Château Penin, Les Cailloux, Bordeaux, France, 2019

A 100% Merlot selected from vines on 50cm of pebbles and gravel over clay giving density and ageability to this cuvée. Blackcurrants, cherries and wet stones on the nose, lots of minerality with soft cedar, vanilla and cinnamon spicing. Fruity and lively, intense with tannins that are both massy and full, giving a wide mouthfeel. Black chocolate, liquorice spice and aniseed with quite toasted elements too, but the fruit has such purity, really clear blackcurrants and plums. Delicious and quite mineral (slate and pencil lead) on the finish. Juicy, plush and seductive, but nuanced and finessed too. Really interesting and long lasting. Highly recommend. Ageing 12 months in French oak barrels.