Château des Annereaux 2022

Cask sample. Mostly Merlot, organically farmed. Made by Benjamin Hessel. Handsome fruit. Silky and sartorial. Fragrant, plush yet elegant, with fine layers of flavor. Blackcurrant bush and tiny blackcurrants—the kind you pick by hand while getting nettled by nettles. Idiosyncratic and utterly authentic. Fresh, a hint of charcoal, tactile but beautifully ripe, shapely tannins. You could almost drink this now, it's so succulent. VGV (TC)

Intense ruby colour with violet edging, this shows the imprint of the vintage in dusky spice, turmeric, cloves, bitter chocolate, black cherry, blueberry and fresh fig; the fruit is clearly ripe, enjoyable, with great quality and value. Certified organic, where owner Benjamin Hessel is undertaking a serious agroforestry project with the planting of fruit trees, bushes, wildflower meadows and more.