2023 Capbern
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Tasting notes
A tough wine to understand, the 2023 Château Capbern is based on 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc aged 15 months in 50% new French oak. Uber-ripe blue and black fruits, licorice, and roasted herbs dominate the nose, but it feels overripe and lacks freshness on the palate, with rough, unresolved tannins and a clunky finish. It's a disappointing effort from this Saint-Estèphe address. Drink 2026-2030.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Capbern is an absolute delight. Bright, floral and super finessed, Capbern has a lot to offer in 2023. Crushed flowers, mint, spice, tobacco, rose petal and crushed red berry fruit are all very nicely sculpted in the glass. Cabernet Sauvignon drives the blend, and that comes through in the wine's savory, brilliant personality.
The 2023 Capbern has a light bouquet with tertiary black fruit laced with cedar and pencil box scents, perhaps a little Pauillac in style. The palate is medium-bodied, with gentle grip on the entry. A little softer than the preceding Le Prieuré, more approachable as a result, building toward the finish, whose tannins linger. Commendable in terms of cohesion, and with a dash of black pepper, this is a fine Capbern that should age well in bottle.
Coming from the team of Calon Ségur, the 2023 Château Capbern is a terrific Saint-Estèphe, and it goes a long way toward showing the strength of the Médoc in the vintage. Cassis, plums, smoked tobacco, and graphite all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel and beautiful tannins. I love the overall purity of fruit, and it's a ripe, sexy, yet flawlessly balanced beauty that should drink nicely right out of the gate yet also age gracefully.