Château Balestard La Tonnelle 2017 – Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Grand Cru Classé

The nose is elegant, beautifully racy and offers power and a small concentration. This wine needs to be decanted. It reveals notes of blackberry, cassis and small notes of coffee associated with small touches of small black berries/blueberry, violet, Sichuan pepper and mild tobacco/cardamom. The palate is fruity, juicy and offers tension, a beautiful acidulous frame, a fine straightness, precision as well as fat. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy cassis, fleshy/juicy blackberry and small notes of berries associated with touches of wild strawberry, violet, liquorice stick as well as very fine touches of vanilla pod and spices. Tannins are elegant and very slightly firm. Good length.