2017 Lalande Borie

Deep crimson. Lifted cherry fruit overlaid with oak sweetness. Juicy fruit with just a slight bitterness as if the extraction was slightly hard, but nice fruit in the middle. Really juicy on the finish and the tannins are fine and add to the length. Good freshness. (JH)

The 2017 Lalande-Borie, which was created by Jean-Eugène Borie in 1970, is matured in 30% new oak for 12 months. It has a well-defined bouquet with slightly broody dark fruit that need some encouragement from the glass. Here there is a majority of red rather than black fruit, complemented by bay leaf and a touch of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, crisp acidity, very focused with tangible mineralité that surfaces on the final third of the wine. Good potential. I like the sapid nature of this wine and it should drink well over the next decade.

Bruno Borie mentioned that there was a little frost on the western part of Saint-Julien here. A blend of 66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium garnet-purple colored 2017 Lalande-Borie has a beautiful nose of red roses, dusty soil and powdered cinnamon with a core of red currants, black cherries and kirsch plus a touch of warm plums. The palate is medium-bodied with a chewy frame and lively backbone supporting the muscular fruit, finishing savory and with great persistence. To be aged for 12 months in barrel, in one-third new oak. Apr 2018, www.robertparker.com