2018 Primeur Pomerol

The effort this year was to resist the temptation. Olivier Berrouet of Petrus 

More than 100 wines tasted from Pomerol this year and it is an incredibly lovely array of wines. One thing is the beauty of the top wines, with several making some of their greatest ever, but so many that so often are just a bit lean and drab has made some utterly charming stuff as well. Beauregard seems to have a new found spirit, not that they have made bad wines, they haven’t, but they do not always catch your imagination either. If the 2018 is a new way forward, it is a good path. Le Bon Pasteur seems to head towards a more elegant and less rich style the last few years, and Bourgneuf has yet again made something very charming and seductive. La Cabanne seems to have new vigor as well over the last few years. A very elegant Certan de May, not as powerful as some of the neighbours but trust me, it is seductive! Clinet is both dense yet refined, nuanced and detailed, one superb effort from there, stunning wine! Not sure I have ever tasted Le Clos du Beau Père before, but it was lovely.

La Commanderie, normally a fairly light interpretation of Pomerol was shining this year with new found depth. Then we have La Conseillante, just pure silky finesse. So seductive, as almost only Conseillante can be. La Croix du Casse, Croix de Gay and Croix St. Georges were all lovely efforts before a denser Eglise-Clinet. This is a compact wine and it was not the easiest ever to taste, so I might have overlooked something. Still it impressed. But what I am trying to say is that it might impress even more in the future. I have never tasted such a great Evangile. That was mind blowing. Hands down. Dense, yet layered, yet incredibly complex and just never ending finish. This is a legend in the making. Another one of those? La Fleur-Petrus. Is this the greatest one to date? I had to retaste it several times just to get to grips with the depth and aftertaste of it. Wow! Gazin has been on a roll lately and the 2018 is no different. Le Gay also made beautiful stuff. Lafleur is dense, intense and layered, and not the easiest wine to taste at this stage, so much going on in there. It might go even higher.  

Probably the best La Fleur du Roy to date, and one very serious Latour a Pomerol. Nenin is another estate getting ever more serious with a peppery note to it. Petit Village is finding itself as well, and making a wine with a lovely personality over the last few vintages. Trotanoy showed incredible depth and layers and a very long finish, absolutely superb Trotanoy this year. Vieux Château Certan was graceful as ever with more density, another I fine particularly difficult to pinpoint this vintage. Petrus and Le Pin both showed incredible purity and layers, Petrus a bit more ethereal in a way, floral and scented, Le Pin a bit more spicy and exotic. There was a worry that the lover sandy soils would prove difficult this year, but there were very few problems with Pomerol. It is a star appellation in 2018.

2018 Château Beau Soleil

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, dark fruity nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruits, elegant texture, long. 89-91

2018 Château Beauregard 

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, dark fruity nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, blueberries and spices, lovely, long. 92-94

2018 Château Beauregard

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Lightly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, elegant, lovely balance, long. 92-94

2018 Clos Beauregard

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, scented nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, elegant and nuanced, long. 89-91

2018 Château Bel-Air

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose. Ripe. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, anise, juicy. 88-90

2018 Château Bellegrave

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some spices, liquorice nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, elegant fruit and texture, lovely balance, long. 89-91

2018 Château Le Bon Pasteur

MAR 18 Ruby. Scented, blueberries, anise, spices, some liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, floral, elegant and long. 92-94

2018 Château Bonalgue

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, spices, liquorice notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, liquorice, riper Bonalgue. 89-91

2018 Château Bourgneuf

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, lighter nose, some vanilla and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, juicy, structured, firm behind, long. 92-94

2018 Château La Cabanne

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, fruity nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, anise, lovely balance, some light playfulness some how going on, long. One to follow! 90-92

2018 Château Le Caillou

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, lively and refreshing, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Cantelauze

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, scented notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, structured, dark fruity, some spices, denser, long. 90-92

