The best 2018 Saint Emilion wines are stunning! They are everything fans of the appellation could hope for. The wines are all deeply colored. They are aromatic with a cornucopia of scents ranging from flowers, to red, black and blue fruits, wet earth, crushed rocks, cocoa, truffle and licorice. Even better is the level of concentration experienced in the best wines. And they finish wish, velvety, opulent, sexy textures.
Pierre Olivier Clouet, Technical Director, Chateau Cheval Blanc on 2018 St. Emilion, “Our wines are intense and opulent, perfectly reflecting the DNA of the chateau. What make it special is the balance between density and unctuosity, between freshness and maturity.”
Yes, there are wines that are over done. There are producers that over extracted, or used too much new oak. But overall, 2018 St. Emilion wines are beautiful expressions of their terroir. How did all this happen?
2018 St Emilion was not an easy vintage for producers. The winter was mild, but very wet. Because February was so cold, the bud burst was later than usual, taking place in April. But once spring sprang, the Right Bank experienced the wettest start of the growing season in history. From January to July, 550 mm to 600 mm (21″-24″) of rain pelted the vineyards, soaking most soils.
With all that non-stop water, Stephanie de Bouard, the owner of Chateau Angelus doubted the potential of the vintage at first. “I personally see this vintage as highly challenging which suddenly turned into a glorious one as we had not much hope left. A little like 2000, which started very badly and ended as truly glorious.”
The continuous rain brought about attacks of mildew, striking fast and furious. The 2018 Saint Emilion vintage was saved by the dramatic change in the weather starting in mid summer. While the start of July was wet, by the time late July rolled around, the remainder of the growing season morphed into the hottest, driest, sunniest vintage since 2003!
Almost no rain fell from July to harvest. In fact it remained warm, sunny and dry until the end of the harvest, which allowed growers to pick at their own pace. Juliette Becot Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot owner recalls the harvest:”2018 is the longest harvest in our history. It took 16 days due to picking only half days because of the of the excessive heat at the time. Those half days gave us the opportunity to pick up our berries at a very cool temperature. Some afternoons were between 35/37°!”
The 2018 vintage conditions affected terroirs in different ways according to Nicolas Thienpoint the noted consultant: “We love the expression on our clay and limestone soils. The wines from the clay soils are deeper and fresher, while the limestones delivers more mineral and chalky expressions.”
As I mentioned, the harvest was picture perfect with picking taking place under warm, sunny and dry conditions. Production was down for 2018 St. Emilion by 10-20% for several chateaux. But as you can see from the wine tasting notes below, the quality was up! If you want to read details on the 2018 Bordeaux vintage 2018 Harvest Report
Stephan von Neipperg Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere owner explains the expression of 2018.”In 2018, we find powerful wines with full tannins. But they are never overripe or fat. The wines have good maturity and they are built to age and evolve.”
The following 2018 St. Emilion wines were tasted in non blind conditions in my home office earlier this year. I tasted a record number of Saint Emilion wines. 191 in total! Because there are so many wines in this report, as you can see, 2018 St. Emilion is split into 3 separate articles.
