Deep and complex with a touch of olives, white pepper and charcoal to the fruit of ripe but fresh blackberries, sweet plums and a touch of licorice. The tight-grained tannins give it real structure and fine-boned gravity. This is compact, focused and long. Needs some time to soften. Drink from 2028.

The 2022 Clos Saint-Martin is a gorgeous, sensual beauty from Proprietor Sophie Fourcaud-Rieffers. Élevage has added striking finesse to complement the wine's imposing structure. The result is a wonderfully complex, deep Clos Saint-Martin that hits all the right notes. A blast of dark cherry, spice, tobacco, cedar and new leather punctuates the plush, explosive finish. What a sensational wine.

“Very stylish, with flecks of dried herb scattered amidst a very pure display of bitter cherry, plum reduction and red currant coulis flavors. Racy, focused finish has a latent mineral twinge too. Lovely. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2032.”

“The 2018 Clos Saint-Martin is a wine that I last tasted from barrel on my final visit to Bordeaux before the pandemic. Now in bottle, it has a sensual, almost understated bouquet at first, but incredibly pure, offering black cherries, touches of blue fruit and iris petals. The oak here is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, a wonderful seam of acidity and one of the silkiest finishes that I have encountered in Saint-Émilion this vintage. Chapeau!”

“Blackberries and dark cherries, with herb and violet notes. It’s full-bodied with an inky feel, providing savory, supple character. The structure is still a bit tight, but the tannins are well formed. Nicely balanced. Try after 2024.”