This already has a very enticing nose of red and black berries with hints of smoke and licorice. A very elegant and beautifully balanced wine, in which the interplay of bright acidity, fine dry tannins and oyster-shell minerality is really fascinating. Very long, super bright finish. Drink or hold.

The 2016 Villemaurine has a subtler and more understated bouquet compared to its peers, but I admire the purity of fruit; blackberry, briar and light pinecone aromas gradually gain intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Not deep or powerful, but very well balanced, delivering a caressing, silky-smooth finish that lingers wonderfully. Very classy winemaking is in evidence here.

The 2016 Villemaurine is a blend of 80% Merlot an 20% Cabernet Franc aged in 80% new and 20% one-year-old barrels for 16 months. It has a deep garnet-purple color and lovely cedar, earth, baked cherries and warm plums notions waft from the glass followed by nuances of pencil shavings, cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied bodied, the mid-palate slowly builds into loads of spicy layers with a pleasantly chewy texture and a long mineral-laced finish.