Andrew Jefford | Dark purple black-red, still opaque at the core. Softly, sweetly, fragrantly fruity: fine, light cassis (blackcurrant of a liqueur-like smoothness and richness). Pretty if less aromatically focused and engaging than most of its peers. Light, elegant, seamless: the very definition of the local Cabernet style and breeze-cooled Médocain classicism. Once again, there are more focused and showier peers, but the poise, elegance, and sheer drinkability of this graceful wine are very appealing. Lovely, tender truth to place and vintage. Great purity—and the fine tannins are beautifully extracted. As so often with this vintage, there’s a little grapefruit energy behind the blackcurrant. | 90

Michael Schuster | A fine, slightly lean-seeming red- and black-fruit nose, gravelly, too; medium-full, fresh to brisk in acidity, keen in fine-grained tannin; within the 2017 firmness this is nicely balanced, long and classic claret, cedary to taste, even, gently complex, and with good length. A successful 2017, very St-Julien in its elegant proportions, which will certainly reward a few years wait. 2026–36+. | 90