For a list of all our articles, see Bordeaux 2013 – a guide to our coverage.
If Pomerol and Pauillac are the two high fliers of 2013, then St-Julien and St-Estèphe are perhaps the smart buys. Having said that, certain St-Estèphe châteaux are already known to be of questionable value en primeur – but there are plenty of other good wines to choose from in 2013, if price is a factor.
The tasting notes are listed in alphabetical order.
Red
60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Plummy, black cherry. Tannins are a bit square, but not too intrusive. Doesn’t quite have the body to match the structure. Perfectly ripe fruit though. (RH)
Alcohol: 13%
Drink:
2017
–
2024
17 +
/20
Red
92% Cabernets, 6% Merlot (normally more like 25%), 2% Petit Verdot. Rich, scented perfume on the nose, medium body and pretty intense tannins – very compact and restricting on the palate. Deserves some maturation, but doesn’t have the body and concentration to go very long term. (RH)
Alcohol: 13.1%
Drink:
2020
–
2025
Red
91% Cabernets, 6% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Lovely medicinal character, classic blackcurrant fruit, dry but not at all astringent. The tannins are grippy but welcoming. This suits its medium body – seems to be very restrained and traditional. Lovely! (RH)
Alcohol: 13%
Drink:
2017
–
2027
16.5 +
/20
Red
60% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc. Rich, succulent, sweet black fruit and an integrated herbal character. So smooth and polished – impeccable selection, no doubt. This has a very fine sheen. (RH)
Drink:
2016
–
2023
Red
64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Light body, crisp palate and very tenderised tannins – sumptuous and pixel-perfect structure. The fruit is pretty simple. (RH)
Drink:
2018
–
2028
17.5
/20
Red
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Closed on the nose, very strong tannins binding everything together – great depth and concentration and power – yet at such modest alcohol. This is a rare advantage of 2013; flavour ripeness at lower alcohol. Pretty impenetrable at this stage. Deserves the same cellaring as a ‘normal’ vintage to give it the best opportunity. (RH)
Drink:
2021
–
2033
Red
Sweet, generous, juicy fruit. Lots of smoky character too. Rounded, supple but with fine tannic definition on the finish. Good, ageworthy potential. (RH)
Drink:
2018
–
2028
15.5
/20
Red
Black cherry, firm tannin and something a tiny bit acetic on the nose. Very furry finish. (RH)
Drink:
2017
–
2023
Red
Earthy, juicy and savoury – a good, honest combination. Pretty fierce tannins – presents the 2013 conundrum of whether the lightish body and concentration will age sufficiently to match. I wouldn’t bet on it. (RH)
Drink:
2020
–
2025
Red
69% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc. Pure cassis and cedar – very classic, very correct. Manages to conjure plenty of body as well – really satisfying and complete. Modest length. Very traditional, yet with modern drinkability. (RH)
Drink:
2016
–
2024
17.5 +
/20
Red
68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Lovely aromas, though in a rather constrained fashion. Luscious fruit and beautifully plush tannins. Attractive dark chocolate and tobacco-smoke flavours, good persistence. Very good – delicately rendered, but with no compromise on fruit character. (RH)
Drink:
2019
–
2027
Red
Sweet black cherry, very high, super-fine tannins. Liquorice and leather to finish. Slightly lacking in concentration, as is 2013’s wont. Still, well-formed flavours with good length. (RH)
Drink:
2018
–
2028
15.5
/20
Red
Blackcurrant, milk chocolate, light tannins, quite straightforward and easy drinking. (RH)
Drink:
2016
–
2023
15.5
/20
Red
Blackcurrant, menthol, mint leaf. Strong, mouth-coating tannins, medium body and tight structure. A bit mean, after the lifted aromatic start. (RH)
Drink:
2016
–
2024
Red
52% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Light but very clean flavours with an attractive bitterness and plenty of plump black cherry fruit. Very melded tannins – lovely suppleness. Well made, no betrayal of poor conditions – just easy drinking and pleasurable. (RH)
Drink:
2018
–
2028
