2018 Le Carre

The 2018 Le Carré showed nicely, with an up-front, complex nose of red and blue fruits, flowery incense, orange blossom, and camphor. I love its nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a focused, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It benefits from air and builds nicely with time in the glass, offering more and more richness while never losing its elegant, layered, complex style. Enjoy this gorgeous 2018 over the coming two decades.

Le Carre is from the JCP Maltus portfolio of skillfully crafted Saint-Émilion wines. Neil White is the head winemaker, and Thomas Duclos is a consultant here. The 2018 Le Carre is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc—this vineyard land was purchased from Canon around 2000 and touches Clos Fourtet. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of stewed black plums, boysenberries and black raspberries, with hints of bay leaves, Indian spices and fertile loam. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with juicy black fruits, supported by soft tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and earthy.

This is really beautiful with a tight and polished palate of compressed, velvety tannins that frame a full body of ripe fruit with an earthy undertone.