Bordeaux Vintage 2024 – Tasting Notes For Right Bank Red Wines

Selected tasting notes below are for right bank Bordeaux red wines and accompany a companion article titled titled Bordeaux Wine Vintage 2024 – Varied, Challenging, Aromatic, Precise, and another companion article titled Bordeaux Vintage 2024 Tasting Notes – Left Bank, EDM And White Wines.

Red Wines

Right Bank Bordeaux

Château Monlabert. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2024. 94 points.

75/25 Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend aged 14 months in partially new oak. Firm structure, black cherry dominant aromas as well as a brew of fragrances of cocoa, tar and black licorice. Balanced and generous wine with supple tannins, rounded and black fruit and vibrant underlying acidity.

Château Croix de Labrie. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 95+ points.

80/10/10 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc from 60-year-old vines, and from 100-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines from which owners make their own massal selection. Aged in barriques as well as foudre. Initial aromas are brisk with slight minerality, light and bright red fruits such as raspberries and plums as well as cassis. Acidity dominants, as with many 2024 Bordeaux wines, but complexity is evident in this light juice with fine flavors of young red fruit. Tannins are low key but creamy; overall a light and fine wine with beautiful length. 14,000 bottles produced.

Château Bellevue. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2024. 95 points.

This 100% Merlot includes a light perfume of red and black cherries and red plums. Beautiful soft and fine flavors of black berries; well integrated with tannins. Gentle and subtle complexity.

Chateau Monlot. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 95 points.

Perfume and aromas of violets, roses, black pepper, black berries. Smoky flavors with creamy tannins, bright acidity, complexity and some chocolate on the finish. Fantastic length.

Château Angélus. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 97 points.

60/40 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc from this 40^th vintage of Hubert de Boüard, and the tenth vintage of his working with Benjamin Laforet. Supple, delicate, charming aromas of cassis tart, black cherry sorbet, as well as woodland trail. A spider’s web that includes with both tension and delicacy. Ethereal fine tightrope between cassis, silky tannins and acidity. Harmoniously balanced, with brimming acidity. Molten flavors of black cherries and blueberries. No matter the vagaries of vintage, Angélus always pulls through with balance and quality.

Château Angélus. Carillon d’Angélus. Saint-Émilion. 2024. 94+ points.

90/10 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc. Supple cloud of light and elegant aromas of fudge, red and black cherries, cassis. Beautifully integrated dark red fruit dominating, as well as chocolate flavors. Slight spices of ginger and nutmeg on the finish. Balanced with elegant and supple tannins and bristling supporting acidity. Delicious package.

Château Rochebelle. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2024. 91-92 points.

Balanced aromas that include florals, raspberries and cherries. Supple tannins, keen acidity. Still needs integration of components, but flavors verge on harmonious.

Château Tour Saint-Pierre. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 91+ points.

From technical director David Caillaud, this wine aged in French oak barrels is a 89/11 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc that includes 13% alcohol and has fresh, sparky aromas of spring red fruit. Flavors include cassis and black cherries with balanced acidity.

Château Petit Val. Rosé. Saint-Émilion. 2024. 90-91 points.

50/50 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc. Aromas of florals, candy cane, pineapple and shortcake. Expressive fruit and easy drinking rosé with pronounced structure and minerality.

Bien-Aimée de Fleur de Lisse. Saint-Émilion. 2024. 92+ points.

Made, as with all red wines from Vignobles Jade, with indigenous yeast. Bright and light plumes of aromas of red plums, red cherries, and bright black cherries in this wine aged in cement. Light, bright, scintillating fruit flavors that include raspberries. Spring brilliance.

Château La Marzelle. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2024. 93+ points.

80/13/7 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon from 30-year-old vines. Aromas include violets, red plums, cocoa, cassis, cookie dough, some green grass. Fine and precise flavors with balanced acidity. A tightrope vintage—fine line of tension between light fruit and acidity. Easy drinking.

Château Monlot. Heritage de Monlot. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 93-94 points.

Red fruit aromas dominant, including plums and raspberries. Also peaches and some gorse in this 13.5% alcohol wine. Good fruit and acidity although it needs a few years to integrate. Long finish on this year’s somewhat Beaujolais version of Bordeaux. Easy drinking. Pair with chicken or pigeon.

Château Saint Georges. Côte Pavie. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 94+ points.

85/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc aged 16 months in oak. Delicate, profound and complex perfumes of hibiscus, queen of the night, violets as well as some mocha and mint. Dynamic acidity melded with soft fondant tannins. Flavors include black and red cherries and blueberry tart on a sparky finish. Incredibly well assembled for this vintage. 13% alcohol.

Château La Gaffelière. Saint-Émilion. 2024. 94 points.

60/40 Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend aged partially in new oak. 13.5% alcohol. Lively expressive aromas that include candy cane and After Eight mints as well as blueberries, red cherries and violets. Intensely suave integration of textured berries.

