The first three from Bordeaux were St. Emilion ones and from the 2019 vintage. Chateau de Candale, Chateau La Commanderie and Clos des Jacobins. All three have the same owner, Magali and Thibault Decoster. La Candale is the latest acquisition (2017) and accommodates quite a popular restaurant among locals, L’Atelier de Candale. It’s a close neighbor to Tertre Roteboeuf.
De Candale - 75% Merlot + 25% Cabernet Franc. 15% alcohol. Lovely nose of blackberries with no alcohol stamp. Nice acidity to carry the fruit, well-knitted on the palate with luscious berries, nice balance, and structure. Delicate fruity finish. Quite a seductive effort. 89p.
La Commanderie - 75% Merlot + 25% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% alcohol. Plenty of black cherries on the nose and palate, freshness, some minerality, silky fruit, and tannin on the palate, with nice complexity and length. Lingering finish. Quite a lovely effort, indeed. 91p.
Clos des Jacobins – It’s still GCC after the recent classification. 80% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.5% alcohol. Complex and intense nose of black-/blueberries, well-concentrated on the palate, luscious sweet berries and silky tannin, delicate balance and lingering finish. Delightful effort and surely worthy of a rating of 93p.
Seguin 2019 – 55% Merlot + 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. More Merlot in this vintage than usual. It was a friendly and attractive wine, with delicate aromatics on the nose and violet, mint, and cherries. Silky on the palate, with superb balance, a gentle kiss of oak, and a lingering finish. It's a great and stylish effort, delicate and seductive. 94p.
Seguin 2020 - 70% Cabernet Sauvignon + 30% Merlot. 14% alcohol. First vintage with Stephane Derenencourt’s team as an external consultant. Grapes from old Merlot vines didn’t go into Confidence(s) but were included in Seguin in this vintage. Intense nose of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon with tobacco leaf and a trace of salty oysters Mineral, vibrant, lush berries and grained tannin, great complexity, and length, elegant and refined. Impressive stuff and clear proof of the vintage’s potential. 95+p.
Confidence(s) de Chateau Seguin 2019 – this is “luxury” cuvée made from old Merlot vines at Seguin. Powerful and intense on the nose and palate with fabulous aromas of black cherries and black winter truffle, sophisticated with great minerality, structure and depth, and awesome complexity. A fabulous wine with a great personality. 96+p.