2017 Primeur Saint-Emilion

Even with many wines missing from my normal list of tasted wines of Saint-Emilion, I still managed to find and taste 124 wines this vintage. I would expect names missing from the list to have produced either a very small amount or nothing at all due to the spring frost. Some critics say Saint-Emilion didn’t perform that greatly, for me some estates have made some of their best wines to date. Why? Well, most wines are a bit lighter and that doesn’t do much harm in Saint-Emilion, the balance is better, the extraction is taken down, there is less bitter wood tannins, less toast and generally more precision in 2017. The fruit is more detailed, the minerals show better, I think the producers of Saint-Emilion did an amazing job this year!

2017 Château Angelus

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, blueberries, floral high notes, nuanced, scented, detailed and layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, blueberries, detailed, long. 96-98

2017 Le Carillon Angelus

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, fruity, blackberries, juicy nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, juicy, good length. 88-90

2017 Chateau Ausone

Ruby. Scented, blueberries, some spices, anise, floral, nuanced, detailed, minerals. Blackberries nose, lovely. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, juicy, some spices, elegant, detailed, long. 95-97

2017 Chapelle d'Ausone

Ruby. Blueberries, scented, red berries, anise, lighter nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, anise, juicy, lovely balance, long. 89-91

2017 Château Badette

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dense and rich nose, jammy. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, rich and fruity, dense, bit jammy, long. 89-91

2017 Château Balestard la Tonnelle

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, fruity, exotic nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, fruity, dense, intense, rich. 88-90

2017 Château Barde-Haut

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, riper nose, violets. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, anise, fresh and fruity, elegant, playful, long. 89-91

2017 Château Beauséjour Duffau (Lagarosse)

Ruby. Scented, blueberries, fruity, minerals and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, spices, blueberries, detailed, juicy and long. 93-95

2017 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot

Ruby. Floral, blueberries, spices, detailed, nuanced, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blueberries, spices, detailed, long. 93-95

2017 Château Belair-Monange

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, fruity, some spices, detailed nose, floral, some graphite. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, spices, blueberries, minerals, playful, blackberries, juicy, elegant, layered, lovely balance, long. Beautiful effort. 95-97

2017 Château Bellefont-Belcier

Ruby. Dark fruits, spices, anise, blueberries nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, blueberries, good length, bit lean. 87-89

2017 Château Bellevue

Ruby. Anise, spices, blackberries, dark fruits, minty notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark berries, spices, anise, rich and fruity, denser, some sweetness and warmth, long. 90-92

2017 Château Bellevue Mondotte

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark berries, ripe fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blackberries and blueberries jam palate, sweet and ripe, long. 92-94

2017 Château Bellisle Mondotte

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, fruity, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, good length. 87-89

2017 Château Berliquet

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, minerals, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, lighter, bit herbal, good length. 88-90

2017 Château Bernateau

Ruby. Floral, violets, lighter nose, elegant blueberries note. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blueberries, anise, red fruity, good length. Charming. 87-89

2017 Château Boutisse

Ruby. Dark fruits, spices, blueberries, blackberries, some spices, floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, bit lean mid palate, good length. 88-90

2017 Château Cadet-Bon

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, some spices, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, juicy, elegant texture, long. 90-92

2017 Château Canon

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, floral, fruity, detailed, layered, minerals, subtler nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, dark berries and spices, layered, intense, minerals beneath, long. 94-96

2017 Croix Canon

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, fruity, some spices, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, anise, lighter, playful, good length. 88-90

2017 Château Canon-La-Gaffeliére

Ruby. Scented, dark berries, fruity, anise and minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, spices, detailed, lovely balance, a more nuanced CLG, long. 92-94

2017 Château Cantin

Ruby. Dark fruity, light floral note, spices and faint minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, some alcohol warmth but freshness, long. 89-91

2017 Château Cap de Mourlin

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, blueberries, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, juicy, ripe, denser, long. 89-91

2017 Château Cap St. George

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, minerals nose, violets. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, juicy. 88-90

2017 Château Calet-Guillier

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, fresh and elegant, playful. 88-90

2017 Château de Candale

Ruby. Anise, blueberries, anise, elegant, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, bit hollow, dark fruity, some herbs. 86-88

2017 Château Carteau Côtes Daugay

Ruby. Dark fruits, lighter nose, slightly floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, bit of wood bitterness, leaner palate, might lack some concentration for the wood. 86-88

2017 Château Castelot

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, blueberries nose, denser. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, bit leaner, good length. 86-88

2017 Château Cheval Blanc

56 M 30 CF 14 CS 50.000 bottles made. Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, scented, blueberries, juicy, fruity, blackberries. Intense and layered, minerals. Some mint and floral notes. Exotic spices if it gets some air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices, liquorice, anise, detailed, minerals, bit tight and structured, long. 96-98