2018 Château Certan de May

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, detailed, layered, floral nose. Charming. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, liquorice, layered and detailed, superb balance, playfulness in the finish, long. 93-95

2018 Château Le Chemin

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose, black fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins,d ark berries and anise and spices, refreshing finish. 88-90

2018 Château La Cleménce

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, scented nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, blueberries, liquorice, some alcohol high notes behind. 89-91

2018 Château Chêne Liège

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, blackberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, some spices, liquorice, detailed, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Clinet

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, fresh fruity, detailed, floral, layered, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, anise and spices, blueberries, detailed, seriously long after taste in this, superb! 96-98

2018 Clos 56

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, alcohol, some jammy notes nose. Freshish acidity, woody and alcoholic finish. 84-86

2018 Le Clos du Beau Père

Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, cassis, blueberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, elegant if richer, long. 90-92

2018 Clos du Clocher

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, spices, rich nose, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, liquorice, detailed, long. 90-92

2017 Château La Commanderie

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, layered nose, rich. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, juicy, elegant texture, ripe, detailed, long. A lovely La Commanderie. 90-92

2018 Château La Conseillante

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, scented, dark fruity, tight and layered, intense and dense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blackberries, spices, rich, ripe, dark fruity, spicy, layered and nuanced, dense and long. Incredible length. 97-99

2018 Château La Création

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some herbs nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, lighter. 86-88

2018 Château La Croix

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, highly scented, detailed and elegant nose, charming. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice, good length. 88-90

2018 Château La Croix du Casse

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity, rich nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, spices, blueberries, structured, long. 90-92

2018 Château La Croix de Gay

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, minerals, some subdued floral notes, layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, bit leaner finish, long. 92-94

2018 Château Croix des Rouzes

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, vanilla and spices, some coffee notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, liquorice, spices, juicy, long. 90-92

2018 Château La Croix St. Georges

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, fruity, detailed, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, blueberries, spices, ripe, detailed, long. 91-93

2018 Clos L'Eglise

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some scented notes and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, spices, leaner, elegant, dark fruity, long. 90-92

2018 Château du Domaine de L'Eglise

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose, rich. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, spicy and woody. 86-88

2018 Château L'Eglise-Clinet

90M 10CF Ruby. Scented, violets, floral, blueberries and ripe raspberries almost leaps out of the glass, layered, and minerals far beneath. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, juicy, some spices, layered, detailed, vanilla, spices, intense, long finish. 95-97

2018 La Petite Eglise

MAR 19 80M 20CF 5100 bottles made. Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, floral, nuanced, some violets nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruity, dark berries, some spices, juicy with structure behind, long. 92-94

2018 Château Élisée

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, liquorice, good length. 88-90

2018 Château L'Enclos

APR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries, scented nose, dark berries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, structured, firm, long. 89-91

2018 Château Enclos Haut Mazeyres

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, coffee and chocolate nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, seems a bit flat. 85-87

2018 Château L'Evangile

APR 19 80M 20CF Ruby. Dark fruity nose, deep, floral, minerals, dense yet refined and layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, some spices, liquorice, detailed, intense, spicy, blackberries, layered, nuanced, incredible depth, stunning length. WOW. 99-100

2018 Blason d'Evangile

APR 19 60M 40CF Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, floral notes nose. Elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, some spices, detailed, elegant, lovely balance, charming and creamy. Long. 91-93

2018 Château Fayat

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, red fruity and floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, elegant, lovely balance, fresh. 87-89

2018 Château Ferrand

APR 19 Ruby. Woody, alcoholic and jammy nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, jammy. Lots of wood. 85-87

2018 Château Feytit-Clinet

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, some coffee and tobacco nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, liquorice and spices, long. 91-93

2018 Château La Fleur de Gay

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, anise and spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, spicy, detailed, refreshing, nuanced and long, elegant texture and lovely balance. Bit of warmth in the back. 93-95

