Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Bonnes Mares 2018

Once again the colour is notably dark. Really intriguing deep dark fruit nose, lifted and a touch of deep dark violets, on the cusp of red and black, though perhaps more the latter. This has a racy mineral quality throughout and perhaps the freshest finish, very juicy, myrtilles especially with some rich ripe red cherries alongside. I think this will be truly exciting but We Will Have to Wait a Very Long Time. 95-98

This is very deeply colored, in fact so much so that it would make a young port blush! The ripe aromas of red and blue berries, spice and earth display a mentholated top note. The dense, powerful and mouth coating broad-shouldered flavors possess evident muscularity while delivering excellent length on the youthfully austere finale. This isn't refined, indeed it's borderline rustic, but it's a dramatically impressive and very firmly structured wine that should live for decades.

The 2018 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru is noticeably deeper in colour than the five other 2018 Bonnes-Mares in this line-up. Here, the dark cherry fruit seems a little cooked with faint tinned prune and raisin notes in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins, firm grip, dusky black fruit laced with black pepper, touches of thyme and sage. There is energy here, but similar to other Bonnes-Mares, the tannins seem to just poke out on the brawny and monolithic finish. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting.