Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 La Clare reveals vague notions of stewed plums and fried herbs with an earthy undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate is thin and dilute with a chewiness to the finish.

The 2016 Chateau la Clare is a blend of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. It comes replete with a fresh and vibrant bouquet with scents of black cherry, wild strawberry and violets that are focused and delineated. The palate is smooth and sensual on the entry with a slightly honeyed texture. The acidity is well judged and it feels quite sweet and confit-like on the finish yet refrains from being overdone. Give this 2-3 years in bottle just to calm down and address its infant feistiness because there is very good potential here.

The 2014 Chateau la Clare still has not quite resolved its issues on the nose since when I tasted from barrel, a little muddled and missing some vigor. However, the palate is much better with grainy tannin, quite spicy with decent black fruit. Unfortunately, it still exits too hastily and the aftertaste is very short. Not bad, but could be better. Tasted September 2016.

A narrowly constructed, somewhat lean, undernourished and evolved cru bourgeois, this wine (55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot) is a healthy dark ruby color, with spice, earth and nothing vegetal about it, but there’s just not a lot of depth or ripeness. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.

Also recommended, but no tasting note given.