Chateau des Charmes’ St. David’s Bench vineyard is right on the property where the Chateau itself is … sometimes it is referred to as the estate or home vineyard, but this designation on a bottle is for grapes brought in that are closest to the winery proper. The nose on this Franc has blackberry with hints of smoke and elements of black cherry … palate is smooth and full fo lovely dark fruit and ends with a smoky cedar finish. You’ll also find nuances of tobacco leaf and some nice tannins backing it up – but not enough tannins to get in the way of your enjoyment of the wine. Price: $25.95 – Rating: ****+