April 25, 2026
Bordeaux 2025 Vintage Report: One of the Great Modern Vintages
Scores and vintage report by Benjamin Vuorinen, Buying Director at the Fine Wine Library. Based on tastings of over 200 wines and visits to more than 50 chateaux, April 2026.
The verdict, upfront
We do not usually score wines - we prefer to leave that to the critics and remain impartial. But 2025 pushed us. Many of the wines we tasted, we rated 98-100 points. That tells you everything about how good this vintage is.
Across the board, 2025 is a homogeneous vintage with great quality overall. Reds, whites and Sauternes all fared strongly. The best wines had fine, integrated tannins - often chalky and coating the mouth in a beautiful manner. Not all wines were like this; some had harsher tannins and more edges, which were a miss for us. But the proportion of wines that hit the highest level was extraordinary.
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The vintage in brief
After tasting over 200 wines and visiting more than 50 chateaux, we have built a strong understanding of the vintage. The unique weather conditions have shaped equally distinctive wines, which in our view are phenomenal. We usually leave the scoring to the wine critics to remain impartial, but we rated many wines 98-100 points - more on our recommendations later.
In short, the summer was hot and expectations initially pointed toward a style similar to 2022. However, a wider diurnal range in 2025 - meaning cooler nights following warm days - helped retain freshness. A small amount of rain at the end of August, following two months of drought, brought balance to the wines, with small berries contributing to structure and concentration. Unlike most years, September then cooled significantly, preventing excessive ripeness and preserving energy (and a lower ABV).
The result is a vintage with impressive structure and concentration, lifted by freshness and marked by real aromatic complexity, driven by a long, slow growing season. None of the wines showed excessive oak - they absorbed it and kept great balance. Every winemaker we spoke to quoted a low pH, meaning good freshness.
The best wines had fine, integrated tannins, often chalky and coating the mouth in a beautiful manner. Not all wines were like this; some had harsher tannins creating more edges that were a bit of a miss for us.
Cabernet Franc fared incredibly well in 2025, whether on the Right or Left Bank. Chateaux that might usually have 2-3% in their blend upped it to around 8% as the quality was really good. It is a tricky grape, so not every year is fantastic for the Franc.
Across the board, we would say it was a homogeneous vintage with great quality overall. Reds, whites and Sauternes all fared strongly. We loved the wines and are going out on a limb putting scores on what we thought the wines deserve. Many of these, for us, were close to perfection, showing just how good the 2025 vintage is. What the critics think will come out in due course.
First Release: Pontet-Canet 2025
Pontet-Canet 2025 is going to be the first release, coming out on Wednesday, 29th April. In the 2019 vintage, they came out with a strong and low price that helped set the standard and momentum for the vintage. In 2024, their price was not the most fantastic for the quality.
We are always optimistic, so we hope that the price is going to be fair in 2025 and set the tone for a strong campaign. For us, the wine was fantastic - one of Pauillac's many highlights - and we scored it 98-100 points ourselves. It had everything in the right place and has fantastic potential (see our full note in the Left Bank section below).
We suspect the release will come out without scores, as critics will be catching up on their note-taking after a long few weeks of tasting. We will be adding it to our own collection regardless of critic scores.
Right Bank
Our first day of tasting on the Right Bank proved how good the wines were. Anything grown on limestone, like the Saint-Emilions, was fantastic. As limestone retains water better, this really helped during the drought months, helping producers craft outstanding wines.
Ausone 2025
98-100 Points
Winemaker Edouard Vauthier called it a "classic + vintage", and we found it hard to disagree. Picking was one of the earliest ever at Ausone. They did not make a second wine in 2025 as everything went into the Grand Vin, showing just how good it was. Hugely complex, red and dark fruit, hint of raspberry on the finish, blackcurrant, floral, spicy, 100% new oak that does not show, all perfectly balanced. So fresh with super fine tannins. 65% Cabernet Franc.
The other wines from the Ausone portfolio were also fantastic. Haut-Simard, which is usually from 20ha, has been refined to only the best 4ha, so quality has drastically improved for this cuvee.