If you want to read tasting notes for other 2018 Bordeaux wines 2018 Complete Guide to All the Best Wines of the Vintage
2018 Saint Emilion Tasting Notes Pt 1
2018 – Adaugusta – Medium-bodied, round, soft, forward red fruits with a light hint of herbs, licorice and cocoa. You can enjoy this on release and over the following 7-10 years. 88 Pts
2018 – Alverne – Espresso, herbs, plums and earthiness carry through from start to finish in this medium-bodied, easy to like and drink, fruit filled wine. 89 Pts
2018 – Angelus – Opaque in color, the perfume, with its wet earth, black cherry, black raspberries, plum liqueur, chocolate, flowers, smoke and licorice is intoxicating. Voluptuous in nature, the cashmere textures that accompany all those unctuous layers of decadently ripe fruit work together in perfect harmony. With time, this could hit triple digits if it continues developing in a positive direction, which I think it will. With the 2018 you have an evolution not a revolution; there is a small shift in style moving to a more refined elegance while retaining all its power. The wine was made from blending 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. With the 2018 vintage, only the oldest Cabernet Franc vines were used in the blend. 99 Pts
2018 – Le Carillon de l’Angélus – Better in bottle than in barrel, this stellar baby version of Angelus hits all the right marks. Lushly textured, rich, ripe, opulent and forward, all the sweet, ripe, plums, cherries, licorice and cocoa feels like pure silk on the palate. Enjoy this while waiting for Chateau Angelus to mature. The wine was made from 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. 93 Pts
2018 – Angelus No 3 – The notes of cigar box, espresso, spicy plums and licorice are your introduction here. Medium-bodied, and already drinking well, the soft, elegant, fruit and cocoa edged finish is charming. This is perfect for ordering in restaurants, as it is fully ready to go. 90 Pts
2018 – Ausone – With a depth of flavor that feels like they managed to pack a magnum into a single bottle, this wine is all about its intensity and incredible sense of minerality and purity. Rich, fabulously concentrated and deep, the seamless finish which surpasses 60 seconds is loaded velvet drenched black, blue and red fruit, spice, smoke, earth, licorice, crushed rocks, stones and oyster shells. The cashmere tannins, and vibrancy is awe inspiring. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, 14.5% ABV. If you have the money, there are few wines at this level of quality produced from any vineyard in the world. 100 Pts
2018 – Chapelle d’Ausone – Fresh, bright, stony, mineral driven black and red fruits with precision, length, purity, lush, soft textures and finish packed with ripe, sweet, plums, cherries, licorice, smoke and espresso. It is difficult to believe that this is their second wine. 94 Pts
2018 – Badette – Deeply colored, with an assertive nose of espresso, licorice, cocoa, black cherry and smoke, the wine is concentrated, full-bodied, ripe, round, opulent and fruity. There is lift, energy and length here on the palate along with loads of sweet, dark fruits, licorice, oak and chocolate in the voluptuous finish. The wine was made from blending 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. 94 Pts
2018 – Balestard La Tonnelle – Medium-bodied, soft, sweet and silky with licorice, spice, espresso and earthy accents. The polished, red fruit and stone finish seals the deal. 92 Pts
2018 – Barde Haut – Dark in color, this sensuous, rich, flamboyant wine shoots from the glass with polished red and black fruits, licorice, espresso, minerality and dark cocoa. Concentrated, opulent and forward, this is one of the best vintages of Barde Haut ever produced! The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. 94 Pts
2018 – Beau Sejour Becot – Deeply colored, the wine is all about its sensuality. Texturally, the wine is silk and velvet with its layers of sweet, luscious plums, cherries, smoke and licorice. Full-bodied with a fabulous depth of flavor, seamless textures, vibrancy and purity of fruit, this is just great. The silky finish coats your mouth with flavor and the essence of pure fruit as it builds and expands. The wine is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.. If I hadn’t tasted the 2019, or heard about the 2020, I would have said this was the finest vintage ever produced at Beau-Sejour Becot. 97 Pts
