2025 Picque Caillou
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Tasting notes
The 2025 Picque Caillou has an open bouquet with just a touch of Italian delicatessen permeating the red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, with slightly rustic tannins on the entry. Quite compact, it needs a little more flesh towards the finish. This château is now under new ownership, with Clos Manou's winemaker, Stéphan Deif, at the helm. So, I am expecting better wines in the future.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
A Cabernet-dominant blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot from vines near the Bordeaux airport in Pessac, the 2025 Château Picque Caillou is aged 12 months in 35% new French oak. Juicy black cherries, candied violets, graphite, and crushed stone-like minerality all define the aromatics, and on the palate, it's ripe, concentrated, and exuberant, with solid mid-palate depth, some firmer yet nicely integrated tannins, and a good finish. Checking in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.55, it's beautifully balanced and clearly an outstanding wine.
The 2025 Picque Caillou is dense and powerful. Vibrant red-toned fruit, iron, mint, chalk and white pepper are the signatures. There's good energy and tons of persistence to match. Tasted two times.
About the producer
Neighbouring Haut-Brion and Pape Clément, this estate has been turned around since Paulin Calvet took over in 2007. Working with the legendary late Denis Dubourdieu and Valérie Lavigne, results have been impressive.