Under the same ownership as Canon la Gaffelière in Saint-Emilion, this estate has produced a powerfully rich wine, with tannins cushioned by dense black-plum flavors. Rich in structure and driven by fruit, the wine will age well. Drink from 2023.

Readers looking for a beautiful Bordeaux that's not going to break the bank should check out the 2018 Château D'Auguilhe. Coming from the cooler Castillon region to the east of Saint-Emilion, this beauty offers a terrific perfume of ripe black raspberries, cherries, roasted herbs, sweet mulch, and spring flowers. It has a fresh, crunchy quality to its fruit, nicely integrated acidity, ripe yet present tannins, and the class to keep for 10-15 years.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 d'Aiguilhe jumps up out of the glass with exuberant notes of plum preserves, Black Forest cake and blackberry pie, plus hints of potpourri, hoisin and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate has a soft texture and oodles of freshness supporting the mouth-coating black fruit preserves, finishing with loads of exotic spice layers.

Fresh, pure and direct, with streamlined cherry and red currant fruit carried by fresh acidity, backed with tobacco and earth notes. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2025. 25,000 cases made.

The 2018 d'Aiguilhe was picked from September 25 to October 5 at 45hl/ha, and matured in 20% new oak. It has an attractive nose of blackberry, mulberry and still those chestnut aromas, though thankfully there is no overripeness now. The palate is soft and sensual on the opening, with grainy tannins framing cedar-tinged red fruit laced with clove and a little garrigue toward the finish. Not bad at all, though it needs a bit more energy.