Varietal mix 53% Merlot
28% Syrah
18% Malbec
1% Cabernet Franc

Maturing 6 months in one- to two-vintage barrels

Tasting notes

The wine is a clear, glittering, dense and deep crimson with garnet highlights.

The powerful and refined nose opens on smoky, roasted coffee-bean aromas with herby, garrigue notes, followed by black fruit, especially blackcurrant and blackberry.

A supple and rich attack leads into an expansive palate of remarkable substance, fruit-filled and creamy smooth, with lovely cherry flavours. The fruit brings a freshness that confers admirable harmony on the beautifully structured mid-palate.

The finish, on spicy notes of black pepper and clove, is powerful yet alert, and of magnificent length.

After a mild January, the end of the 2017-18 winter was colder than in previous years, with temperatures falling to a low of -9° C on 27 February. Nonetheless, budbreak started on 24 March, a normal date for the estate.

Winter and spring were very wet. As a result, despite normal temperatures in April, May and June, flowering took place a few days later than usual, starting on 1 June with the Merlot and ending on 16 June with the Cabernet Sauvignon.

July was stormy and hot, August and September hot and dry. Veraison took place as usual between 2 and 25 August.

Because of the late summer heat, picking started with the Merlot on 28 September, a few days earlier than the average, and ended with a last parcel of Malbec on 17 October. The grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness. The average yield for the red grape varieties was 47 hl/ha, in line with our expectations.