Château Saint-Pierre 2023 red Pomerol

Gorgeous aromatics on the nose, deep, dark floral scents and black fruit. Supple but richly textured, grippy and fresh, so bright and crystalline. Really pure but there’s grip to the tannins that gives this a wide expression. Not so Pomerol-like in terms of its structure—less plush, more straight—but there’s finesse here with underlying power. Nicely constructed and presented. A little funnelled towards the finish with a real salty, graphite and liquorice tang. Restrained and graceful. Ageing in 58% new oak (225L and 500L), 31% one-year barrels and 11% amphora.

Lilacs, vanilla, cherry blossoms, and spice show, along with chocolate-covered cherries, with a hint of Bourbon on the nose. Medium-bodied, elegant, racy, and refined, the wine focuses on purity, length, and lift rather than power, leaving a delicate touch of mint on the back end. The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV. 10% of the wine is whole-bunch fermented. Drink from 2027–2040. 92–94 pts.

Not very demonstrative, but its restraint reveals an intense personality, a strong character that plays on restraint and elegance. Power asserts itself on the palate with a fleshy texture and velvety tannins, lifted by tangy red berries and a persistent, acid-driven finish.

The nose is nicely handled, fresh and precise, with lovely freshness, notes of pulpy boysenberry, camphor and lighter infusion, joined by hints of crushed blueberry, fine almost fresh pepper accents, gravelly minerality, and subtle touches of violet and an almost balsamic edge. The palate is well-shaped, elegant and gourmand, fruit-driven, offering freshness, accuracy, a certain tension, balance, a stretched feel, and a lovely graphite character. It opens gradually, revealing notes of pulpy blackberry, crushed blackcurrant and, more lightly, jammy raspberry, along with hints of bright blue fruits, chocolate and tonka bean. The tannins are supple, sapid and flavorful. Good length.

Tobacco and blackberry on the nose, with mineral hints, cool smoke, asphalt after a summer rain; an approachable palate, soft on the attack, the fruit is wrapped in fine, silky tannins, terrific acidity, and a highly aromatic, long finish. An excellent Saint-Pierre that will bring pleasure at every stage of its life.