Château Alcée 2018

You are getting a lot of complexity for a wine that usually retails for under 20 Euros. There are oak notes but they are well handled, joined by seductive aromatics with floral touches, and dense plum and black cherry flavours. This was bought by Nicolas Thienpont in 201 as a 2ha estate that has now been expanded to 6ha. The former owners took the wine produced to the local cooperative. Drinking window 2022-2032.

Almost all Merlot (there's 4% Cabernet Franc), the 2018 Château Alcée comes from the team of Nicolas Thienpont and the cooler, limestone soils of the Côtes de Castillon region. It's a rock star bottle of wine that I'm sure will be a terrific value. Lots of black cherries, darker currants, damp earth, leafy herbs, and some obvious minerality emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, ripe, yet focused texture, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's hands down the finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years.

Composed of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Alcee charges out of the gate with bold notions of stewed black cherries, blackberry preserves and fruitcake, plus hints of cinnamon toast, licorice and tobacco leaf with a waft of camphor. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of ripe black fruit flavors with a velvety texture and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy.

Black cherries, blueberries, dried leaves, praline and some tar on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, broad tannins. Structured and concentrated. 96% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. Better from 2023.