Tasting Notes
Vinous NR
The 2019 Clos Saint-Martin has a very toasty nose with a lot of new oak, a little feral in style. Maybe a bit of Brett? The palate is supple with fleshy red fruit, a touch bitter with a healthy splash of soy towards the slightly attenuated finish. Given previous impressive showings I will not judge based on this bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
JancisRobinson.com 16
Tasted blind. Shaded dark crimson. Rather pinched finish after some sweet but not that complex fruit. More drying tannins on the end. (JR)
Anticipated maturity: 2028-2040
Robert Parker 95
From a superbly situated 1.33-hectare vineyard located on the clay-limestone slopes opposite the village cemetery and adjacent to Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse, the 2019 Clos St. Martin has turned out brilliantly, offering up aromas of cherries, wild berries, violets and subtle spices. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s lively and vibrant, with a fleshy core of fruit, powdery tannins and bright acids, concluding with a long, precise finish. It’s a Merlot-based blend, complemented by some 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked in four separate harvests and barrel fermenteda simply because such small volumes are challenging to vinify in tank.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045
