Capbern - Saint-Estèphe 2023

My Bettane + Desseauve

91

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/15/2024

Comme toujours, c’est un excellent rapport qualité-prix dans l’appellation. Bon corps, frais et dense, sans raideur dans le tannin, il sera bon vite et pourra bien vieillir.

Yvesbeck.wine

92-94

byYves Beckthe5/14/2024

Capbern offenbart sich in einem Crescendo. Er beginnt mit Graphitnoten, dann Eukalyptus, also das Terroir, gefolgt von der Rebsorte, bevor er eine Symbiose aus allen vorhandenen Komponenten schafft. Der Wein ist leicht cremig und schmackhaft im Auftakt und zeigt eine gewisse Breite. Er kann auf die Unterstützung kompakter und cremiger Tannine zählen, die gemeinsam mit der Säure Kraft und Frische bilden. Ein sehr identitätsstiftender Capbern, der jedes Jahr ein wenig mehr an Größe und Authentizität gewinnt.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-94

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/13/2024

Coming from the team of Calon Ségur, the 2023 Château Capbern is a terrific Saint-Estèphe, and it goes a long way toward showing the strength of the Médoc in the vintage. Cassis, plums, smoked tobacco, and graphite all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel and beautiful tannins. I love the overall purity of fruit, and it's a ripe, sexy, yet flawlessly balanced beauty that should drink nicely right out of the gate yet also age gracefully.

The Wine Independent

88-90

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/8/2024

A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2023 Capbern has a deep garnet-purple color. It is a little grumpy to start, offering notes of black pepper and sassafras before opening out to notions of plum preserves and stewed strawberries, with a waft of tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing and light on its feet, with lightly chewy tannins and a peppery finish.

The Drink Business

91-93

byColin Haythe5/7/2024

Capbern (St-Estèphe; 69% Cabernet Sauvignon; 29% Merlot; 1% Cabernet Franc; 1% Petit Verdot; IPT 86; a final yield of 45 hl/ha; 14.6% alcohol; tasted at Calon-Ségur). Saline, earthy and mineral. Nicely made, bright and quite sweet-fruited. Full with the intensity reinforced by the more narrow frame. An excellent Capbern, its quality aided by the higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Juicy. Succulent and fresh. Pleasingly quaffable. Good intensity. 

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93

byJeff Levethe5/6/2024

Mint, tobacco leaf, cedar, cherries, and currants pop in the nose. The medium-bodied, refined, soft, forward, fruity-palate is going to provide delicious drinking on release. The wine blends 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 14.6% ABV, 3.7 pH. Drink from 2026-2040. 92-94 Pts.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

89

byJane Ansonthe5/6/2024

Highly spiced blackberry and cassis fruits, liquorice root, coffee beans, creamy cappucino, even a touch of grated ginger which adds freshness to what is a pretty intense Capbern. The alcohols are unusually high for the vintage in this sector of Bordeaux, and it brings a supple character to the tannins and a rich texture to the fruit - underlining that Capbern is far away from the tradionally-framed St Estèphe it was in the past. 45hl/h yield, 60% new oak for ageing, harvested September 6.

Vinous

90-92

byAntonio Gallonithe4/30/2024

The 2023 Capbern is a plush, sensual wine. Juicy dark plum, spice, mocha, gravel and incense are all amplified in this racy, wonderfully inviting Saint-Estèphe. Soft, supple tannins wrap it all together in style. Readers looking for an affordable wine to drink over the next 10-12 years will adore this. Superb.

Vinous

89-91

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2024

The 2023 Capbern was picked from September 6 to 20 at 45hL/ha, matured in 60% new oak. Alcohol is stated at 14.6%. It has a ripe, plush bouquet with brambly red fruit, raspberry confit and just a hint of orange rind coming through with aeration. The palate is well-balanced and cohesive, with slightly powdery tannins, gentle grip and a touch of warmth on the spice box-tinged finish. The acidity (pH is 3.7) keeps this on an even keel, but I would be inclined to drink it after two or three years.

Alexandre Ma

92-93

byAlexandre Mathe4/28/2024

Wine Advocate

91-93

byWilliam Kelleythe4/26/2024

A serious, brooding wine, the 2023 Capbern offers up aromas of cassis and dark berries mingled with licorice and spices. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with good depth and concentration, it's built around lively acids and powdery tannins. It's a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon (an unusually high proportion for Capbern) and 29% Merlot with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/25/2024

There is clarity and freshness to this, with crunchy dark fruit, cedar and blackberry. It’s medium-bodied, racy and fine. Lead pencil at the end. More precise than 2022. 69% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 1% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

Decanter.com

91

byGeorgina Hindlethe4/18/2024

Highly perfumed and fragrant nose, full of purple flowers and dark fruits. Bright and super fresh, almost too much, but then settles quickly into salty stone edged tannins that give a metallic tang to the palate. A little lean and straight, not much density but there’s concentration and a sense of quiet power from start to finish. Not so charming but precise and focussed. Nice juiciness too, very St-Estèphe, with a real clean grip to the finish. Will be nice to see after ageing. 12% press wine. 3.7pH. 45hl/ha yield. Ageing 18 months, 60% new French oak. Highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend at 69% with 1% Cabernet Franc completing the blend.