Château Clarke 2018

This is extremely classy, deep purple in colour with great tension through the palate and easily one of the best En Primeur samples I’ve tasted from this property. The wine opens up stunningly in the glass, plush and vibrant, with black cherry fruit flavours and tannins that are extremely present, right in there hanging on from beginning to end but fully matched by the cassis and bilberry black fruits. It’s austere on the finish but should fill out a little over ageing. 60% new oak was used. A yield of 40hl/ha. Drinking window: 2024-2040. Score – 94. (Jane Anson, decanter.com, Aug. 29, 2023)