2022 Puy Blanquet

From clay and limestone soils, the 2022 Château Puyblanquet (80/20 Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is a powerful wine, offering darker cherries, earth, chocolate, and violets. Beautifully integrated oak, chalky minerality, and fine tannins all give it plenty of structure, and it should evolve nicely for 15+ years. Total production: 3,333 cases.

Inky purple colour, clear austerity here, showing edges of blackcurrant, black chocolate, saffron and slate. Located near to Châteaux Boutisse and Pressac, on cooler clay-limestone soils, enjoyable.

This shows spiced cherries and berries as well as a twist of chalk and peppercorns. Juicy on the structured, medium-bodied palate with firm tannins framing the bright red fruit. Long and pretty well-dissolved at the end. Fresh and solid. Drink or hold.