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2023 Château Villa Bel-Air, Graves, Bordeaux

  • Red
  • Dry
  • Full Bodied
  • Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Cabernet Franc (10%)
Ready - youthful (Drink 2025 - 2032)
Jeb Dunnuck
88-90/100
Jane Anson
89/100
James Suckling
90-91/100
Product: 20231016226

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2023 Château Villa Bel-Air, Graves, Bordeaux

Description

Blend: 50% Merlot; 40% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Cabernet Franc.

Husband-and-wife team Guillaume and Aurélie (whose family, the Ballandes, are owners here since 2017) are really starting to hit their stride now. There have been renovations of the historic buildings and improvements in the cellar. The wine is more focused than before, with advice now from Derenoncourt Consultants. This is juicy and direct, with an attractive floral lift and an energetic but very well-balanced finish. It is very appealing.

Our score: 15.5/20

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2023
Alcohol % 13%
Maturity Ready - youthful (2025 - 2032)
Grape List Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Cabernet Franc (10%)
Body Full Bodied
Producer Château Villa Bel-Air

Critics reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 88-90/100

Smoky red and black fruits, leather, tobacco, and hints of chocolate all emerge from the 2023 Château Villa Bel-Air, a charming, medium-bodied, round, complex, satisfying Graves that has tons to love.
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (May 2024)
Jane Anson 89/100

Owned by the Ballande family of Château Prieure Lichine in Margaux in 2017, buying from Jean-Michel Cazes of Lynch Bages - both pieces of information that tell you that there has been investment spent on this estate.

You can feel the ageing potential in the firm tannins and fresh acidities, and in the bright blackberry fruits. Great aromatics on the opening, a little angular on the finish. Aged in oak casks, stainless steel vats, and barrels, with 30% new oak.

Drink 2026 - 2035
Drink 2026 - 2035
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com (Apr 2024)
James Suckling 90-91/100

Blend: 50% Merlot; 40% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Cabernet Franc.

Notes of crushed dark berries, spices and a hint of mushroom. It’s medium-bodied with fine, crunchy tannins. Pure and fleshy with a succulent finish.
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (Apr 2024)

About this wine

Graves

Graves

The region which first established Bordeaux's reputation, Graves wines were exported to England as early as the 12th century. The names is derived from ‘gravel’ and the best soils are gravel-rich, mixed with sand and occasionally clay. It is larger in areas than the Médoc but produces only half the amount of wine. The best wines were first classified in 1953 with this classification confirmed in 1959.
Find out more

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  • Free delivery on orders over £125.

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