2022, Château Larcis Ducasse, SAINT-ÉMILION, 1er Grand Cru Classé 'B'Bordeaux Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc. This 10 hectare property is situated close to Pavie on the best south facing slope in Saint Emilion. In 2002 Nicolas Thienpont and Stphane Derenoncourt, of neighbouring Pavie Macquin, took control of both the vineyard and the winemaking. The wines here are impressively concentrated in style. 2022 is a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc. This is really precise

mineral reduction and ocean breeze wisps

tempered by fennel and liqourice root

liquorice notes offering depth and wideness - lots of terroir and grape markers in the glass - particularly the high percentage (25%) of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend

Fruit feels ripe and well worked and this has shots of cool freshness and nice balancing acidity

The 2022 Les Pensees de Lafleur opens with striking aromatics

with sappy

but the rich mouthfeel is instead found through a higher proportion of Sauvignon Gris

the 2022 La Louvière Blanc has a medium-bodied palate

The 2022 blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon

It's a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon

while the fruit is more redcurrant and red cherry in nature

It is a wine of linear intensity rather than size