2018 Château La Fleur-Pétrus

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose, layered and detailed. Minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, detailed, layered, nuanced, rich, deep and intense, stunning balance, incredible length, the aftertaste just goes on and on, and on. WOW. 97-99

2018 Château La Fleur de Plince

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, scented and floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, , blueberries, charming, elegant. 87-89

2018 Château Franc-Maillet

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, bit hollow finish. 86-88

2018 Château La Ganne

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, liquorice, spices, some wood nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, fairly juicy. 87-89

2018 Château Gazin

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, elegant nose. Faint minerals and flower notes behind. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, lovely balance, playful and elegant, long. Really charming vintage from Gazin, a flirter. 93-95

2018 Château Le Gay

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dense, rich nose, layered, floral and scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, blueberries and spices, rich and dense, layered, long. 94-96

2018 Château Gouprie

APR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, spices, ripe and dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries and anise, juicy. 89-91

2018 Château Grand Beauséjour

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, liquorice and alcohol nose. Medium acidity, quite flat palate. 84-86

2018 Château Les Grandes Sillons

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, anise, ripe yet scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, leaner bodied, lighter, bit jammy. 86-88

2018 Château La Grave Trigant de Boisset

APR 19 Ruby. Anise, blackberries, rich and dark fruity nose, touch of alcohol. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some structure and texture to it, long. 90-92

2018 Château Haut-Ferrand

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, bit flat. 85-87

2018 Château Haut-Maillet

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, lighter. 86-88

2018 Château Hosanna

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, dark fruits, some herbs nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, blueberries, rich and dense, long. 93-95

2018 Château Lafleur

54 Bouchet(CF) 46M. Ruby. Blueberries, some minerals, violets, roses, nuanced and detailed nose, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, detailed, blackberries, spices, lush and layered, velvety, minerals, nuanced, goes on and on, some coffee and almost fruit stone notes, meaning, ever so slightly bitter. Very long finish. 97-99

2018 Les Pensées de Lafleur

54 Bouchet(CF) 46M. Ruby. Spices, blueberries, cassis, some thyme, richer nose, deep. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blackberries, blueberries, quite dense, intense, richer, creamy, long. 93-95

2018 Château Lafleur-Gazin

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Lightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, vanilla, dark fruits, slightly rustic texture to be very picky behind, long. 90-92

2018 Château Lafleur du Roy

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, dark fruity, elegant texture, long. 88-90

2018 Château Lagrange

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, dark fruity nose, some floral notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, detailed, layered and long. 91-93

2018 Château Latour a Pomerol

APR 19 Ruby. Scented, blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, layered, nuanced and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, dense, firmer, layered, rich, blueberries and spices, deeper, long. Stunning concentration in this. Seriously long finish. One serious Latour a Pomerol! 95-97

2018 Château Lécuyer

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberry jam, vanilla and coffee nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, this is a bit flat, dark fruity and vanilla. 86-88

2018 Château Maillet

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity and anise nose, spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, structured, dense and extracted. Woody. Bitter. 86-88

2018 Château Mazeyres

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, juicy, long narrower finish. 89-91

2018 Château Monregard la Croix

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some floral notes, fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, juicy, some spices, ripe, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Montviel

MAR 19 Ruby. Ripe, dark fruity, spicy and richer nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, dark fruity, good length. 88-90

2018 Château le Moulin

MAR 19 Ruby. Vanilla, wood and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lots of wood spices and flavours, drying wood tannins, not for me. 86-88

2018 Château Le Moulin Basileus

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose, dark fruity, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark berries, anise, spices, fruity, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Moulinet

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose, fresh. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy and elegant, refreshing. 89-91

2018 Château Nenin

MAR 1963M 37CF Ruby. Blueberries, peppery, cassis, spicy, anise nose, exotic spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, dark fruits, some spices, quite peppery, long. 91-93

