Château Meyney, St Estèphe,

Old school balance of fruit, acidity and tannins, a little dominanted by the acidity, attractive white pepper and sage spices, chaming cassis and pomegrante fruit, earthy charm. This is a 2nd wine that I often enjoy, but it is a little overly marked by the vintage here.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2021 Meyney features notes of cedar chest and unsmoked cigars to begin, giving way to a vibrant core of fresh raspberries and black currants. The oak stands out a little on the delicate, light to medium-bodied palate, lending a chewiness to the otherwise soft tannins and clouding the finish slightly. I expect this will improve with elevage.

The 2021 Meyney, which has been on a strong run of form of late, has a lovely bouquet with vivid red berry fruit, crushed stone and orange rind scents that are focused and lively. The palate is medium-bodied with a structured opening (as you would expect), more fruit concentration than its peers and a truffle-tinged finish. This will cruise nicely over the next 15 to 20 years.