Château Séraphine & Clos Cantenac
by Andrew Caillard MW
L’Innocence de Séraphine, Pomerol
Medium deep crimson. Lovely inky dark plum, cassis, dark chocolate hint ginger aromas. Supple and well concentrated with blackcurrant pastille, juicy dark plum fruits, fine slinky dry tannins and underlying roasted walnut, cedar notes. Chalky firm and minerally with a light tannin plume at the finish. An appealing medium bodied style with lovely pure inky richness and gentle vigour. Very much in the zeitgeist. 70% merlot 30% cabernet franc. 13.5% alc Drink 2028 – 2040 94 points
Chateau Séraphine, Pomerol
Deep crimson. Expressive smoky dark plum dark chocolate, cedar aromas with hints of wax polish/ wood varnish. Well-concentrated with ample ripe dark plum, dark cherry, cedar flavours, loose knit chalky, touch grippy tannins and well-balanced roasted chestnut, vanilla, hint smoky oak notes. Finishes al-dente/ chocolaty dry and long. Ecclesiastical in aromas. Temporal, generous and classic on the palate. A wine of many parts. Should develop very well. 90% merlot 10% cabernet franc. 13.5% alc Drink 2030 – 2048+ 96 points
Petit Cantenac, St Emilion Grand Cru
Medium crimson. Fresh raspberry red currant roasted coffee, praline aromas with hints of aniseed/ herb garden. Buoyant raspberry pastille, red plum, red currant fruits, loose knit chalky touch leafy textures, and underlying espresso notes. Finishes bittersweet/ firm with a flow of quartz-like acidity. Fruit-driven wine with attractive juiciness and mineral length. Early drinking style. 80% merlot 20% cabernet franc 13% alc Drink 2028 – 2036+ 91 points
Clos Cantenac, St Emilion Grand Cru
Medium deep crimson. Dark plum, elderberry, cedar spice aromas with chinotto/ smoky notes. Plentiful juicy plum, blackberry fruits, well balanced cedar roasted chestnut vanilla notes, and fresh bitter/ sinewy tannins. Builds up grippy firm and tight at the finish with attractive dark berry fruits. Still elemental but will fold and develop with time. 100% merlot 13.5% alc Drink 2030 – 2045 93 points
by Angus Hughson
L’Innocence 2025
91-93 | 2030-2042
The 2025 L’Innocence barrel sample, made up of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc opens up with plush and well defined aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry with genuine ripeness topped with subtle sandy earth tones. Densly tannic and broad shouldered with strong flavours while a fresh acid bite keeps a linear shape while a charming saline edge of kelp rides a long, tight finish. Quite superb and potentially best yet under this label.
Château Séraphine 2025
94-96 | 2035-2050
The 2025 Château Séraphine barrel sample, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, is flamboyant to start as it radiates with violet, graphite and pure cassis with rich veins of fine, new French oak. Energetic flavours with firm acidity frame a beautifully firm and taut palate, muscular, strong and savoury through to a very long, youthful and sustained finish. Outstanding and built to last.
Petit Cantenac
89-91 | 2028-2033
The 2025 Petit Cantenac Merlot Cabernet Franc barrel sample is engaging and approachable with bright red currant and slatey aroma lifted by oak and cedary spice. Balanced al-dente tannins provide an attractive bite to supple fruit pastille flavours before finishing with solid length.
Clos Cantenac
91-92 | 2030-2038
The 2025 Clos Cantenac Merlot barrel sample is quite fragrant and generous opening up with layers of red currant conserve, freshly laid gravel and blackcurrant with a touch of crushed leaf intertwined with mocha French oak. Punchy acidity and fleshy flavours give good upfront impact supported by firm-edged tannins through to a muscular finish. Tightly bound and sinewy at this point but will no doubt build greater weight in time.
