An estate that continues to shine, the 2018 Château Pedesclaux is a rich, ripe, sexy Pauillac offering loads of ripe cassis fruits as well as lead pencil, chocolate, and violets. Seemingly even richer now from bottle than barrel, it's full-bodied and has a round, concentrated mouthfeel, lots of ripe tannins, good freshness, and a great finish. A rich, powerful Pauillac, it's going to need 4-6 years to shed some baby fat but should be very long lived.

Ripe and juicy in feel, with expressive cassis and plum paste notes lined liberally with red and black licorice and backed by a floral note through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 12,500 cases made.

The 2018 Pedesclaux is a powerful, brooding wine. Black cherry, chocolate, menthol, cloves and sweet oak give this Pauillac a decidedly exuberant feel at the outset. The mid-palate and finish narrow considerably, leaving behind a feeling of astringency. Perhaps the 2018 will soften in time. We will see. This is the better of the two bottles I tasted.