Château de Sales 2021

Smoky notes over red fruit, cherries, cream, licorice, and dried herbs; a fresh attack, delicate fruit, well-judged tannins supporting the fruit, balanced overall, red-fruited on the finish. Built for medium-term ageing.

Offers showy raspberry and blood orange coulis flavors, laced with a racy savory note and carried by lively acidity. Reveals cedar and sanguine hints on the finish, which also has a touch of grain (in line with the vintage), but this has cut and verve. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2035. 5,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

Smooth and charming, this has a nice focus to it with zesty fresh fruit, raspberry, bright orange, cherry and chalky tannins. I love the ease to it, it’s got power, but delicately poised, still with freshness and a lot of length. Nothing harsh here. Quite charged but really works with such freshness and cooling mint on the finish. Great acidity, not the most layered but really not trying too hard and leaning into the vintage in the best way. Streamlined and a touch lean but this will fill out in time.

Subtle white pepper with vibrant red cherries and red berries. Fine-grained and firm on the medium-bodied palate, with some juicy fruit and a medium-length finish. Drink now.

On the light side, but there is freshness, elegance, sweet fruits, and a savory-edged, bright, crisp, mildly spicy, cherry-oriented finish. Drink from 2024–2031.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fine plum fruit, dark cherries, subtle hints of nougat, fine wood spice. Juicy, elegant, ripe cherries, well-integrated tannins, lively structure, fine fruit on the finish, full-bodied wine with length and ageing potential.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: fruity, powerful, fragrant bouquet, cherries, blackcurrants, fresh herbs, wood. Silky, finely structured palate with fresh fruit, good tannins, a slightly firm structure, spicy aromatics, and a fresh finish.

Fruity, powerful, fragrant bouquet: cherries, blackcurrants, fresh herbs, wood. Silky, finely structured palate with fresh fruit, good tannins, a slightly firm backbone, spicy aromatics and a fresh finish. 17/20 2027 - 2042

Carefully placed red cherry and raspberry fruits; after a gentle opening, the fruit sweetness builds, with a silky texture that unrolls slowly across the palate. Not an estate I would traditionally look to in this kind of vintage, but as I found En Primeur it has real charm, and it’s a success. A great testimony to the work they’ve done at the estate in recent years. Harvest from September 24 to October 7.

A hedonistic yet soothing nose that thrillingly fills the nostrils with generous, rounded fruit and a vein of floral freshness, of violet. Fluid and fresh, like a cooling dip. Flavorful on the palate, with aromatic herbs, a saline touch and a hint of cocoa, energizing on the finish, and a sensual mouthfeel thanks to already silky tannins.

The wine shows a medium-intensity ruby color. The nose is expressive and savory, with distinct spicy and roasted notes. It reveals aromas of licorice, roasted coriander seeds, nutmeg, ground cumin, and toasted vanilla (in the background), combined with hints of smoke, toasted hazelnut, and toasted wood (in the background), all wrapped in juicy, dense yet fresh fruit. You’ll find aromas of morello cherry, red cherry, black plum, blackberry, and blackcurrant, complemented by a sweet touch of raspberry coulis and the freshness of herbs and flowers (wild mint, violet, a hint of peony). The palate is silky, indulgent, and enveloping. The attack is fruity, round, and chocolatey. The wine then delivers notes of ripe morello cherry, wild strawberry, black plum (even with a prune cream nuance), raspberry coulis, blackberry, and blackcurrant, alongside notes of chocolate-covered morello cherry, bitter cocoa, and a spicy edge harmoniously integrated into the wine’s profile (white pepper, licorice, toasted vanilla, and nutmeg). You also find roasted notes (coffee, toasted hazelnut, toasted wood) and floral tones (violet, peony). The tannins are melted and silky, even chocolatey, yet structured. The finish is indulgent, juicy, and fruit-driven, with refreshing acidity and good length. A well-built wine, indulgent and already approachable.

92–94. Barrel Sample. The wood aging of this wine, just beginning, is already underlining the fine quality of the black fruits. The tannins of this finely structured wine are powerful while leaving room for the juicy flavors to show strongly.