2023 Vieux Maillet
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Tasting notes
The 2023 Vieux Maillet is quite the extrovert. Blackberry, crème de cassis, licorice, cloves and a healthy dose of new oak are front and center. The 2023 is good, but it also feels a bit pushed in terms of extraction and oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Château Vieux Maillet is a solid, certainly outstanding, Pomerol in the vintage that has a slightly modern yet still classic style. Ripe red and blue fruits, spring flowers, graphite, and classy oak all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a round, supple, beautifully balanced mouthfeel. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise over the following decade. It's a beautiful wine.
Medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant, floral, and forward, it will take no time at all until all the sweet, ripe plums, cherries, and cocoa begin offering their pleasures.
A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Vieux Mallet has a deep garnet-purple color. It is a touch muted to start, with sluggish tar, dried herbs, and cedar notes opening out to scents of plum preserves and baked blackberries. The medium to full-bodied palate is slightly chewy, with a racy line defining the earth-laced black fruits, finishing on a peppery note.