M. Chapoutier : Le Pavillon 2023

Beautifully perfumed, with violets and juicy black fruits. Very smooth in tannin, actually quite soft, it's approachable for Les Bessards. With its tangy plum sauce, the Pavillon style is identifiable, but it's perhaps not quite as pure and elegant as the finest vintages; nonetheless, very good indeed. 15% whole bunch.

Sourced from the eastern part of Les Bessards, vinified with 15% whole clusters and matured two-thirds in barrels, of which 15% are new, with one-third in foudres, the 2023 Ermitage Le Pavillon wafts from the glass with aromas of violet, lilac, dark cherries, flowers and mulberries. Full-bodied, dense and concentrated, it’s built around a deep core of fruit framed by velvety, precise tannins, segueing into a long, saline and perfumed finish. Suave and harmonious, it should gain further exuberance with time in bottle. It's a profound young wine.