2024 Vray Croix de Gay

Working with the vintage, delivering crunchy red and blue fruits, lovely floral aromatics, stretches out through the palate, not hugely classic Pomerol but a thoroughly delicious wine, no need to wait too long although it builds through the palate and should deepen further over ageing. The new cellar here will be for the 2025 vintage, 80% new oak. Higher Cabernet Franc than usual.

The 2024 Vray Croix de Gay is soft, open-knit and quite accessible. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit and a touch of citrus are nicely lifted in this gentle, small-scaled Vray Croix de Gay. The blend is 79% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Franc, which is a bit more Franc than normal. The 2024 is a bit narrow and understated, but there are no hard edges. Élevage is projected to be 18 months, with 80% new barrels.

The 2024 Vray Croix de Gay, which will be furnished with a new winery this coming September, contains more Cabernet Franc than usual and was picked between September 20 and October 3. It has a light bouquet with raspberry and crushed strawberry scents. The palate is medium-bodied with pointed acidity on the entry. A simple Pomerol, balanced, if just missing sustain on the finish. Ergo, one for earlier drinking than, say, the excellent '22.