Overall Pessac-Léognan appears to have succeeded very well in 2025. Even the whites which I’d generally expected to have struggled with the heat and drought, have put in a good showing. They are more textured and generally less aromatic than the cooler years, but they are definitely good. The vintage did start in mid August for the whites in some places to try and retain freshness. The reds were mostly picked in mid-September and they have done really well. At their best they have deep colours, impressive aromatics, classical structures with textured fruit and with plenty of ripe tannin. Given the lower alcohols generally the structure of the wines feels more evident, and the wines don’t have the immediate suppleness of say 2022 or 2019 at the same stage. They will be long lived but tannin management is so sophisticated these days that you needn’t worry that they will take the time that 2010 or 2005 have to come round. So what were the highlights?

My tastings were limited to the wines shown at the UGCB event at Hangar 14 in Bordeaux. It took a while to get my bearings as it was a gigantic room, but I actually began with the wines of Pessac-Léognan and Graves, the latter of which there were only two properties represented, Château Rahoul and Château de Chantegrive. These have both produced good whites and chunky reds. Amongst the good representation of the wines of Pessac-Léognan [it was a pity that Haut-Bailly, Les Carmes Haut-Brion and Smith Haut Lafitte were absent] I was impressed by the whites at Château Pape Clément, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château La Louvière, Château Latour-Martillac, Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, Château de Fieuzal and Domaine de Chevalier. These all showed very well.  The reds were generally dense and concentrated. I was especially impressed with Domaine de Chevalier, Château de Fieuzal, Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, Château Latour-Martillac, Château Malartic-Lagravière and Château Pape Clément.

Here are the detailed notes on the various properties tasted on Monday 20^th April, 2026 in Bordeaux. I’ve included notes on both whites and reds where the properties showed both. Cheers!

Château Bouscaut, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Palest straw; fresh and steely; less oak influence than in some past vintages; fine; lacks a bit of expression on the palate; apple notes; good if lacking in a bit of zap on the end. Will fill out further. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2027-2032.  89-91+

Red: Deep and saturated colour; colour tight to rim; attractive layered aromatics; plenty of plush fruit here; some floral oak notes too; nice entry to the palate; extract and structure evident with a mineral finish. Very solid. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2030-2040.  90-92+

Château Carbonnieux, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Clear silver with a hint of green; some candy, citrus zest and zap; quite mineral on the palate with freshness and zap; this is a positive and classy white Bordeaux to look out for. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2026-2035.  91-93+

Red: Deep and attractive; notes of walnut, resin and wet rock; chocolate too; quite mineral and taut on the palate with structure and extract evident; little tightness to the tannins which élevage should resolve; plenty of matter; sappy finish. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2030-2039.  89-91+

Domaine de Chevalier, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac Léognan, 2025

White: Clear with hints of silver; delicate with notes of fresh cut grass; some zest on the palate; spices; notes of oyster shell; nicely fine; mineral finish. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2028-2040.  93-95+

Red: Glossy and alive in the glass; purple at edge; attractive lifted aromatics with complexity; earth and spices too; plenty of freshness and length on the palate; and extract and texture on the finish. This needs some time in barrel and in bottle but all the elements are there. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2032-2045. 94-96+

Château de Fieuzal, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Pale silver; some lees notes on the nose; attractive palate which has nice texture; if it lacks a bit of zap on the finish this wine has depth and presence.  Drink 2028-2040.  91-93+

Red: Deep and saturated look; tight to rim; plenty of fresh black cherry fruit on the aromatics; cassis too; attractive fruit and feels plush; full of fruit on the palate; lots of extract too but the fruit is sweet and enveloping; this is classical wine with the emphasis on the structure; quite a bit of tannin and extract left here to soften. Again, needs time.  Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2032-2045. 91-93+

Château de France, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Pale silver; some candy and pear drop notes; nice texture on the palate with freshness and spice; works well if a little short on the very end. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2026-2032.  88-90+

Red: Dense and saturated looking; colour tight to edge; black cherry and espresso notes; quite polished and seasoned on the palate; has texture, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit and some earthy notes. This is gutsy. Not as drying tannins as some. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2030-2037. 88-90+

Château Haut-Bergey, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

Deep and saturated looking; colour tight to rim; ripe, lifted aromatics; attractive purity to the fruit; crunchy texture; good freshness and plenty of extract; a little chewy on the finish but should come good during élevage. Currently rather dry on the finish. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2030-2037. 90-91+

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Palest silver with flecks of green; some lees notes; some spicy grapefruit notes; has good texture on the palate; this has freshness; excellent effort – a wine of some concentration but also freshness. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2027-2035. 93-95+

