Opaque purple-black colored, the 2020 Balestard la Tonnelle opens with notes of cedar chest, stewed black plums and boysenberry preserves, giving way to notions of damp soil, tar and unsmoked cigars with a waft of dried Provence herbs. The medium to full-bodied palate is a little woody at this nascent stage, offering a lot of juicy black fruit beneath the oak with a chewy texture and bags of freshness, finishing long and spicy.