2018 – Beausejour Duffau Lagarrosse – With all the richness, density and concentration required, you also find endless waves of perfectly ripe, black, blue and dark red fruits, crushed rocks, stone, licorice, smoke, flowers and espresso. Here you find, intensity, purity, minerality, silk and velvety tannins and a seamless, 60 second finish that just won’t quit. The wine blends is 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. Only 1,150 cases were produced. 99 Pts
2018 – Belair-Monange – The wines here continue getting better year after year. And 2018 is no exception. Just the color, with its dark, purple ink hue tells you you’re in for something special. There is incredible intensity of flavor here. The non-stop layers of rocks, stones, black plums, blueberry and black cherry accompanied by flowers, spice box, licorice and chocolate is sublime. But it is the wealth of velvet drenched, silky fruits coating your palate that hits it out of the park! The 60 second seamless finish seals the deal! With time, this will probably hit triple digits. Produced from blending 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, this should age for 2-3 decades or more with little effort. 99 Pts
2018 – Bellefont-Belcier – Elegant, refined, concentrated, silky, fresh and pure, this beautiful wine exudes all the rocks, stones, flowers, licorice, spice, cherries, plums and blackberries you could ask for. The wine provides length, complexity and freshness coupled with the ability to age and evolve. The wine was made from blending 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and is aged in a combination of new and used French oak casks with 10% of the harvest being aged in amphora. 95 Pts
2018 – Bellevue St. Émilion Grand Cru – Chocolate covered cherries galore here. Soft, silky, sexy, opulent and loaded with layers of dark cocoa covered black and red fruits, licorice and smoke. This feels just as good as it tastes. This gem will deliver fabulous drinking for at least 2 decades or more. 95 Pts
2018 – Bellevue-Mondotte – Intensely mineral driven, here you find crushed rock, stone and oceanic influences on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, dense and intense with a wealth of ripe, dark red and black pit fruits, give this full-bodied, intense, concentrated, rich, tannic, youthful wine at least a decade in the cellar before pulling a cork. The wine is made with 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 97 Pts
2018 – Berliquet – Smoke, espresso, licorice, flowers, red pit fruit and crushed rocks pop up easily. The purity of the fruit, silky textures, lift and length allow this beauty to stand out. The wine has volume, depth, complexity and a velvety finish. The wine blends 78% Merlot with 22% Cabernet Franc. 94 Pts
2018 – Boutisse – Opulent, rich, ripe, fruity and just a blast to drink thanks to all the sweet, cherries and plums. There is a good sense of purity in the fruit, length and complexity. This is one of the better values in Saint Emilion today. 93 Pts
2018 – Cadet Bon – Sweet, fresh, ripe and juicy, the licorice, espresso, black cherry filled creamy finish hits the spot. Give it just a bit of time in the cellar before pulling a cork. 91 Pts
2018 – Calicem – Roasted black cherries, plums and blackberries are mixed with a judicious blend of dark chocolate, licorice, espresso and smoke. The wine is full-bodied, concentrated, round, ripe and tannic, so give it at least 5 years or so in the cellar to get the most out of its lush characteristics. The fruit comes from a parcel of 100% old vine Merlot planted in 1961. 93 Pts
2018 – Canon – Wow, that’s what I am talking about! Flowers and crushed rocks galore, with layers of sweet, perfectly ripe, cherries and plums that offers incredible purity. Elegant, silky and sexy, with a seamless finish gracefully coating your palate with endless layers of sensuously textured ripe fruits and cashmere tannins. This is effortless to drink. This will give the triple digit 2015 a run for the money when it matures. The wine blends 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, 14% ABV. 99 Pts
2018 – Croix Canon – Medium bodied, fresh, refined, sweet, soft textured red fruits provide a good entry in the Grand Vin. You can drink this now while waiting for its big brother to age and evolve. 91 Pts
2018 – Canon La Gaffeliere – Aromatically, the blend of truffle, flowers, mint, smoke, red pit fruits, licorice and spice keeps you busy, But the star of the show is all the mineral driven, fresh, lively, silky, refined, waves of roasted, ripe, red fruits and spice. Long, complex, lifted and vibrant, the fruit lingers and expands on your palate from the mid-palate through to the finish. The wine was made from a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 96 Pts