2018 Fugue de Nenin

MAR 19 88M 12 CF Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, some cinnamon, almost an exotic note in it. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, some structure far behind, long. 89-91

2018 Château La Patache

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, lightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, spices, good length, leaner finish. 86-88

2018 Château Petit-Village

APR 19 72M 20CF 8CS Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, anise, floral, blueberries and spices, ripe and rich nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, minerals, detailed, refreshing, lovely. 93-95

2018 Petrus

APR 19 99M 1CF Ruby. Scented, layered, detailed, highly scented, blueberries, seductive, stunning nose, filigree. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, smooth, creamy, detailed, layered, nuanced, elegant, refined, just goes on and on, so superbly balanced, some peppery, dark berries, minerals, stunning length. 99-100

2018 Château Pierhem

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, structured and firm, dark fruity, rich. 88-90

2018 Le Pin

APR 19 100M Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, elegant nose, dark fruits, layered and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, layered, detailed, intense, stunning balance and length, incredible. 99-100

2018 Château Plince

APR 19 Ruby. Scented, blueberries, spices, anise, ripe fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, juicy, long. 90-92

2018 Château Plincette

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, ripe, anise, jammy nose. Flat woody palate. 84-86

2018 Château La Pointe

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, detailed, nuanced, lovely nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner bodied, elegant fruit and body, some structure in the finish, long. 89-91

2018 Domaine de la Pointe

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose. Freshest acidity, flat, boiled and boring. 83-85

2018 Château Porte Chic

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, fresh, lighter. 86-88

2018 Château La Renaissance

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, lightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, some spices, dark berries, good length. 88-90

2018 Clos Rene

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, lightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, leaner bodied, refreshing, good length. 88-90

2018 Château La Rose Figeac

Ruby. Cassis, dark fruity, some alcohol nose. Rich. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, ripe and rich. 88-90

2018 Château Rouget

MAR 19 Ruby. Rich and dark fruity, liquorice nose, spicy. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, high alcohol and lots of wood, coffee and bitter wood notes, long. 89-91

2018 Château de Sales

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, elegant texture, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Saint-Pierre

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, dark. Fruity, some spices, liquorice, elegant, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Séraphine

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, some spices, elegant texture, good length. 87-89

2018 Château du Tailhas

APR 19 Ruby, blueberries, spices, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, lighter bodied, elegant texture. 86-88

2018 Château Taillefer

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, nlueberries, some spices, elegant texture, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Tour Maillet

MAR 19 Ruby. Rich dark fruity nose, spices, layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, some spices, detailed, long. 90-92

2018 Château La Tribune

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, floral, scented, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anis,e blueberries, lighter bodied, fresh. 87-89

2018 Château Trotanoy

APR 19 Ruby. Scented, dark berries, anise, spices, ripe and rich and dense yet floral, layered and nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, fresh, playful, dense and rich, an intriguing combination, layered and truly long. This is one serious Trotanoy. 97-99

2018 Château de Valois

APR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice nose. Floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, fresh, bit short. 86-88

2018 L'Eclat de Valois

APR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, spices nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, jammy, some alcohol, good length. 85-87

2018 Château Vieux Maillet

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, detailed, structured, good length. 89-91

2018 Château Vray Croix de Gay

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, juicy, liquorice, long somewhat narrower finish. 90-92

2018 Clos de la Vieille Eglise

MAR 19 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, liquorice nose, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, long finish. 90-92

2018 Clos Vieux Taillefer

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, some spices, liquorice nose. Blueberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, some liquorice, long finish. 89-91

2018 Vieux Château Certan

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, detailed, nuanced, red fruits, violets nose, layered, intense, leaps out of the glass. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, layered, nuanced, elegant texture, detailed, long. Superb length actually. 97-99

2018 Vieux Château Ferron

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, spices, dark fruity, leaner. 85-87

2018 Vieux Plateau Certan

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, fruity nose, scented. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, lighter bodied. 85-87