Château Clauzet – 2012 – Saint Estèphe

A wine that is still appearing rather youthful, with a slightly blue-purple core. Not a lot of evolution. Fine nose here. With a good intensity, good purity. There is a mineral notion here, some stony notes and really fine dark fruit. It is very much to me more Cabernet in style, thanks to those notes of cassis. With some ripe herbs like sage, some anise seed, dark plum, discreet oak. Quite full-bodied here. I would talk about a rather ridged structure. Still youthful with a high level of extract. Pronounced but not harsh tannin, just youthful. Certainly within the near future they should integrate well. I like this combination of that dark fruitiness, those cassis notes, plum. But there is still a good level of acidity there, which adds brightness and drinkability to the equation. Good length, it keeps lingering with that ripe, dark fruit there. I think this is really the virtue of Cabernet from Bordeaux because it has that density of fruit, yet with the juiciness. So a fine example. I would prefer to put it back in my cellar for a few years. A thorough decantation with a nice juicy piece of steak and it should drink really well.

Tasted by the Best Sommelier of the World, Andreas Larsson.