2018 Clos des Jacobins

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Clos des Jacobins needs a little swirling to unlock notions of blackberry pie, black raspberries and mulberries with hints of wild sage, cast-iron pan and charcoal plus a waft of tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers bags of herb infused black fruits, with an approachable, grainy texture and fantastic freshness, finishing long and earthy.

The 2018 Clos des Jacobins has a well-defined, quite complex bouquet featuring strong sous-bois /tree bark scents percolating through the black fruit. It feels a little withdrawn, but I am still drawn to it. The palate is well balanced with grainy tannins and a little oaky in style, leading to a powdery-textured, rather austere finish. Quite old-school in some ways. It has character but I would have just liked more fruit overall.

The 2018 Clos Des Jacobins is another ripe, concentrated, sexy wine in the vintage. Notes of smoked black fruits, tobacco, chocolate, and scorched earth all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a rich, mouthfilling texture, ripe tannins, and a good finish. Everything is in the right place, I like its balance, and it should keep for a good decade. I'd give bottles a few years in the cellar to integrate some of its oak, which emerges more with time in the glass.