The 2017 Clos Manou comes from a 16.50ha vineyard in Saint Christoly in the northern Médoc planted at 9 to 10,000 vines per hectare. It was cropped at 55hl/ha and sorted and saignée down to 25hl/ha. It has quite an elegant bouquet with well defined red berry fruit mixed with graphite and sous-bois aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with powdery tannin, moderate depth and a light but focused finish. 88-90 points

Francçoise and Stéphane Dief continue to apply a maniacal attention to detail at this estate - destalking by hand, for example - in an appellation that doesn`t always reward in terms of price per bottle. This wine has good structure and depth of fruit, and they have clearly worked hard to get intensity without overpowering the basic flavours of cassis and bilberry. Soft liquorice and cedar notes come from the 70% new oak, where some of the wine will stay for 17 months. The rest goes in cement eggs and a small number of clay amphoras. They work organically but are not certified. 91 points

The probable blend for the 2017 Clos Manou is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with crushed black currants, black cherries and mulberries with touches of baking spices, tilled soil and Provence herbs. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and fresh with a swift, uncomplicated finish. 85-87 points