First vintage that I have tasted from this estate, purchased in 2006 by Bernard Magrez and renamed from Chateau le Peyre. Vinified partly in oak barrel, partly in clay amphora, this is polished and finessed but actually more restrained than perhaps I was expecting. A serious wine, with an emphasis on tightly-knitted cassis fruits. An absolutely beautiful whoosh of juicy menthol comes in from mid palate onwards, and a tight tannic crush on the finish that suggests this is going to age well. It's big shouldered, as all Magrez wines are, but this is a welcome addition to the St Estephe landscape.

Cloves, berries and dried flowers, such as lilacs on the nose, following through to a medium body with fine and firm tannins that run the length of the wine. Give it time to open, but it shows some finesse and refinement.

The 2019 Bernard Magrez was impressive from the barrel. Since it was bottled in June 2021, the nose has revealed more red fruit, though it's still quite loamy and maybe a tad more plush than before. The palate is medium-bodied and very pure, with pliant tannins, well-judged acidity and a nice detailed, silky-smooth finish that lingers. This is about as sensual a Saint-Estephe wine as you will find in this vintage.