Château La Pointe 2019

Slight reduction, then fruity; smooth attack, velvety development over a bitter tannin structure, good length; reliable and well made.

Presents a tasty mix of juicy and gently mulled black cherry, blackberry and boysenberry flavors, laced with red tea and a twinge of iron through the focused finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032. 5,330 cases made.

High-toned and vibrant cherry and raspberry on the nose. Polished on the palate, this is sleek and finely crafted, with a core of rich, licorice-edged strawberries and black cherries, and a gorgeous minerality that reads as wet stone and graphite. A strong, well-built wine yet presented with delicacy and refinement. There is definite power here, but also glamour, and a vein of gently warming spice from start to finish that lingers on the tongue, providing a dominant base for the fruit.

Forest-fruit aromas of blackberries and strawberries with some bark and pine cone. Black licorice, too. Full-bodied and chewy with lots of fine tannins and a juicy finish. Traditional and fascinating. Drink after 2026.

76% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc. Dark, concentrated garnet. Altogether in a lower key than some but a solid choice if not too expensive. Sturdy. Tannins not quite as ripe as in some of its peers. (JR)

The 2019 La Pointe offers impressive clarity on the nose of perfumed red fruit, raspberry and cranberry intermingling with truffle and light crushed stone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, taut and fresh, and quite saline, with fine-grained tannins and a cohesive and more sophisticated finish than any recent vintage. Maybe it just needs a little more persistence; otherwise, this is a top-notch La Pointe.

Flowers and cherries with a touch of smoke, licorice, and spice come through easily on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, soft, and fresh, with an elegant mid-palate and finish infused with plum and chocolate, this will drink well early yet age for about 15 years. Drink from 2023–2035.

Ripe black cherries, hints of plums, damp earth, tobacco, and some floral notes all emerge from the 2019 Château La Pointe, a pure, elegant, seamless, medium to full-bodied Pomerol. I love its overall balance, the tannins are fine and polished, it has a great finish, and it’s going to cruise for 15–20 years in cold cellars.

Deep purple with a violet rim. Concentrated black-berry bouquet paired with dark minerality and violets, followed by elderberry juice and sandalwood. On the powerful palate, a silky texture, a supportive tannic frame, peppery extract, and very fine, nutty undertones in the background. Aromatic finish of wild cherries, sloe jelly, and fresh black mountain pepper, ending with a delicate astringency. On the same level as the 2012 and 2010 vintages, with added finesse. Bravo!

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (76% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% alc. vol., production 64,000 bottles) Velvety, dense, creamy, sweet, powerful bouquet of cherries, strawberries, pralines, fine mocha cream, cedar. Tightly woven, elegant, fresh palate with powerful, fine fruit, very good tannins, multifaceted sweet aromas, elegant, subtly creamy structure, long, fresh finish with sweet aftertastes.

(76% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% alc./vol., production 64,000 bottles) Velvety, dense, creamy, sweet, and powerful bouquet of cherries, strawberries, pralines, delicate mocha cream, cedar. Tightly knit, elegant, and fresh palate with vibrant, refined fruit, very good tannins, varied sweet aromatics, elegant, finely creamy structure, and a long, fresh finish with sweet aftertones. 19/20 2025 - 2048

Raspberry leaf aromatics add an enticing floral edge to the soft blackberry and raspberry fruit here, and this is full of life and energy, with a touch of liquorice and pencil lead that shows a focus and concentration that has deepened with ageing. Eric Monneret director, Hubert de Bouard consultant. An upscore from En Primeur. 3.65 pH, 35 hl/ha yield. This is the first vintage with such a high proportion of Cabernet Franc, moving from 15% to 25% of the blend (and vineyard).

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 La Pointe waltzes in with lovely raspberry preserves, kirsch, and juicy blackberry scents, plus suggestions of rose oil, cloves, and cinnamon toast. Full-bodied, the palate is perfumed and juicy, featuring red and black fruit layers with velvety tannins and wonderful freshness, leading to fantastic length on the finish of this impressive wine.

Lovely floral nose with a subtle creamy touch. Precise on the palate, with vibrant flavor, a slender body, and a savory length. With 76% merlot and 24% cabernet franc, La Pointe seems to have found its balance. A fine interpretation of the vintage.

A generous nose of chocolate ganache and blackberry—creamy, saline, with Christmas spices—that makes you want to curl up in a mohair blanket. Pure and self-assured on the palate, with bright acidity and firm tannins that deliver real linearity, along with excellent ageing potential.

The bouquet unfolds with finesse through subtle facets, both fruity and spicy, while the ageing works in the background with an evident commitment to balance. The finesse promised by the bouquet is well carried through on the palate. The wine is supported by smooth, fine-grained tannins. They provide solid structure, aided by their gentle austerity. A wine that can already be enjoyed.

The nose is fruity, elegant and aromatic, with a touch of intensity/power and precision. It reveals notes of crushed blackberry, ripe/fleshy small black fruits and, more subtly, blueberry, joined by hints of crushed raspberry and crushed purple plum, as well as nuances of toasty notes, cardamom, vanilla and a delicate hint of toasted bread. The palate is fruity and balanced, offering a juicy/tangy backbone, good definition, indulgence, tension, finesse, roundness and good precision. On the palate, this wine shows notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry and raspberry, and, more lightly, plum, accompanied by touches of crushed strawberry, fine hints of juicy purple plum, and accents of vanilla and almond, with fine hints of toasted bread and an imperceptible hint of tonka bean. Good length.

Fruity and fairly light wine, with a slight tannic grip lingering on the finish.