Château de la Chapelle, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France 2018

Blaye as a sub-region impressed our DWWA judges for the second year running, and this year the zone made it into our top 50 Best In Show with this excitingly deep flavoured 2018 blend of Merlot with 15 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon. This unoaked wine is a saturated deep purple-black in colour, with excitingly classical, generous, timeless aromas of warm blackcurrant and black cherry fruits and sweet, fresh plums. On the palate, it is every bit as generous as the colour and aroma suggests it will be: a torrent of pure fruit, soft tannins and juicy acidity. It is from Bordeaux, though, and there’s an Atlantic nuance and freshness coming from the soils and skies which brings its own nascent complexity to this exciting young wine.

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