The 2018 Marquis de Calon has a very perfumed, quite floral bouquet that demonstrates much more precision and focus than the preceding 2018 Capbern. It blossoms with copious blackberry and boysenberry scents, crushed violets and a touch of iris petal. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe entry, taut and quite rigid tannins, and then... hold on... there is that nagging green streak that I remarked upon out of barrel. It prongs the finish, unmistakably, leaving a very bitter aftertaste that dissuades me from taking another sip. I just think there is a batch of fruit that should never have made it into this Deuxième Vin, which is a pity because otherwise it could have been a fine wine. (I left this bottle another 24 hours to monitor any improvement but the greenness was just as evident.)
- Neal Martin (2021)
