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Tasting notes
Another deeply hued Pessac in the vintage, the 2023 Château Olivier has a beautiful perfume of red and black plums, smoked tobacco, violets, and incense. This carries to a medium-bodied Pessac with terrific purity, nicely integrated background oak, and ripe yet present tannins. This absolutely classic, balanced, impressive 2023 will benefit from just a few years of bottle age.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Neal Martin, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Black cherries stained with tobacco leaves, flowers, licorice, and smoke are what you initially notice. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, chewy, and brisk, with bright red berries, hint of cocoa, and spice in the juicy, finish. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, 13.8% ABV.
The 2023 Olivier is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a fair bit of swirling and coaxing to move beyond the initial wave of oaky notes, eventually revealing a core of blackberry pie, crème de cassis, and black truffles, plus hints of rosemary and clove oil. The medium-bodied palate is lightly chewy and refreshing, with plenty of black fruit to back up the structure and a savory finish.
This is tight and dense with dark-berry, forest-flower and fresh-mushroom aromas, as well as chewy tannins. Slightly traditional in character, but it’s a solid young Pessac-Leognan.
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.