2016 Château Clos de Sarpe

Production is less than 1,000 cases at this 9-acre garagiste estate whose consultant is Michel Rolland's foremost assistant, Jean-Philippe Fort. Situated on St.-Emilion's limestone plateau, the vineyard is planted with 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. This offering is meant for those with 19th-century tastes as the proprietor believes in full extraction, huge tannin, and wines meant to be drunk decades after their release. Most vintages experience 40- to 50-day macerations, and tiny yields of 13-25 hectoliters per hectare result in extremely concentrated wines.