2018 La Tour de By (Medoc)

Always a property that ages well and offers good value, the 2018 gives a less exuberant but certainly successful and well-ripened take on the vintage. The highly tannic grip is still a little inflexible right now. 90 points

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Barrel sample. Black as the ace of spades. Dark and stony/dusty on the nose but with plenty of fresh cassis. Tannins are pretty dry although they are finely layered rather than being a solid block. Quite refined on the finish though not very expressive now and a little bit sour on the finish. 15.5 points

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Tour de By opens with cedary/oak-inspired notes giving way to a core of red and black currant preserves, mulberries and boysenberries with suggestions of wild sage and charcuterie. Full-bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, it has a firm, grainy frame and seamless freshness lifting the muscular fruit to a long finish. 87-89 points