2016 Poesia

Ebullient blackberry and boysenberry fruit is very vivid and vibrant thanks to racy acidity. High-pitched floral backdrop adds range. Distinctive. Apr 2017, James Molesworth, www.winespectator.com

The 2016 Poesia is a rich, deep wine. Stylistically, Poesia is riper and bigger than the wine Hélène Garcin and her husband, Patrice Leveque, make at Barde-Haut. Black cherry, smoke, licorice, plum and sweet French oak infuse a deep, rich Saint Émilion built on lushness and textural breadth. The 2016 tastes like it was picked on the riper side of things, especially within the context of the vintage. There is no shortage of intensity, but I feel this wine could be more finessed. Poesia emerges from a vineyard in Saint Émilion's St. Etienne de Lys district. Apr 2017, www.vinous.com

The 2016 Chateau Poesia has a lower pH and alcohol than the Barde-Haut (also owned by the Garçin-Léveque family). It is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and matured in 70-80% new oak. It clearly has a richer and more intense bouquet than the 2016 Barde-Haut at this early juncture, adorned with scents of blackberry, boysenberry, Earl Grey and crushed violets that blossom in the glass, well defined and exuberant. The palate is medium-bodied with dense tannin on the entry. This is a Poesia with weight and girth, the fruit profile darker than the Barde-Haut, more concentrated on the finish, though personally I prefer the tension and detail expressed by its Saint-Emilion sibling. Still, this is a very fine contribution to the vintage, and I suspect that it will gain a little more nerve by the time of bottling. Apr 2017, www.robertparker.com, Drink: 2022-2045