Deep, dark, purple-red color, is not quite opaque. The aromas are of black fruit overlaid by graphite. On the palate cassis fruit is lifted by lovely fresh acidity & melded with intense graphite notes. There are hints of toasty oak. Even the structure alcohol is balanced & the finish is long & lean.

Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot

96 Points - Decanter

Cocoa powder, iris notes, pink roses and black fruits - so fragrant - you just want to smell the wines in 2021 for hours. This is a seriously impressive Comtesse and stands out as one of my favorite wines of the vintage with real promise. Power and depth from the get go, tannins are massy, softly fleshy but also provide support and structure, giving layers to the fruit and savory elements that combine clove, cedar, cola, vanilla and cinnamon with teeth-coating licorice and graphite too - the soft salinity entering towards the finish. It's concentrated and serious with a tightly knitted core, a consequence of the tiny yields and strict selection as well as the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend since 2013. Drink from 2028.