2018 – Cantin – Opulent, lush, rich, licorice, chocolate covered plum and cherry filled wine with ample fruity, flesh and flash. This will be delicious on release and you can enjoy it for about 15 years or so after that. 91 Pts
2018 – Cantin – Opulent, lush, rich, licorice, chocolate covered plum and cherry filled wine with ample fruity, flesh and flash. This will be delicious on release and you can enjoy it for about 15 years or so after that. 91 Pts
2018 – Cap de Mourlin – Smoked plums, espresso and licorice notes on the nose and palate work well here. Medium-bodied with soft, supple, elegant textures and sweet, red fruits which fill in the finish. This will be great right out of the gate. 92 Pts
2018 – Capet-Guillier – Medium-bodied, forward, round and lush, with a touch of oak and green leafy accents that come along with the cherries, licorice and plums. Give it a few years of rest to round things out. 90 Pts
2018 – Carteau – Loads of chocolate covered cherries, plums, and licorice in a soft, medium-bodied, supple textured style that is already quite delicious and easy to drink. 90 Pts
2018 – Chauvin – With a strong floral accent, the wine adds wet earth, licorice and plums to its nuances. Medium-bodied, soft and silky, with sweet, dark red berries and thyme on the palate and in the finish, there is good freshness and complexity found here. 92 Pts
2018 – Cheval Blanc – If awards were given out for sensuality, this gem would take the trophy. Incredibly sexy, with its velvet drenched textures, silky tannins and opulent personality, this wine stands out in a crowd. The nose, with its aromatic display of flowers, plums, cherries, espresso, licorice, dark cocoa and oyster shell is compelling. The seamless finish crosses the 60 second mark with its non-stop display of concentrated, perfectly ripe, dark sweet, red fruits, chocolate, licorice and spice. If you can afford it, this is a wine you should have in your cellar and you’ll want to age this for at least 15 years before popping a bottle. The wine was made using 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV. This wine is a legend in the making. 100 Pts
2018 Le Petit Cheval – Medium-bodied, elegant, floral and silky, this baby Cheval Blanc shows its sweet plum, cherry and licorice character from the get go. Round, plummy, forward and with a nice silk touch on the palate, this offers a lot Cheval character for a fraction of the price. Produced from a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, only 8% of the harvest was placed into the wine this year, so it is going to be difficult to find. 93 Pts
2018 Le Petit Cheval Bordeax Blanc – Bright, fresh, lively yellow citrus, honeysuckle, green apple, lemon peel and a touch of vanilla on the nose and palate works here. The wine is lively, creamy, fresh and leaves you with a blast of fresh, sweet citrus in the finish. The wine blends 74% Sauvignon Blanc with 26% Semillon. 95 Pts
2018 – Clavis Orea – Dark on the nose and palate, the wine is lush, rich, ripe, fruity, fleshy and polished, with a big blast of opulent, sweet fruits on the palate and in the hedonistic finish. Give this a few years of age, allowing it to become an even better wine. 93 Pts
2018 – Clos Badon Thunevin – Medium-bodied, soft, silky and fresh, the red fruits offer sweetness and purity. Medium-bodied, forward and ready to go, this is already delicious. 90 Pts
2018 – Clos de Sarpe – Crushed berries over rocks and stones says it all. Full-bodied, concentrated, dense and intense, the wine expresses a strong mineral component along with its core of ripe, round, rich, deep, gushing dark red fruits .You also encounter floral, thyme and spice overtones along with all crushed rocks in the fruit filled finish. The wine blends 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. This could be the finest vintage produced here yet. Give this 10-12 years in the cellar and it will probably score even higher. 96 Pts
2018 – Clos des Jacobins – Espresso, smoke, plums, licorice and black cherries are easy to find on the nose and palate. The wine is lushly textured, opulent and fresh with sweetness to all the plums and cherries you find in the finish. This is really coming along nicely and will be even better with some age. 93 Pts
2018 – Clos des Prince – Licorice, coffee bean, plums and incense in a medium-bodied, forward, lighter style with a bright, cherry and herb finish. This will be best in its youth. 87 Pts
2018 – Clos Dubreuil – Once past the oaky nose you find ripe, plum, cherry, licorice, chocolate and smoke filled aromatics. On the palate you discover all the ripe, sweet, polished, richly textured, black cherries, licorice and plums you desire. Give it 3-5 years in the cellar and enjoy it with ease for up to 2 decades after that. 93 Pts