Château Angélus. No. 3. Saint-Émilion. 2024. 91+-92 points.

85/20/5 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh, clean, direct, focused and brilliant aromas of florals and raspberries. Light wine with acidity dominant; flavors of young red fruit, some herbaceousness. Supple tannins, semi complex, easy drinking.

Château Grand Mayne. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2024. 95-96 points.

70/25/5 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/ Cabernet Sauvignon aged 18 months in oak. 13.7% alcohol. Fresh sea spray of aromas that include violets, cocoa, tobacco and red cherries. Fondant suave tannins and succulence in this soft and layered gem. Complex layer cake of flavors that include German chocolate cake and red cherries.

Château Mangot. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2024. 96 points.

A 64/34/2 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon. Fantastic value for this biodynamic wine from the Todeschini brothers. Deep dark purple color, beautiful aromas of violets, florals, red cherries and some mocha/cocoa. Light acidity is a reminder of a Fleurie from Beaujolais—though this Bordeaux includes requisite tannins and structure. Concentrated and rich flavors from a basket of light fruit that includes cassis, strawberries, raspberries. Excellent integration of components give a fresh and light fruit expression.

Relais de La Dominique. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 93-94 points.

100% Merlot from the coolest locations on the estate and from both older and younger vines. Bright and festive aromas include wet earth and red cherries. Tightly integrated dense mid palate that is a cherry explosion with some menthol as well as black cherries and morels. Bright acidity on the finish. A well-integrated and easy drinking package with succulent and suave tannins.

Château La Dominique. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2024. 94+ points.

85/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc aged 14 months in new and used French oak and amphorae. 13.5% alcohol. Buoyant, festive, succulent, fine, light aromas of red and black cherries. Flavors include cassis, chocolate cake. Light as a Fleurie from Beaujolais but with a firm tannic backbone. Easy drinking and well made wine from technical director Yann Monties.

Château Petit Val. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 94-95 points.

From the Alloin family, this 70/30 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc aged in new oak has an intense perfume of lavender and violets and aromas of gingerbread, spice, salinity and black pepper. Well integrated flavor components include candy cane and raspberries in a generous juice. Supple tannins, fine and light acidity; well balanced and easy to drink now.

Château Petit Val. Muse du Val. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 93+ points.

50/50 Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend vinified in barrels. Pronounced perfumes and aromas of bon bons, raspberries, orange rind, violets and slight menthol. Complex and festive layer cake of red and black cherries, chocolate and nutmeg. Soft, light, fluid tannins in this well made and classic wine. Pair with sashimi or a dessert of strawberry tart.

Château Fleur de Lisse. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 94+ points.

70/30 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc aged in barrels, amphorae and cement. Aromas of violets, red cherries, some lava cake. A wine for food that includes flavors of red cherries in a textured mid palate with heft and elegance.

Château L’Etampe. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 94+ points.

Creamy aromas of mocha, raspberries and cassis. Mid palate with heft, finesse and fine tension between acidity and red fruit. Pair with mushroom velouté.

Vignobles Jade. Fontfleurie. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 93 points.

Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend. Light, fine, dominant and gorgeous aromas of black cherries. Crackling acidity, supple tannins, waves of light spring fruit flavors such as raspberries as well as some morels and black licorice.

Château Du Parc. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2024. 90-91 points.

100% Merlot aged up to 18 months in new oak. Aromas of light red fruit and some greenery. Attack and finish lacking but mid palate creamy and rich acidity.

Château Montviel. Pomerol. 2024. 92 points.

Clean and clear aromas that include violets, sultanas and some green grass. Fine and precise flavors with acidity dominant. Pleasant mouth feel and heightened taste of black and red fruit including cassis and red plums. Subtle and elegant tannins.

Château Fayat. Promesse. Pomerol. 2024. 91-92 points.

This 100% Merlot includes easy and approachable aromas of florals that include violets, as well as red cherries and toast. Somewhat peppery in the mouth with flavors that include cherries and spices. Bright acidity and slightly complex.

Clos René. Pomerol. 2024. 91-92 points.

Herbaceous and wild aromas followed by supple tannins with flavors of mocha and blackberries. Crackling acidity on the finish.

Château Beauregard. Pomerol. 2024. 94-95 points.

67/24/9 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon aged up to 18 months in partially new French oak. Crisp, brittle and fresh perfume of violets and roses and aromas of light red fruits that include raspberries and strawberries. Soft and melted tannins and heightened acidity suavely integrated with fruits and alcohol before a lovely long finish.

Château Saint-Pierre. Pomerol. 2024. 94-95 points.

