Château Clos de Boüard 2017

Gracefully forward, subdued yet seductive, prepare for gradations of chocolate-covered plums, mint and licorice from start to finish. The wine will blossom on your palate and finish with a warm blast of cocoa and plum. Due to the frost, only 20% of the typical volume was produced.

The grand vin, the 2017 Chateau Clos de Bouard, is all Merlot brought up in a mix of new and French oak. Its ruby hue is followed by a medium-bodied, delicious, juicy effort that has beautiful elegance, medium-bodied richness and depth, fine tannins, and great aromatics. It's not a blockbuster, but it’s straight-up classy. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.

Plush and toasty in feel, with dark plum and cherry preserve flavors, framed by warm vanilla and tobacco notes. A vanilla edge lingers longest on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 2,333 cases made.

No La Fleur de Boüard in Lalande de Pomerol in 2017 because it was entirely frosted, but this estate from Montagne has done well. Located on a high spot pretty much opposite Troplong Mondot but in neighbouring appellation, this is violet edged and full of fruit. Impressive in the vintage and definitely one to recommend. Touches of flesh and smoke - just a wisp rising from the glass, nothing over the top.

Freshly cut cedar on the nose here with quite a rich palate that has plenty of oak, sitting across red plums and berries. Drink or hold.

The 2017 Clos de Boüard offers attractive blackberry, briary and light tobacco scents on the nose that feels nicely focused. The palate is medium-bodied with a superb line of acidity. This feels very cohesive, velvety smooth in texture with subtle tarry, graphite notes on the finish. This constitutes and excellent Montagne Saint-Émilion from the Boüard family.

(100% Merlot) Fruity, fragrant bouquet with strawberries, subtle caramel and slate. A refined, fruity palate with fresh fruit, fine tannins, a rich, sweet aromatic profile, a finely polished structure and a fragrant finish. 17/20 2023 - 2035

Fruity, dense, deep, vibrant wine, with supple tannins and a long finish.

Medium garnet-red. A bouquet of good intensity, marked by chalky and fruity notes. A juicy character on the palate. The wine is well-balanced, slightly creamy and endowed with fine-grained tannins. Good fruity expression on the finish. An enjoyable, flavoursome wine.

Deep, intense colour, slightly evolved. Moderately aromatic nose with ripe fruit. Very pleasant on the palate, with enough body, a caressing texture and a fairly long finish, with a slightly chalky grain and, above all, plenty of fruit.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Clos de Bouärd opens with cedar and spice box notes giving way to a core of kirsch, blackberry compote and tar. Medium-bodied, the palate has a firm, sturdy frame with a good amount of black fruit preserves and a bit of chew to the finish.