Château La Tour de Mons 2017

Slim in structure, somewhat austere, yet juicy.

The 2017 La Tour de Mons is medium to deep garnet-purple in color, and the nose is closed before revealing baked plums, blackcurrant jelly and kirsch with hints of forest floor, cedar and pencil shavings. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and refreshing with bags of fruit and good length.

Fresh, with damson plum and cherry fruit flavors, lined with lilac and red tea notes. Shows a light cedar backdrop on the finish. Elegant. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2024. 6,833 cases made.

This is in the Grand Puy Ducasse group, with winemaker Anne le Naour. It's a little rustic but has an honesty and unfussiness of expression that is very enjoyable, with clear summery redcurrants and strawberries. It softens after opening, and settles into cinnamon and grilled toast notes by the close of play, adding a touch of gourmet roundness. The yield was 50% down due to frost, although the vines in the historic walled section of the vineyard were not affected.

The 2017 La Tour de Mons has a pretty bouquet with red cherries, wild strawberry and light floral scents, precise and satisfying in terms of purity. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins that lend this a very smooth texture, although I would be seeking more grip and backbone on the finish. Still, it should drink well for 10 years.

There is brightness along with a leafy component in this soft, approachable, medium-bodied wine. Showing sharp red fruits, it is relatively classic in nature.

Very clean overall, with good structure and firm tannins that seem more promising than the fruit, which is still modest.

2017 is very pleasant, a testament to the progress made here over the past few years. A delicate, silky, and deliciously fruity wine that is already very approachable.

Juicy, suave, fruity wine, lacks a bit of breadth, supple tannins, long finish.

Garnet red with violet highlights. Fruity bouquet of good intensity, revealing violet and blackberry notes. On the palate, the wine has well-integrated tannins and a refreshing structure that carries the fruit through to the finish. Fruity, juicy finish. A pleasant wine to enjoy in its youth, yet it also has good ageing potential.

The nose is aromatic, racy, and offers concentration, a touch of power, and a lovely fine grain. It reveals notes of blackcurrant, ripe black cherry, and ripe/fleshy strawberry, combined with touches of stewed redcurrant, licorice, and subtle hints of spice. The palate is fruity and offers a hint of juiciness, a lovely roundness, smoothness, fine creaminess, tension, a delicate freshness, as well as a fine, racy minerality in the background. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, crushed blackberry, and, more lightly, fleshy cherry, combined with fine/discreet touches of blueberry, a very discreet hint of cornflower, as well as small notes of caramelization, licorice, sweet spices, and almond. The tannins are fine and supple. Good length.

Dark, intense and beautiful color. Moderately aromatic nose with ripe, pleasant, pure and creamy fruit. Fleshy, flavorful palate, a touch firm, but sappy on the finish and above all without any harsh edges. A lovely piece of work.