2013 Domaine du Castel Grand Vin

The 2013 Grand Vin is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), Petit Verdot (22%), Merlot (13%) and Cabernet Franc (3%), aged for 20 months in 50% new French oak barrels. It comes in at 15% alcohol. The wine is unfined and unfiltered. Adding some concentration and fullness to the Petit Castel recently reviewed, this coats the palate and fills the mouth with fine fruit. A bit tight on the finish right now, with its alcohol and oak showing just a bit, it resolved nicely with aeration, the fruit emerging steadily. Becoming increasingly delicious as it opened, this is a Grand Vin that shows some muscle and structure, but it is mostly about the lush and delectable fruit. The tannins were well controlled and the wine is elegant, but those things are pretty easy to find with Castel. However, I'm not sure I've had a Grand Vin that was tastier. The longer it was open, the better it got, the oak blowing off, the alcohol relegated to the inconsequential. It also began to show some purity and lift to the fruit. This is a big mouthful and a potential superstar. You can approach it now if you really must, but that's a bad idea. It is not anywhere near peak; show some patience. It probably will round into form around the end of the decade. Even then, however, it may have considerable time left and the ability to gain complexity in the cellar. There's a lot of everything here--it just needs a little settle-down time.