Château Capbern 2024

Delicately fragrant, red-fruited, blood orange, cool smokiness, violet; the palate is straight and taut, with gripping tannins, crisp fruit, shows breed and bite, reveals the character of the appellation.

Dark black bramble fruits with a creaminess to them. Vanilla, quite intense aromatics, and a vivid dark purple colour in the glass. Very Cabernet on the nose. Slightly chewy and cool – cola, blueberries and liquorice straight away. Fruit is there but it’s not dense; it’s streamlined and provides the gentle structure with super-fine tannins, really fine and well integrated. Overall a lighter style but gentle and balanced. A little chewy, which is nice; this should age well and increase in density a little. Not bad at all. I love the freshness and sense of ease to this. Well done. 3.6 pH. A yield of 45 hl/ha. Ageing 60% new oak.

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot. 45 hl/ha. Cask sample. Red- and dark-berry fruit. Tannins firm but not hard. Slightly lean in the middle and finishes a little dry but fresh and ‘classic’ in style. (JL)

Black raspberries with floral aromatics open the wine. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, and vibrant, with more of those sweet black raspberries, coupled with savory herbs in the mid-palate, and in the finish. This is perfect to enjoy on release. The wine blends 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 30% Merlot. 12.9% ABV. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts

An initially shy nose, like a child hiding behind their hands, gently opens to the charm of ripe fruit to reveal a dreamy bouquet: tender, juicy, dotted with sweet spices, small crunchy berries and delicate sap. The palate unfolds a caressing density, wrapping the mouth in silky, superbly crafted tannins. A succulent, airy wine, perfect for the modern palate. Bravo.

Enticing aromatics on this wine, soft waves of rose petals, blackberry fruit, crayon and pencil lead, with measured oak use. Acidity puts the tannins into a little overly-focused position on the finish, and the austerity that needs to be softened over ageing. Fairly old school, with charm. 3.60 pH. 45 hl/ha. 60% new oak.

Dark, intense, beautiful colour. A highly aromatic, fruity nose with a pleasant hint of honey. On the palate, delicately textured and precise, carried by flavour, building in intensity toward a finish that suggests the depth of cabernet sauvignon. Very good. Blend: 70% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot. Alcohol content: 12.9% - pH: 3.6. Yield: 45 hl/ha.