Château Meyney – Château Meyney 2019

The Château Meyney 2019 from Saint-Estèphe – one of the oldest estates in the appellation, wedged between Montrose and Calon-Ségur – is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and 16% Petit Verdot. The high proportion of Petit Verdot is a Meyney tradition: the variety was introduced by Désiré Cordier in the 1920s and has been part of the estate's DNA ever since.

In terms of color, the Meyney stood out immediately in a blind tasting against five other wines: less violet hues than the others, leaning more toward mature garnet. On the nose, lots of raspberry – brighter and more fruit-forward than you might expect from a Cabernet-dominated Saint-Estèphe. On the palate, distinct marzipan comes through, giving the wine a sweet, soft dimension. The finish falls rather flat; some chocolate emerges that is quite delicate. The overall impression: very round, very pleasing – but not particularly exciting. A wine that lacks tension. 91 points.