Château Haut-Carles 2022

A fragrant, lifted nose, not as powerful as some but just as inviting with soft floral and dark-fruit nuances. Lifted and bright, the acidity really makes its mark here, bringing immediate freshness and zing. Straightforward and likeable with strawberry and red cherry fruit and a hint of wet stones on the finish. A really easy wine to enjoy, no need to wait too long to open this.

The 2022 Haut-Carles is terrific. Dark fruit, chocolate, espresso, licorice, lavender and dried flowers race across the palate. Deep, fleshy and quite potent, Haut-Carles has much to recommend it. Readers will find a Fronsac that balances textural opulence with energy in style.

Still a bit on the oaky side on the nose. With effort, you find the red fruits, cocoa, and licorice under the espresso tones. The medium-bodied palate is plush, round, and filled with sweet, juicy, dark red fruits and roasted espresso beans. Give this a few years in the cellar to allow for the oak to better integrate and it will be a treat to enjoy for the next 12 years or more. This will be a better wine if the oak becomes integrated. Drink from 2025-2037.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fine spices, wild black berries, a hint of cherries, inviting bouquet. Juicy, complex, sweet red cherries, freshly structured, salty minerality, nougat on the finish, a reliable food wine.

Dark inky core and a purple hue. Pure and intense nose offering chalk, blackberry, cassis, cherry, fine oak and toast, with some floral violet notes. The palate boasts a dense structure and concentration with fine extraction and grainy tannin, mildly spicy dark berry flavors, crushed chalk and a long, persistent finish.

Violet rim, opulent texture, upfront and impactful but not overdone, with smoked liquorice, cocoa bean, damson, limestone scrape, a little austere but there is charm here. Tasted twice. Hubert de Boüard consultant, harvest September 7 to 17, 17 months’ ageing in 50% new oak, 22 hl/ha yield, 17 ha of vines. Hubert de Boüard consultant. Located in Saillans, Constance and Stephane Droulers.

On the nose, a heady broth of black and purple fruits, sap-laden, deep and captivating. The palate is very lovely: contemplative, carried by mineral, stony notes, while preserving that generous fruit, shining through a seamless texture.

Lovely, elegant and indulgent nose with a certain ripeness of fruit, a silky/delicate edge and a refined, racy power. Notes of black cherry, ripe blackcurrant and, more subtly, juicy roasted red berries emerge, combined with touches of cornflower and crushed strawberry, as well as delicate hints of liquorice (zan), Ceylon tea and a discreet hint of vanilla. The palate is fruity and balanced, offering concentration, a tangy backbone, minerality, good definition, a certain accuracy, delicacy, harmony and a fine creaminess. Lovely fine grain and texture. On the palate, this wine shows notes of fleshy Bigarreau cherry, juicy/fresh purple plum and, more subtly, bright strawberry, alongside a touch of juicy roasted small red fruits, with hints of blond tobacco, liquorice (zan), a touch of chocolate, balsamic notes and a discreet hint of vanilla (in the background). The tannins are elegant and plush.

Logo on the cork: DIAM30 Dark colour. Moderately aromatic nose with pure fruit aromas. Juicy on the attack, flavoursome on the mid-palate, then the wine suddenly firms up on the finish. Medium length.

A firm with ripe tannins and a solid structure, this shows the potential for rich Merlot as it develops. The wine should be ready from 2028.