2020 Petit Gravet Aine

Another gem of a Right Bank is the 2020 Château Petit Gravet Aîné, which comes from the deep, sandy, clay soils of the 2.5-hectare vineyard located just beside Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, at the base of the Côte Pavie. A blend of 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot, it has a medium to full-bodied, seamless, elegant, and flawlessly balanced profile to go with perfumed notes of cassis, ripe tobacco, dried flowers, and spice. A wine that's all about finesse, elegance, and complexity, it's drinking beautifully today and, I suspect, will evolve gracefully for 10-15 years.

The 2020 Petit Gravet Aîné has a perfumed bouquet with red cherries, wild strawberry and truffle scents, gaining delineation in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannins, almost Left Bank in style thanks to the graphite note underneath from the Cabernet Franc, just a tang of bell pepper on the finish. Very fine.

The 2020 Petit Gravet Aîné bristles with energy and tension. An unusual Cabernet Franc-based Saint-Émilion, Petit Gravet Aîné shows a bit more concentration this year, which adds to its decidedly heady, extravagant personality. Even so, all the elements are so well balanced. Super-ripe black cherry, mocha, dried herbs and sweet floral top notes meld into the extravagant, lavish finish.