hâteau Prieuré-Lichine 2023 — Professional Ratings & Reviews
Overall critic score range
Across major critics, the 2023 vintage is consistently rated:
- 91–93 points (Vinous – Neal Martin): medium-bodied, finely structured, balanced acidity, needs short-term cellaring for full expression
- 91–92 points (Wine Advocate / Robert Parker team): fleshy, textural, sweet berry fruit, modern style with creamy oak influence
- 93–94 points (James Suckling): polished Margaux with cassis, herbs, fine tannins, and a focused finish
- 94 points (Decanter-style tasting note via Vinous/Decanter contributor Georgina Hindle): balanced, juicy, mineral, and well-structured with good persistence
- 94 points (Falstaff): elegant, juicy, fresh structure with fine tannins and good length
- 94–96 points (Wine Enthusiast barrel sample range): powerful, ripe tannins, concentrated and high-potential barrel sample evaluation
Key professional tasting profile (consensus)
Structure and style
Critics consistently describe the wine as:
- Medium-bodied to medium-plus in weight
- Fine-grained, polished tannins typical of Margaux
- Balanced acidity with a restrained but persistent finish
- More “modern/classic hybrid” rather than old-school austere Bordeaux
Aromatics and palate profile
Common descriptors across reviews:
- Blackcurrant, black cherry, plum
- Violet, rose petal, and floral Margaux character
- Cedar, graphite, tobacco leaf
- Subtle spice and fresh herbal notes
- Some notes of creamy new oak and “textural richness”
Winemaking and blend (consistent reports)
- ~64% Cabernet Sauvignon
- ~31% Merlot
- ~5% Petit Verdot
- ~35% new oak aging
Quality assessment summary
Strengths
- Highly consistent elegance and balance for the vintage
- Strong aromatic precision for its class level (4th Growth)
- Fine tannins and good aging potential (15–20 years typical estimate)
- Broad agreement that it is one of the better Prieuré-Lichine vintages in recent years
Critic consensus positioning
- Not at classified-growth elite level (e.g., Margaux First Growths), but
- Clearly upper-tier Cru Classé performance
- Viewed as a successful, well-made 2023 Bordeaux with strong cellar potential
Drinking window (expert consensus)
- Early approachability: ~2028 onward
- Optimal window: ~2032–2045 (depending on palate preference)
94pts Jane Anson
Well structured, deliciously fragrant rosebud and tomato leaf on the opening, this treads lightly at first and then builds in structure and and power through the palate, widening to show creamy raspberry and damson fruit, with a saline kick on the finish. An excellent quality estate that is always worth checking in with. 35% new oak for ageing.
94pts Decanter
Round and juicy, clean and clear, nice sense of bounce and persistence to this. Sleek and straight, a mineral firm core. Great length, really excellent with so much menthol minerality and freshness. Appealing, all in balance and harmony with great tannins expression. Delicious, moreish, generous and so charming. Pretty and well built, still with structure and chalky tannins but great persistence and sense of restraint. Cool and classy.
92-94pts Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Château Prieuré-Lichine checks in as 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, raised in 35% new oak. Its deeper ruby hue is followed by gorgeous aromatics of cassis and black raspberries as well as classy oak and savory flower-like nuances. With medium-bodied richness, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and ripe tannins, it's very much in the more mid-weight style of the vintage yet has tons of character, complexity, and length. It's going to need 4-5 years in the cellar, but it’s clearly a terrific effort.
93-94pts James Suckling
A very fine and polished PL with blackcurrant, fresh-herb, terracotta and crunchy-seed character. Medium body, fine and focused tannins and a flavorful finish. Lots there in a classic way.
91-93pts Vinous
The 2023 Prieuré-Lichine offers up copious red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint. This is very nicely perfumed. Silky tannins add to an impression of finesse. There is just a touch of dryness on the finish, which is the real question mark here.
-Antonio Galloni
91-93pts The Wine Independent
Prieure-Lichine 2023 is deep garnet-purple in color. Subtle wafts of juicy plums and fresh raspberries slowly emerge from the glass, plus nuances of violets, crushed rocks, and wild thyme. The elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate is soft and refreshing, with a whispery finish. The blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.
91-93pts Vinous
The 2023 Prieuré-Lichine has a well-defined and quite detailed bouquet with pretty black cherries, cedar and wilted violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, with light tannins matched by a crisp bead of acidity. It doesn't possess a dense or concentrated finish, yet there is a balance here, and it will provide very pleasant drinking for 15 to 18 years. This is just a delicious Margaux wine in the making.
- Neal Martin
91-92pts Wine Advocate
Fleshy and demonstrative, the 2023 Prieuré-Lichine offers up aromas of sweet berries, plums and smoke, framed by creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, rich and textural, with good depth and persistence, it's a strong effort that will offer a broad drinking window in a more modern style.
Winemaker's Notes
Voluptuous and classic, the Grand Cru Classé of Château Prieuré-Lichine fully expresses the fine characteristics of its terroir with the elegance, subtely and breeding of great Margaux wines.
History
Chateau Prieuré-Lichine's vast vineyard holdings (70 hectares) are located on some of the best gravelly outcrops in all five communes of the Margaux appellation. Owned by the Ballande group since June 1999, this estate is currently undergoing a major transformation in order to enhance the reputation of its superb terroir even further.
The vine density at Prieuré-Lichine is quite high, and the vineyard is carefully managed plot by plot. The grapes are completely picked by hand into small crates and carefully gone over on a sorting table prior to crushing. Only the ripest, healthiest grapes are used. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel. The entire winemaking process is devoted to bringing out the charm, elegance and finesse characteristic of the finest wines in the Margaux appellation.
