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.