2019 La Haye

The 2019 La Haye has a bold, ripe nose of licorice-infused red fruit, touches of incense and iris flower emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied, very smooth and slightly lactic in texture, missing just a little tension on the finish. I was expecting more from this Saint-Estèphe.

Full bottle 1,309 g. Aged for 12 to 18 months in French barriques (30% new). Transparent crimson. Pale rim. Light but interesting nose. Good confident palate entry with no shortage of fruit that should stand up well to the tannins. St-Estèphe stoniness on the palate. Lots of dry stones on the end. This will never be very concentrated but the balance is good. Pretty classic claret. Very freshening on the palate. (JR)

Tight black fruits, firm tannins, needs more time to soften up but there is promise here. A 19ha estate owned by the Cordon family.