Château Feytit-Clinet 2023

Expressive, with plenty of dark fruit, smoky notes, herbs, cherries, black tea; a supple palate, silky tannins, polished, light on its feet yet with drive, lovely length, lots of harmony.

Making the most of the cooler clay soils of this vineyard for the majority Merlots (albeit also with warmer sand and gravel), this wine is excitingly savoury with plenty of juicy damson on the mid palate, albeit with some hard, unresolved tannins on the medium finish. There is some oak-derived toast but complementing the fruit. And barrel ageing should soften the wine, to revisit once bottled.

Rich, lush, deep, and already just approachable, the wine pops with its nose of flowers, mint, cocoa, and orange peel. The palate is lush, round, and ripe, finishing with multiple layers of spicy, creamy, black cherries, plums, and dark chocolate. The wine blends 90% Merlot, with 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2055.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Somewhat restrained, red cherries, fresh plums, a hint of orange zest. Medium complexity, ripe plums and cherries, round tannins, subtle fruit, some nougat, already accessible.

Medium-plus to full intensity, this is inky, with gorgeous violet reflections. Grilled oak on the nose, intense but well-built and with a sense of reserve. Espresso and charred coffee bean, along with cassis and blueberry. Silky, concentrated, with appellation typicity and a ton of personality.

Score: 88–90. The nose is particularly fleshy and intense, with aromas of stewed red fruits and warm wood. The freshness on the palate offers a respite from the wood, but it is quickly overtaken.

The nose is savoury, slightly meaty and smoky. It shows integrated woody notes, liquorice, toasted wood and toasted hazelnut, wrapped in fruity tones (morello cherry, fresh red cherry, roasted red cherry, red plum, black plum). There are also notes of pine needles, nutmeg, violet, peony, chocolate and white pepper. The palate is enveloping and broad, yet fresh and fruity. It reveals toasty notes, vanilla, chocolate and indulgent fruity flavours (roasted red cherry, morello cherry, black plum). The finish is sapid, with notes of liquorice, dried mint and pine needles. A refined wine, with controlled richness and lovely freshness.

Ripe and focused, with a racy edge buried amid a core of raspberry and blackberry pâte de fruit. Singed anise and apple wood fill in through the finish, which shows good cut and drive as earth and savory accents chime. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2038. 1,150 cases made, 100 cases imported.