Château de Sales 2019

[ Primeurs Scores 2019: 88-89 ] This sandy Pomerol showcases fine tannins, delicacy and freshness, with a lovely floral finish.

Particularly fruity aromas; strikingly mineral in character, slender yet dense, very long; an independent wine of great class.

A stylish, understated wine, featuring gentle cherry, raspberry, incense and savory notes that glide through easily, with the savory note lingering on the silky finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028. 10,000 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.

Aromatically expressive and authentically Pomerol on the nose, with lavender and violet, cedar and graphite, blueberries and brambles, and a delightful herbal note of thyme and rosemary. The progression here in recent vintages is exceptional and this is the best yet (though look out for the 2020, too).

A combination of floral and earthy character here, with aromas of ripe dark and blue fruit and hints of licorice, nut shell and wet earth. Cigar box, too. Medium-bodied, chewy and lingering with bright, vibrant fruit. It has a firm, savory finish with hints of crushed stones. Very typical and true to its terroir. Try after 2024.

72.5% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5% Cabernet Franc. Gently open and aromatic with leafy, dark-fruit notes. Supple and round on attack but lifted by refreshing acidity. Tannins finely honed. Classic in style with some ageing potential. (JL)

The 2019 Château de Sales has an open-knit bouquet with red cherries and crushed strawberry fruit, not quite as complex as its peers. The palate is medium-bodied, somewhat old school in style with dry tannins and a structured finish. Fine backbone here, an impressive retro 2019! One of the best vintages in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

With a solid core of cocoa-infused plums, flowers and wet earth, there’s a nice vibrancy, freshness and silky touch to all the sweet, ripe red fruits. Elegant, refined, earthy, and with a cool truffle and herb accent on the nose, this is already nice and promises to be even better with a few years of age. Things have really been on the upswing here lately, as the wines have truly stepped up in quality since the 2018 vintage, and 2019 is even better! Drink from 2024–2034.

Dark ruby, violet tints, discreet bright rim. Delicate herbal savouriness, fresh red cherries, a hint of vanilla, fine noble wood touch. Medium body, red berry fruit, good freshness, vivid tannins, delicate nougat on the finish, mineral aftertaste.

Medium depth of colour with a youthful purple hue. Violet and wild berry notes with a mild spiciness. A fresh, medium-bodied style with discreet young fruit flavours, ripe extract, and a fresh, fairly long finish.

A classic, fresher, elegant Pomerol from the vintage, the 2019 Château De Sales has a ruby hue as well as a pretty nose of red, black, and blue fruits intermixed with sappy herbs, flowers, and cedar pencil. Medium-bodied, elegant, very pretty, and lightly textured, I love its purity of fruit as well as its balance, although I'd like to have seen a touch more richness and depth. Drink bottles over the coming 10-12 years.

This is a really enjoyable, sleek and well-put-together de Sales, and you can see the work that has been undertaken over the past few years to build up the mid-palate and generally improve the focus and fruit delivery. An enjoyable medium-term drinker.

The 2019 de Sales is a blend of 72.5% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12.5% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with gregarious notes of baked plums and boysenberry preserves, followed by hints of tobacco leaf, dried herbs, and freshly tilled soil. The medium-bodied palate has a sturdy frame of chewy tannins to counter the muscular fruit, finishing savory.

Berry accents on a sparkling nose. The palate is creamy and smooth with kinetic lightness. A slightly bitter finish.

The 2019 bouquet gains in identity and definition. It reveals mineral nuances with notes of graphite as well as floral aromas. Plenty of finesse on the palate, where the wine shows a beautiful harmony between elegant tannins and a refreshing structure.

This powerful wine with layers of new wood and dense black fruits is setting out for serious aging. It comes from one of the largest estates in Pomerol, less well known than it should be. Drink this wine that has great potential from 2026.