(2024) This Cabernet Sauvignon dominated 3ème Cru Classé from Margaux has a good depth of colour and opens with attractive fragrance: earthy, ripe and plummy aromas, plenty of cedar and notes of tapenade. The palate is firm, arguably even a touch unyielding, certainly plenty of tannin making its presence felt. There is some juiciness there too, the mid-palate showing ripeness. Good length, acid well-judged. A little more about density and power than perfume or finesse.

(2024) Made by Château Clinet of Pomerol, but from Right Bank vineyards outside of the appellation, this Merlot-based wine is another I've enjoyed in various vintages. There's a smooth and plush plum and chocolate character on the nose, dark and touched by espresso. It's all about swirling darkness really, but there are delightful little perfumed violet hints. On the palate the creamy, suave depth of the black fruit cashes the cheque promised by the nose: crushed black berries, a meaty and charry edge but well into the background, and a lovely support from the quite richly-framed tannins and acidity. Well-priced. Watch the video for more information.

(2024) The is the second of Château Rauzan-Ségla, the famous Margaux second growth is now under the ownership of the Chanel luxury goods family. The vineyards here are around 95% composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. A very youthful crimson colour, there's a floral touch to the cedar and quite pastille-like fruit. It is very correct; medium-bodied and fresh, with moderate tannins and nicely focused acidity, and the fruit flitting between black and red as I always think befits the appellation. Nicely balanced and satisfying, I'd say this is ready to go.

(2023) 54% CS, 42% M, 4% PV. 14% alcohol. Very dark purple/black. There is a huge nose straight away with massive aromatics. It’s so floral! All the winemakers talk about freshness (boringly, as they all do it and it’s considered an unconditional positive) but this really is like wandering into a meadow packed with flowers. Remarkable! This is lighter in the mouth than I was expecting, with lovely tannins, good length. This is a really elegant Beychevelle with so much charm. This wine makes me smile. (JH). Tasted en primeur so score is provisional.

(2023) 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot. There’s a freshness to the classically Pauillac nose – almost schisty with a hint of wet stone. In the mouth, there are layers and layers of flavour. A sense of compact elegance. Very correct. This has something special – balance and harmony. An honest wine in a special vintage. (JH). Tasted en primeur so score is provisional.

(2022) From an estate on the Right Bank that no longer exists, its vineyards being absorbed into Château Dauphin, this is 68% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and spent 18 months in barrel. It comes from a period when the estate was owned by Christian Moueix. Plummy and spicy on the nose, this still feels ripe and rich, a touch of fruitcake character. In the mouth a really nice wine, those spices, mellow and smooth oak and that deep plum and black fruit are edged by sweet and solid tannins and pert acids. Surprisingly good in some ways.

(2022) From the Moulis region, close to Margaux, the blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Vinified in both steek and oak vats, the wine was then aged 15 months in barrel, 40% new oak. There's a little more lift and fragrance to this than the Canon-de-Brem, a slightly leafy and raspberry note joining the black fruits and spices. So smooth and silky on the palate, the tannins really grip here still, the acidity so fresh and vibrant, but that smooth, medium-bodied layer of mid-palate fruit and touch of mocha coffee in the background is elegant and delicious.

(2022) Seventy percent of the blend here is Cabernet Sauvignon along with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It has a classy, discreet, elegant nose, some cigar-box nuances over obviously ripe and deep blackcurrant fruit. Tobbaco comes through. In the mouth real sweetness of fruit here - really quite plush, but there is a firm tannin and herbal edge that keeps things quite strict towards the finish with a little iron oxide dryness.

(2022) A high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon here (78%), with 20% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc from 38-year-old vines. Matured in barrels (55% new) for 18 months. Dark dense and mysterious, there's an immediate sense of youth and tightly-wound character here. There is cedar and something mineral and herbal flitting amongst the blackcurrant and blueberry fruit. In the mouth this has such concentration; ramps up from the previous wines, with tannins and acids in a silky, so refined combination. The fruit stays firmly packed into the mid-palate, but lingers with spices through the super-long finish. Magnificent stuff.

(2022) Justerini says "The true identity of our house Pomerol is highly classified," one of those teasers that wine lovers find irresistible. The clue that's given: "All we can say is the wine comes from two of the leading estates on the plateau of Pomerol." Some have guessed Château l'Eglise Clinet is in the mix, but that's not for me to confirm or deny. It's a non-vintage wine, but it comes predominantly from the very highly regarded 2018 vintage. The nose is classic Pomerol: spicy and deep, with plummy fruit and a smoothing caress of older oak barrel giving a cedary nuance. In the mouth, more of the same, with palate coating but smooth tannins, that dark fruit weight, and nicely balanced acid to offset the ripe, 14.5% alcohol richness.