Following the enjoyment of this St. Estepehe wine while visiting Lynch Bages in June and the recent passing of the vintner Jean-Michel Cazes, I saw a good price on this at the store and had to grab it.
Generally, with the exception of Ch. Montrose, St. Estephe isn't my appellation. The wines can be more rustic and austere with more pronounced minerality and "harshness" until they age some. This is a nice example of an approachable wine from this AOC.
The nose has a nice blend of leafy currant and ripe red and black currant aromas. The iron and graphite minerality is there for sure with hints of redwood and cedar.
Ripe fruit on the palate without being unctuous or cloying, which is nice at 14.5% abv. That fresh greenness persists but not in an unpleasant way. Flavors of nearly ripe blackberry, black plum and currant lead with underlying red berries to add some brightness. There is grip with the still-resolving tannins which should relax nicely with another 5+ years in bottle. The acid is balanced. Some interesting sassafrass/cola notes emerge toward the finish with the slightest suggestions of black licorice.
For me, in the immediate future, best with food. A quite nice wine at a reasonable price point (at least where I purchased it).
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