The ruby-plum colour signals great concentration of flavour: the nose is cedary, spicy blackberry with notes of rust; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted earthy, blackberry flavours fill the palate with ripe tannins. Hold five years.
A very impressive Burgundy. Ruby-coloured with a spicy, raspberry nose, well-integrated oak and a light floral uplift; medium-bodied, dry, elegant and beautifully balanced red berry flavours. A seamless wine with a firm finish.
Mature ruby colour exhibiting a nose of dried rose petals, dried herbs, plum and oak notes; full-bodied, dry, rich and full on the palate with savoury black fruit flavours and ripe tannins. At its peak now.
Made by the same folks as Ducru-Beaucaillou. Not from a celebrated vintage year. Clear, very deep garnet. Medium nose, mostly woody with raisin, fig and plum aromas. Strong tannins on the palate, tasting of ripe raspberries with good acidity. The fruit is about to start falling away, drink up.
A well-aged claret drinking well now but cellar-worthy for another decade. Dense ruby in colour with a blackcurrant and cigar-box nose; medium-bodied, dry, lean and sinewy, firmly structured with lively acidity and a firm tannic finish.
Full ruby. Red berries and a fair amount of oak dominate the elegant nose. Nice roundness on the palate in spite of a tannic core that brings structure, leading to a finish lifted by acidity with notes of liquorice. 80% Merlot with 15% Cab Sauv and 5% Malbec. Ready to drink.
The Vatan family has been making wine in the Loire for more than 300 years, with 5th generation Philippe and his daughter Agathe Vatan currently in charge. This Cabernet Franc was sourced from 15 parcels scattered around Saumur and Dampierre in the Loire, and is the gateway CF for the château. Though the parcels range in vine age, they all are planted on tuffeau soils (la Tuffe, locally) of varying depth. The farming follows organic and biodynamic practices (en route to certification for bio), and the wine spent up to two years in tank (underground in the chalk cellars) prior to bottling. Highly fragrant and perfumed with wild raspberry, young strawberry, redcurrant, dark plum and lined with a sapid earthy herbaceousness on the light-bodied palate. Acidity is shining and tannins are gossamer gritty. A lovely charming red for solo sipping or with wild mushroom dishes.