Château Poesia 2019

Frankly forward, with raspberry and mulberry notes leading the way, followed by a modest structure and notes of melted red licorice and savory on the languid finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2026. 3,000 cases made.

Estate owned by the Barde-Haut family in a cooler, later-ripening spot of St Emilion, this has plentiful peppered spice notes and clear austerity. Dark fruits that feel well controlled by the tannins, with lashings of liquorice, smoked earth and black chocolate. Serious, enjoyable.

Dried flowers, mimosa, blackcurrants, peppercorns and burnt orange on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tightly wound tannins and crisp acidity. Zesty, mineral character on the tight finish. Lightly smoky at the end. Try in 2026.

Tasted blind. Paler than most. Rather odd, simple nose. No great depths. Unambitious. With a slightly pinched finish. (JR)

The 2019 Poesia is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from Hélène and Patrice Lévêque. Rich and sumptuous, Poesia marries intensity with vibrancy in grand style. Poesia is a big, explosive Saint-Émilion, but it also possesses tremendous energy. Dark fruit, gravel, incense, spice and saddle leather open with a bit of coaxing. There is an exotic quality to Poesia in 2019 that is especially alluring. Brilliant.

The perfume here reminds me of a freshly picked bouquet of flowers. Soft, silky, fresh and vibrant, the fruits show a gorgeous sense of purity in the sweet, ripe kirsch and plums, with lift and chalky tannins on the finish. Long, refined and complex, this is already a joy to taste. But its best days are in the future, if you can hold off from opening a bottle. Drink from 2024–2038.

The 2019 Château Poesia is a charming, up-front, straight-up sexy Saint-Emilion that brings lots of fruit yet always stays balanced and seamless. Bright red and blue berry fruits, spring flowers, tobacco, and some chalky minerality all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a supple, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This purity of fruit is spot on, and this is another terrific vintage for this château. It already offers pleasure yet will benefit from short-term cellaring and unquestionably evolve for 20-25 years if stored properly.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Poesia rolls out with ready-to-go notes of fresh blackberries, red currant jelly, and juicy black plums with hints of rose oil, dried lavender, and tar. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft and velvety, well-framing the generous red and black fruit layers, finishing with great freshness and loads of mineral sparks.

Logo on the capsule: DIAM30 Dark, intense, youthful color. Very aromatic nose with pure, ripe, spicy fruit. Supple on entry, juicy mid-palate, both tender and powerful, the wine unfolds with savory, noble depth on the finish, with great length. The vintage’s softness suits its highly structured style. Alcohol: 14°.