Le Lion de la Fleur de Boüard 2020

Le Lion de la Fleur de Boüard is the second wine of Château La Fleur de Boüard, founded in 1998 by Hubert de Boüard de Laforest, co-owner of Château Angélus in Saint-Émilion. The estate sits on the right bank near the Pomerol plateau, in the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation. It is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with much of the vineyard on clay soils that hold water and suit Merlot, giving ripe, plush fruit and a rounded texture. The wine is aged for twelve months in French oak barrels of 225 litres, where slow oxygen exchange builds a fuller structure and adds cocoa and sweet spice. The colour is deep garnet. The nose shows ripe plum and black cherry with cocoa, vanilla and a savoury, earthy note. The palate is medium to full bodied, the tannins ripe and supple, with a warm finish of liquorice and oak spice. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanting for an hour. It suits roast beef, lamb and mushroom dishes.