2018 – Clos Dubreuil Anna – Forward, early drinking, fruity charmer that is perfect for near term drinking while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. 86 Pts
2018 – Clos Fourtet – Inky in color, the wine is quite floral in nature, which adds to all the beautifully ripe, red and black fruits, spice, dark chocolate, licorice, espresso and crushed rock character. Full-bodied, concentrated and with a serious depth of flavor, the long finish focuses on you its freshness, rich, voluptuous textures and purity. 97 Pts
2018 – Clos Junet – Thyme, smoke, underbrush, espresso and red fruits open the nose of this medium-bodied, soft, juicy, fresh wine, finishing with a jolt of licorice, dark cocoa, black cherry and plum. This is showing better in bottle than in barrel. You can enjoy this on release, or age it for more complexity. 90 Pts
2018 – Clos Les Grandes Versannes – Espresso, smoke, roasted cherries and spicy notes on the nose are in synch with the sweet, bright, crisp, juicy, fruity, medium-bodied palate. You can enjoy this on release. 89 Pts
2018 – Clos Romanile – Deeply colored, the wine expresses its espresso bean, smoke, plum and cherry character with ease. Medium-bodied, round, polished and fruity, the finish comes with oceanic and chocolate touches in the end note. You can give it a bit of time in the cellar to flesh out for more softness and complexity. 90 Pts
2018 – Clos Saint Julien – Definitely on the oaky side. But once you are past the oak, you find a mineral-driven, red berry filled, medium/full-bodied, elegant, spicy, fresh, floral wine that offers a lot of lift and energy. This is going to require at least 7 years or more in the cellar to soften and for the oak to better integrate. The wine was made from an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. 93 Pts
2018 – Clos St. Martin – Sexy, silky, velvety textured ripe, sweet fruits coat your palate. The balance between the weight, depth, layers of voluptuously textured fruits is dead on. Rich, opulent and sensuous, this decadent offering from the plateau of Saint Emilion is going to offer pleasure for at least two decades and probably longer. 97 Pts
2018 – Clos-de-lOratoire – Truffle, flowers, licorice, mint and red fruits are all over the place here. Silky, soft and refined with a salty top note to the tannins that rides along nicely with all the ripe, fresh, red fruits. The wine blends 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. 93 Pts
2018 – Corbin – Elegant, refined, silky and fresh with beautiful purity and symmetry to the fruit. The sweetness in the red pit fruits on the nose, palate and in the finish make a great, lasting impression. The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. As I said in my barrel tastings, this is the finest vintage of Corbin produced yet! 93 Pts
2018 – Cote de Baleau – Medium-bodied, soft, elegant, forward and showing a nice flowery touch in the bouquet, the silky, sweet, cherries and plums come along with licorice and the right touch of chocolate on the nose and palate. Give this just a few years in the cellar and it should offer delicious drinking for at least 10-15 year after that. 91 Pts
2018 – Coudert – Strong notes of incense, espresso, spice, red berries and smoke come through easily on the nose. Opulent, round, sweet and fresh, with layers of silky fruits, if the oak integrates with aging, this will be an even better wine. 91 Pts
2018 – Couspaude – Round, fat, fruity, oaky and smoky, with loads of espresso, licorice, chocolate and black cherries. The wine is forward, leaving you with a solid layer of ripe, sweet, black cherries. 92 Pts
2018 – Couvent des Jacobins – Chocolate covered plums and cherries are all over the place here. The wine is silky, polished, soft and fruity with layers of sweet plums, licorice and crushed stone from start to finish. 92 Pts
2018 – Croix de Labrie – Espresso, plum, smoke, incense, black coffee, black cherry and wet earth notes are on the nose and palate. The wine is rich, ripe, lush, full-bodied, round and fruity. The fruits are ripe, sweet, opulent and fresh with real staying power, silky tannins and freshness. The wine is a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the second vintage for Hubert de Bouard as the consultant for Croix de Labrie. 95 Pts
2018 – Chapelle de Labrie – Lush, soft and silky with a core of cocoa covered cherries, licorice, smoke and espresso, this forward, round, fruit filled wine is already showing well. It is perfect to enjoy over the next few years while waiting for its big brother to develop. 92 Pts
