2007 St Estèphe Wines &Tasting Notes

The Berrys' Fine Wine team are in Bordeaux sending back regular, comprehensive reviews on the 2007 vintage. The tasting notes below highlight some of the stand-out wines from St Estèphe.

Berrys' Points
Wines are scored out of 20. Berrys' points are given regardless of price, value and reputation, and are in absolute terms rather than relative to the vintage.

Drink Dates
By definition these are estimated drink dates only based on our experience of how the wines age. As some of the wines mature these drink dates may not turn out to be different from those originally stated.

This is far too sexy to be a St Estèphe, and far too concentrated to be a 2007. Jean-Charles Cazes and his star winemaker Nicolas Labenne, who also produce Ch. Lynch-Bages, should be heartily congratulated. Named after the old elm trees (`Ormes') that grew in its grounds, this has pure black cherry and violet aromatics backed up by elegant, creamy blackberry fruit with a streak of minerality and ripe but very present tannins. The 56% Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine its class but the 36% Merlot adds a pleasingly decadent edge. Great value.
BBR Score 15/20 Drink 2011-2017

Calon-Ségur is such a reliable barometer of overall quality that when its inimitable austerity is replaced by silky fruit and fine, supple tannins, you know you have a charming, early-drinking vintage on your hands. With an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), this is a beautifully balanced, highly aromatic Calon. A creamy cassis nose is followed by sophisticated, firm, crunchy blackcurrant fruit with licorice and green pepper notes. Madame Gasqueton puts it between 2004 and 2005 in terms of quality, which is praise indeed. As the Marquis de Ségur would say, in 2007 our heart definitely belongs to Calon.
BBR Score 16/20 Drink 2012-2020

"Bright crimson but not blackish purple exaggeration. Sweet start, some gentle fully ripe fruit. Very searing St-Estèphe tannins on the finish but there is definitely juice and flesh here. Neat, dry finish. Very competent. An attempt at gentle texture without sacrificing anything to too much technique."
Jancis Robinson: 16.5/20
Drink: 2016-2022

You don't make 40 vintages at Haut-Brion without picking up a thing or two along the way, so it's not overly surprising that Director Jean Bernard Delmas has made such a highly attractive, silky-textured 2007 Montrose bursting with potential. The sweet core of raspberry and blackberry fruit, ripe tannins and lively long finish make this a highly refined, complex wine while the high percentage of Merlot (30%) adds flesh and plummyness to the Cabernet Sauvignon (64%). This is not a Montrose powerhouse but it is extremely well-integrated, very true to the vintage and will improve enormously as it matures.
BBR Score 16/20 Drink: 2012-2022

"Second wine of Ch Montrose. Mid intensity of dark crimson with purple rim. Neat, low-key nose. Sweet, light Merlot start (32% Merlot). A light kiss rather than an embrace. Well balanced but very lightweight. Much softer, lighter tannins than usual for a St-Estèphe. Lightweight fruit..."
Jancis Robinson: 15.5/20
Drink: 2010-2015

The good news for the entertaining and controversial Jean-Guillaume Prats is that in 2007 his Cos is as close to the First Growths as it has ever been. A pure, precise Cabernet nose is impressively supported by minerally cassis fruit, dark chocolate, licorice and lovely ripe tannins. This is very seductive for St Estèphe and very feminine and approachable for Cos. It is one of the very few 2007s with real intensity, a result of late picking and the lowest yields since the excellent 2002 Cos. Made with far more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual (85%) it is simply terrific.
BBR Score 17/20 Drink 2012-2027

"Determinedly, almost exaggeratedly, modern style. Firm, very concentrated nose. Something strange on the nose – very distinctive. Extremely concentrated! And then reasonably supple on the palate – but quite low acid and freshness. A certain rawness but great attack and beef. One of the most distinctive wines of the vintage but a bit forced. All created by the early cutting of the shoots in June – taking a risk that the summer would not be hot. (Otherwise the fruit risked being sunburnt.) Strictly for modernists."
Jancis Robinson: 17/20
Drink: 2010-2016

• Ch. Beau Site
• La Dame de Montrose
• La Goulée
• Les Pagodes de Cos
•  Tronquoy de Saint Anne
• Ch. Tronquoy Lalande

For further information on these and other St Estèphe wines please contact us.