du Tertre 2009

Deep ruby coloured. Violet. Suppressed dark fruit(blackberries) and red fruit(plums, cherries and strawberries). Evolving nose. Ripe fruit palate: black plum, blackcurrant, ink, vanilla and white. Focused. Clean, long finish. The 43% Cabernet Sauvignon gives a structure with the right acidities. Yet, its easy-drinking nature from the high proportion of 20% Cabernet Franc offers an intriguing combination of fruity, vegetal, graphite, liquorice and earthy flavours. Starts drinking. Sort of either you like it or don't like it. All agree it is a super-value, though.

The word Du Tertre means 'of the soil' on top of Arsac and the gravelly site of the commune. The site is fantastic; fruit quality is fine with the gravity method. Partial oak fermentation: There is always some weight and creaminess on the finish. There is 50% new oak; hence the nose is slightly shy. Although not a super complex Margaux, the style is easy to understand. The Giscours team made it. The scores are high, for example, 94 Jennie Cho Lee and 94 IWC—also an RP92.