Potensac 2019

Always a dependable bottling, the 2019 Potensac opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and nicely concentrated, with lively acids and powdery tannins, the vintage has made for an unusually polished Potensac that will offer a broad drinking window. Drink 2025-2045.

The 2019 Pontensac has an open-knit red cherry and crushed strawberry scented nose that conveys joie-de-vivre. The palate is sweet on the entry, fleshier than expected, a little oaky and missing a bit of grip on the finish. Like the 2019 Le Boscq, this is early drinking, but does the job. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drink 2024-2033

Deep ruby colour. Cool and refined on the nose, with fresh blackcurrant, dark cherry and subtle, savoury spice from wood. The palate follows in this vein, straight and savoury with a chalky line of tannins providing the structure. This has the classic bones of Médocain Cabernet but it pairs this with the charm and exuberance of 2019 fruit. Waves of plums and cherries continue to build and are layered by a light smokiness. These work together in harmony to a compact and precise, but long finish. This is a claret for the purists.

Excellent Potensac with a creamy and tight tannin structure. Blueberries and blackberries with some salt and minerals at the end. Classic structure. One of the best ever.

The 2019 Potensac is a blend of 47% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, harvested from the 21st of September to the 9th of October. The alcohol came in at 14.05% with a pH of 3.54 and an IPT of 74. It is aging in French oak barriques, 34% new. With a deep purple-black color, the nose hits the ground running with lively scents of black raspberries, warm cassis and redcurrant jelly plus suggestions of garrigue, tilled soil, unsmoked cigars and pencil shavings. The medium to full-bodied palate is positively invigorating, offering bags of crunchy black and red berry flavors and a racy line of freshness, framed by approachable, grainy tannins and finishing with a skip in its step. In a word: FUN!

Here the raspberry and redcurrant fruits that were present in La Chapelle have filled out and deepend, with a luscious richness through the mid palate. There are still plenty of Médoc tannins showing tension and layering, and you need to give it time to open in the glass. A little tense and nervy right now but good quality - benefitting from an uprooting of 20ha of the less impressive parts of the vineyard to focus on the highest quality sectors. Harvest September 21 to October 9. 3.54ph.