Château Croizet-Bages 2019

Strong aromas of black fruits on the nose, this is deeply concentrated but with great drive and plushness. Some cooling blue fruit touches, blueberries, pomegranate and blackcurrant but also strong menthol aspects — the Pauillac Cabernet aspects coming through. Powerful and structured but also well defined with a precise fruit profile. I like the dark, liquorice, coffee intensity here with a juicy lift at the end. Lots going on.

Blackcurrants, spices and blueberries with some lead pencil on the nose. Medium body with fine, polished and pretty tannins. Nice finish. Not the most structured 2019, but very attractive and well crafted. Drink after 2025.

Deep crimson. Sweet and vanilla-scented. A contrast between the sweet aroma and the firm, chewy tannins. Thickly textured, pretty tough, for now at least. (JH)

The 2019 Croizet-Bages has a straightforward nose of blackberry, cedar and light touches of mint and camphor; the oak is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied and quite smooth, although the oak feels a little dominant toward the finish. It seems to drift, missing a bit of focus and grip, so that after it has departed, you soon forget about it. Frustratingly, this Pauillac falls short of my predictions from barrel.

Medium-bodied, fresh, bright and savory, with a strong, leafy, cedar and tobacco-leaf edge to the crisp red berries, the wine sits firmly at the corner of classic and rustic, with a slightly softer, riper, polished side. There is a strong green, peppery, olive hint in the red currant finish. Drink from 2025–2042.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fine nougat, a hint of cassis and cocoa, sweet black cherries, very inviting bouquet. Complex, juicy, vivid, ripe tannins, wild blackberries on the finish, mineral and serious with very good length, will benefit from further bottle ageing.

Inky dark garnet colour with a purple hue. Aromas of new oak toast, red berries, plum and bouquet garni. Medium bodied with a youthful texture, grippy yet ripe tannin, a fresh acidity underneath, moderately ripe red fruit flavours with an herbaceous spiciness and good length. A style deserving long ageing to open.

The ruby/purple-hued 2019 Château Croizet-Bages has a solid perfume of red and black currants, sappy tobacco, and cedar pencil to go with a medium-bodied, balanced, elegant, slightly herbal style on the palate. It's not a blockbuster, but it has good balance, ripe and present tannins, and a fresh, lively, nicely concentrated style that will benefit from just 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15 years.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 14.5% vol. alcohol) Fragrant, sweet, fresh, silky bouquet, cherries, elderberry, mint. Silky, fine palate with sweet fruit, slightly powdery tannins, good aromatics, plush structure, fruity finish.

Sets the mood with a kick of spice, followed by cocoa bean and damson fruits. This is a little short, mainly because alcohol just throws things off a little on the finish, but there is depth and definition to the fruits, and it's enjoyable overall, with a Pauillac signature.

Tasted blind, the bottle didn’t have all the body and definition of the fine neighboring crus, but the wine is clean, with a well-marked note of dark tobacco already firmly in place, and oak that’s still a touch too angular. A true Pauillac at an accessible price that will allow you to wait for the others. Peak around 2027. The second wine, Alias, was tasting surprisingly well and will need to be checked again.

Slightly evolved and vanilla-scented on the nose, with notes of fern and orange fruit. The palate is spicy and warm, with tertiary complexity that then leads to lovely bitters on the finish.

Croizet-Bages 2019 reveals a precise, complex bouquet, striking a fine balance between freshness, terroir, and fruity nuances. The palate is inviting and creamy. The wine has body, with powerful tannins, though a touch too much on the bitter side. This bitterness is, however, well offset by the fruit and the acid structure. I think some cellar time will sort this out. You’ll be able to enjoy this wine with a meal, and its flavor intensity will be nicely wrapped.

The nose is aromatic, racy, and offers controlled power along with a discreetly tight edge. The wine benefits from decanting. It reveals notes of blackcurrant, roast tones, and, more subtly, bright blue berries, combined with hints of morello cherry, a subtle touch of crushed strawberry, licorice (zan), as well as a discreet hint of graphite, sap, and a subtle touch of pepper. The palate is fruity and balanced, offering minerality, a fresh/juicy structure, purity, a lovely brightness of fruit, and gourmandise. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of vibrant blackberry and small blue berries, combined with hints of morello cherry and blackcurrant, as well as fine touches of violet, roast notes, and a hint of pleasant bitterness. A fine hint of mocha, toastiness, and bergamot lingers in the background/on the finish.

Fruity wine, with a discreet attack, a rising profile, finishing with more pronounced tannins than during the En Primeur tastings. Should be more suave. Medium length.