2018 Odyssée

Another great vintage for this cuvée, the 2018 Odyssée is based on 61% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Médoc and 32% Grenache and 7% Counoise all from the Southern Rhône. The Cabernet is brought up in older Léoville Las Cases barrels, with the Southern Rhône varieties brought up mostly in tank. This ruby/purple-hued beauty offers a ripe, medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant, even classy style as well as a great array of red and black currant fruits, leafy herbs, tobacco, and peppery spice. I love the overall balance, its tannins are nicely integrated, it stays lively and fresh on the palate, and it has a great finish. Drink bottles any time over the coming decade.

Composed of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Grenache, and 7% Counoise, the 2018 Odyssée has a deep garnet color, bursting from the glass with a whole array of exotic spices notes—cumin seed, star anise, cardamom and cassia—over a core of stewed black plums, warm cassis and blackberry preserves, with hints of dark chocolate, lavender and tapenade. The full-bodied palate is jam-packed with concentrated black and blue fruits, framed by firm, rounded tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing very long with a peppery kick. A little more structured than previous vintages and with such impressive concentration, this should easily cellar 25 years or more.

Savoury fruits, fine tannins and fresh acidities, expressed with harmony and balance. I have followed this Rhone-Bordeaux wine from Pierre Graffeuille and Mathieu Dumarcher since its first vintage, and this is one of the best to date, with clear personality centred around turmeric spice and black pepper accompanying ripe blackberry and cassis fruits and fragrant garrigue.