2017 Le Petit Cheval

48 CF 52 M 4000 bottles made. Scented, red berries, some floral notes, bell peppers mint and liquorice, nuanced and detailed, minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, spices, liquorice, nuanced, elegant, long. Textbook Cabernet                      Franc. 93-95

2017 Château Clos de Sarpe

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, blueberries, quite dense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, juicy, fresh and lively. 88-90

2017 Château La Clotte

Ruby. Herbs, blueberries, anise, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, some spices, leaner, good length. 88-90

2017 Clos des Jacobins

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, some spices nose. Touch of mint and minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, some alcohol, long. 90-92

2017 Château La Confession

Ruby. Scented, tobacco, red fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lean body and texture, good length. 85-87

2017 Château Couspaude

Ruby. Blackberries, spices, blueberries, bit jammy nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices and coffee, good length. 89-91

2017 Couvent des Jacobins

Ruby. Dark fruits, blueberries, anise, fresh and bright nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, detailed, elegant, minerals, one beautiful Couvent. Superb. 91-93

2017 Château La Croizille

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, some spices, vanilla, chocolate and floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, rich and fruity, woody finish, chocolate. 87-89

2017 Château Croix de Labrie

Ruby. Dark fruity, ripe, rich and dense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, bigger, denser, sweet, good length. 88-90

2017 Château La Croix Younan

Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, spices, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices. Quite woody. 87-89

2017 Château Daugay

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, cassis, spices, some mint nose, fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, detailed, long. 89-91

2017 Château Destieux

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, rich, dark fruity, big nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, blueberries, fruity, good length. 87-89

2017 Château La Dominique

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, blueberries nose. Faintly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, juicy, dark berries, anise, long. 90-92

2017 Relais de la Dominique

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries anise, leaner. 86-88

2017 Clos Dubreuil

Ruby. Floral, dark fruity, vanilla, violets, elegant nose. Blackberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, spices, blueberries, quite intense, long. Bit lean finish. 89-91

2017 Château Edmus

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lighter but elegantly fruity. 85-87

2017 Château Faugères

Ruby. Blackberries, blueberries, fruit driven with some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise and spices, bit woody finish. 88-90

2017 Château de Ferrand

Ruby. Dark fruity nose, raspberries, some spices, blueberries, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, some spices, good length. 89-91

2017 Château Figeac

43M 47CS 10CF. Ruby. Blueberries, fruity, anise, scented, detailed, floral, minerals, layered and seductive nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, juicy, elegant texture, velvety, intense and long. About 50% loss to frost. 96-96

2017 Château La Fleur d'Arthus

Ruby. Anise, spices, blueberries, fruity nose, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, anise, lacks a bit mid palate, good length. 88-90

2017 Château La Fleur Cardinale

Not tasted, just 1000 magnums made. 

2017 Château Fombrauge

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, fruity, blueberries, ripe and rich nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, chocolate, good length. 89-91

2017 Château de Fonbel

Nothing made. 

2017 Château Fonplégade

Ruby. Dark fruity nose, bit jammy, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner fruit and body, touch herbal, good length. 86-88

2017 Château Fonroque

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, blueberries, rich and intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, fruity, anise, blackberries, long. 90-92

2017 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some spices, blueberries nose, intense. Minerals and graphite beneath dense fruit. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, lush, black fruity, intense, minerals, detailed, layered, anise and spices, structured, long. 95-97

2017 Château Franc Mayne

Ruby. Blackberries, ripe, fruity, raspberries, elegant nose, faint spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark berries, anise, spices, juicy, lovely freshness, long. 90-92

2017 Château La Gaffelière

Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, blueberries, faint violets and minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, juicy and playful, long. Refreshing. 93-95

2017 Château Godeau

Ruby. Dark berries, fruity, spices, blueberries, lightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, juicy, blueberries, long. 90-92

2017 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne

Not made. 

2017 Château Grand-Pontet

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, some spices, cassis, lovely fruit driven nose. Pure feel to it. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, juicy, lovely balance, long. 89-91

2017 Château Grand Mayne

Ruby. Blackberries, floral, scented, dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, blueberries, anise, juicy, some herbs, long. 89-91

2017 Château Guillemin la Gaffelière 

Ruby. Lighter dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, easy going. 86-88

2017 Château Haut-Brisson

Deep ruby. Blackberries, raspberries, fruity, denser nose, rich. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, juicy, rich and dense. Long. 90-92

2017 Château Haut-Sarpe

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, dark berries, some spices, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries and anise, spices, long. 89-91

2017 Château Haut-Segottes

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, blueberries nose, intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, fruity, dark berries, some spices, good length. 88-90

2017 Château Haut-Simard

Not made.

