Saint Martin Des Champs, Cuvee L'Hermitage Du Domaine 2016

A Bordeaux blend from Saint Martin des Champs in Pays d'Oc

So, what we have here is:

- a Bordeaux (mostly Cab) blend
-  from Pays d'Oc, south of Bordeaux
- with a very restrained 12.5% alcohol
- that spends 12 months in barrique and a further year-plus in bottle

The lower alcohol level suggests a cooler climate somehow than Bordeaux; maybe altitude or sea breezes.

Either way, the end result is a very structured and well-defined wine with a dense core that takes a while to open up.

You should definitely give this a couple of hours in the decanter; it will repay some cellaring if you can wait.

Saint Martin Des Champs, Cuvee L'Hermitage Du Domaine 2016 dark berry fruit, firm fine tannins, freshness and a savoury minerality. Good underpinnings. Will improve with age.

Good.

Match with plain roast red meat, especially darker game; also, mature hard cheeses.