Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A tangy and juicy red with orange-peel, dark-cherry and currant aromas and flavors. Hints of terra-cotta and salt. Medium to full body with freshness and verve.
Barrel Sample: 93-94
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Joanin Bécot is a solid performance this year, evoking aromas of violet, flowers, dark wild berries and iris, followed by a precise, tense, juicy and savory palate that is fleshier than the 2022 vintage, with velvety tannins and a tense, ethereal and calcareous finish. It's a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Vinous
The 2023 Joanin-Bécot is one of the best wines I have tasted here. Vibrant and floral, with explosive fruit, Joanin-Bécot has it all. Dark and resonant notes of rose petal, spice and blood orange lift from the glass. There’s terrific density, class and purity. All the elements are so well balanced. Tasted two times. –Antonio Galloni
Barrel Sample: 90-93 -
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Château Joanin Bécot has a beautiful limestone character in its juicy red berry fruits as well as snappy spring flowers, crushed stone, and subtle graphite-like aromatics. Based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and aged 14 months in 22% new French oak with the balance in neutral barrels, tanks, amphora, and foudre, it's medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish.
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Decanter
Chalky, ripe black fruit on the nose with blackcurrant, raspberry, cherry and plum on the palate. Quite tense - there’s some linearity to this, direct and quite lean with a salty, liquorice and dark chocolate core. More juicy on the second taste with red fruits - cranberry and red cherry - alongside powdery tannins that fill the mouth. Charming though still straight and a touch lean with licks of wet stone and menthol freshness on the finish.
Barrel Sample: 91 -
Wine Spectator
Friendly and open-knit, with a juicy edge to its dark cherry and raspberry notes. Flashes of anise and apple wood chime on the pure finish. Delicious. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2031.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Though the region is larger than many of its Right Bank neighbors, it is one that consistently produces high quality, well-valued red wines. In fact, Cotes de Castillon can almost be considered a geographical eastern extension of St. Emilion, producing similarly-fashioned reds based on Merlot.
Vineyards in the region’s clay, limestone and sandstone soils produce sturdy red wines. On alluvial terraces, in vineyards closer to the Dordogne River, wines tend to be more supple and fruity. In either case, a great Cotes de Castillon red will be bursting with raspberry, plum and blueberry, have an enticing bouquet of dried flowers and a finish that is plush and opulent.