2017 Château Larcis Ducasse

Ruby. Blueberries, fruity, anise, floral, elegant nose, minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, dark berries, juicy, ripe and rich, some herbs behind, long. 91-93

2017 L'If

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruity, some spices, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, blueberries, anise, liquorice, detailed, nuanced, long. 94-96

2017 Château Jean Voisin

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruity, some spices, liquorice, richer nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, juicy, ripe, dense, detailed, rich and a bit alcoholic. More than a bit actually. 89-92

2017 Château Laniote St. Emilion

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, scented, floral nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices, intense, long. I do not have wast experience with this property but this seems the best so far from here. 90-92

2017 Château Laplagnotte-Bellevue

Ruby. Dark fruits, some violets and paprika nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, red fruity, somewhat leaner, herbs, good length. 88-90

2017 Château Laroque

Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, blueberries, fruity and scented, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise and spices, lovely balance, long. 90-92

2017 Château Lusseau

Ruby. Anise, blueberries, blackberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, blueberries, good length. 86-88

2017 Lynsolence

Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, spices, blueberries nose, bit leaner. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, blueberries, dark fruity, good length. 87-89

2017 Château Magrez Fombrauge

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, blueberries nose, some violets behind. Lovely nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, fruity, dark berries, anise, touch of mint, long. 90-92

2017 Château Mangot

80 M 15 CF 5 CS Ruby. Blackberries, anise, blueberries, some spices, quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, elegant texture, lovely balance, long. A lovely Mangot. 13,8 alcohol. 89-91

2017 Château Mangot Todeschini

40 M 30 CF 20 CS Deep ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, ripe and dense nose, richer nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, ripe and rich, some red fruits, liquorice, vanilla, long. 13,9 alcohol. 91-93

2017 Château La Marzelle

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, dark berries, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark berries, anise, spices, blueberries, juicy, long. 89-91

2017 Château Montlabert

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, blueberries nose, faint floral note. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise and spices, structured behind, long. 90-92

2017 Château Montlisse

Ruby. Richer, dense, jammy and spicy nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise and spices, long. 89-91

2017 Château Moulin Saint-Georges

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, fruity, floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, juicy, dark berries, anise, good length. 89-91

2017 Clos La Madelaine

Ruby. Scented, minerals, blueberries, anise, detailed, cassis nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices, liquorice, blackberries, detailed, long. 92-94

2017 Château Monbousquet

Ruby. Anise, blackberries, fruity, some spices, detailed nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, richer, some coffee, long. 91-93

2017 Angelique de Monbousquet

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, floral and fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, good length. 87-89

2017 Château Moulin du Cadet

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, some spices, somewhat scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries and anise, little bit hollow finish. 88-90

2017 Château Palais Cardinal

Ruby. Anise, spices, ripe and rich nose yet herbs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and juicy but somewhat hollow. 87-89

2017 Château du Parc

Ruby. Bit anonymous dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner fruit and body, again a bit anonymous. 84-86

2017 Château Pas de l'Ane

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, blueberries, fairly nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, some woody notes mid palate, lacks some concentration but fairly elegant. 86-88

2017 Château Patris Querre

Ruby. Dark fruity nose, blueberries, lightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, elegant, nuanced, rounded, good balance just a bit short. 88-90

2017 Château Pavie

60 M 22 CF 18 CS Ruby. Violets, blackberries, anise, ripe, dense, some minerals beneath, coffee and chocolate nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, rich, fruity, denser, blackberries, richer, long. 14,6 alcohol. 93-95

2017 Arômes de Pavie

Ruby. Blackberries, blueberries, rich and ripe nose, sweet fruity, some spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dense, jammy, rich, lots of coffee, bitter finish, very bitter. 91-93

2017 Esprit de Pavie

Ruby. Blueberries and herbs nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lighter fruit and body. 84-86

2017 Château Pavie Decesse

Ruby. Blackberries, jammy, ripe and rich nose, coffee and wood toast nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, some spices, long. 91-93

2017 Château Pavie Macquin

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, floral, intense, scented and layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blueberries, spices, detailed, minerals, long. 93-95

2017 Château Peby Faugeres

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some spices, dense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, bit lean finish. 89-91

2017 Château Petit Faurie de Soutard

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, some spices, fruity nose. Scented, lovely nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, lovely balance, blueberries, long. 89-91

2017 Château Pierre 1er

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise and spices, denser. 89-91

2017 Poesia

Ruby. Coffee, cassis, dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise. 86-88