Cheval Blanc 2025
98-100 Points
Like Ausone, they did not make a second wine as the quality was so good that everything went into the Grand Vin. A complex nose, so much concentration but in a polished manner, light on its feet, silky, sexy, loaded with mineral and liquorice, red and dark fruit, long finish. Fantastic structure to bring it all together. Wow, what a wine.
Figeac 2025
98-100 Points
We have always loved Figeac and 2025 comes strongly recommended. Low pH of 3.64 and an alcohol of 13% have created a very sensual, floral, spicy wine, perfectly balanced with fruit and some toasty oak. Fantastic tension and a white pepper note that is a signature of the 2025 vintage. It has so much potential to give. Oak, mineral and spicy are all beautifully intertwined.
Troplong Mondot 2025
97-99 Points
Restrained power, great energy and drive that felt like the wine wanted to burst out of the seams. Incredible purity, body on the bolder side of the Right Bank wines, which comes from its terroir. Amazing structure, fine tannins, aromas of rose, 40% new oak. Silky texture but great length.
The second wine, Mondot, also showed incredibly well. It will come around sooner, and for us was one of the best second wines on the Right Bank.
Canon 2025
97-99 Points
On the bolder side. Great structure and potential from Canon, which was 74% Merlot in 2025. Great concentration with the "freshness of 2016." Great weight, fruit on the darker side, mineral, oak and spice. Round, long textured finish. "Serenity" was the winemaking team's word for 2025, and we agree.
La Conseillante 2025
98-100 Points
Tough to choose a wine of the vintage on the Right Bank, but for us, Conseillante or VCC just nipped ahead of what was a fantastic showing. Beautiful nose, purple floral violet aromas, gentle oak, spice, a hint of graphite that was not expected. Super aromatic, white pepper. Incredibly silky with a hint of freshly picked raspberry on the finish. Well balanced, long finish and super fine tannins.
Vieux Chateau Certan 2025
98-100 Points
We are lucky that we get to try some of the world's best wines all in the same day and VCC was next level and one of our favourites. Alexandre Thienpont reckons the 2025 is a 50/50 blend of the characteristics of 2020 and 2022 - both fantastic wines. The vine age for VCC is usually 25+ years, but they added some younger vines into the mix this year as the quality proved good enough. Amazing power, concentration, but again balanced by freshness. Floral, peppery, dark fruit and juicy acidity.
Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) 2025
95-97 Points
A very different style from some of the expressions above, Beauséjour is all about elegance - more red than dark fruit, with floral aromas of rose and peonies. More elegant in body with chalky grip and a long refined finish. Fantastic to see just how pure the wines are. Bright with good energy and lift. Salty finish.
Buy Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse →
Left Bank
It was hard to choose which Left Bank region did best as all were very highly rated. Pauillac and Margaux were the most consistent with next-level wines, while Saint-Julien, Saint-Estephe and Pessac were more about choosing the right producers.
Saint-Estephe
Montrose 2025
98-100 Points
We said it last year and will say it again in 2025: if there is one wine to buy from the campaign, make sure it is Montrose. Wow, what a wine. Amazing purity, very precise and not overly big. Great structure, length and balance. An intoxicating nose of spice and floral aromas. On the palate, everything was there - fruit, spice, floral, cedar on the mid palate, and a long salty finish, which is a trademark of Montrose in very good vintages. For us, this was a perfect wine, and we would score it as such. Montrose itself compared it to the fantastic 2016, which was a 3x 100-point vintage.
Cos d'Estournel 2025
97-99 Points
Classic Cos exoticness on the nose, lots of spice and black cherry. Delicate floral notes with a salty finish. Serious structure with super fine tannins. Opulent but not over the top. A little tight right now, but so much potential to develop. Can't wait to taste in bottle.
Pauillac
Mouton Rothschild 2025
98-100 Points
After 2024 was a bit on the lighter side, Mouton 2025 is back to being hedonistic with great structure and lots of body. Classic nose of blackberry, damson, cassis, cedar, floral and graphite. Lots of tension with a little tobacco leaf and mineral finish.
