Château de Fieuzal 2018

Appealing aromatics, noticeable oak spice, black berries; powerful attack, firm and slightly austere in style, imposing, dense, generous tannins, spicy finish with the necessary freshness and verve; truly first-class.

Plum and raspberry compote notes are juicy and delicious, while dark licorice, fruitcake and a mesquite note fill in on the finish. Nice tarry edge at the very end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2030. 7,000 cases made.

A touch of reduction on the palate right now. This has clear, bright berry fruits, clearly at full ripeness, with liquorice and black chocolate. The tannins are chewy and just a tiny bit overpowering right now, but they will soften and there is a lot to enjoy here. Showing its potential.

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Black core with crimson rim. Sweet blackcurrant aroma. Tannins have a very firm grip but they are super-smooth. Full, rich and still fresh. Not terribly long but plenty of ripe, firm pleasure. The tannins at the front of the mouth at the moment. (JH)

Smoke, espresso, ripe, juicy red fruits come along with soft, silky textures and a lively, fresh finish filled with sweet red berries, spice, earth, and mocha. Give it just a few years and it will be even better!

Dark ruby garnet with purple reflections and a subtle edge brightening. Tobacco, balsamic savouriness and dark berry fruit and cherries mingle on the nose, with a hint of nougat too. The palate is medium bodied with a core of ripe cherry fruit, round tannins and a fresh structure. The mineral-salty finish has a red berry aftertaste. (2020-2040).

A beautiful, classic wine from this appellation located south of Bordeaux, the 2018 Château De Fieuzal reveals a dense purple hue as well as textbook notes of ripe black cherries, currants, smoked earth, tobacco, and chocolate. Textbook Graves all the way with its smoky, earthy, yet voluptuous and medium to full-bodied style, it's going to benefit from 3-5 years in the cellar and shine for 10-15 years. It's the finest wine I've tasted from this Château since the 2009 and is well worth seeking out.

Purplish red. Floral bouquet with red berries, followed by lingonberry purée and tarragon. On the palate it’s powerful, with a tight, sinewy structure and a fine, slightly powdery extract that needs time to settle. The focused finish shows black berries, juniper and cedar.

Kunz barrel sample 19: mineral, powerful, fresh bouquet, black cassis, black cherries, plums, tobacco, liquorice, Taba tablet. Elegant, densely knit, aromatic palate with good fruit, fine tannins, a finely muscular structure, diverse aromatics, and a long, powerful finish.

Mineral, powerful, and fresh bouquet, black cassis, black cherries, plums, tobacco, licorice, Taba tablets. Elegant, tightly knit, aromatic palate with good fruit, fine tannins, a finely muscular structure, complex aromatics, and a long, powerful finish. 18/20 2025 - 2045

The 2018 de Fieuzal is deep garnet-purple in color. It bursts forth with notes of prunes, raisin cake, and Indian spices, plus hints of unsmoked cigars, dusty soil, and fallen leaves. Big, rich, and full-bodied, it has a firm texture of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and spicy.

A rather stern nose, strongly marked by pine-needle and dark-fruit aromas. The palate is more approachable, fleshy, with roundness, a touch of salinity, plenty of freshness on the finish, and good balance. Elegant, lively, and highly digestible.

Fresh blackberry, bark, cedar, oyster shell and gravel. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Fresh and flavorful with a juicy, savory finish. Velvety-textured tannins. Try from 2023.

A disarmingly pure nose of blue fruits and forget-me-nots that stretches into comforting aromas of plum tart, while the palate is fresh, delicious, feather-light, with a gently cocoa-tinged finish.

A wine that will take time to balance out, this has dense, dark and dry tannins at this stage. These underline the richness of the black fruits and acidity, giving a wine that will need to age to lose its firm edge. Drink from 2025.