2017 Pontet Labrie

From a more limestone-dominated terroir, the 2017 Château Pontet Labrie is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc aged in 80% new French oak. It's more focused and straight, with a classic, structured feel. Black cherries, cassis, crushed flowers, and building minerality all flow to a medium to full-bodied layered, pure, and long red. It's going to need time.

The 2017 Pontet-Labrie was picked on 22 September and 3 October, the same days as the Le Carré. This has a little more cohesion by comparison with perfumed, wilted iris-infused black cherry and cassis fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, more supple than the Le Carré with impressive precision towards the finish. This is an impressive wine from Jonathan Maltus. I can see this Pontet-Labrie maturing well in bottle.