Red: Deep and saturated looking; opaque at centre; wet rock and mineral notes initially; deep if a little unyielding and stern at present; lots of structure and extract evident on the palate; minerals again; this is serious; texture and grip with freshness. Quite backward, currently. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2030-2037. 93-95+

Château Latour-Martillac, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Very palest silver; some oyster shell, candy and lees notes; attractive; good sturdy palate with notes of apple, grapefruit, zest and ginger. Fresh and impressive! Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2027-2035. 91-93+

Red: Deep and saturated looking; ripe black fruits; black cherry; opens up well; layers; nicely crafted on the palate; really quite ‘Bordeaux’ with emphasis on the leaf blackcurrant and black cherry notes; quite structured at the end but this works well. [58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 16% Petit Verdot]. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2030-2037. 91-93+

Château La Louvière, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Palest straw; not hugely expressive to begin with; palate has nice texture and zap; there are grapefruit and zesty citrus tones with spicy, ginger notes; works well. [100% Sauvignon Blanc].  Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2027-2032. 90-91+

Red: Deep and glossy in the glass; briary fruits; nice purity and lifted; quite grippy and structured on the palate; tannins a bit dry on the finish; time in barrel will help but this will need 5 years in bottle after that. [65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2031-2037. 89-91+

Château Malartic-Lagravière, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Palest silver, attractive aromatics; layers; zest, candy and pear drop notes; some spices; attractive palate too; had drive as well as some concentration. Broader style than some. [73% Sauvignon Blanc, 27% Sémillon]. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2027-2035. 91-93+

Red: Deep and saturated; cassis notes; attractive purity here; blackcurrant notes; very strong; palate is really succulent and very masterfully handled in the cellar; quite mineral and also with plenty of extract on the finish but this should settle well. [57.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc, alc 13%]. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2027-2035. 93-95+

Clos Marselette, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Brilliant silver gold in the glass; some candy; pear drop; really attractive floral notes; soapy laolin notes; works well; has texture; nicely done on the finish.[60% Sauvignon, 40% Sémillon, 20% new oak, 12.5% alc, yields 25hl/ha]. Tasted 21/4/26 at Canon-la-Gaffelière. Drink 2026-2030. 90-92+

Red: Deep and saturated look; opaque at the centre; lovely leafy aromatics; earth; but also soft and textured; sweet ripe entry; spices; earthy, leafy; full in the middle; nice texture; has good freshness and acidity; some grip on the end but this works well. [20hl/ha, 60% CS, 39% Merlot, 1%, 25% oak, 13.5%]. Tasted 21/4/26 at Canon-la-Gaffelière. Drink 2028-2035. 90-91

Château Olivier, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Palest silver/green; apples, mineral notes – has freshness; some fresh cut grass on the palate with drive. Dips a fraction at the end. [80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sémillon]. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2027-2032. 89-91

Red: Deep saturated colour; opaque; black cherry, resin; feels quite polished; structured on the palate; has textured fruit but this needs to settle. Freshness here but some sharp edges to the tannins. What you might say is a ‘vin de garde.’ Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2030-2039. 88-90+

Château Pape Clément, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan, 2025

White: Palest silver; fresh grass, candy and pear drop notes; has texture on the palate with some lanolin but also a bit of zap. Fresh on the end. Like this. Works well. [56% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon, 14% Sauvignon Gris].  Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2027-2037. 93-95+

Red: Deep and saturated; dark at core; wet rock, earth and mineral notes; some chocolate; nice entry on the palate; has saturation of fruit and texture; there is extraction but it is measured and nicely structured. This is a serious Pape Clement with all the elements. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2031-2045. 95-97+

Graves

Château de Chantegrive, Graves 2025

White: Palest colour; hint of silver/green; grapefruit and citrus tones; quite zesty with apple notes; palate is round and zesty; grapefruit and citrus characters and a twist of ginger. Works well given the vintage drought and heat. Drink 2026-2029 Tasted 20/4/26 88-90+

Red: Deep and saturated looking; little dumb to start with; quite stalky black fruits emerge; chalk and mineral notes; quite dry and chewy with lots of tannin and acidity; chunky with leafy aspect. Phenolics could be better, perhaps some drought impact here? Drink 2029-2035. Tasted 20/4/26.  85-87

Château Rahoul, Graves, 2025

White: Palest silver, candy, citrus notes and grassy freshness; this has a positive, zesty palate; like this; has zap and life with lees influence on the finish. Really zesty! Great effort. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2026-2031. 90-91

Red: Deep colour; vibrant purple edge; round, some oak lift; polished and attractive aromatics; plummy fruit; nicely layered; impressive; feels quite cool; palate fresh, with concentration and sap; some black cherry notes; little grippy on the finish currently. Elevage and a little fining should help! Has vigour. Tasted 20/4/26. Drink 2029-2037. 88-90