2022 La Couspaude

Another impressive Saint-Emilion is the 2022 Château La Couspaude, which has a terrific perfume of spiced red and black fruits and assorted spicy, dried herb notes. With good overall freshness, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and outstanding length, it should easily wind up being an outstanding wine, and it might even match the brilliant 2018.

75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. Bright fruit with a chocolatey nuance. Generous fruit on the palate with chalky tannins that highlight the terroir. Balancing freshness as well. A more natural expression than in the past. (JL)

On brand, as this is always an intense wine. Baked plum, black cherry, damson, patisserie notes of grilled vanilla bean and cappuccino. Takes its foot off the pedal on the final moments, but hard to fully escape those drying tannins on the finish.