The northern stretches of the Medoc appellation were a challenging place to be in 2024, with high acidities and a risk of dilution. If anyone can cope with it, it`s Stephane Dief and this is definitely one of the brighter spots in the appellation, but even here you find a wine that goes long on lean, vivid blue fruits, sappy salinity, finely tuned muscles... you get the picture. Supremely well made, a lot to enjoy, but don`t expect exuberance. 5% press wine, September 25 to October 9 for harvest, 55% new oak for ageing, 3.47ph, 72IPT. 18ha of vines in Saint-Christoly de Medoc and Couqueques. 92 points

The 2024 Clos Manou is a tasty Medoc. Dark fruit, chocolate, leather, incense and blackberry make a strong opening statement. The mid-palate is a bit light, but there may be just enough to pull this together with elevage. 86-88 points

The 2024 Clos Manou has a wonderful bouquet for the vintage, which I expected from this producer. It`s delicate, but there is real presence. The palate is vibrant, tensile and quite mineral-driven with a complex, persistent finish. It shows a lot of the more aggrandizing Grand Crus how it`s done. This is superb. 91-93 points