Château Rocher-Gardat Montagne-Saint-Émilion | 2021

A nice reminder that a good producer will outshine a modest vintage, this Right Bank Merlot overdelivers on flavor and finesse. With consulting from Hubert de Bouärd, whose family owns Château Angélus, it’s unexpectedly layered and finds the balance between dark red fruits and flinty Bordeaux earth. The nose floats with raspberry cordial, followed by cocoa puffs, and crumbles of white and grey stone. Medium-plus in body with taut, muscular tannins, it’s spot-on with a steak frites — and will have you drinking like a true Bordelais! ~Allegra A