Château Maucaillou 2024

Tannic and upfront, this is massy and feels a little pushed, with a full mouthfeel but missing the fruit density and brightness to balance it out. A shot of mouthwatering acidity sits in the background, but it accentuates the austerity with some dry toastiness. Tasted twice.

With a strong floral accent to the red berry-oriented perfume, the medium-bodied wine is fresh, forward, soft, and fruity, with a core of red pit fruits that finishes with a savory edge. This will be easy to enjoy with pleasure on release. Drink from 2027-2034. 87-89 Pts

The nose is beautifully handled, precise, intense, offering accuracy and a lovely airy sweet-pepper note. It reveals notes of boysenberry, violet and, more subtly, sweet pepper, combined with touches of ripe strawberry, as well as a hint of crushed cherry and camphor/smoke. The palate is beautifully handled, supple, fresh, mineral, precise and true. It shows an airy, delicate quality in its acidity and energy and displays a tangy backbone. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, small juicy/bright red berries and, more slightly, violet, combined with touches of fleshy/juicy cherry, blond tobacco, licorice, as well as a discreet toasted/toasted-almond hint and a subtle touch of tea in the background. A varietal/sappy hint on the finish/persistence.