Gazin 2018

93% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc; 50% new oak. Barrel sample. Inky core, purple rim. Rich, dark and seductive on the nose. Toasty oak and ripe fruit. Thick, chalky tannins gum up your mouth and there's more alcohol than freshness. Challenging and not really integrated – acid seems to stick out on the end? (JH) 13.5%Drink 2026-2032

A rock star in the making, the 2018 Château Gazin is made from 93 %Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Rich, powerful, and medium to full-bodied, it has s serious feel in its structure and tannin as well as awesome notes of candied cherries, cassis, chocolate, and crushed rocks. With beautiful purity, it builds beautifully on the palate and has both richness and elegance. It’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 20+ years.

(93 Merlot, 7 Cabernet Franc) | 14.5% alc There is some nice depth of fruit on the nose and it leads with this theme as opposed to oak, which is a relief. The palate is juicy and ripe and the finish manages to maintain this fruit, too. It is a big wine, but everything is in proportion and the oak, while quite prominent, does not overtake the wine.

The 2018 Gazin is very seductive on the nose with small dark cherries, wild strawberry, truffle and tobacco notes unfurling in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, good backbone and precise black fruit laced with white pepper and bay leaf. This is quintessential Gazin with wonderful salinity on the finish. A classy offering from Nicolas Baillencourt that will age with class. Drink 2024-2050.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Gazin (composed of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc) has quite an earthy/broody nose to begin, with subtle black soil, tar and chargrill notes giving way to a core of prunes, baked blueberries and sautéed herbs. Full, muscular and chewy in the mouth, it has loads of earthy layers and a dried herbs lift on the finish.