France

Chateau Balestard La Tonnelle

Chateau Balestard La Tonnelle Grand Cru Classe Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Bordeaux

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Well balanced and carefully judged, with hidden power that is still subdued but pulsing. Smoky grilled earth and tobacco notes on the opening beats, tight tannins and inky black fruits - pure cassis and bilberry notes, along with liquorice root and chocolate. Dramatic but impressive.

Inside Bordeaux

Deep garnet-purple in color. Offers broody notes of damp soil and tar before giving way to a core of baked plums and raspberries, plus a hint of balsamic. The medium-bodied palate is chewy and savory with soft acidity and a rugged finish.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Glass-staining plum, very much on song for a St Emilion Grand Cru Classé, with a silky texture visually reflecting an alcohol level that is relatively high for the vintage. Exuberant damson fruit, grilled cedar, liqourice, espresso, cocoa bean, orange peel, sleek, confident, estate signature, although you can find fresher 2023s. 36hl/ha yield.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Balestard La Tonnelle features flamboyant notes of stewed black cherries, prunes, and raisin cake, followed by hints of hoisin and cedar chest. The full-bodied palate has a zippy line of freshness and velvety tannins to frame the big, rich, concentrated black and blue fruit preserves flavors, finishing long and spicy.

Well balanced, with juicy blackcurrant and damson fruit, high acidities, giving lemon zest and pomegranate edges, well put together, the acidity undercuts the fruit, while the grilled vanilla and cedar oak helps add sweetness. 50% new oak. 32.6hl/h yield, from the clay-limestone plateau in St Emilion.

Tar and smoke on the opening notes suggest oak remains dominant and a little intrusive even after ageing. This is well structured, with a wall of firm tannis, cassis and blueberry fruit with streaks of grilled dark chocolate. 36 hl/ha yield, from 8.5ha on the clay-limestone plateau. Malolactic fermentation in new oak barrels.

2024	No priceNot available	Excellent
2023	No priceNot available	Excellent
2022	No priceNot available	Excellent
2021	No priceNot available	Excellent
2020	No priceNot available	Excellent

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Chateau Balestard La Tonnelle
Vintages	2019
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Bottle	75 cl

Alcohol	%
Acid	%
Sugar	g/l

Packaging
Cork type
Selection
Wholesaler
Carrier