Château Les Grands Chenes, 2018
93pts James Suckling
Ripe blackberry and blackcurrant on the nose with cloves, damp earth and a touch of orange zest. It’s medium-bodied with firm, sleek tannins. Lovely precision and evolution with spice and walnut notes coming out on the finish. Try from 2024.
Château La Tour Carnet, 2018
92pts Wine Advocate
Notes of warm black cherries dark chocolate star anise & garrigue over a core of blackcurrant cordial black raspberries & black tea. Medium to full-bodied with a muscular mid-palate and a refreshing herbal lift on the finish.
Château Pape Clément, 2018
99pts Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc brought up in 60% new French oak, the 2018 Château Pape Clement from Bernard Magrez is a gorgeous wine that's performing even better from bottle than barrel, which is always a good sign. Deep ruby/purple, with stunning crème de cassis and blackberry fruits as well as kaleidoscope-like notes of graphite, scorched earth, smoke, violets, and spring flowers, it offers full-bodied richness yet stays light on its feet, graceful, and almost ethereal on the palate, with integrated acidity and building yet seamless tannin's. The Cabernet Sauvignon really sings at this point, and there's almost a Médoc-like regalness here. Reminding me of a slightly more elegant 2005 (it also has similarities to the 2016), it will benefit from 4-6 years in the cellar and keep for 30+ years.
