (see Château Bouscaut results at GGIC)
A massive wine, structured by oak and its share of Cabernet. Still rough around the edges but very promising for its frame and length.
91/100 Château Carbonnieux (see Château Carbonnieux results at GGIC)
A structured red with present but elegant oak and freshness in the expression. A wine that has everything where it should be.
91/100 Domaine de Chevalier
An elegant attack on white flowers and lime-blossom, with discreet oak that underlines the aromas. A finely tuned expression that shows excellent management of the élevage.
90/100 Château Carbonnieux
A sparkling wine on fruity and floral aromas full of classicism. Already great balance and harmony. The estate's rigour in white winemaking is well known, and this vintage shows it once again.
90/100 Château de Chantegrive (see Château de Chantegrive results at GGIC)
A treat: exotic and fresh at once, carried by its ripeness and a structure coming to life. A real success, no doubt about it.
90/100 Château Rahoul (see Château Rahoul results at GGIC)
A heady expression of exotic fruits (pineapple, grapefruit). Plenty of charm already, with an enjoyable backbone built on freshness.
96/100 Château Canon (see Château Canon results at GGIC)
The cru's legendary finesse is back. The terroir has spoken once again: distinction, aromatic precision, restraint. It's all there! And for the long haul.
96/100 Clos Fourtet (see Clos Fourtet results at GGIC)
Noble oak, lovely depth, incredible body on the palate paired with great ripeness. A quality terroir served by a complete vintage.
96/100 Château Valandraud (see Château Valandraud results at GGIC)
Refined oak and fine-grained tannins already showcase a fruit of great precision. Unquestionably a great wine that is already starting to reveal itself!
93/100 Château La Dominique (see Château La Dominique results at GGIC)
Ripe, velvety tannins and a fine, full body. A real personality built on flawless ripeness.
94/100 Château La Croix de Gay (see Château La Croix de Gay results at GGIC)
Lovely aromatic purity. The tannins are ripe and velvety. The whole feels silky and very typical. A perfect ambassador for the appellation.
93/100 Château Beauregard (see Château Beauregard results at GGIC)
Plenty of indulgence and crunch. The tannins are ripe and the oak shows a fresh, controlled side. Once again, real typicity.
93/100 Château Petit-Village (see Château Petit-Village results at GGIC)
Slightly dominant but elegant toasted oak. The palate is powerful yet stays harmonious. A solid blend that will need to prove itself over time.
94/100 Château Poujeaux (see Château Poujeaux results at GGIC)
In the purest Poujeaux style: austere, dense and remarkably harmonious all at once. A vintage that brings the estate's exceptional terroir to life – which is often the case here, it must be said!
93/100 Château Chasse-Spleen (see Château Chasse-Spleen results at GGIC)
A very fine wine combining harmony and expression in a fresh, digestible register, with lovely structure and tension – here too, the expression of a great terroir.
96/100 Château Desmirail (see Château Desmirail results at GGIC)
A deep nose with very seductive floral and red-fruit notes. Velvety tannins and clean fruit within a finely built frame. A wine already in place, very promising.
96/100 Château Lascombes (see Château Lascombes results at GGIC)
A dense nose already showing fine fruit quality. A generous palate carrying the same fruit-driven mood full of freshness. A wine for the future, full and structured.
94/100 Château Rauzan-Gassies (see Château Rauzan-Gassies results at GGIC)
A frank nose with clean, fully ripe fruit. The palate is fleshy and velvety, framed by ripe tannins and delicate toasted oak.
95/100 Château Léoville-Barton (see Château Léoville-Barton results at GGIC)
Beautiful tannins, freshness, fruit and floral tones full of youth. A complete, accomplished wine that confirms its class year after year.
94/100 Château Léoville-Poyferré (see Château Léoville-Poyferré results at GGIC)
Tannic, dense, with fine freshness. A traditional style that is convincing – at once elegant and built to age well.
93/100 Château Beychevelle (see Château Beychevelle results at GGIC)
Lovely depth, ripe tannins and overall harmony that already feels reassuring. A fine bottle that knows how to express the full talent of its Saint-Julien terroir.
