critic reviews
Good quality, savoury with hidden power and complexity, fresh with plenty of black tea, damson and graphite. Second year under new owners the Helfrich family, Cynthia Capelaere estate director, Romain Beurienne technical director. Biodynamic farming, 60% new oak for ageing.
The 2023 Château du Tertre has a more Merlot-driven bouquet, more red fruit here with violet and peony scents manifesting with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, fleshy and ripe, a keen line of acidity with a lightly peppered, quite elegant finish. This performs above my expectations from the barrel.
The 2023 du Tertre is deep garnet-purple in color. It bursts with bold suggestions of baked red and black plums, blackcurrant jelly, and dried bay leaves, plus hints of wet slate and pencil shavings. The light to medium-bodied palate is a tad thin, with lightly chewy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing on an herbal note.
As this estate's extensive restructuring begins to come to fruition, the 2023 du Tertre contains fully 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, as replanted parcels begin to be included in the grand vin, complemented by 15% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot. Offering up aromas of dark berries, licorice, lilac and mint, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with a notably concentrated, serious core by this estate's typically charming standards, revealing sweet structuring tannins and a succulent, seamless profile. In short, du Tertre's renaissance continues.