2018 Primeur, Bordeaux, Cadillac and more

Some of these lesser known appelations or lower ranking classifications made some lovely wines in 2018. Finally it was warm enough for the often clay or limestone vineyards that can sometimes produce too lean or herbal wines. On the other side, some of these also have warm vineyards, soils and/ or terroir. If you want bang for the buck, there are some lovely stuff and most will retail below €20,- per bottle, some even below €10,- The best ones from below will last up to twenty years, if you want them to, but also drink very well at five years of age. And there is some lovely whites here as well.

Bordeaux/ Bordeaux Superieur/ Entre-deux-Mers

2018 Bad Boy

Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, good length. Charming Bad Boy! 86-88

2018 Balthus

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits and spices, juicy, long finish. 89-91

2018 Château Bolaire

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, dark fruity nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lighter red fruity palate, good length. 85-87

2018 Château Bois Noir

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, spices, blueberries, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, fresh. 85-87

2018 Domaine des Cambes

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruits nose, quite intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, structured, denser, quite intense and long. 91-93

2018 Château Côte Montpezat

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Some tropical notes, fruity, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, fresh, bit more playful this vintage. 84-86

2018 Château Croix-Mouton

MAR 19 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices. 84-86

2018 Girolate blanc

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Fresh fruity white fruits nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, fresh, elegant body, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Haut Bertinerie

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Light fruity and spicy nose and palate, quite refreshing, some tropical notes on the palate. 84-86

2018 Hubert de Boüard Le Chardonnay

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, citrus, floral, light vanilla note nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, elegant, lovely freshness, some spices, leaner bodied, good length. 88-90

2018 Hubert de Boüard Le Sauvignon

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, lemons and slight peachy nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples, lemons, elegant texture. 87-89

2018 Hubert de Boüard Rosé

Watery salmon. Very light floral and red fruity nose. Fresh, fruity, lively, lean. 81

2018 Hubert de Boüard Le Cabernet Franc

Ruby. Anise, dark fruity, blueberries and spices nose, violets. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, juicy, a very fine Cab Franc. 90-92

2018 Hubert de Boüard Le Cabernet Sauvignon 

Ruby. Anise, blueberries, spices, fresh and fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, cassis, dark fruity and structured, lovely tannins behind, long. 89-91

2018 Hubert de Boüard Le Merlot

Ruby. Dark fruity, plums and anise, rich and dense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, rich and dark fruity, spicy, long. 89-91

2018 Loudenne Le Chateau

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Light fruity nose and palate, very light. 79-81

2018 Clos des Lunes Lune d'Argent

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, minerals, fresh nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, elegant texture, lovely balance, long. 89-91

2018 Clos des Lunes Lune d'Or

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, pears and grapefruits nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, some lemons and spices, juicy, long. 90-92

2018 Château Laurence blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Light fruity, citrusy and peach nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, lighter bodied. 83-85

2018 Château Marjosse

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, some spices nose. Freshish acidity, fruity, rounded, some bitterness. 84-86

2018 Château Magrez Fombrauge blanc

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, spices, some grapefruits nose. Freshish acidity, fruity, rounded, apples and grapefruits, elegant if leaner. 83-85

2018 Château Monbousquet blanc

APR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Citrus, fruity, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, grapefruits, spices, fruity, touch bitter. Good length. 86-88

2018 Château Mont-Pérat

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, some vanilla, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Mont-Pérat blanc

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, fresh nose. Freshish acidity, fruity, rounded, lighter. 85-87

2018 Château Patris Querre

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Some citrus, vanilla, spicy notes nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, some lemons and spices nose, good length. 84-86

2018 Château Penin

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity nose. Blueberries and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, so e spices, liquorice, leane rfinish. 86-88

2018 Château Penin blanc

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Some grapefruits and lemons nose. Freshish acidity, light bodied. 81-83

2018 Château Penin Bordeaux Clairet

MAR 19 Garnet. Red fruity, some violets nose. Fresh acidity, ripe and fruity, some tannins, elegant texture. 83

2018 Château Peyfaures

MAR 19 Ruby. Rich, jammy and alcohol nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, jammy, anise, smooth, boring. 84-86

2018 Château Peyfaures Dame de Coeur

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, jammy, some tea notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, liquorice, good length. 86-88

2018 Château de Pressac Rosé

MAR 19 Watery salmon. Light fruity nose, fresh. Same for palate. 81

2018 Château Puynard The Steps

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, some bitterness, spices, good length. 84-86

