Château Laniote: Tasting & Drinking
The wines of Château Laniote demonstrate an attractive style, typically starting out with a wealth of dark yet fresh fruits, blackcurrant and black cherry, red cherry and toast, the exact flavour profile varying with each passing vintage of course. In successful vintages such as 2016 and 2018 there is a sweetness and freshness to the wine, an admirable feature often underpinned by a smart grip of ripe tannins. It is very correct in its character, and does not lean too far towards the modern, diffuse, over-extracted style that one sometimes encounters in the less commonly explored corners of St Emilion. While ripe and firm, it doesn’t usually feel overdone.
The result in 2017 was somewhat less convincing, although it was a good effort considering the trying nature of this vintage, which was blighted by a devastating spring frost. The relative elevation of the vineyards of Château Laniote will have offered some protection from the frosty air, in part at least, although it is worth noting that the damage at neighbouring Château Larmande was so extensive that they produced no wine at all. It would, I suspect, be interesting to revisit the 2017 Château Laniote once it has been bottled. In the meantime, I look forward to checking out future vintages from this diminutive but well-run estate. (13/11/19)
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