2009 Les Asteries

From vines sitting on hard limestone, this wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that offers prodigious levels of extract, richness, complexity and overall harmony. A fabulous wine, with black fruits galore intermixed with a liqueur of crushed rocks and spring flowers, the wine has plenty of tannin and is best cellared over at least 4-5 years and consumed over the following two decades. This property, owned by Jonathan Maltus, is located 100 meters from his Le Carre, and of course the nearby Clos Fourtet, which produced a perfect wine in 2009.

The pure fruit in the nose is so attractive, with crushed blackberries and blueberries. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long juicy finish. Give it time. But so yummy now. James Suckling, jamessuckling.com