2023 Quinault l'Enclos

Coming all from gravelly soils just outside Libourne, the 2023 Château Quinault L'Enclos is based on 67% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, brought up in a mix of demi-muids and foudre. It's a deep purple-hued beauty with lots of ripe black cherry, darker plum, smoke tobacco, and gravelly earth-like aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, rich, nicely concentrated, textured wine that has building tannins and a good sense of freshness.

Licorice, black cherries, flowers, and plums pop in the nose. On the palate, the wine is lush, round, and forward, with sweetness, as well as lift to the fruits on the mid-palate, and in the finish. There is a nice sensation of lift that shows in the back of the finish, with all of its sweet, ripe, black cherries. The wine blends 67% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Quinault L'Enclos needs a little patient swirling to bring out notes of redcurrant preserves, kirsch, and fresh blackberries leading to touches of lavender, pencil shavings, and bay leaves. The medium-bodied palate is light on its feet and refreshing, with lightly chewy tannins and an earthy finish. The blend is 67% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 16% Cabernet Franc. Quinault L'Enclos won't be offered en primeur, but released when it is ready. "A large majority of our aging is in foudres, for two years."