Odyssee Vin de France 2022 (750ml)

Gorgeous scents on the nose, smoked cherries, wild fragrant herbs and scrubland, milk chocolate and cedar. The palate joins structured, firm tannins with plenty of grip and hold with the most juicy, vibrant and energetic acidity that gives this both power and joy at the same time. It has a lovely width and plumpness - strawberry, olive and thyme - yet is also focussed, driven and retains finesse all the way through. A great showing for this wine.

Medium garnet colored, the 2022 Odyssée prances with showy notes of black cherries, raspberry coulis, and wild blueberries, opening out to a stunning perfume of violets, menthol, rose bud tea, and allspice. The full-bodied palate delivers a rock-solid structure of beautifully ripe, firm, grainy tannins and a refreshing line to frame the generous black, red, and blue fruit layers, finishing long and opulent. This is the finest vintage of this wine made since the inaugural 2015, and, while the production is tiny, it is well worth the hunt! Odyssée is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from the northern Médoc with Grenache from the southern Rhône. It is the creation of Pierre Graffieulle, the managing director of Eutopia Estates (including Château Montrose and Clos Rougeard) and Rhône-based winemaker Matthieu Dumarcher.

Fragrant garrigue rises out of the glass on the first nose, totally delicious with savoury underbrush, liquorice and crushed rocks alongside raspberries, dried cherries, orange peel, bitter grilled rosemary, and black olive tapenade. A superb vintage from Pierre Graffeuille and Matthieu Dumarcher, owners and winemakers at this 3.2ha estate. This is 9 months since I last tasted the same vintage, and I am giving it a one point upscore as it settles into itself.