CHÂTEAU POTENSAC

47% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Deep cherry red. Lovely bright fruit aroma, really fragrant, almost a touch floral. This has lovely freshness in both the acidity and the tannic structure. Extremely fine tannins, almost delicate, and yet there is an underlying power and persistence. Tannins much finer than I recall from previous vintages. One of my favourite wines of the primeurs tastings. Should be GV. Drinking range: 2022 - 2033 Rating: 17 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2018)

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Pontensac is scented of crushed black cherries, blackberries and cedar chest with wafts of tobacco and forest floor. The palate is medium-bodied with appealing freshness and approachable chewy tannins, finishing earthy. Rating: 86-88 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Apr 2018)

A normal blend of 47% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc (which is slightly elevated) and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2017 Château Potensac offers a deep, ripe, nicely textured style that’s already a joy to drink. It has bright acidity, classy notes of raspberries, spring flowers and damp earth, medium body, and a juicy, clean finish. Still aging in 35% new French oak, it will be a good value. Rating: 87-88 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Apr 2018)

A bright and vivid young red with currant, berry and floral aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, tight and concentrated. Fine tannins. Rating: 91-92 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2018)

A bright, high-pitched style, featuring cherry and pomegranate fruit laced with floral and chalk hints. On the leaner side, with the mineral edge holding sway on the finish, but this remains fresh and pure. Rating: 88-91 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2018)

I tasted this with Pierre Graffeuille, who told me there was little frost here; the vines sit on two high points in the region, which afforded them some protection. The yield was 51.5 hl/ha, the alcohol 13.17%, pH 3.7 and IPT 60. The blend is 47% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. This accounts for 54% of the crop this year. Tasted after the already convincing second wine, this has a similarly fresh and bright fruit confidence, black cherry and blackcurrant, with a little more punch. The palate shows a richer and broader substance, with a ripe tannic grip, and a cool, fresh acid profile. It holds together very nicely through the finish. A really nice vintage for Potensac. Rating: 91-93 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2018)