Chateau Peby Faugeres 2019

The flagship from this estate, the 2019 Chateau Peby Faugeres is all Merlot from the eastern part of the appellation, brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. Its deep purple color is followed by a beautiful perfume of redcurrants, mulberries, new leather, tobacco, chocolate, and lead pencil shavings. It's full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, has building yet polished tannins, a liqueur of rocks-like minerality, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and not far off the heavenly 2018 and 2016. It's already accessible, yet smart money will give bottles just 3-4 years, and it's going to evolve for 20 years or more. The balance, complexity, and length are spot on. Bravo.

A round, juicy wine with blackberry, dried-tobacco, chocolate and stone character. Full and layered with chewy tannins and a finish with attractive fruit and wood complexity. Needs plenty of time to soften and come together. Try after 2025.

Dark inky colour, high gloss damson fruit and some clear oak finessing. This is chocolate and liquorice with firm tannins. Good quality, fairly high acidity and feels like there is some heat on the finish.

Emphasizes the ripe, richly textured fruit of the vintage but refines it just a little bit, with a welcoming fine-grained, supple structure underneath plum and cherry paste notes. Features a singed alder backdrop on the finish, with a nice tug of earth. Best from 2023.