Château Clos de Sarpe 2018

Owned by the Beyney family, this is heady and rich on the nose, with firm, plump berry fruits, liquorice, and some grilled oak notes on the finish. Extremely concentrated overall; needs a little more breathing room. 70% new oak, 3.3 pH. A yield of 18 hl/ha. Michel Rolland is consultant.

Dark cherries, graphite, bay leaves and black tea leaves on the nose. It’s full-bodied and savory with a fleshy texture. Balanced and refined. Wonderful center palate of dark fruit. Elegant tannin structure with a long, flavorful finish and palpable freshness. Try after 2025.

Crushed berries over rocks and stones says it all. Full-bodied, concentrated, dense and intense, the wine shows a strong mineral component along with its core of ripe, round, rich, deep, gushing dark red fruits. You also encounter floral, thyme and spice overtones, along with all those crushed-rock notes in the fruit-filled finish. The wine blends 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. This could be the finest vintage produced here yet. Give it 10–12 years in the cellar and it will probably score even higher.

Dark ruby with purple reflections. Already approachable. Delicate hints of savoury oak, nougat and vanilla, and touches of blackberry and liquorice, with mint beneath. Complex, substantial and rounded, it has a pronounced fruit texture, ripe, rounded tannins and very good freshness. Chocolaty on the long finish. Sure to age well over many years.

The nose exudes notes of red cherry and blackcurrant. Lovely presence on the palate, with a velvety texture and sustained acidity.