2025 Clos Manou (Medoc)

As ever, this sits at the upper end of what you can find in the vintage from the Médoc appellation, chewy and sinewy tannins with lift and kick of white pepper and sage spices, love the balance and the energy, red fruits that are concentrated but not overly intense, they let the light in and have a mouthwatering finish to the red currant and cassis fruits. 3.55 pH. 21% new oak. 5% press wine. Stephane Dief, now also with his son Arthur, who is taking the lead as Stéphane heads to Picque Caillou. 94 points

The 2025 Clos Manou is racy, elegant and polished from start to finish. Plush contours wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mocha and new leather. This mid-weight, juicy Medoc is impeccable. 92-94 points

The 2025 Clos Manou was cropped at 45 hl/ha after sorting. This has a sublime bouquet that you really have to just sit and savour, with beautiful blackberry, briar and subtle sous-bois scents, and, like others, it becomes more floral with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a slightly more powerful and assertive Clos Manou, but there is control and focus. As such, it is one that I would cellar for two or three years because you can see the potential already. Bon vin. 92-94 points