(2022) From an estate on the Right Bank that no longer exists, its vineyards being absorbed into Château Dauphin, this is 68% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and spent 18 months in barrel. It comes from a period when the estate was owned by Christian Moueix. Plummy and spicy on the nose, this still feels ripe and rich, a touch of fruitcake character. In the mouth a really nice wine, those spices, mellow and smooth oak and that deep plum and black fruit are edged by sweet and solid tannins and pert acids. Surprisingly good in some ways.
(2022) Justerini says "The true identity of our house Pomerol is highly classified," one of those teasers that wine lovers find irresistible. The clue that's given: "All we can say is the wine comes from two of the leading estates on the plateau of Pomerol." Some have guessed Château l'Eglise Clinet is in the mix, but that's not for me to confirm or deny. It's a non-vintage wine, but it comes predominantly from the very highly regarded 2018 vintage. The nose is classic Pomerol: spicy and deep, with plummy fruit and a smoothing caress of older oak barrel giving a cedary nuance. In the mouth, more of the same, with palate coating but smooth tannins, that dark fruit weight, and nicely balanced acid to offset the ripe, 14.5% alcohol richness.
(2022) Merlot dominates the blend here (85%), along with Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%), but have no fear that this will be at all jammy or soft: it's a structured wine of tension and a certain raciness, the sweet and ripe black fruit finely etched with graphite and tobacco, the palate walking a fine line between plump black berries and a sinewy, steely core of tannin and acid very successfully. This has cellaring potential, but is just entering a window of very pleasurable drinkabity.
(2022) From vineyards belonging to second growth Ducru-Beaucaillou, this 12-year-old St-Julien is just a touch dank on the nose, though a blackcurrant fruitiness does come through and builds surprising sweetness on the palate. It's a concentrated wine, the blue-black firmness of fruit running into polished oak and fine tannins, nice dry acidity too, in a wine that finishes well and after that lacklustre beginning, comes good in some style.
(2022) From an un-named 'extremely famous estate - the very top estate', this is a Cabernet-dominant blend, the product of a close relationship between Jean Marc Sauboua and the Château. "Wines that did not make the cut for the Grand Vin which they sell off after 10 months." Very gentle and attractive, silky black fruits and fragrance, some floral nuances, real Margaux perfume here. Similarly elegant on the palate, a little underpinning of espresso to the silky fruits, and a composed, long finish of super-fine tannins and ripe and juicy black cherry acidity. A class act.
(2021) From the famous terroir of Pauillac, this estate is now owned by its illustrious near neighbour Château Pichon-Baron, and the wine made by the Pichon team. It's predominantly Merlot (68%) from a year when frost reduced the Cabernet Sauvignon yield in particular. It has a deep, saturated and youthful colour, and really quite a lovely nose, some fragrant Sandalwood and spice plays against cassis, with a cool, stony character beneath. In the mouth there is copious and sweet black fruit, lots and lots of mocha coffee barrel supporting (50% new barrels), the tannins truly silky and the acidity giving a nice, tart and savoury plum and cherry skin bite. Really, a young Bordeaux drinking very well, but with a decade of cellaring potential surely. Watch the video for more information and food matching ideas.
(2020) With the alcohol pumped up to 15%, this is another succulent and lush Merlot-dominated Right Bank style, but once again those limestone soils ensuring it retains some elegance and freshness too. Like the 2012 there is a plush depth of black fruit sprinkled with a little exotic spice, but it feels a little fresher and more taut at this stage. A deep pool of mulberry and plum fruit has a firm cherry skin edge of acidity - firmer than the 2012 again - and the grippy tannins suggest this needs a few more years, in a wine of great substance and depth. £24.99 as part of a mixed six at time of review.
(2020) Well, all of the wines tasted from Veyry are very good and the chance to buy three vintages a nice way to cellar a 'vertical' from this estate, but I have to say that for me this 2016 is pick of of the bunch. Heady, intense, sweet and ripe, it is very much typical of the wines of this property, but as well as the concentrated, spice-touched black fruits, spiked with incense and mint, there is terrific racy structure, black cherry acids pert and taut, creamy but persistent tannins, and the weight of blackcurrant fruit is sweet and polished through to the finish. It's a hedonistic and sumptuous style, and very, very delicious. £24.99 as part of a mixed six bottles.
(2016) Served blind. Fine colour, rim showing a lovely brick hue. Very fine nose, pure black fruit but meaty and dense with great richness and some fruitcake spices. The palate has lovely fruit sweetness, richness, and fantastic spice. A gamy quality but not leathery - stays beautifully sweet fruited and long. No UK stockists at time of review, but wine-searcher shows various older vintages.
