Château Rauzan-Gassies 2019

Fruit and herbal aspects on the nose — some savoury elements too on the nose, with an appealing leatheriness. Fresh in style with dense juice and a roasted coffee touch. Acidity is present but not super bright, more serious. The tannins are smooth and well integrated, not drying in texture, but you do get a chalky, dry sensation on the tongue, supported by rounder, riper fruit led by red cherries with perfumed highlights at the end. Great potential with age.

Aromas of blueberries, blackcurrants, orange zest, black tea, praline and bitter chocolate. It’s medium- to full-bodied with firm, polished tannins. Silky and supple. Excellent balance and freshness. Drink from 2025.

Rauzan-Gassies has been on a roll lately and 2019 continues its positive trend. Medium-bodied, soft, polished, fresh, and vibrant, the chewy red fruits come with an intriguing orange citrus, espresso, and spice accent on the nose and palate. The fruit has a smoked, savory edge with a nice floral background note. Drink from 2024–2040.

Dark ruby garnet, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Black cherries, some wild berry confit, a hint of quince, tobacco nuances. Complex, blackberry fruit, some nougat, well-integrated tannins, fresh, elegant and persistent, certain ageing potential, will benefit from bottle ageing.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 14% abv) Herbaceous, light, slender bouquet, red blackberry, wood, smoke. Firm, lean palate with subtle fruit, sandy tannins, bourgeois structure, little aromatics, dry finish.

Light bouquet, wood, nutshells, a hint of cassis, coffee grounds. Slim, light, dry palate with little fruit, sandy tannins, a bony structure, light aromatics, dry finish. 16/20 2024 - 2034

Lovely depth to the cassis and raspberry fruit, the tannins are a little austere, highlighting rosemary, rose petal and tomato leaf edges. This is good quality with a fine, carefully defined structure and a mouthwatering finish.

Once again, the wine is shy, in an austere phase, barely revealing hints of red fruit, spices, and white pepper. The palate remains juicy, without great complexity, and the tannins are indulgent.

Dark, intense and beautiful colour. Lovely, highly aromatic nose with ripe, subtle fruit. Hints of blackberry jelly. Tender on the attack, silky mid-palate, very flavoursome; even if it shows a touch of austerity, the wine unfolds juicily on the finish. It ends long and far better built than en primeur and than in the past.