Château Rocheyron St Emilion Grand Cru 2018

This was a vintage where Rocheyron’s position in a cooler corner of St Emilion really started to count, as alcohols climbed high across the region in the face of the vintage conditions. The warmth of the year come across in the weight and concentration of plump damson, fig and crushed raspberry fruits, but there is balance and grip, and the pummice stone texture gives an intensity and brightness to the fruits. Cocoa bean, orange zest, soy, and oyster shell as it opens, this is light on its feet, and it makes you smile. Fine tannins also, giving a graceful architecture to the exuberance of the fruits. Peter Sisseck’s experience in Ribera del Duero perhaps comes in handy here, as he is so concious of not over extracting in the face of high alcohols. 30% new oak, 30hl/h yields.