Château La Fleur de Gay 2022

Displays elegance despite its richness, thanks to the wine’s particularly refined tannins; the long finish is, for now, at most slightly impacted by a pronounced oak-driven character.

Medium-bodied, silky, refined, lush, and polished, the wine is already delivering its core of dark chocolate-covered black cherries, plums, and truffles. And, as good as it is now, this sensuously textured, plummy beauty is only going to get better as it ages. The wine was produced from 100% old vine Merlot. Drink from 2026–2048.

Intoxicating blueberry bouquet, fresh bilberry juice, beguiling violet perfume, licorice, chocolate pralines, and dark graphite. On the sublime palate, a creamy texture, cocoa-like tannin framework, supportive verve, and tightly knit body. The focused, aromatic finish is a firework of wild cherry, preserved figs, exotic woods, and noble astringency.

Logo on the cork: AL Dark, intense colour, slightly evolved. Highly aromatic, refined nose, fruity and pure. A background of toasted almonds, black fruit cream and spices. Even more intense with aeration. Very much in the Pomerol style, with a hint of Pessac brought by the toasted note. Delicately fleshy on the attack, with a fine texture and plenty of flavour; it unfolds slowly with a precise, creamy texture. The wine moves forward calmly—agile, deep and melting. A subtle, complex whole. Built for ageing.

Tasted blind. Shaded dark crimson. Rich and jewelly. Lots to like here and lots of drive. Pure, fleshy fruit. But the nose could perhaps be fresher. Fell apart on the finish. (JR)