2018 – Dassault – Smoky, with background notes of espresso, licorice and plums on the nose. Supple, lush, round and forward, there is a strong touch of oak in the finish, so give it time to better integrate and show off all its sweet, juicy, dark red fruits. 91 Pts
2018 – Dassault de D – Light, fruity, forward, early drinking, red berry and cocoa oriented charmer that is ready for consumption on release. 84 Pts
2018 – Daugay – Licorice, spice and ripe dark fruits are all over the place here. The wine is sweet, juicy and fresh with a nice touch of crushed rocks, oyster shell and ripe red fruits from start to finish. 90 Pts
2018 – de Candale – Toffee, espresso, plum and cherry tones come up in the nose. Medium-bodied, fresh and bright, with soft, round red pit fruits I the finish. The wine will be just great on release. 90 Pts
2018 – de Ferrand – Elegant soft, fresh and sweet, medium-bodied, silky, red berry focused charmer that is showing much better in bottle than it showed in barrel. You can enjoy this on the young side. 91 Pts
2018 – Destieux – Espresso, smoke, licorice, toast and plums are what you initially notice. Modern in style, with round, fat textures, the wine is lush, shows good fruit and intensity, but it needs time for the oak to better integrate. 90 Pts
2018 – du Parc – Spicy, fresh, soft and sweet red fruits with an olive and espresso character in the finish. 89 Pts
2018 – Faugeres – Dark in color, the wine instantly hits you with licorice, chocolate covered cherries, plums, smoke and espresso. Lush, polished, rich and velvety, there is good density, lift and length here. This wine is forward in style and should be great to enjoy with just a few years of age, if you can keep your hands off it for that long. The wine was made from a blend of 70% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. 93 Pts
2018 – Faurie de Souchard – Showing much better in bottle than it did in barrel, the wine displays its nose of espresso bean, plum, dark cherry, flower and licorice nose as soon as the wine hits your glass. Soft, smooth, round and juicy, the fruit offers a good sense of purity on the palate and in the finish. 92 Pts
2018 – Figeac – Almost at the level of the perfect 2016, this gorgeous wine sports an inky dark hue with a complex aromatic profile of flowers, licorice, herbs, black with red fruits and espresso bean. The wine shows a beautiful sense of purity in the fruit that expresses itself best in its concentrated, velvet textured, sumptuous, silky, sensuous palate. This stunning wine requires at least a decade before it is ready for the start of its prime-time drinking window. The wine was made from a blend of 37% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc. 98 Pts
2018 – Petit-Figeac – Red berries, cigar wrapper, espresso and earthy notes create the perfume. The wine is medium-bodied, sweet, refined elegant and lifted, with a cherry filled, supple textured finish. This is ready to go and is perfect to enjoy while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. 90 Pts
2018 – Fleur Cardinale – Full-bodied, round, lush and polished, this richly textured wine is filled with espresso, dark chocolate, licorice, and dark red fruits. The wine is round, full of flesh and flash with an endless supply of dark chocolate and ripe fruits. The wine is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 94 Pts
2018 – Fleur Cardinale Intuition – The debut vintage for the new, second wine from Fleur Cardinale isr Round, soft and forward with a core of chocolate covered plums and licorice, this is prefect to enjoy today while waiting for its big sister to develop. 90 Pts
2018 – Fombrauge – Smoky, with a strong dose of licorice, espresso, chocolate fudge, black cherry and plum, this is a concentrated, full-bodied, rich, supple textured wine with layers of ripe, juicy, mouth-filling fruits. Give it at least a few years in the cellar for the oak to better integrate. The wine was made from blending 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. 92 Pts
2018 – Fonbel – Appreciably better in bottle than in barrel, the wine offers spicy fruits, flowers and licorice on the nose. The wine has filled out, adding additional layers of silky textured, sweet, fresh red fruits with a light touch of oak in the finish. The wine was made from blending 70% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Carmenere and 7% Petit Verdot. 93 Pts
