95-97 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

Coming from hard-packed limestone soils, the 2018 Les Astries is more backward and structured, with serious amounts of minerality in its full-bodied, concentrated style. Giving up beautiful notes of blackcurrants, smoked earth, violets, and chocolate, its more fresh and focused than some prior vintages yet still has a beautiful opulence and hedonistic slant. Its going to benefit from short-term cellaring, and I suspect it will keep for two decades or more. The blend is 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc thats aging in 80% new barrels.