Château Fourcas Dupré 2024

Radiant nose, cherries, blackcurrants, herbs; on the palate, racy with bite, delicate fruit, slightly drying tannins; medium length, dark-fruited aftertaste. Can benefit from some aging.

Juicy and clean, not the fleshiest, tannins are more sleek and fine with edges of liquorice and slate. A little tight and compact right now but there’s clarity and detail on offer as well as ripe fruit. Nicely structured with plenty of sinewy muscle and chewy but cool tannins. A good effort. Tasted twice.

48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 13% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Dark- and red-berry fruit with a minty freshness. Some sweetness of the fruit to balance the tension. Oak a touch present but should integrate. Well-honed tannins. (JL)

Forward, open, soft, and fruity, the cherries and plums are already charming and easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2027-2034. 87-89 pts

The nose is pleasantly elegant, racy, fresh, and nicely defined. It reveals notes of pulpy raspberry, pulpy strawberry, and, more subtly, fleshy blackcurrant, combined with touches of fresh tobacco, graphene, a discreet floral hint, as well as a flinty note. The palate is nicely handled, supple, offering accuracy, lovely definition, gourmandise, acidity, and crunch. It also shows a slight sappy character in the background/structure. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, star anise, and, more subtly, cornflower, combined with touches of blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, as well as hints of blond tobacco and redcurrant. A wine offering accuracy, precision, freshness, and energy.

Dark berry fruits in evidence, good balance and spice, and this has clever construction, with the wine nicely drawn out through palate. Tannic grip closes things down on the finish, but this has ageing potential.