Currants, rose hips, dried lavender, cocoa powder and cloves on the nose. It's full-bodied with sleek, tight tannins. Refined and elegant with tight, polished layers. Solid center palate. Try from 2025.

The 2018 Barde-Haut is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it takes a little swirling to unlock the beautifully expressive notes of warm black plums, wild blueberries and black raspberries, plus hints of roses, underbrush, ground cloves and fertile loam. The full-bodied palate delivers a lively backbone and wonderfully ripe, satiny tannins supporting the generous black and red fruits, finishing long and fragrant.

Alluring, with a very focused set of cassis, plum reduction and cherry preserve flavors coursing through atop a well-imbedded graphite spine, all while black tea, chalky minerality and subtle herb nuances play out through a long finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc.