2013 Olivier
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Smells much riper than Latour-Martillac. Ripe lemon, even a touch of orange. Intense, lots of fruit for the vintage. Zesty finish. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2013 Château Olivier has a slightly smudged bouquet, especially when compared directly with the more detailed 2013 Pape-Clement. The palate is smooth and rounded on the entry, a little simple and one-dimensional but at least there is a bit of substance on the finish. Conservative but correct, this does not quite match my hopes when I tasted it from barrel, but it should still offer 7-10 years of modest drinking pleasure.
Lively aroma more like Cabernet Franc than anything else but the palate is pretty dry. More rocky/graphite than fruit. Tough. Can't see it fleshing out either. (JH)
About the producer
Ch. Olivier is one of the few actual castles in Bordeaux – coming with a moat and drawbridge. Since Alexandre de Bethmann took over here in 2012, the château has been given a new lease of life, with quality on the rise.