In 2024, the Bordeaux region’s northern Médoc areas, including Pauillac, experienced a more favorable growing season with less rainfall in September compared to southern areas like Pessac-Léognan and Margaux. This lesser precipitation may account for the better consistency and balance found in Pauillac wines during this wet vintage.
Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon in the mix, these wines thrived on the region’s deep gravel soil, which is conducive to producing high-quality wines, thanks in part to a concentration of distinguished classified growths. A tasting of 35 wines from this appellation highlighted several standout selections, including three whites: Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Mouton Rothschild’s Aile d’Argent, and Pichon Lalande Blanc. The wines, while slimmer compared to those from the warmer vintages of previous years, reflected a style reminiscent of the mid-1990s—poised, expressive, and true to their terroir.
Key Recommendations:
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Château Lafite Rothschild 1er Cru (96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot): Celebrated as a standout of the vintage, this wine showcases a harmonious blend of cassis, graphite, and violets, with fine-grained tannins and a complex finish. Rated 97.
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Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 5ème Cru (56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot): A notable performer for a fifth growth, this wine combines concentration and purity with dominant notes of dark plums and cassis. Rated 94.
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Château Haut-Batailley 5ème Cru (68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot): This vintage offers a balance of freshness and depth, with flavors highlighting blackcurrants and tobacco. Rated 92.
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Carruades de Lafite (47% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot): An impressive expression for a secondary label, demonstrating purity and vibrancy with notes of cedar and black plums. Rated 93.
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Château Lynch-Bages 5ème Cru (70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot): This medium-weight wine provides a lovely, balanced profile with notes of cassis and red plums. Rated 93.
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Château Mouton Rothschild 1er Cru (93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot): Represents a restrained yet fresh expression of Mouton with savoriness over fruity notes. Rated 94.
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Château Pichon Baron 2ème Cru (87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot): Elegant and harmonious, this wine combines lively berry notes with refined tannins. Rated 93.
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Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2ème Cru (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc): Light and aromatic, this wine provides a playful mix of vegetal and fruity flavors, rated 94.
These provisional ratings are based on unfinished wines tasted as barrel samples, with the anticipation of their development in the bottle. The wines of Pauillac in 2024 exemplify the resilience and skill necessary to navigate a challenging vintage, producing wines that are fresh, refined, and indicative of their prestigious origins.