2018 Reignac

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, vanilla and spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, juicy, spicy finish, long. 89-91

2018 Reignac Blanc

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Fruity, apples, some grapefruits nose. Freshish acidty, fruity, rounded, elegant texture. 84-86

2018 Château de la Rivière blanc

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Light fruity, minerals, fresh and fairly playful. 83-85

2018 Château Sainte-Barbe

MAR 19 Ruby. Rich, fruity, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits and spices, some liquorice, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Sainte-Marie

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some spices and herbs nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, some herbs and red fruits. Leaner. 84-86

2018 Château Sainte-Marie blanc

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Light fruity nose and palate, some bitterness. 81-83

2018 Château Grand Village

MAR 19 78 M 22 Bouchet. Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, scented nose. Floral, some violets. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, fruity, blueberries, some spices, elegant texture, long. Best yet of this. Even with some warmth in the finish. 90-92

2018 Domaine Virginie

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruity, spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, liquorice, good length. 85-87

2018 Les Perrières de Lafleur (Fronsac)

51 Bouchet 49 CF. the former Acte. Ruby. Scented, blueberries, anise, fresh, detailed, floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, detailed, long. Minerals. 91-93

2018 Les Blanc du Grand Village

75 SB 25 S Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, some grapefruits, some vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, grapefruits, apples, lemons, fairly creamy, good length. 89-91

2018 Les Champs Libres

100SB Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, detailed, intense, fruity, grapefruits, touch of mango nose. Fresh acidity, minerals, playful, detailed, candied lemons, nuanced, layered, long. Some creaminess to it as well. 92-94

Côte de Blaye

2018 Château Haut Bertinerie

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, roudned palate, easy going, good length. 84-86

2018 If des Jonqueyres

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruity, anise, spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, lighter palate, dark fruity. Some herbs. 83-85

2018 Château Les Jonqueyres a l'Infer

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruity, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, good length. 85-87

Côte de Bourg

2018 Château Fougas 

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, some vanilla, good length. 86-88

2018 Roc de Cambes

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, ripe and fruity nose, rich. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, structured, firm, intense, dark berries, spices, long. 92-94

Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux

2018 Château Carignan

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity palate, some structure to it. 85-87

2018 Château Carignan Prima

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, bit high alcohol, or at least it shows, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Clos Chaumont

Ruby. Anise, herbs, leaner  nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner body, herbal, light. Bit bitter finish. 82-84

2018 Château Clos Chaumont blanc

Lemon yellow. Orange blossoms, ripe oranges and lemons nose, lighter. Freshish acidity, fruity, rounded, lighter, orange blossoms finish. 83-85

2018 Château de Haut Coulon

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices and liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, liquorice, good length. 85-87

2018 Château Lafitte

MAR 19 Ruby. Ripe dark fruits, anise, blackberries jam nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits and anise, leaner finish. 85-87

2018 Château Lagarosse

MAR 19 Blueberries, anise, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, spices, good length. 85-87

2018 Château des Mille Anges

Ruby. Anise, herbs, dark fruity nose, spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, elegant, charming. 86-88

2018 Château des Mille Anges blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Light fresh fruity nose, some tropical fruits. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, lively, elegant. 84-86

2018 Château Reaut

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, ripe, fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe dark fruits and gerbs palate. Bit short. 84-86

2018 Château Reaut blanc

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Fruity, apples, grapefruits nose. Freshish acidity, fruity, rounded, fresh. 83-85

2018 Château Reynon

MAR 19 20PV 70M 10 CS Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, elegant texture, slight warmth in the finish. 86-88

2018 Château Reynon blanc

MAR 19 100SB Pale lemon yellow. Apples, pears, light grapefruits note nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, lemons, elegant, playful, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Suau

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, spices, ripe fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, good length. 85-87

Francs Côtes de Bordeaux

2018 Château de Francs Les Cerisiers

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark berries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, dark berries, juicy, good length. 88-90

2018 Château de Francs L'Infini

Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, spices, blueberries nose. Scented, floral high notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, spices, anise, liquorice, long. 89-91

Loupiac

2018 Château Les Roques

MAR 19 Golden. Some dried fruits and tropical notes nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, elegant texture, good length. 86-88

Sainte-Croix-du-Mont

2018 Château du Pavillon

MAR 19 Pale golden. Light apricots and pineapples nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, rounded if light. 84-86