Attractive ripe red fruit with some subtle nuances of undergrowth, leading to a palate that has a fresh, juicy array of ripe red-fruit flavors and chalky, fine tannins. A blend of 90 per cent merlot and ten per cent cabernet franc.

Black, solid and richly structured, this wine is all about its dark fruits and dry core. A suggestion of too much extraction gives a dry edge to the wine while the rich tannins of the year are still a major factor. It should soften, so it's best to wait for the rich fruits to come through from 2022.

The 2016 Du Courlat has a rich, slightly jammy bouquet with redcurrant and cranberry fruit. The palate is well balanced with juicy tannins, rich but nicely controlled with a very poised and tensile finish. Now this is a lovely Lussac Saint Emilion in the making. One to watch out for.