Lafite Rothschild 2025
97-99 Points
Lafite can be difficult to taste En Primeur, but it was showing well on the day. Blackberry and wild berries intermingled with a liquorice finish. Chalky fine tannins that coat the mouth beautifully with a silky texture, super fine tannins, and a little cedarwood. Everything in the right place to age beautifully. Good energy, ethereal but bold and quite a sexy wine overall with a long finish.
Latour 2025
98-100 Points
Bearing in mind that we tasted Latour after Mouton, Lafite and the Pichons, the best way to describe Latour is that it turned the dial up on every aspect of the wine, but in a balanced manner. More body and power, more structure, more purity, more complexity. Deep and aromatic, floral with a long, long finish. The only sad news is that you will need to wait around ten years for release, as Latour left the En Primeur system. Could this be a reincarnation of 2016?
Pontet-Canet 2025
98-100 Points
Super refined. Mineral nose with a hint of graphite, menthol, rose, blackberry, cedar and wood spice. Hint of cassis. Fine and robust tannins, well integrated. Powdery tannins. Fruit not too dominant. Pure, velvety with great texture. Harmonious and everything in the right place. With age in the bottle and a little extra development, this could be a perfect wine.
Pichon Baron 2025
97-99 Points
When you go to taste at Pichon Baron this year, they are so confident in the 2025 that they let you taste the 2023, 2022 and 2020 beforehand. The 2025 still came out on top. Exceptional. Amazing structure and power that is restrained and balanced. Chalky tannins that coat the mouth with a long, structured finish that makes you go "wow." Loved it.
Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2025
97-99 Points
We have always loved this wine, and in 2025, it shows its trademark sexy and velvety body with good concentration and silky tannins. Blackberry, good use of oak and wood spice and so much potential here. Needs time to shine. A very thought-provoking wine.
Grand Puy Lacoste 2025
96-98 Points
A big overperformer this year. Nicely ripe, blackberry, classic, hint of graphite. Silky texture, fine tannins and good structure. Very savoury. A bit like Goldilocks - not too much, not too little. Elegant and refined with a salty mineral finish. The new winery they built is certainly helping to bring the quality up. Always good value.
Margaux
Chateau Margaux 2025
98-100 Points
The standout of Margaux this year. They were one of the latest pickers, opting for ripeness, but they only used 37% of the harvest, meaning strict selection. Only the best of the best made it into the wine, and it shows. Wine of the vintage in Margaux without question. 84% Cabernet Sauvignon with a deep, inviting nose, slightly intoxicating. Ripe but restrained, more red fruit and floral - both rose and violet. Super fine tannins and a long finish. Perfumed overall. Elegant but textured.
Rauzan-Segla 2025
97-99 Points
Unlike other wineries that pour you a pre-selected sample, Rauzan-Segla lets you choose the barrel you want to taste, with the emphasis that they have nothing to hide. The final blend is 60% new oak and 40% old. Beautifully concentrated with aromas of crushed flowers and crushed rocks. Silky but with lots of concentration and a saline liquorice finish. This could be one of the best Rauzan-Seglas we have ever tasted. Incredible energy and drive. It is going to age for decades. Floral notes lean more toward violets than roses this vintage. Also comes from Terrace 4.
Palmer 2025
97-99 Points
The most powerful of the Margaux wines from Terrace 4. Muscular with fine tannins, true to the Palmer style. Lots of flair and complexity. Chalky tannins that coat the mouth, beautiful texture and length. Loved it. Highly recommended.
Brane-Cantenac 2025
96-98 Points
Comes from Terrace 4, the same as Palmer and Rauzan-Segla, which makes a more powerful style of wine. Of the three, Brane-Cantenac is the most refined. Almost a Pauillac-esque nose. Nicely ripe, cassis, floral with super silky tannins and mouthfeel. Usually affordable, so great value for the quality. A bit of an underdog this vintage.
Giscours 2025
96-98 Points
Of all the Margaux wines, which are known to be aromatic in style, Giscours took the crown as the most aromatic of the day. It just jumped out of the glass right into your face. Really quite intoxicating, and you kept wanting to go back for more. Floral with peonies, fine tannins, quite savoury on the palate with a long salty finish. Serious structure.
What the critics think
Our scores and notes are published now. Full critical scores from Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Jancis Robinson and Decanter will follow as the campaign progresses. We will update this page as scores are released.
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