La Roseraie 1868 du Clos Cantenac, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 2020

To develop flavour and integrate tannins, the wine macerated on its skins for several weeks after fermentation. Ageing then took place for one year in mainly second and third-fill French oak barrels. These seasoned barrels impart more subtle cedar, vanilla oaked nuances, while still allowing a gentle micro-oxygenation, rounding out and harmonizing the blend. The result is a full-bodied, tightly knit red with remarkable finesse. Notes of dark summer fruit gain in complexity, with undertones of cedar and smoked meat. Overall, a well-integrated, if still slightly taut, red that will age gracefully over the medium term. 2024-2034 –JB