Mauvesin Barton has gone from strength-to-strength under the expertise of the Barton family, owners since 2011. Damien mentions the large replanting effort undertaken to ensure the correct varietals are planted in the most suitable plots across the property. Merlot and Cabernet Franc perform well here thanks to the clay-gravels soils with some plots containing finer gravel soils, allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon planted to reach full phenolic ripeness.
James Suckling: 93-94/100
This is firm and chewy with a medium to full body, yet it shows succulent fruit underneath. Outstanding depth as well as a crunchy sense to this, with blackberry and graphite. Profound limestone character is giving this real depth and solidity.
Jane Anson: 92/100
Inky ruby colour, another vintage that underlines how impressively Mauvesin Barton has been doing over the past few years. Delivers brambled blackberry fruit and balanced but clear toasted spices, austere on the finish, this heads towards closing in, but keeps the fruit on the savory side, and you feel that the Barton family's experiece means they can clearly identify what claret lovers expect from Moulis and zeroed in on it. Harvest September 14 to 26, 33% new oak, 30hl/h yields. Tasted twice.
Jeb Dunnuck: 89-91/100
Coming from a vintage where the estate experienced mildew, frost, and a touch of hail, the 2023 Château Mauvesin Barton is deep purple-hued and reveals solid aromatics of pretty red berries, raspberries, sappy flowers, and subtle tobacco and herbal notes. A pretty, medium-bodied, elegant Moulis with bright acidity and fine yet building tannins, the blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, hitting 13.4 alcohol, raised in one-third new oak. Harvest here stretched from the 14th to the 26th of September.
Neil Martin - Vinous: 89-91/100
The 2023 Mauvesin Barton has an attractive bouquet with black plum, cassis and light floral scents. This is nicely defined. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and modest weight, but the oak is a little conspicuous toward the finish. It doesn't quite have the ambition or complexity of the 2022, though it represents a fine, perhaps earlier-drinking Moulis-en-Médoc.