2019 Saint Georges Cote Pavie

From a site that sits at the beginning of the famous Côte Pavie, directly adjacent to Pavie itself, the 2019 Saint-Georges Côte Pavie reflects the quality of its superb terroir. Offering up aromas of cherries and wild berries mingled with notions of licorice, loamy soil and raw cocoa, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless, with a charming, integrated profile, refined tannins and lively balancing acids. Stéphane Derenoncourt has consulted since 2017.

Much better in the bottle than it was from the barrel, the wine pops with nuances of flowers, licorice, espresso bean, black cherry and black plum. Rich, round, soft, and polished, the finish is loaded with silky textured fruits with a nice touch of salty-minerality on the finish. Drink from 2023-2034. 91 Points

This is richly fruited, with liquorice, cloves and turmeric spices, a little touch of bitterness on the finish that cuts off the berry fruits. Plenty of tannins and clear mouthwatering acidities, this is an estate that I am increasingly enjoying, but it remains a highly charged take on the appellation.