Dark fruit, light smoke, bay leaf and vanilla. Some dates. A full-bodied red with velvety texture and firm tannins that melt nicely into the wine. Long, creamy finish with pretty fruit.

The 2018 Bonalgue has one of the most backward bouquets that I encountered from the appellation in this vintage from bottle, requiring at least an hour's aeration to reveal blackberry, loamy and truffle scents. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Here it picks up, offering lively black fruit and fine mineralite on the finish. This is an excellent Bonalgue, a great success for the estate. Just be patient with the aromatics.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Bonalgue- a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc- rolls effortlessly out of the glass with intense scents of redcurrant jelly, blackberry pie and stewed black plums, plus wafts of mossy tree bark, Sichuan pepper and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black and red berry preserves flavors, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note.