Primeur 2018 Saint-Julien

Saint-Julien delivered elegant wines this year in a bit tighter and at some estates, a bit bigger fashion than usual. Some are a bit riper and more fruit forward than you would expect, lacking a bit of the lovely floral and scented notes that the 2016’s had in abundance. These wines are very good indeed, even excellent, but they may not give you the real fuzz, as they should do. At least not just yet. Looking over my tasting notes I would have expected a point or two more from most of these in a truly exceptional vintage for the commune.  

2018 Château Beychevelle 

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, cassis, some vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, juicy, some spices, elegant texture, long. 93-95

2018 Château Branaire-Ducru

MAR 19 Ruby. Some herbs, blueberries, anise and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, red fruity, some herbs and paprika, structured, long finish. 90-92

2018 Château La Bridane

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark berries, leaner bodied. 87-89

2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

APR 19 85CS 15M Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruity nose, spices, ripe and rich nose, dense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, alcohol, dark fruity, ripe, rich, dense, spicy, warm finish. Muscular. 95-97

2018 La Croix de Beaucaillou

APR 19 Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, liquorice, detailed, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice detailed, long. Alcohol warmth in the finish. 92-94

2018 Château du Glana

MAR 19 Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some spices, blueberries nose, dark fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, liquorice, detailed, elegant and long. Lovely Glana. 91-93

2018 Château Gloria

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, scented, anise, floral, some cassis notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, elegant, long. 91-93

2018 Château Gruaud Larose

MAR 19 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, anise, spices, detailed, elegant texture, floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, liquorice, elegant texture, structure behind, long finish. 93-95

2018 Château Lagrange

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, long if somewhat narrower finish. 90-92

2018 Fiefs de Lagrange

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose, dark berries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, fruity, smoother texture, fairly playful, elegant, long. 89-91

2018 Château Lalande-Borie

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, scented and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, juicy with structure behind. 89-91

2018 Château Langoa Barton

MAR 19 Ruby. Ruby, blueberries, anise, some spices, cassis, scented, layered nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, layered, long. 91-93

2018 Château Léoville Barton

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Lightly scented and floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, some cassis notes, long. 92-94

2018 Château Léoville Las Cases

APR 19 Ruby. Anise, spices, blueberries, detailed, cassis, layered, minerals beneath, yet tight and firm at this stage. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, spices, layered, nuanced, dark fruits, vanilla, spices, juicy, firm, incredible density yet playfulness, long indeed. 97-99

2018 Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases

APR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, ripe, denser nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, some spices, detailed, juicy, long. Lovely playfulness to it. 92-94

2018 Clos du Marquis

APR 19 Ruby. Scented, denser, dark fruity, blueberries, spices, deeper Clos du Marquis somehow. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, detailed, layered, intense, spicy, dark berries, one detailed and dense and complex Clos du Marquis. A bit warm as well. 93-95

2018 Château Moulin de la Rose

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, light bodied. 84-86

2018 Château Saint-Pierre

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice and light floral note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, detailed, structured, long. 91-93

2018 Château Talbot

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, floral, scented, elegant nose, refined. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, detailed, firmer finish, long. 92-94