The Cuve 8a 2023: It's here. And honestly, we couldn't be more excited.
It's back. Twelve months in concrete, one long journey to Singapore, and the 2023 Cuve 8a is finally ready to be on your doorstep. Here's what you need to know.
About the Vintage
The 2023 growing season on the Néac plateau was, in a word, generous, but not without its demands. A warm summer gave the grapes plenty of time to develop richness and depth, while carefully timed cooler periods kept everything balanced and bright. Marine and Romik were in the vines constantly that season, watching, adjusting, waiting for exactly the right moment to harvest.
What came out of that careful work is a wine that has what we'd call a classic Bordeaux backbone — refined structure, real energy, but with a drinkability that makes it enjoyable right now, without needing years in a cellar to show its best. It drinks beautifully today, and if you choose to hold it, there's plenty of life left in it through to 2034 and beyond.
"Linear and energetic... a fruity, mouth-watering wine." — Yves Beck, 91/100
The wine is made from 95% Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Pressac, grown on clay-limestone soils rich in iron deposits — the same soils that sit at the highest point of the Néac plateau, in the direct continuity of Pomerol. Aged entirely in concrete for 12 months, which gives Cuve 8a that distinctive freshness and mineral clarity that sets it apart.
What the Critics are saying:
"Medium body, fine tannins and a crunchy finish. Refined." 92–93, James Suckling
"Lighter and more transparent in style, revealing a subtle saline edge on the finish. Strong ageing potential." 92, Neal Martin
"Notes of red berries and mint, alongside a chalky expression of the terroir. Linear and energetic. A fruity, mouth-watering wine." 91, Yves Beck
"Attractive notes of black cherry, leather, tobacco, and a kiss of graphite. Round, nicely balanced and textured. Outstanding potential." 88–90, Jeb Dunnuck
Across the board, the word that keeps coming up is freshness. For a warm vintage, this is a result of deliberate choices in the vineyard and the cellar. Thierry Garnaud, our winemaker and former maître de chai at Cheval Blanc for 38 years, has a particular gift for this.
If you've been with us for a while, we bring what we can stand behind fully, and what we know our community here will genuinely enjoy. The 2023 Cuve 8a is exactly that kind of wine.
Questions about the vintage, how to serve it, or what occasion it suits best, just drop us an email or WhatsApp message directly. We read every message.