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James Suckling: This has an amazing nose of red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with so much definition and precision, delicate red fruit, chalky tannins and acidity. 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc. Really exceptional balance."
93
Jane Anson: Richly fruited, flavourful, juicy, skilfully balancing the low 3.3pH with a ton of blood orange, rosemary, tobacco leaf, liquorice. Harvest September 9 to 24, 30% new oak. Nicolas Thienpont, Derenoncourt Consulting. Massal selection from their St Emilion estates. A value pick."
93
Decanter: Pure and vivid blackcurrant aromas - so prominent and expressive. Supple, juicy and so alive. Acidity is at the fore for sure but it comes with softly fleshy strawberry, raspberry and cranberry fruit. Different to other terroir expressions which offer more tannic density, this is focused and streamlined with persistence. Tart, crunchy, bright and alive. Yummy. 3.3pH. Ageing 16-18 months, 30% new oak, 50% one year."
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Jeb Dunnuck: A brilliant wine from three parcels in the Castillon region, the 2025 Château Alcée is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc that's still resting in 30% new French oak, with a touch more Cabernet Franc than normal this year. It shows tons of limestone character alongside bright framboise and juicy blue fruits, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a pure, focused, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, building, polished tannins, and a great finish. It would be well worth a case purchase and has the structure to keep for at least 15 years."
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The Wine Cellar Insider: Cocoa, licorice, flowers, black cherries, and plums are easy to spot in the nose. The medium-bodied palate offers elegance, gentle, creamy tannins, and polished, fresh, sweet cherries, with plums from start to finish. The wine was produced from 85% Merlot, with 15% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2040."
