2017 Saint-Emilion and Pomerol

 

 

Right Bank 2017 shows a rather wide arrange of styles, from very classical, almost lean, to fragrant and detailed and refreshing, to sweet, big and alcoholic, all depending on what went on during the growing season at each estate. Some had quite severe frost and that could leave the few grapes left per plant got very concentrated, while other wines can be on the lean side, maybe because they lacked proper blending possibilities? There are different answers to these questions depending on who you ask. 

That makes it a bit more complicated for you as a buyer as it is a vintage that has bigger differences than I remembered from primeur. Most wines show lovely acidity, so most wines have lift and playfulness to them. Most are nicely scented as well, and some hide the sometimes high alcohol levels rather well. And better than some of their 2018 siblings. But some are on the sweet and ripe side, so depending on what you look for, you can get all sorts in 2017. 

If the wine contains 14,5% alcohol and you are on the sensitive side for alcohol, beware. Most below that carries the alcohol well, and some are even down to 13 percent and almost feel lean with the alcohol levels we are all getting much more used to than only a few years ago. Several estates have quite small production due to the frost damages, so some may be quite rare in the marketplace. There are some beauties out there, but this vintage is unusually difficult to generalise, it is much more one by one approach to check alcohol levels and maybe read a few tasting notes. I also wish I could have tasted many more, but a small insight it is. Next out is Left Bank and a fuller report. More estates sent samples! (I was also a bit slow at letting some of the producers know I also tasted 2017 now).

Saint-Émilion

2017 Château Cheval Blanc

Ruby. Blackberries, scented, violets, blueberries, vanilla, spices, detailed, violets and faint of tropical flowers nose. Almost lilies, just more descret. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, spices, liquorice, layered and deep, not that intense, a very elegant Cheval, classical amongst its modern peers, long. 96

2017 Le Petit Cheval

Only some 4000 bottles were made of this beauty. Ruby. Not quite half and half Cabernet Franc and Merlot, but just like during primeur it is really the excellent Cabernet Franc that almost feel like a soloist in this vintage of Petit Cheval. Scented, floral even at this youthful stage, blackberries, some cassis and blueberries, elegant nose, detailed, almost mineral beneath. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, blueberries, cassis, refined and superb balance, such a beauty. It is on the gentle side, so some may overlook it’s utterly harmonious expression. This is a stunner and so rare, I just pray I will revisit it again at some stage. 94

2017 Château Cadet-Bon

Ruby. Subdued nose, blackberries, anise, graphite, nuanced, faintly floral nose and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, some spices, elegant body and texture, again that subtlety and fine graphite note. Long. 90

2017 Château Yon-Figeac

Ruby. Blackberries, some spices, dark fruits, some graphite notes with a few hours of air, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, some liquorice, nuanced, fairly detailed, long finish. 91

2017 Château Figeac

Ruby. Scented, violets, blackberries, anise, spices, nuanced, detailed, minerals nose, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, blueberries, some cassis, minerals, detailed and layered, superb expression, incredibly charming even at this stage. Production more or less half the average. 96

2017 Château de Pressac

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, blueberries and spices, some faint minerals and light floral note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries and blueberries, fruit driven, long finish, bit of alcohol warmth. 91

2017 Château Tour de Pressac 

Ruby. Blueberries, blackberries, fruit driven with some vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, dark fruits, anise, spices, blueberries, good length. 89

2017 Château Tertre Roteboeuf

MAR 21 Deep ruby. Rich nose, spices, blackberries, vanilla, intense, touch of coffee and chocolate. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich and dense, blackberries and spices, layered and long. 96

2017 Château Quintus

Ruby. Red fruits, dark berries, some vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, red berries, anise, some spices, alcohol warmth is showing clearer than before, long finish. 91

2017 Le Dragon de Quintus 

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, blueberries, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet dark fruits, spices, anise and liquorice, spices, juicy, good length. 89

2017 Château Faugeres

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, scented notes, faintly floral and maybe some subdued minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, juicy, liquorice, nuanced, faint herbal note, good length. 89

2017 Château Laroque 

Ruby. Lots of blueberries and some liquorice with a faint floral note nose, very fruit driven. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, some spices, juicy and detailed, long. 90

2017 Château de Ferrand

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, blueberries nose, lighter, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, good length. High alcohol. 88

2017 Château Tour Saint Christophe

Ruby. Red fruits and blackberries, anise and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, nuanced, high alcohol, good length. 88

2017 Château Bellefont-Belcier

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, vanilla, spices, rich nose, jammy. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, vanilla, spices, jammy, high alcohol, somewhat creamy texture, good length. 89

2017 Château Bellevue

Ruby. Scented, blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice and vanilla nose, more floral with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, blueberries, fruit driven, long finish. 91

2017 Lynsolence

Ruby. Blackberries, cassis, dark fruits and anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, detailed, good length. 89

2017 Château Rol Valentin

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, fruit driven nose, lightly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, red berries, juicy, nuanced, good length. 89

2017 Château Carteau Côtes Daugay

Ruby. Red fruits, anise, spices, blackberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, juicy, detailed, elegant texture, lovely balance, long. 90

2017 Château Destieux

Ruby. Rich, deeper nose, vanilla and spices, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, good length. 88

2017 Château La Croix Younan

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, fruit driven, quite intense nose. Medium acidity, fruit driven, dark fruits, anise, good length. 87

2017 Château La Croizille

Ruby. Blackberries, cassis, blueberries and dark fruits nose, coffee and chocolate. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, some spices, liquorice, good length. 88

2017 Château Roylland

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, vanilla and chocolate nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, blackberries, good length, leaner finish. 88

Pomerol

2017 Château La Conseillante 

Ruby. Scented, detailed, layered and nuanced, intense nose, floral, violets, beautiful nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries and blackberries, silky smooth, detailed and layered, superb balance, very long indeed! 96

2017 Château Gazin

Ruby. Lush nose of blackberries, spices, blueberries, intense and rich, a bigger nose for Gazin. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, smoother texture and fuller bodied, blackberries and spices, detailed, long finish. 94

2017 Château Mazeyres

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, blueberries nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, detailed, liquorice, long finish, lovely energy to it. Long. A cool fruit style rare on the right bank this vintage. 89

2017 Château Beauregard 

Ruby. Blackberries, fruit driven, anise, some spices, vanilla, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, lovely balance, structured finish, firmer. 92

2017 Château Petit-Village

Ruby. Scented, red and dark fruits, anise, floral and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries and spices, detailed, nuanced, lovely balance, bright and long. Not a blockbuster, just pure elegance! 95

2017 La Clemence

Ruby. Blueberries, vanilla and spices, rich nose, intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, vanilla and spices, liquorice, good length. 88

2017 Château La Commanderie

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, faint of fates, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, juicy, good length. Vanilla finish. 87

2017 Château Vieux Maillet

Ruby. Red fruits, blueberries, herbs and vanilla nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, red fruity, good length. 88

2017 Château Bourgneuf

Ruby. Vanilla, spices, blackberries and spices nose, dark fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, liquorice, rich, high alcohol but has lift, long. 90