2016 Les Asteries

The 2016 Les Asteries is composed of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it charges forth with exuberant wild blueberries, raspberry preserves and baked plums scents with an undercurrent of espresso, chargrill, wood smoke and licorice. Full-bodied, firm and solidly constructed, it has a taut, grainy texture and bags of muscular black fruit, finishing on a lingering ferrous note.

Another remarkable wine from Jonathan Maltus, the 2016 Les Astéries is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc that’s from very old vines and pure limestone soils. Blackberries, black raspberries, licorice, crushed rocks, and graphite notes all emerge from this incredibly layered, balanced, lengthy beauty that has full-bodied richness and power, yet the balance and elegance of a ballerina. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, and it will keep for two decades.

The 2016 Les Astéries has quite a powerful bouquet of black cherries, violets and a touch of cassis , the alcohol perhaps just blurring the lines compared to its peers. The palate is sweet and rounded on the entry, with copious dark cherry, chocolate and espresso notes. There is commendable weight here, but I would have liked to see more precision on the finish. 15.2% alcohol.