Château Lanessan 2019

Shows a warm earth note that drapes gently over a core of steeped plum and cassis, with singed balsam wood and cedar accents on the finish. An understated style that should have a little staying power. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2029. 20,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported.

Lovely texture here, deep and intense but also smooth, with high-toned blackcurrant and black cherry. There's a pleasing chalky dryness to the tannins and an appealing minerality that comes through. Solid core, well presented but not hugely long.

Tasted blind. Some lusciousness on the nose. Energy and lift with sleek fruit, good balance and interest. (JR)

The 2019 Lanessan is a powerful, deep wine. Grilled herbs, pepper, sage, mint and tobacco lend notable aromatic intensity. The Cabernet is especially marked here. Lanessan is pretty assertive in 2019. There is quite a bit of Cabernet savoriness and tannin.

Bright, fresh and vivid, with smoke, dried flowers, spice, tobacco and cassis on the nose, the wine is full of ripe, sweet red and black fruits, espresso and herbs on the palate, offering staying power that carries through to the finish. This should age quite nicely. Drink from 2024–2037.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate rim brightening. Ripe plum, a hint of dried fig, some nougat and leather. Medium complexity, ripe cherry, integrated tannins, salty, leafy nuances on the finish, an uncomplicated wine for everyday drinking.

A rather open expression showing ripe red fruit with some spicy sage and mint notes. Good grip on the palate, youthful but ripe tannin and generous fruit in a medium body with a fine length.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: slender, finely bitter, red-berried bouquet, red cherries, decayed wood, light fermentation aromas. Thin, firm palate with light fruit, sandy tannins, little aromatic expression, bitter finish.

Slim, off-dry, red-berried bouquet, red cherries, decayed wood, light fermentation notes. Thin, firm palate with light fruit, sandy tannins, little aromatics, bitter finish. 15/20 2023 - 2032

45ha on the outskirts of St Julien, making some of the best value wines on the Médoc peninsula. This is a great 2019, really one to look out for, good value and full of blackberry and black cherry fruits, polished with a muscular frame, can easily last another decade or more. Eric Boissenot consultant. Last vintage under Paz Espejo, with new director Pierre Delage overseeing the final stages of ageing and bottling. An upscore from En Primeur.

The 2019 Lanessan has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It starts off quite closed, soon unfurling to offer glimpses at baked plums, boysenberry preserves, and kirsch, followed by hints of pencil lead and sautéed herbs. The medium-bodied palate has a firm, rugged texture and a good amount of uncomplicated black fruits, finishing savory.

An inviting nose with notes of ripe fruit and tangy candy. The palate is harmonious, silky, approachable, with a lovely minerality on the finish.

An 80-hectare estate. The vineyard soils are composed of Garonne gravel with a gravelly-clay subsoil. Ageing is carried out in barrels: one-third new barrels, one-third one-wine barrels, and one-third two-wine barrels. An elegant, delicate bouquet with notes of black berries and spices. On the palate, the wine lives up to the finesse announced by the bouquet. Its tannins have a fine grain and assert themselves with precision, pairing seamlessly with the acid structure. A fresh, slender, sapid wine, ready to stand the test of time!

The color is beautiful, and the nose comes across purer and more precise than ever. The palate is supple, with brilliant fruit, though the expression is a little discreet.