Château Lavabre La Closerie Rouge 2018

A smaller production release that's slightly more Syrah-heavy, the 2018 Pic Saint-Loup La Closerie offers a blockbuster bouquet of black fruits, camphor, graphite, ground pepper, and cured meats. With a touch more finesse and focus compared to the appellation release, it's full-bodied and has a beautifully balanced, concentrated, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This gorgeous Pic Saint Loup can be enjoyed any time over the coming decade or more.

Château Lavabre's 2018 Pic Saint Loup La Closerie is an 80-20 blend of Syrah and Grenache, with the Syrah aging in small barrels (half new) and the Grenache aging in small foudres of 2,000 liters. Blueberries, blackberries and licorice notes mark the nose, supported by hints of crushed stone and spicy oak. It's full-bodied and ripe but still balanced, with a more streamlined feel than the other Lavabre reds, along with silky tannins and a long, licorice-laden finish.