Château Larmande 2019

Tighter, slimmer structure; tannins with freshness.

Wonderful Black Forest gateau aromas on the nose, blackcurrant and milk chocolate, so welcoming. Fresh and juicy on the palate, this is bright and energetic with refined and perfumed cherry and berry fruits leading the way. Tannins are well integrated and this really stands out as being a fresh, fruity and approachable wine. Elegant and enjoyable. A touch of spice hits the finish giving a soft piquance.

Dark cherries, plums, mulberries, dried herbs and baking spices on the nose. Medium body with fine tannins. Fruity, juicy and creamy with a polished palate and a flavorful, chocolatey finish. 65% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon. Drink from 2024.

64% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only medium garnet intensity. High-toned and a little toasty. Sweet and round with the tannins almost imperceptible! Juicy fruit designed for early drinking. Perhaps just a little simple. (JR)

The 2019 Larmande has progressed nicely during its barrel maturation, now offering aromas of black currant, raspberry, peony and light undergrowth. The oak is neatly integrated here. The palate is fresh and vibrant, with crisp tannins and beautifully integrated oak leading to a harmonious finish. One of the best I have tasted from this estate.

Roses and violets are the stars that open the show. That is, until you find all the gorgeous layers of opulently textured, soft, sweet, silky red fruits. Full-bodied, rich, fresh, clean and polished, there is a touch of oak, judiciously used. So, allow the wine a few years in the cellar before pulling a cork and enjoy for up to 20 years after that. This is the finest vintage of Larmande I have ever tasted! Drink from 2024-2040.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, delicate ochre rim. Delicately herbal-spicy nuances of red cherry, wild berries, a hint of candied orange zest. Juicy, chocolaty touch, ripe plum, ripe tannins, delicate hints of caramel, remains persistent, already well developed, a versatile food companion.

Black cherries, leafy herbs, leather, and hints of truffle all emerge from the 2019 Château Larmande, a medium-bodied, elegant, very pretty, balanced Saint-Emilion that has supple tannins and outstanding length. I like it today, yet it's going to keep for 10-15 years with no issues.

Dark ruby with lightening rim. Opulent bouquet of prunes and cooled forest fruit tea, backed by seductive cinnamon notes and perfumed pipe tobacco. On the plump palate with a creamy texture, supportive tannic framework and ripe extract. In the focused finish, the verve springs forth and virtually propels the wine forward, though it lacks a bit of flesh and depth. Well made, with room to improve!

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (74% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% alc. vol.) Silky, light, herbal bouquet, red cherries, wood. Slim, slightly angular palate with light fruit, sandy tannins, bourgeois structure, medium aromatics, light finish.

(74% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% vol. alcohol) Silky, light, austere bouquet, red cherries, wood. Slim, slightly angular palate with light fruit, sandy tannins, bourgeois structure, medium aromatics, light finish. 16/20 2024 - 2035

Raspberry leaf and blackberry fruits, touches of smoked earth, tobacco and caramel edging. This is enjoyable with Saint‑Émilion swagger but nothing overdone. From the same stable as Château Soutard, on clay‑limestone‑sandy soils.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Larmande springs with Morello cherries, mulberries, and ripe black plums, plus spice cake and potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is soft with loads of bright fruit, finishing on a spicy note.

During ageing, which lasts 18 months in oak barrels and amphorae, the silkiness, fruit and freshness are preserved. This is what stands out after a 2018 that is particularly taut with spice and carried by the lovely mid-palate sweetness. More austere, the 2019 also shows greater expressiveness in the structure of its tannins, with a fine aptitude for ageing.

A precise, delicate nose, both floral and tangy. The same spontaneous lightness comes through on the palate, caressing and silky, with aromas of wild strawberries and raspberry.

In terms of precision, Larmande 2019 clearly has strong points to make. What a sense of detail, what relevance, and what vibrant freshness of fruit. It doesn’t try to dazzle; it simply takes its place with delicacy and conviction. That precision is just as evident on the palate. The wine combines freshness, subtlety, and power. Still a touch in standby mode, it nonetheless advances the arguments needed to rank among Larmande’s great successes.

The nose is fruity, elegant, racy, with lovely definition and indulgence. It reveals notes of juicy/ripe blackcurrant, juicy black berries and, more subtly, strawberry, together with small touches of cornflower, lily and wild strawberry. The palate is fruity, balanced, and offers a lovely definition of delicacy, a touch of tension, and fine-grained finesse. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of ripe blackcurrant, juicy blackberry and, more subtly, raspberry, combined with fine hints of wild black berries, lilac, iris, blue fruits, as well as very subtle touches of licorice, blond tobacco and caramelization. Good length. The tannins are well handled and elegant.

Delicate, fragrant wine, but with a slightly shy expression. Medium length.

92–94. Barrel Sample. Big and rich, this wine is packed with succulent, structured fruit. Merlot is an important element of the blend, it is no surprise the wine has powerful dark fruits backed by solid tannins. There is plenty of aging here.