88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
96pts Jeb Dunnuck
Checking in as a mix of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 50% new oak, the 2018 Château Chauvin is a rich, powerful wine that clearly ranks with the finest wines from this address in the past decade or so. A dense purple hue is followed by awesome black raspberry and spiced cherry fruits as well as notes of chocolate, dried herbs, sandalwood, and tobacco. With full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, and ripe yet certainly present tannins, it has some up-front appeal given its beautiful fruit and texture, yet it deserves 4-6 years in the cellar and will be a 20- to 25-year wine. Bravo!
93pts Decanter
This is gorgeous, plump fruit, beautifully controlled in feel, elegant and silky but gourmet and easy to love. This is a great wine and one of the best Chauvins I've tasted young. Underlines that for me 2018 is a great vintage in St Emilion, certainly for medium-term drinking, but I would feel pretty confident this will go the long haul, and it has seriously improved over ageing to this point.
92pts James Suckling
Blackberries and cherries, violets, herbs and some ash character to this full-bodied St.-Emilion. Savory, chewy texture with tight tannins and a medium finish. Try after 2024.
90pts Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Chauvin rolls effortlessly out of the glass with notions of spiced black plums, blackberry preserves and mulberries with hints of clove oil and incense. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of juicy black fruit flavors with a soft texture and just enough freshness, finishing spicy.
History
The vineyard is located to the north-east of Saint-Emilion, near Pomerol, half-way between Cheval-Blanc and La Cote Roi. The 37 acres are planted with 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernent Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The soil of the estate is sandy while the subsoil is characterised by the presence of clay and iron.
We have been in partnership with BIOVITIS since 1994. Half of the vineyard is ploughed mechanically, while the other half is cultivated with grass-cover between the rows. Green harvesting is carried out throughout the vegetation cycle, to bring yields to 35 to 40 Hl/Ha.
At Chauvin the wine is made in the traditional way, while also making the most of what modernity has to offer: nothing is done systematically and each year every effort is focused on adapting the techniques to the qualities of that year's grapes.
