Château Clarisse "Vieilles Vignes" 2014

A wine offering rich, juicy fruit with blueberry and floral undertones. Full-bodied, with very fine tannins and a juicy finish. A real beauty. There’s a wet-earth character, too. Needs three or four years to soften.

A Stéphane Derenoncourt wine. Rather fruity and sumptuous. Real attack and lift. Interest and some depth, though it’s definitely no more than medium-bodied. (JR)

This blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc made from vines that average 65 years of age produced a wine packed with rich, lush, ripe, sweet fruits, supple, soft, elegant textures and a long, sweet, fruit filled finish. This will drink well on release and can age a bit too. This wine is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. 89-90 Pts

Dense ruby core and a tawny rim. The nose starts to show some mature notes of sous bois, tobacco, dried fruit and wood. Medium weight on the palate, still rather restrained with firm tannin, high acidity and discreet fruit flavours; it shows good length and is rather dense but would still need some ageing to soften.

From a cooler terroir north of Saint-Emilion and 100% Merlot brought up in 50% new barrels, the 2014 Château Clarisse Vieilles Vignes is a pretty, nuanced wine that favors complexity and elegance over power and richness. Cherries, raspberries, hints of leafy herbs, and dried earth all emerge from this medium-bodied 2014, which has a light, graceful texture and building tannin. Give the bottle a year or three and enjoy over the following decade. It’s a step back from the 2015, yet a rock-solid wine.

Deep and fresh, this wine shows real complexity, with the aromatics gradually settling in.

The old vines brought concentration and freshness. Careful élevage has yielded smooth, precise tannins, delivering immediate pleasure.

Made from vines averaging around 65 years old, the wine is broad and full, with fine density and a lovely velvety texture. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc.

Dark, slightly evolved color. A somewhat discreet nose with ripe, creamy fruit. Juicy on the attack, very flavorful mid-palate, fruity and delicately sappy, the wine unfolds long and even sophisticated on the back palate. 100% Merlot.

This has a focused feel, with good flesh to the core of gently steeped plum and cassis notes, backed by light anise and juniper hints. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2020. 350 cases made, 75 cases imported.