2018 – Fonplegade – Rich, bright, fresh, stony, and showing a good depth of color, the floral perfume also offers licorice, black plum, black cherry, touches of espresso and crushed stone. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, full-bodied, deep and vibrant, leaving you with a long, elegant finish allowing the purity in the fruit to shine. The wine was made from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Give this beauty about 7 years or so in the cellar and it will really start to shine. 95 Pts
2018 – Fonroque – Finesse styled, this is fresh, soft, sweet, silky and fruity with a medium-bodied, red berry filled core of fruits. This is already disarmingly easy to drink and yet, it should age and evolve quite nicely for at least 12-15 years. 90 Pts
2018 – Franc Bigaroux – Lighter styled, red berry filled wine with an herb and olive character for early drinking pleasure. 84 Pts
2018 – Franc-Lartigue – Soft, juicy, medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant cherries and licorice are perfect for early drinking pleasure. 88 Pts
2018 – Franc-Mayne – Medium-bodied, elegant, soft, fresh and sweet, with a gorgeous sense of purity in the fruits. All that sweet fruit is accompanied by lift, energy, length and a richness that has not been apparent in previous vintages. The finish is all about its silky textures. 92 Pts
2018 – Franc-Pipeau – Plums, cherries, smoke and spice are all wrapped up quite nicely in this supple-textured, medium-bodied, licorice accented, fruity, early drinking charmer. You can enjoy this on release. 88 Pts
2018 – Gourdins – Medium-bodied, soft and fresh with a core of sweet ripe cherries, this will be best enjoyed in its youth for its forward, red cherry profile. 85 Pts
2018 – Gracia – Black and red fruits, espresso bean, licorice and dark cocoa sensations are all over the place. The wine is round, concentrated, rich and lush, with a stone and herbal accent to all the deep, ripe fruits in the finish. Give it 4-5 years in the cellar before pulling a cork. The wine blends 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 94 Pts
2018 – Grand Mayne – This is my favorite vintage of Grand Mayne yet. The wine is rich, lush, round and packed with sweet, ripe, fresh, opulent black cherries, plums and chocolate. The wine has good concentration, a nose of smoke, licorice, roasted, dark red pit fruits and a finish stocked with dusty, chocolate-covered, fresh dark plums. This is so good now. But its best day are a few years away. Start drinking this in 2028 and enjoy it for the next 15 or more years after that. Grand Mayne is not a showy style of wine. It is more like a refined, elegant version of Classic Bordeaux. 94 Pts
2018 – Grand Pontet – Round, lush, soft, forward and fruity, with ample cocoa, licorice, dark cherries, spice and chocolate, this is already nice to drink and will only get better with a few years of aging. 90 Pts
2018 – Grand-Barrail-Lamarzelle – Black cherries, figs and flowers come through perfectly in this medium-bodied, forward, fresh, juicy, earthy wine. Give it a few years to soften and develop more complexity and it should be even better. 88 Pts
2018 – Grand-Corbin – Medium-bodied, elegant, soft, floral and lifted, the red fruits are as sweet as they are silky, finish with licorice, cherries and plums. Give it a few years or so to age and this will be an even better wine. 92 Pts
2018 – Grand-Corbin-Despagne – Medium-bodied, floral, refined, elegant, silky, plummy and with loads of ripe, sweet cherries, the wine is light on its feet, in a good way. With lift and vibrancy, this finesse styled beauty will be better with just a few years of age. 92 Pts
2018 – Grandes Murailles – Medium-bodied, silky, fresh, soft and vibrant, the fruits come along with crushed rock and stone, touches of flowers, licorice, cocoa and espresso. Supple textured with length and complexity, this is already great to taste now and will only get better with a few years of age. Made from 100% old vine Merlot, the wine is being aged in a combination of 65% new, French oak, 20% in amphora and 20% in used oak barrels. 93 Pts
2018 – Grangey – The solid core of earthy fruits, smoke and licorice with forest tones stand out. This is round and ready with a nice touch of crushed stone and red berries in the finish. 90 Pts
2018 – Grangey Les 5 Parcelles – Bright, fresh, lifted red fruits, with good energy are found in this medium-bodied, crisp, spicy, red berry filled wine. Give it a few years to fill out and it could score even higher. 91 Pts
2018 – Guadet – Medium bodied, crisp red fruits, smoke, leafy herbs and olives for early drinking consumption. 88 Pts
For more 2018 Saint Emilion wines, please see 2018 St. Emilion Wine Guide Pt 2 for wines H-L, and the 2018 St. Emilion Wine Guide Pt 3 for wines M-Z.
