2022 Monsieur Etain Cabernet Sauvignon

Scarecrow's 2022 M. Étain is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% each Merlot and Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. Scents of cedar, cherries and dusty earth mark the nose, while there's a nice tension to this wine's medium to full-bodied palate, with red berries and even some faint herbal streaks, plus darker berries and hints of earthiness. Supple, silky and easy to drink, with a hint of mocha on the finish, it may be enjoyed now and over the next decade or more.

While I've too often referred to this as a second wine, it has its own designated parcel and is a completely separate wine from the Grand Vin, which I think accounts for its singular character. Darker currants, tobacco, roasted herbs, graphite, and spicy, chocolatey notes all define this beauty, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a layered, round, velvety mouthfeel and a great finish. It's a brilliant, opulent, incredibly impressive 2022 that has so much character. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 15-20 years. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% each of Petit Verdot and Merlot, and the balance Malbec, raised 19 months in 50% new barrels.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon M. Étain is gorgeous. Plump, juicy and inviting, the 2022 is an absolute joy. It might not quite have the depth or intensity of the very best years, but it comes very, very close. More than anything else, the wine's balance is impressive. A burst of dark red cherry, pomegranate, spice, new leather, cedar and tobacco builds into the long, beautifully resonant finish.