2017 Château de Pressac

Ruby. Blackberries, spices, dark fruits, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, juicy, detailed, long. 90-92

2017 Château Le Prieuré

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some spices, fruity, blueberries nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, juicy, some spices, long. 89-91

2017 Château Clos des Prince

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, dense, rich nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dense, dark berries, riper, quite rich but long. 92-94

2017 Château Puy-Blanquet

Ruby. Anise, floral, blueberries and raspberries nose. Elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, darker fruits, anise. Good length, lovely PB. 88-90

2017 Château Quinault L'Enclos

22 CF 14 CF 64 M Ruby. Dark berries, anise, spices, blueberries, scented, some minerals, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, juicy, elegant texture, long. 91-93

2017 Château Quintus

54,4 M 45,6 CF Ruby. Dark fruits, blueberries, some raspberries, vanilla and liquorice nose, detailed, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blackberries, fruity, juicy, structured behind, long. 14,45 alcohol. Bit of warmth in the finish. The wine is getting more detailed but is still not perfectly balanced between alcohol and concentration. 93-95

2017 Le Dragon de Quintus

87 M 13 CF Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, blueberries, touch of vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, detailed, blueberries, nuanced, long. 14,4 alcohol. 91-93

2017 Château Rochebelle

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, some spices, minty nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, some spices, bit lean but juicy. 88-90

2017 Château Rol Valentin

Ruby. Dark fruity, spices, blueberries nose, vanilla, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, spices, ripe, detailed, long. 89-91

2017 Château Rolland-Maillet

Ruby. Blackberries, scented, fruity, denser, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, quite a bit of wood but seemingly concentration to back it up, good length. 88-90

2017 Château Roylland

Ruby. Blackberries, vanilla, some coffee and chocolate nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner fruit and body, can it handle the wood? 86-90

2017 Château Saint-Georges Côte Pavie

Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, raspberries and vanilla nose. Bit more transparent. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, bit leaner, elegant non the less. 88-90

2017 Saintem Saintayme

100 M Ruby. Scented, exotic spices, dark fruits, raspberries nose, charming and elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, bit lighter bodied but has freshness and flavours to back it up, long. 90-92

2017 Château Sanctus

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruity, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, fruity, dark berries, juicy if a bit leaner. 87-89

2017 Château Sansonnet

Ruby. Dark fruits, blueberries nose, faintly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, red berries, light palate. 86-88

2017 Château La Serre

Ruby. Raspberries, blackberries, anise, fruity nose, some spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries and anise, good length. 88-90

2017 Château de Set

Ruby. Coffee, spices, rich nose, earthy even. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, woody and hollow. 83-85

2017 Château Simard

Not made.

2017 Château Soutard

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, blueberries, fruity nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, rounded, lovely balance, charming and playful Soutard. 89-91

2017 Château Soutard-Cadet

Ruby. Dark fruits, blueberries, blackberries, some coffee notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, spices, detailed, nuanced, playful, long. 89-91

2017 Château Tauzinat l'Hermitage

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, vanilla, chocolate nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, some spices and vanilla, good length. 86-88

2017 Château Tertre Roteboeuf

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, scented, detailed, blueberries, exotic spices, dense and layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, intense, layered, spices, nuanced, rich and deep, blackberries, dense, long. 96-98

2017 Château Tour Baladoz

Ruby. Dark fruits, violets, spices, vanilla nose, blackberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, spices, rich and denser, long. 89-91

2017 Château La Tour Figeac

Only 3000 bottles made. Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some spices, fruit driven, lovely nose, some minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rounded and softer texture, elegant, blackberries, some minerals, long. 90-92

2017 Château Tour Saint Christophe

Deep ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, spices, lots of blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark berries, fruity, spices, anise, good length. 89-91

2017 Château Troplong Mondot

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, blueberries, nuanced and floral nose, faint minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, juicy, spices, layered, deep, intense, nuanced and long. 94-96

2017 Château Trottevieille

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, herbs, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruity, herbal, some anise, bit leaner. This has a tendency to show better with age than during primeur. 87-89

2017 Château Valandraud

Ruby. Scented, red berries, fruity, floral, minerals, layered, nuanced, stunning nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, detailed, layered, nuanced, playful, stunning balance. This might be leaner than expected and maybe wanted for Valandraud fans, but this is still one incredible wine. 97-99

2017 Château Villemaurine

Ruby. Dark fruits, minerals, graphite, blackberries, richer nose this vintage, denser. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, blueberries, juicy, long. 90-92

2017 Château La Voûte

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, ripe blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, juicy. 87-89

2017 Château Yon-Figeac

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, blueberries, fruity nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise and spices, good length. 88-90