2023 Monbousquet
Buying options
Tasting notes
A beautiful Monbousquet, the 2023 Château Monbousquet sports ripe black cherries, currants, chocolaty herbs, and roasted herbs on the nose. Based on 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 19 months in 50% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's well worth seeking out and will keep for 20 years or so. Drink 2026-2045.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Monbousquet is a delicate, elegant wine. Floral top notes lead into a core of dark cherry/plum fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice and incense. The typically boisterous Monbousquet expression of fruit is dialed back a bit, which I think helps the wine's balance, as the 2023 is not as overt as most vintages. Floral overtones reappear to lift the vibrant finish. Gorgeous.
The 2023 Monbousquet was tasted on two occasions. It has quite a dense bouquet with more black than red fruit, mixed with melted tar and pencil-box aromas. It is what you might call “full throttle.” The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. Quite firm in structure, for me, this needs to muster a bit more precision on the finish and assimilate the oak better, they protrude a little too much vis-a-vis its peers.
Spicy and toasty oak, blackberries, roasted spices, dark chocolate and ripe dark cherries on the nose. Lush and almost full-bodied, with compact, chewy tannins and a flavorful palate. Slightly less bold in the past with a bright fruit underneath. 60% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Try from 2028.