Joseph Mellot : Le Connétable 2022

The wine has a pale ruby colour. The first nose is sappy, spicy and discreetly oaky, expressing notes of fresh pine needles, pine bark, sap, peppermint and liquorice, leaning toward star anise and cardamom (completed by a hint of nutmeg and white pepper in the background). After aeration, elegant floral aromas (violet, peony, fresh rose) emerge, with a juicy, airy, tangy fruit core – notes of crushed blackcurrant, wild blackberry, strawberry, fresh raspberry and bird cherry jam, along with a mineral touch of dry limestone. The palate is tight and firm, with youthful, gripping tannins. It delivers flavours of bird cherry and cranberries with their bitterness and a tannic edge, crisp morello cherry, tangy black plum, blackcurrant, blueberry and raspberry, combined with a spicy side (liquorice, nutmeg, white pepper and cardamom), a herbal side (dried pine needles, dried mint), as well as a touch of roast (toasted bitter almond) and fresh flowers (lily, violet). The finish is tight, tannic and tangy. The wine is currently closed and needs time to develop.