2025 Bordeaux Tasting Notes: Left Bank—Pauillac
Simon Field MW shares his impressions from the 2025 Bordeaux en primeur tastings, focusing on the wines of Pauillac.
PAUILLAC
Château d’Armailhac 5ème Cru
- A joyful wine, with honest aromas and distinguished pedigree. Herbal notes, polished tannins, and a silky mouthfeel create an understated charm. | 93–94
Château Clerc Milon 5ème Cru
- Located near the Gironde, this wine is succulent and elegant with fine-grained tannins and a dark-fruit character. Celebrated for its ripeness and restraint, this vintage showcases its distinction and beauty. | 94–95
Château Duhart-Milon 4ème Cru
- Deep soils yield aromas of juniper and blackberry, refined by fine tannins and harmony. The finish offers a joyful lift. | 93–94
Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 5ème Cru
- A modern winery complements fruit sourced from impressive sites, resulting in a vibrant 2025 vintage rich in energy and bright fruit. | 93–94
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5ème Cru
- This wine is marked by depth and elegance, praised for its precise structure and harmonious interplay of spicy wood tannins and forward fruit. | 95–96
Lacoste-Borie
- Known for its approachable nature, this wine blends raspberry fruit and silky textures, offering a generous palate. | 93–94
Château Haut-Bages Libéral 5ème Cru
- Atypical yet impressive, showcasing dark fruit aromas complemented by figs and spice, all supported by refined tannins. | 94–95
Château Haut-Batailley 5ème Cru
- Under its new ownership, this wine maintains elegance with added definition and charm through graphite and tobacco notes. | 94–95
Château Lafite Rothschild 1er Cru
- Described as a classic, this vintage radiates elegance with aromas of graphite and black fruit, showcasing a low alcohol content that harkens back to tradition. | 97–98
Château Latour 1er Cru
- A seamless blend of elegance and power, with hauntingly complex aromas and firm yet fresh tannins that promise longevity. | 98–99
Château Lynch-Bages 5ème Cru
- A wine of seductive strength, noted for its coffee and chocolate aromas and beautifully integrated fruit. | 96–97
Château Mouton Rothschild 1er Cru
- This vintage displays a velvety texture with an expansive array of aromas, offering depth and accessibility alongside elegance. | 97–98
Château Pichon Baron 2ème Cru
- Characterized as classic, this wine combines powerful Cabernet with floral notes, achieving a harmonious balance throughout. | 96–97
Château Pontet-Canet 5ème Cru
- A product of biodynamic practices, this wine is aromatic with soothing velvety characteristics, demonstrating fidelity to its vintage. | 96–97
For more insights, visit the World of Fine Wine website.