93/100 Château Saint-Pierre (see Château Saint-Pierre results at GGIC)
Lovely concentration, with a balanced presence of oak. The whole already has real charm and shows all the authority typical of the appellation.
Barrel cellar under a wooden framework for ageing Bordeaux grands crus
97/100 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (see Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande results at GGIC)
Lovely concentration, plenty of elegance and harmony. Depth too, in the service of flawless fruit quality underlined by delicate oak. Outstanding.
97/100 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse (see Château Grand-Puy Ducasse results at GGIC)
A huge success! Density, sap, noble oak, refined fruit expression – it's all there! The terroir glorified in this 2025 version.
95/100 Château Batailley (see Château Batailley results at GGIC)
A deep colour. A full nose with ripe, frank aromas. The palate is already savoury, with substantial body and freshness. A real success at the dawn of a great career.
95/100 Château Grand-Puy Lacoste (see Château Grand-Puy Lacoste results at GGIC)
A wine focused on oak, dense, certainly built for long ageing as it remains very closed on the fruit. A traditional style that will demand patience.
95/100 Château Lynch-Bages (see Château Lynch-Bages results at GGIC)
Big concentration, volume and floral and fruity aromas still under the imprint of oak. As often, a fine bottle of very high level.
93/100 Château Ormes de Pez (see Château Ormes de Pez results at GGIC)
Big potential, with density, flawless oak quality and noble fruit. A fine career in prospect.
93/100 Château Phélan Ségur (see Château Phélan Ségur results at GGIC)
Sturdy, compact, with delicate toasted oak and fruit beginning to emerge. A convincing profile that has avoided the trap of heaviness.
96/100 Château Rieussec (see Château Rieussec results at GGIC)
Concentration at its peak, in the service of sublime aromas bathed in freshness. An incredible vintage that brings together every imaginable asset. We can't wait to taste it in two years from its distinctive bottle! Discover more in our dedicated piece on Sauternes and Barsac.
95/100 Château Guiraud (see Château Guiraud results at GGIC)
Rich in liqueur, very aromatic and well balanced, with notes of exotic fruits and citrus. A superb wine in the great tradition of the estate.
95/100 Château Coutet (see Château Coutet results at GGIC)
Lovely vigour, a majestic liqueur on the palate combining freshness and aromatics in a very classic register of stewed fruits, honey and raisins. A treat.
95/100 Château de Fargues (see Château de Fargues results at GGIC)
Big concentration once again sublimated by freshness, with an explosion of fully ripe fruits underlined by exotic touches. A marvel in the making.
94/100 Clos Haut-Peyraguey (see Clos Haut-Peyraguey results at GGIC)
A Sauvignon-led base bringing zip and freshness, for an alert and aromatic wine that can be enjoyed right now, even if complexity has not yet shown up.
91/100 Château Haut-Maurac (see Château Haut-Maurac results at GGIC)
Lovely velvety tannins, fruit and freshness within a coherent frame. A terroir wine, proud of its identity.
90/100 Château La Cardonne (see Château La Cardonne results at GGIC)
Ripe tannins, fine freshness on the palate with sap. A serious wine, with solid assets and substantial body.
92/100 Château Plantey (see Château Plantey results at GGIC)
Full tannins and finely tuned oak that gently caresses the fruit. Fine sap. A complete wine that has fully made the most of the vintage.
91/100 Château d'Arsac (see Château d'Arsac results at GGIC)
Ripe but velvety tannins on the palate; aromas are youthful, floral, with hints of cassis bud. A very successful Cabernet Sauvignon-driven wine.
90/100 Château Biston-Brillette (see Château Biston-Brillette results at GGIC)
A precise, fresh nose on ripe fruit. A structured palate with accomplished tannins. A traditional style that is very reassuring.
92/100 Château La Commanderie (see Château La Commanderie results at GGIC)
A deep, elegant wine with discreetly smoky aromas from the early stages of élevage. A big structure framed by substantial but very fine tannins, with a real fruit-oak balance already in place.
91/100 Château Laffitte-Carcasset (see Château Laffitte-Carcasset results at GGIC)
A crunchy nose with youthful floral notes. An ample, well-structured palate with silky tannins and fruit beginning to emerge. A pretty wine in the making.
Discovery
Discovery
Discovery