This wine, rich in tannins and with layers of black-currant fruits, is a blend of almost equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is the Cabernet that gives the wine its style and freshness and that promises plenty of aging. Drink the wine from 2026. Organic.

The 2020 Paloumey suffers from a lack of intensity on the nose - it comes across a bit anonymous at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a little more graphite than I noticed from barrel and that makes the finish quite Pauillac-like in style. Promising.

This has a good, succulently ripe core of black cherry and dark plum fruit, mixed with singed vanilla, dried anise and a tug of warm earth through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2027. 8,000 cases made, 800 cases imported.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Paloumey gives up vague scents of red and black plums and sautéed herbs with faint wafts of tobacco and charcoal. The medium-bodied palate has appealing freshness and approachable tannins, if a little light on the mid-palate fruit and short on the finish.