Château Charmail

The 2016 Charmail is blended of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot aged for 12 months in roughly one-third each new, one-year-old and two-year-old French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple in color, it delivers intense scents of crème de cassis, cedar chest and pencil lead with touches of yeast extract and menthol. Medium to full-bodied with a firm frame of chewy tannins and plenty of mint-laced fruit, it finishes just a little woody at this youthful stage but should dial that in beautifully with another year or two in bottle.

Deep purple-crimson colour. Ripe, even a little jammy with crème de cassis and liquorice notes. Big and brash on the palate with layered fruit and a touch of sweet and sour. Firm, dry chewy tannins. Bold statement but overplays the hand.

Aromas of bitter berries, dark spices, pine, charred bark and dried flowers. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy, well-integrated tannins. Concentrated and fragrant. Drink from 2022.