Fresh from Levet, Gérard, Gilles, and Lionnet

2019 was yet another dry, scorching-hot growing season, and Agnès ended up harvesting rather late—beginning the 20th of September—because the vines stopped maturing in August for a spell due to hydric stress. While the wines reflect the vintage in their formidable structure, the tannins are buffered by a great deal of fruit which manages to remain fresh and penetrating rather than overripe. Although the forward nature of the fruit might tempt one to open a 2019 on the early side, these are wines to stash deep in the cellar for maximum impact.