2020 Château de Sales Pomerol

Ripe plum, dark raspberry, and fig open into violets, cedar, and tobacco leaf. The palate is supple and fleshy, showing black cherry and cassis over fine, integrated tannins and a clean, graphite-laced finish.

Merlot-dominant with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc adding structural drive. Fermented in temperature-controlled concrete vats and aged 12 to 18 months in French oak barrels (mostly seasoned oak) to keep the fruit bright and pure.

Grown on fine gravel and sand soils underlain with iron-rich crasse de fer at the largest estate in Pomerol. The warmer gravel parcels allow the Cabernet to ripen fully, giving this Right Bank classic extra backbone.