Bordeaux 2013 – Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Moulis and Listrac

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For a list of all our articles, see Bordeaux 2013 – a guide to our coverage.

Slim pickings from the nether regions of Bordeaux – the best that could be said of many was that they did well considering the adversity of the vintage. For one or two, that actually results in entirely respectable wines that do not deserve automatic opprobrium simply because of their birth year. For the others, the results are unremarkable. 

The tasting notes are listed in alphabetical order. 

Ch Beaumont 2013 Haut-Médoc

A slightly rotten character to the fruit on the nose, but the palate is pure enough. Bitter, granular tannins. Displays the lack of volume so typical of 2013. (RH)
Drink
2017
2023
15

Ch Belgrave 2013 Haut-Médoc

Rich cassis and sweet oak spice. Fine but very firm tannins. Attractive smoked-meat character. Good, solid stuff. (RH)
Drink
2017
2028
16.5 +

Ch de Camensac 2013 Haut-Médoc

Jammy, curranty sort of character – not a bit of underripeness here! Firm, clay-textured tannins. Dry, medium-bodied palate. Starts confidently, but finishes somewhat simply. (RH)
Drink
2015
2025
16

Ch Cantemerle 2013 Haut-Médoc

Black cherry, savoury and structural. No lack of ripeness, but pretty firm and unyielding at this stage. Reliable, classic claret with very enjoyable savoury character. (RH)
Drink
2018
2028
16.5 +

Ch Chasse-Spleen 2013 Moulis

Not much on the nose. Better fruit clarity on the palate, in a savoury, slightly bitter style. Very firm tannins. Not much fun. (RH)
Drink
2017
2023
15

Ch Citran 2013 Haut-Médoc

Green, vegetal note sticks out on the nose – in a way that suggests Chilean Carmenère. Dry, chewy texture, plenty of concentration. Slight mousiness which doesn’t leave the cleanest finish. (RH)
Drink
2016
2020
15.5

Ch Clarke 2013 Listrac-Médoc

Potent liquorice and menthol nose, perhaps with a bit of volatile acidity? Strident tannic grip, medium body, concentrated cassis. Not entirely balanced. (RH)
Drink
2016
2022
15

Ch Clément Pichon 2013 Haut-Médoc

Very juicy and fragrant. Sumptuous, generous oak. Lovely, modern, sweet style. Lots of easy-drinking enjoyability. (RH)
Drink
2016
2024
16 +

Ch Coufran 2013 Haut-Médoc

Bright blueberry and raspberry fruit – quite different from the cassis norm. Fragrant, minty element and lovely firm grip on the palate. Lovely balance here, and plenty of life ahead of it. (RH)
Drink
2018
2028
17

Ch Ducluzeau 2013 Listrac-Médoc

50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Simple but ripe fruit, a little bitter on the finish. Pert tannins, light body. (RH) 13%
Drink
2016
2020
15.5

Ch Fonréaud 2013 Listrac-Médoc

Lovely black fruitcake character and a lick of sweet vanillin. Rounded, smooth and easy drinking, but pretty slim on the palate, and short to finish. (RH)
Drink
2015
2019
16

Ch Fourcas Hosten 2013 Listrac-Médoc

Pretty compact nose. Lots of cassis on the palate, and a firm tannic grip too. Good concentration, considering the vintage. Pretty simple flavour profile, but very nicely made. (RH)
Drink
2016
2020
16

Ch Fourcas-Borie 2013 Listrac-Médoc

63% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot. Soft oak, bright, ripe and light. Well made and balanced, but it finishes with a sourness that jars. (RH) 13%
Drink
2017
2021
15

Ch La Lagune 2013 Haut-Médoc

Because everything is late in 2014, the wines have not been blended yet. Hence there are four lots. 19 hl/ha yield. Very small quantity of Merlot, which was therefore co-fermented with Cabernet Sauvignon. Not scored, because it is not yet blended. Four lots as follows:
Lot 1: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon. 5% Merlot, co-fermented. Perfumed and rich – plenty of richness without heaviness. Pretty brusque tannins, but not too aggressive. The palate retains smoothness, in fact.
Lot 2: Also 95% Cabernet Sauvignon. 5% Merlot, co-fermented. A little bit herbal and leafy. More astringent and hard than the Lot 1 – good to give a bit of structure. Pretty tough by itself though.
Lot 3: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, co-fermented. Tight structure – very fine tannins, very compact fruit. Quite austere and crunchy, but the fruit quality is convincingly savoury.
Lot 4: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Scented and perfumed. This will probably be the heart of the blend. Chewy tannic structure, very classic and firm – but very delicious and satisfying too. (RH)
Drink
0
??

Ch de Lamarque 2013 Haut-Médoc

Super-sweet fruit, almost jammy. Heavily oaked too, giving a sawdust and sweet spice character. Chewy tannins, modest length, light body. No shortcomings, but no intrigue either. (RH)
Drink
2016
2023
16

Ch Maucaillou 2013 Moulis

Liquorice, menthol, black cherry. Very drying, protuberant tannins. Pleasant fruit character, but the structure doesn’t frame the flavour so well. (RH)
Drink
2016
2020
15

Ch Potensac, Chapelle de Potensac 2013 Médoc

66% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon 6% Cabernet Franc. 10% new oak. Loads of perfume – very pretty and soft. Lovely tender bite to the tannin. Balanced, complete – fairly simple, but good early-drinking claret style. (RH) 13%
Drink
2015
2020
16

Ch Potensac 2013 Médoc

49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 33% new oak. Richly scented, and showing its oak rather. Very dry tannins – really structural, but not hard. Certainly needs a good amount of time to age though. (RH) 13.1%
Drink
2020
2028
16.5 +

Ch Poujeaux 2013 Moulis

Ripe, juicy blackberry – sweet and modern and attractive. Just a touch of oak on the palate, well-balanced body and higher than expected tannins, especially on the finish. (RH)
Drink
2016
2023
16 +

Ch Preuillac 2013 Médoc

Rather scorched fruit on the nose. A bit clumsy and underpowered on the palate. Very fine tannins, but not supported with enough else to really engage. (RH)
Drink
2014
2018
15

Ch Reysson 2013 Haut-Médoc

Sweet perfume, glossy black fruit and a good dose of liquorice. Light and easygoing with a slightly crude finish. (RH)
Drink
2014
2020
15

Ch La Tour Carnet 2013 Haut-Médoc

Juicy cassis and smart, toasty oak aromas. Good concentration and persistence on the palate, plenty of floury tannin to finish. Serious, savoury and worthy of cellaring. (RH)
Drink
2020
2028
17 +

Ch La Tour de By 2013 Médoc

Juicy, ripe fruit and pretty overt clove character from oak. Very stiff-brushed tannins too. Needs some time to resolve in bottle, but I’m not sure there is long-term fruit in here. (RH)
Drink
2020
2025
15