2018 Red Bordeaux
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For laying down,
Henri Lurton’s preference is for a more considered and restrained style of Margaux and, while the roundness of the vintage is apparent, this is very stylish, with a lovely lift of fruit and bounce of freshness. The tannins plot a commendably firm line through the palate. Unsurprisingly, this has one of the more modest alcohols at 13.4%. Drink 2025-2040.
Blend: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
For laying down,
Deeply coloured, the nose offers great aromatic purity, with blackberries, cassis and dark cherries joined by a hint of smoke and coffee bean. It is beautifully complex. On the palate, the wine opens up with a rich and opulent structure. Velvety tannins combine with dark fruit, plum, spicy pepper notes and a touch of dark chocolate. The 2018 is a wine of power – harmonious and concentrated with a lingering mouth-feel. Drink 2024-2035.
Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Chateau Margaux,
For laying down,
Yields here are down after the drought and mildew to 31hl/ha. This Pavillon packs quite a punch after the inclusion of some clay-grown Cabernet Sauvignon which was deemed too powerful for the grand vin. This is a big second wine, beautifully perfumed, very classy, but with no sense of heat or heaviness. Drink 2026-2040.
Blend: 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Chateau Lynch-Bages,
For laying down,
Expectations were high; this is a vintage made for a wine with Lynch's sunny and luxurious personality – naturally it does not disappoint. All the key elements are boisterous, but never to excess, and there is no sense of this being a fruit bomb. Rich cassis and balancing smoky graphite notes complete this splendid, turbo-charged Lynch. Drink 2028-2050.
Blend: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Blend: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Chateau Pichon Lalande,
For laying down,
This is a wine of presence and power and, yet, also shows a bit more transparency than some, probably from the role played by the Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The finish of the wine, however, is dense, with an accent on spice over fruit, heady and rich, with huge tannins. It’s tempting to under-estimate this wine, but it is certainly well-crafted. Drink 2028-2045.
Blend: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Blend: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Chateau Pichon Lalande,
For laying down,
A very correct wine, this has every component in place, with nice purity and a directness of fruit. The bouquet is relatively solid, but also shows some welcome reserve. This manicured elegance has been an ongoing feature of wines from Comtesse de Lalande for a few years now. There is good cassis fruit over a well-laid, solid base. Drink 2024-2032.
Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
For laying down,
For laying down,
The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested a bit earlier here than at Lynch, to capture its freshness. Even under its previous ownership, Haut-Batailley was a discreet, finely grained Pauillac and it remains so, but with more polish from the Cazes team. Jean-Charles wryly observed that this is their best-ever Haut-Batailley (it is their second vintage). Drink 2026-2045.
Blend: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot
Blend: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot
For laying down,
Pretty fruit, this is very nicely done, with good density on the palate, which is creamy and dense. It’s full of sweet ripe fruit, but there is also grip and some welcome bite. The 2018 is a very good wine, not compelling – but that isn't D'Armailhac's style. The alcohol is just under 14%, which explains the fresher edge to the wine. Very accomplished. Drink 2023-2025.
Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste,
For laying down,
Mildew was not really a problem on the estate's surprisingly steep slopes. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested a little earlier here, giving the wine a bit of crunch, although there is still a lovely coating of sweetness around the wine's spine. Quite a voluble “GPL” as well as tasty – it’s what the French call “gourmand”. Drink 2026-2040.
Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot
Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot
Chateau Lynch-Bages,
For laying down,
There is quite a lot of initial tannic grip and the palate will fill out with time in barrel. Beneath it all, there is a positive sense of breeding and thus a lot of promise. As the grand vin shows, this vintage's dual aspects of generosity and power suit the Cazes style well. Very nice notes of black fruit and tobacco. Drink 2024-2035.
Blend: 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
For laying down,
Haut-Bailly II is the new name for the estate’s second wine, previously sold as La Parde de Haut-Bailly – but there is no change to the quality. As ever, this is beautifully expressive, with a lovely fresh, juicy approach on the palate. There is spice and some complexity on the finish. Everything you would want from a second wine. Drink 2023-2030.
Blend: 65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend: 65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon
For laying down,
Evangile has some of the same iron-clay soils as Pétrus, but also 25% gravel. The Cabernet Franc buttresses the ripe, late-harvested Merlot. The wine is super-ripe, the palate dense and powerful. The tannins, not acidity, give texture and bite. The wine is muscular but not on steroids; it is in proportion. Drink 2026-2040.
Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Chateau Haut-Brion,
For laying down,
A dense wine, and with a hint of opulence. Jean-Philippe Delmas is not yet sure where the 2018 will sit against 2010, ‘15 and ‘16, but Haut-Brion’s experience dealing with warm vintages means the wine is assured a place at the top table. For all the wine’s intensity, there is also discretion within its velvety, smoky earthiness. Drink 2030-2060.
Blend: 49% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 49% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc
For laying down,
Berliquet was bought by Chanel in 2017, joining its neighbour Château Canon and sharing its team. There is an ambition to increase the Cabernet Franc to 50%, as limestone dominates the small 10-hectare vineyard. The alcohol is 14.5%, but is imperceptible in the tighter, crunchy and drier style. One of the more forthright St Emilions of the vintage. Drink 2026-2038.
Blend: 78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc
For laying down,
This is a bigger vintage than some years at Petit-Village, with an excellent balance and an impressive swagger, giving notes of pencil lead and liquorice through the mid palate that give it a fairly Left Bank feel. There is clear concentration here with raspberry fruits that have an attractive floral edge and an abundance of silky and plump tannins. They are HVE3 but not organic and had a yield still lower than usual at 23hl/ha due to mildew and difficult fruit set which meant extremely careful sorting was required. 40% new oak was used. Winemaker Dania Berrouet-Garcia. Drinking Window 2026 – 2040
Jane Anson, Decanter
Jane Anson, Decanter
For laying down,
The mildew wasn't too problematic at La Mission, but there was hail – the first for 30 years, although, mercifully, no damage was done. There is a fine sense of equilibrium here, with clearly defined tannins offset by a lovely weight of damson fruit on the palate. La Mission's sterner countenance is also detectable, but the mood remains assured. Drink 2023-2032.
Blend: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc
Chateau Haut-Brion,
For laying down,
The Clarence sets the tone for the Grand Vin beautifully. There is a generous and floral approach before the lovely fluid interplay between tannin and fruit on the palate. The wine then settles and confidently delivers its Haut-Brion calling card of sweet, open-textured savoury fruit. Drink 2023-2032.
Blend: 58% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Blend: 58% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Chateau Quintus,
For laying down,
From its deep, glossy, brooding colour, to the intense, clove-and-vanilla-scented nose, this is a compelling effort from the outset. Opulent cassis fruit fills the nose and continues on the palate, which is at once keenly poised yet luxuriously rich. Long and complex on the finish, this is a beautifully made wine, which although approachable young, will age impeccably for a decade or more. Drink now to 2029+.
Blend: 72.3% Merlot, 27.7% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 72.3% Merlot, 27.7% Cabernet Franc
Domaine de Chevalier,
For laying down,
Rémi Edange was very pleased with the yields at 38hl/ha, given the early season conditions. This is another good example of Pessac-Léognan's ability to adapt to the year's challenges. The wine is composed and surprisingly structured, with some redcurrant crunch amongst the juicier, most traditional cassis and creamy notes. Drink 2023-2035.
Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot