Primeur 2018 Margaux

Margaux is never homogenic, and 2018 is no different. The two greatest wines ere Château Margaux and Palmer, both in a richer, riper and bigger style with more concentration than probably ever before. One thing is the high IPT levels but the overall weight on the palate is just different. Palmer, Ferriere and Durfort Vivens, all biodynamic estates lost between one two thirds and three fourth of their production this year due to mildew, and unconfirmed Clos du Jaugueyron lost most or even everything. This is a smaller less known estate with lovely biodynamically grown wines. Mildew in 2018 went viral and if you didn’t catch it early enough, could ruin everything. If you grow organically and biodynamically you will have difficulty killing it off efficiently. Brane-Cantenac continues on its pretty stellar as of late track, Durfort Vivens has made one of their greatest to date of what I have tasted from here, Ferrière definitely so, and Issan as well. Other beauties are Rauzan-Ségla and Malescot Saint-Exupery. I only got to taste one sample each of du Tertre and Giscours and those didn’t impress, but as always with primeur, it might have been the samples. Dauzac has also made one of their finest so far.

2018 Château Angludet

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, some scented notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, lively and refreshing, long. 90-92

2018 Château d'Arsac

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, scented, fresh nose, floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, spices, good length. 86-88

2018 L'Aura

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, blueberries and blackberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices. Good length. 87-89

2018 Château Bellevue de Tayac

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Brane-Cantenac 

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, floral, some spices, detailed, elegant, layered and nuanced nose. Truly elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, juicy and refined, lovely balance, long. 94-96

2018 Baron de Brane

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, fruity, spices, scented nose. Floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, anise, long. 89-91

2018 Château Boyd-Cantenac

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, lean bodied. 86-88

2018 Château Cantenac-Brown

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice touch and floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, spices, detailed, layered and nuanced, long. Beautiful Cantenac-Brown. 93-95

2018 Château Le Coteau

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, dark fruity, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Dauzac

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, ripe, somewhat jammy nose, spices and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices and liquorice, long. 90-92

2018 Château Desmirail

MAR 19 Blueberries, anise, some coffee notes nose. Floral? Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, liquorice, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Deyrem Valentin

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose, scented, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, spicy, detailed, bit hard on the wood at this stage but should be able to go round. 88-90

2018 Château Durfort Vivens

MAY 19 70CS 22M 8CF Ruby. Scented, red fruits, raspberries, cassis, floral, nuanced, elegant and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, spices, liquorice, elegant texture, long finish. 10 hl/ha. 94-96

2018 Château La Ferrière

MAY 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, dark fruity, nuanced, lovely nose, detailed, charming. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, touch of spices, juicy, elegant, lovely balance, long. A very charming and lovely wine and probably the best Ferrière to date. Around 30% of normal production. 92-94

2018 Château La Fortune

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, dark fruity notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, some woody and bitter notes in the finish. 86-88

2018 Château Giscours

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice and floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, bit leaner mid palate, fresh and fruity, elegant texture, long narrower finish. 89-91

2018 La Sirene de Giscours

APR 19Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, light bodied, easy going. 86-88

2018 Château Haut-Breton Larigaudiére

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, blackberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, juicy, some spices, good length. 87-89

2018 Château d'Issan

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spice, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, juicy, layered and detailed, long. 95-97

2018 Blason d'Issan

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, blueberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, dark fruity, layered, detailed, long. 89-91

2018 Clos du Jaugueyron Margaux

All or most lost to mildew from what I’ve heard.

2018 Château Kirwan

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, slightly floral nose. Quite tight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, cassis, elegant texture, some structure, long finish. 90-92

2018 Château Labégorce Margaux

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, light floral note, elegant and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, elegant texture, lovely effort from Labégorce. 90-92

2018 Château Lascombes

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, some herbs, blueberries, liquorice and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, fruity, anise, blueberries, liquorice, some spices, long. 91-93

2018 Chevalier de Lascombes

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, vanilla and spices nose, slightly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, bit blunt and hollow. 87-89

2018 Château Malescot Saint-Exupery

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, scented, richer nose, seems dense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, some liquorice, layered and detailed, long. 93-95

2018 Château Margaux

APR 19 Ruby. Scented, floral, blueberries, elegant, detailed, nuanced, lovely scent, dark fruits, layered, such finesse to it. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, spices, liquorice, nuanced and detailed, superb balance, refined, long indeed. A graceful yet dense and powerful Margaux. 99-100

2018 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, cassis, anise, spices, lightly scented, denser nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, detailed, intense and long. 92-94

2018 Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux

APR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, minerals, detailed, grapefruits and lemons nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, lemons, spices, detailed, incredibly focused and long finish. What an effort this vintage! 92-94

2018 Château Marquis d'Alesme

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose, faintly floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, elegant, lovely texture, long. 91-93

2018 Château Marquis de Terme

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, slightly scented note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, elegant texture, long. 91-93

2018 Clos Margalaine

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, spices, dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, long if narrower finish. 90-92

2018 Château Marojallia

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, dark fruity, long. 90-92

2018 Château Marsac Séguineau

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, dark fruity, spicy, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Monbrison

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, liquorice, vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, red fruits, juicy, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Mongravey

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, red fruits freshens things up, vanilla and spices, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Palmer

APR 19 53CS 40M 7PV Ruby. Blueberries, cassis, intense, dense and tight, floral high notes, mint and tobacco leaf. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, dense, tobacco and cigars, detailed, minty, nuanced, layered, nuanced and long. Richer and bigger Palmer, remains velvety. 96-98

2018 Alter Ego

None made. 

2018 Château Paveil de Luze

APR 19 Ruby. Lighter nose, liquorice, spices, faint herbal mote nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, lighter, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Pontac Lynch

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, spices, juicy, detailed, intense and good length. 88-90

2018 Château Prieuré-Lichine

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, somewhat leaner fruit and body, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Rauzan Gassies

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices and liquorice nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, bit hollow, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Rauzan-Ségla

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, scented nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, spices, liquorice, detailed, long. 93-95

2018 Ségla

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark berries, anise, spices and blueberries, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Siran

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose. Lighter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, leaner finish. 88-90

2018 Château Tayac

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruity, spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, anise, liquorice, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Tayac Or Norme

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark berries, spices, richer. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, dark fruity, detailed, good length. 88-90

2018 Château du Tertre

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, juicy, good length. 88-90

2018 Château La Tour de Bessan

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some coffee notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, good length, bit woody. 86-88

2018 Château La Tour de Mons

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, fruity, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, juicy, a lovely Tour de Mons. 87-89