Château de l’Orangerie Bordeaux Supérieur 2023 Review

A Tough one to Love!

I opened this bottle of Château de l’Orangerie Bordeaux Supérieur 2023, with fairly neutral expectations. Bordeaux Supérieur can sometimes overdeliver for the price, especially in good vintages, so I was quietly hopeful.

That didn’t last long.

First Impressions – Brett Takes Over

Straight out the bottle, the nose was dominated by what I can only describe as Brett. Not the subtle, slightly savoury edge you sometimes get in more rustic wines, this was front and centre.

No real fruit coming through at all. Just a slightly sickly, almost off putting aroma that made it hard to find anything inviting in the glass.

In the Glass – It Settles, But Not Enough

With a bit of air, things improved slightly. That barnyard edge dialled back a touch, which at least gave the wine a chance to show something underneath.

What came through was pretty underwhelming. Underripe yellow plums, a bit of blackberry, but very much on the harsher side, almost like you’re getting the fruit along with the stems.

There’s a greenness running through it that just never really integrates.

Day Two – Better, But Still Not Right

I left the wine in a decanter overnight, hoping it might open up and find a bit of balance.

To be fair, the farmyard notes had completely disappeared by the next day, which tells you that part of it was likely volatile and blew off with air.

But beyond that, Ill be honest not much changed.

The tannins were still aggressive, still drying, and still dominating everything else in the glass. There just isn’t enough fruit or ripeness here to support that structure.

So while it technically improved, it didn’t improve where it needed to.

Structure – Where It Falls Apart

This is where it really loses me.

The tannins feel underripe rather than structured. Instead of giving the wine backbone, they just strip it.

That same tongue curling dryness is still there, like you’ve just had a mouthful of salt and vinegar crisps. It lingers, and not in a good way.

Final Thoughts

You can see what the wine is trying to be, but it just doesn’t come together.

Even with time and air, the balance never arrives, and that’s the key issue. The structure is there, but the fruit isn’t.

For me, this is a pass.