Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse 2021

Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse is a Grand Cru estate in Saint-Émilion, on the right bank of Bordeaux, in the same family since 1847. This red blends Merlot with Cabernet Franc, the classic right-bank combination. The estate sits on the Saint-Émilion limestone plateau and its slopes, where the limestone and clay soils suit Merlot, giving ripe, plush fruit, while holding freshness and a savoury, mineral edge; the Cabernet Franc adds aromatic lift, structure and fine tannin. The maritime climate gives a long, even ripening season. The wine is aged for twelve months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange softens and integrates the tannins and adds cedar and spice to the fruit. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows ripe black fruit such as blackberry and plum alongside cherry and red berries, with tobacco, earth and oak spice behind. The palate is medium to full bodied and refined, the tannins fine and ripe, the structure carrying a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanting an hour ahead. A wine for fine red meat dishes.