CLOS FLORIDENE Graves Rouge 2023 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Clos Floridène Graves Rouge 2023 opens with bright, approachable charm: red and black cherry, wild strawberry and bramble, lifted by pressed violet and a hint of rose, while graphite, cedar and a smoky plank note add depth. Gentle aeration releases crushed bay, dried herb and a touch of cured meat. Medium-bodied, it has a smooth, inviting start, lively acidity and fine-grained tannins that give shape without weight. Pure red-berry and blackcurrant fruit is threaded with black olive and a whisper of liquorice; the mid-palate shows cocoa nib, toasted cedar and warm baking spice. A flinty mineral seam and saline thread drive a long, focused finish. Drink lightly decanted or cellar five–ten years. Critics: James Suckling 91; Vinous 89. Recommended widely.

ABOUT THIS WINE
Clos Floridène Graves Rouge 2023 opens with bright, approachable charm, a Graves red that marries frank fruit expression with savoury Graves clarity. The bouquet shows ripe red and black cherry, wild strawberry and bramble, lifted by pressed violet and a faint rose petal note, while subtle graphite, cedar and a smoky plank scent add depth. With gentle air, crushed bay, dried herb and a hint of cured meat emerge, enhancing complexity without heaviness.

On the palate the 2023 is medium bodied, offering a smooth, inviting entry, lively natural acidity and finely grained tannins that give shape and poise. Primary fruit is fresh and pure, red berry and blackcurrant framed by a discreet black olive note and a thread of liquorice. The mid palate builds with layered interest, showing cocoa nib, toasted cedar and warm baking spice from measured oak élevage, while a flinty mineral seam lends drive to a long, focused finish. Oak is judicious and well integrated, contributing gentle vanilla spice that supports rather than masks the fruit.

Texture is polished and tactile, the wine balancing silk and grip as it opens in the glass, revealing savoury strata of leather and undergrowth with time. Drink now with light decanting for immediate pleasure, or cellar for five to ten years to see tertiary nuance develop. Serve at 15 to 18°C with roast pork, grilled lamb, mushroom dishes or mature cheeses. Clos Floridène Graves Rouge 2023 is elegant, food friendly and well judged, a balanced Graves red with both charm and substance.

JAMES SUCKLING 91 points
Cassis, plums and roasted spices on the nose. Tight-grained and slightly austere with some chewy tannins and a juicy, medium-long finish. A blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon and 25% merlot. Try from 2026.
Zekun Shuai, Senior Editor

VINOUS 97-89 points
Drinking window: 2026 - 2038
The 2023 Clos Floridène has an open, redcurrant, wild strawberry and sous-bois bouquet that needs a little more vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Cohesive with a touch of white pepper and clove toward the finish, this is balanced yet needs a little more brightness and tension. - Neal Martin. Tasting date: April 2024

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ABOUT CLOS FLORIDENE
Clos Floridène, situated in the Graves region within Pessac Léognan, is a distinguished estate celebrated for its finely crafted white and red Bordeaux that marry terroir clarity with a contemporary sense of vibrancy. Established on well drained gravel and clay soils that provide an ideal balance of heat retention and mineral expression, the vineyards are planted principally to Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon for the whites, alongside Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for the reds, enabling the estate to produce wines that range from immediate, lively expressions to more structured cuvées aimed at ageing.

Vineyard management at Clos Floridène emphasises parcel by parcel attention, careful canopy work and yield control to ensure optimal ripeness and aromatic precision. Sustainable and regenerative practices have increasingly informed the estate’s approach to soil health and vine longevity, with hand harvesting and rigorous sorting helping to deliver fruit of exceptional quality to the cellar. This close attention in the vineyard translates into wines that articulate freshness, purity and a strong sense of place.

In the winery gentle handling and modern temperature controlled vinification are used to preserve aromatics and varietal definition. White cuvées often benefit from a mix of stainless steel and judicious oak ageing, and where appropriate lees contact or barrel élevage is employed to add texture and depth while maintaining clarity. Red wines are vinified parcel by parcel and see élevage in French oak to build structure, integrate tannin and add subtle spice without obscuring fruit character.

Clos Floridène’s whites are typically noted for their bright citrus and stone fruit profiles, floral lift and a crisp mineral thread, accompanied by a textured mid palate that rewards short to medium term cellaring. The reds offer ripe dark fruit, savoury nuance and a poised tannic backbone that supports development with age. Through attentive viticulture, thoughtful winemaking and a commitment to expressing site, Clos Floridène continues to produce wines that are both approachable and enduring, reflecting the refined character of Graves terroir.