Château Meyney has good form at the Southwold tastings. When the world's top critics and England's leading wine merchants meet to taste Bordeaux blind, this ringer invariably punches well above its weight. In a flight that contains Saint Estèphe's strongest, it has won multiple times and is almost always one of the contenders for best wine in the appellation.
This was the case again in 2019. Despite the fact it is not a classed growth, this cru bourgeois yielded high scores that include a significant upgrade from Neal Martin. Writing in his recent review of the tasting, Neal improved his score from 92 to 95 points, one of the biggest changes across the entire region. He says this is a "stellar showing" that "retains superb balance and feels luxuriant."
Many Farr Vintners customers will know just how good this wine can be. Recent vintages have shown brilliantly and offer an almost Montrose-like style in a more approachable guise. True, gutsy Saint Estèphe with surprising poise and approachability, this 2019 is a real winner. You could just about drink it now with a decant, but it will hit its stride in the next 3-5 years and drink well for 15+ beyond that.
The 2019 Meyney has a divine bouquet, so pure and winsome with floral red berry scents, beautifully integrated new oak and superb precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy to the point where you can almost overlook the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It could have been blowsy, yet it retains superb balance and feels luxuriant and long on the finish. This is a stellar showing easily eclipsing its performances either in barrel or just after bottling. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drink 2026-2055
Aromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with tobacco, loamy soil and petals introduce the 2019 Meyney, a medium to full-bodied, seamless and lively wine with fine depth at the core, powdery tannins and an attractive sense of completeness. This is an understated but charming Saint-Estèphe that has turned out nicely in bottle. Drink 2025-2045.
Tasted blind at Southwold. Deep colour with a smoky, rich nose of cedar and sandalwood together with cassis fruit. There is real stuffing and structure here, balancing cool but ripe black fruit with bold chalky tannins in a typically Medocain style. Dense and impressive, this is a serious Cabernet-led style with a sappy, still slightly firm finish. Great typicity with good length, it should unfurl nicely over the next decade in bottle and provide excellent drinking pleasure.
Notes of ripe blackcurrants and blackberries, vanilla, licorice and dark chocolate with touches of earthiness and nutmeg-like spice. Medium-bodied with ripe, velvety tannins and delicious fruit. Polished and refined. Try after 2023.
