Chateau Lanbersac 2010 “Vieilles Vignes” Puisseguin Saint Emilion

This is a winery whose bottles never end up on our shores: it’s a tiny outpost in one of the most obscure satellite wine regions of Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion on the right bank of Bordeaux. The last time I saw this wine was a decade ago, and the only retailer was in Florida. That’s a sad thing, as bottles like this from their tiny plot of eighty-year-old vines deserve more attention.

Excellent ripeness comes through with a red current and licorice on the nose. Dark plum and espresso notes round out the palate, with chocolate-covered cherries and a touch of cedar pushing up on the finish. The structure is nicely linear, and a backbone of tannin keeps the fruit notes in line.