85/15 Merlot/Cabernet Franc from an eight acre plot that has been in the family for over a century. Vinified with 10% stems in amphorae. Generous perfume of violets and aromas of red and black cherries that are fine, precise and light. Beautiful spice, black currants, chocolate and herbs of Provence in this deliciously complex wine well integrated with suave tannins and slight salinity. A hint of peaches and red licorice on the finish.

Château La Violette. Pomerol. 2024. 94 points.

Slightly herbaceous aromas followed by violets. Delicate and suave tannins in this chewy and textured mouthful that includes flavors of brownies and blue fruit. Brilliant, uplifting and creamy finish.

Clos Bel Air. Pomerol. 2024. 92+ points.

Thin aromas of raspberries in this 95/5 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc with 12.5% alcohol. Gorgeously creamy mid palate with supple blue and red fruit flavors.

Château Renaissance. Pomerol. 2024. 93-94 points.

This 85/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc is aged in both old and new oak as well as in terracotta amphorae. Beautiful aromas of violets, roses as well as mocha, coffee, black pepper and allspice. Light, delicate and slightly spicy flavors include red plums.

Château Le Gay. Pomerol. 2024. 93-94 points.

Making this wine required 280 barrels used for microvinification. Prim aromas of violets, tobacco and slight mocha. Crisp tension between acidity, tannins and blue and red fruit in the mouth. Textured with a crisp finish. Flavors include dark plums, dorp licorice and slight salinity on the finish. Balanced, light, fine and delicate wine.

Château Petit-Village. Pomerol. 2024. 94 points.

60/31/9 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon from 55+ year old vines. Aged up to 16 months in partially new French oak barriques as well as in 500 liter barrels. 13% alcohol. Organic wine includes young perfumed aromas of black cherries, red cherries, florals, some herbaceousness. Rich, supple and suave tannins as well as ripe, lambent, dominant acidity. Subtle flavors include strawberries, raspberries. Deft tannins and some chocolate on a silky finish. Keep this for a few years before opening.

Château Plain Point. Fronsac. 2024. 94-95 points.

90/8/2 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon that spends over a year in barrel and includes an alcohol level of 13.5%. Supple, sweet, well integrated aromas that include minerality, gorse, strawberries, blackberries. These turn more supple after five minutes in the glass. Gorgeous balanced and precise flavors include red plums, red cherries, raspberries, blueberries, cinnamon and mocha. Lovely, fine, supple and creamy tannins well integrated with fruit.

Château de Carles. Fronsac. 2024. 92-93 points.

100% Merlot. Some Provence herbs and young red fruit aromas. Heightened acidity, supple tannins, bright fruit. Long finish to this well integrated wine.

Château de Carles. Haut-Carles. Fronsac. 2024. 93 points.

Merlot dominant wine with one fifth Cabernet Franc that aged in both barrels and amphorae. Slightly smoky aromas include dark and ripe blackberries. Supple tannins, bright fruit that is lightbur lacks density.

Château Gaby. Canon-Fronsac. 2024. 92+ points.

80/10/10 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of black pepper, brownies and red cherries. Acidity dominant and flavors include light red fruit such as raspberries. Needs time for integration of flavors.

Le Plus de la Fleur de Boüard. Lalande-de-Pomerol. 2024. 93+ points.

100% Merlot that will eventually age for 33 months in French oak. Fresh, zesty and pronounced aromas of granite, black pepper and licorice. Supple tannins, sparky acidity, dark fruit flavors that bolt in the mouth. Well integrated components.

Château La Brande. Castillon. 2024. 92+ points.

The Todeschini brothers are still generating wines of great value both in Saint-Émilion and Castillon. This wine lacks the characteristically indelicately chalky characteristics of many wines from that appellation and the aromas are fine and precise and include raspberries and red cherries. Flavors of light red fruit, cherry tart and sparking acidity with a lovely finish and pronounced length. 13.5% alcohol.

Château Le Virou. Vielles Vignes. Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux. 2024. 92 points.

From winemaker Pauline Gentet, this 70/15/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon from 35-year-old vines ages partially for 12 months in American oak. Crackling aromas of red and black fruit. Crisp acidity in this young but delicious wine that is a bargain.

Château Mangot. Rosé. 2024. 90-91 points.

100% biodynamic Merlot with 12% alcohol. Fresh aromas of pineapples, mangoes, peaches. In the mouth—tension and minerality.

Famille Todeschini. Préface. Vin de France. 2024. 92+ points.

Made from white Merlot, a ‘lost grape’ that is a hybride of Folle Blanche and Merlot. Aromas of white pears, guavas, honeysuckle and lavender. Deliciously fresh with beautiful acidity. 2,700 bottles produced. Unique and uplifting.

Château Moya. Vin de Bordeaux. 2024. 93 points.

93/7 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas reminiscent of a Beaujolais with florals such as roses dominant. Also aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, black cherries. Complex wine with beautifully taut tension, flavors of light red fruit, belle acidité and an enjoyable tangy snap on the finish.