2017 Lalande Borie

Bright cassis, violets, lead pencil, and a touch of minerality all emerge from the 2017 Chateau Lalande-Borie, another classic, incredibly elegant 2017. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins, considerable elegance, and a solid spine of acidity, it's a beautiful, classic Saint Julien to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.

The 2017 Lalande-Borie, aged in 40% new oak, was bottled in June 2019. It has an "airy" bouquet with brambly red fruit, touches of bay leaf and black tea, although I would like more fruit intensity. The palate is superior to the nose with light tannins that frame the tart red fruit. This is a nimble, easy-drinking Lalande-Borie, which is not a pejorative remark. It is just very fresh and well balanced, the kind of Claret you can guarantee empty by the end of a meal. Enjoy over the next 6 to 10 years.

The 2017 Lalande-Borie, which was created by Jean-Eugène Borie in 1970, is matured in 30% new oak for 12 months. It has a well-defined bouquet with slightly broody dark fruit that need some encouragement from the glass. Here there is a majority of red rather than black fruit, complemented by bay leaf and a touch of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, crisp acidity, very focused with tangible mineralité that surfaces on the final third of the wine. Good potential. I like the sapid nature of this wine and it should drink well over the next decade.