Château de Chantegrive 2019

Red cherries and blackcurrant on the nose. This has such a great richness to it, not heavy but so deep you can just taste the layers and layers of fruit, oak spice and acidity. I really like the presence of this in the mouth; it's not completely integrated right now, there's a tiny bit of appealing sweetness but also some rusticity that comes across via dry tannins, so it's not ready to drink, but it will be delicious in time. Precision winemaking on show – laser-sharp with such detail! A top buy.

Sweet berries with a light jammy and leafy undertone. Medium body with tomato-paste flavors and light tannin. Rather simple this year. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet sauvignon. Drink now.

The 2019 Chantegrive has a tightly wound nose at first, opening with aeration to reveal black currant, sage and clove scents; more scorched-earth aromas develop with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and fine acidity, if perhaps just a little drier on the finish than I would have preferred. Still, it should offer several years of drinking pleasure.

Medium-bodied, soft, refined and already open, the polished red fruits with touches of herbs, tea and dark cocoa are ready to go. This will be charming to drink on release. Drink from 2022–2032.

Medium deep garnet red colour. The nose displays some leather, dry spices, sweet plum, red berries and mild oak. Medium weight on the palate, a slight firm tannic bite, an herbal spiciness paired with sweet plum flavours and a rather long finish. A bit tight, needing time to open.

The 2019 Château De Chantegrive is also terrific, with lots of black cherry and darker raspberry fruits along with cedary herbs, tobacco, and earth. Nicely textured, balanced, and medium-bodied, it’s well worth buying and drinking. It should keep for a decade.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.8% vol. alcohol, production 190,000 bottles) Velvety, fruity, powerful bouquet, plum, mocha, fine roasted notes, dark chocolate. Balanced, full palate with intense dark fruit, fresh aromatics, plenty of quality tannin, finely muscular structure, long, powerful, aromatic finish. Can still improve.

(60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.8% vol. alcohol, production 190,000 bottles) Velvety, fruity, powerful bouquet, plum, mocha, fine roasted notes, dark chocolate. Balanced, full palate with powerful dark fruit, fresh aromatics, plenty of good tannins, a finely muscular structure, long, powerful, aromatic finish. Can improve further. 17/20 2024 - 2048

Blended of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 de Chantegrive is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It leaps with lifted black and red cherries and warm cassis scents, plus suggestions of stewed tea and tobacco. Medium-bodied, it is soft, juicy, and uncomplicated with a refreshing finish.

Aromas of very ripe black fruit and tobacco, with a palate overly marked by oak that brings an unpleasant bitterness at this stage. Ageing will certainly do it a lot of good.

This Chantegrive is in keeping with the estate’s style. It’s classic, very inviting, and stands out for its smoky and fruity nuances followed by a hint of truffle. Such freshness on the palate, where truffled notes are also present! A sapid, balanced wine, well supported by precise, ample tannins, revealing itself very slowly and displaying a power that is initially underestimated. Refreshing, persistent finish.

90–92. Barrel Sample. Packed with black currant fruit and hinting at spiciness, this wine is full of juicy acidity as well as a dry core of tannins. Spice and dryness show strongly at the end, a sign of aging promise.