The 2020 Couvent des Jacobins bursts with aromas of minty blackberries, plums, incense and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and charming palate that's framed by powdery tannins. A gourmand, seamless wine, this will offer a broad drinking window. It's a blend of Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.
Couvent des Jacobins, as the name suggests, occupies the site of an ancient Dominican convent, established in the 14th century. Denis Pomarède has been director here since 1996, superintending its 10.5 hectares of vines, many of which are situated on the plateau of Villemaurine behind the winery itself, with shallow clay over limestone, but there's also a parcel of Petit Verdot planted near Fonroque and another near Grand Mayne and Coutet on sandy clay. Couvent des Jacobins has been farmed organically since 2010 and attained certification in 2020. With consultant Thomas Duclos, Pomarède is working on greater precision in harvest dates, planting cover crops and including more Petit Verdot in his blends. This is a somewhat under-the-radar property that deserves to be better known.