Merlot is back with a vengeance, amounting to some 58% of the blend of the 2018 Fourcas Hosten, as Cabernet Sauvignon was hit by hail. Delivering aromas of rich dark berries, cherries, loamy soil and creamy oak, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and powdery, framed by firm but not austere tannins that temper some of the vintage's overt fruitiness.