Château La Garde 2017

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 la Garde offers notes of warm black and red cherries, baked plums and cassis with touches of cedar chest, pencil shavings and fragrant soil. Medium-bodied, the palate has nice, bright crunchy fruit and appealing freshness with a pleasant chew to the finish.

A core of black cherry and currant notes is spiked with savory and bay leaf accents. Shows a tarry edge on the finish, where the fruit and herb elements meld nicely. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2029. 14,750 cases made.

This makes clever use of smoked oak to glide over that mid-palate fruit dip. It is also in the signature of the estate, delivering an extremely consistent feel. The careful fruit selection is clear, with damson and mulberry notes that are smartly extracted – the winemaker's hand is evident, but it's a skilful one. A great drinking wine.

It’s tight and focused with tar, blackberry and walnut-shell character. Medium body. Reserved and tight with a very compact, solid finish. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2020.

Deep crimson with an opaque core. Delicate aroma of black fruit and pencil lead, with an appealing dustiness. Juicy and fresh. Fresh and lively. (JH)

The 2017 La Garde has an airy bouquet with red cherries and light tobacco scents. The palate is well balanced with fairly “strict” tannins, good acidity, and blackberry and graphite notes on the short but focused finish. Fine.

Herbal notes with olives and fresh red fruits are found here. This medium-bodied wine offers soft tannins and an elegant finish that should drink well on release.

66% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot. Deep purple with a violet rim. Complex bouquet of wild cherries and cherry skins, backed by tobacco and dark noble wood. On the firm palate, massive tannins almost overpower and dry out the body. The finish mirrors this, with fine-grained notes and walnut shells. Does not quite match the great success of the previous year.

(66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot) Sweet, fragrant, spicy bouquet, black blackberries, delicate plum notes, licorice. Medium-bodied, silky palate with fine structure, good fruit, powerful aromatics, fresh finish. 17/20 2024 - 2038

A taut, fine wine, slightly vegetal, juicy, with supple tannins and an elegant finish.

Good intensity on the bouquet of La Garde 2017, with notes of black berries and spices. A hint of graphite and cinnamon. A juicy, fruit-forward attack. On the palate, the wine is fresh, balanced, and endowed with silky, perfectly integrated tannins. A wine of great finesse that can already be enjoyed in its youth.

Kunz barrel sample 18: (66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot) Sweet, fragrant, spicy bouquet, black blackberry, delicate plum, liquorice. Medium-bodied, silky palate with fine structure, good fruit, powerful aromatics, fresh finish.

89–91. Barrel Sample. Layers of black currant fruit offer a fruity, fragrant wine. It is fresh and juicy, with a crisp texture and a touch of spice. Drink this attractive wine from 2022.