Château Croix de Bertinat 2021 – Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

The wine has a ruby color of medium intensity. The nose expresses distinct but integrated woody notes (toasted hazelnut, heated wood, a touch of mocha). We also find fresh fruit (morello cherry, red cherry, crushed black plum, wild strawberry, blackcurrant), juiciness and minty freshness, combined with notes of sweet spices (liquorice, nutmeg, vanilla in the background). After aeration, light smoky and toasted touches appear, as well as a floral touch (peony, violet). The palate is velvety, gourmand and fruity. It expresses notes of ripe morello cherry, chocolate cherry, black plum, chocolate prunes in the background, wild strawberry, raspberry coulis and crushed blackcurrant in the background, as well as touches of dark chocolate and crushed vanilla, liquorice, crushed coriander seeds, as well as wild mint, violet and peony. The tannins are fine and well structured, a bit grippy. Beautiful texture in the mouth – melted, powdery and chocolatey. The finish is supple, delicious and enveloping, with a good level of acidity. We find savoury notes of nutmeg and clove on the persistence. Volume, concentration, all finesse.