2018 Vieux Chateau St Andre

Jean-Claude Berrouet's home estate, with the talented Jeff Berrouet working alongside his father. Montagne is an appellation that was well-placed to deliver in the dry summer of 2018, and this really is one to look out for, as good as the exceptional 2016 from the property. Redcurrant and blackberry fruits, studded with cracked pepper, tobacco, black tea and cardamom. Thoroughly enjoyable, even more so after a good few hours in a carafe. 20% new oak.

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Vieux Château Saint André reveals a subtle, very pretty nose of kirsch, Black Forest cake and black raspberries with hints of red roses, fragrant earth and ground cloves. The medium to full-bodied palate is softly textured, understated and refreshing, finishing with a lively mineral skip in its step. This is a beautifully crafted Montagne Saint-Émilion that will appeal to those that adore soft-spoken wines of restraint and a quiet kind of intensity.

The 2018 Vieux Château Saint André is owned by the Berrouet family, of course, synonymous with Petrus. It has a lovely nose of lilting red berry fruit and a light saline influence, hints of orange blossom emerging with continued aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and very well-judged acidity. This Montagne Saint-Émilion has a bit of bite, especially on the tensile finish. Berrouet’s magic touch shows here.