With 2018 Saint Emilion, as you may have noticed, our coverage of the appellation has truly expanded. In total, we have wine tasting notes for 191 unique wines! Without a doubt, that sets a record for us. With that many 2018 St. Emilion wines we split our coverage into 3 separate articles. Information on the vintage and harvest, as well as producer quotes on 2018 Saint Emilion are in part 1. Part 2 and 3 are devoted only to tasting notes.
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 3
2018 – MagrezFombrauge – Concentrated, full-bodied, lush, deep, long and rich, there is a lot going on here from all the crushed stone, smoke, licorice, espresso, perfectly ripe, black raspberries, plums and cherries. Long and dense, with lush, polished tannins and palate coating layers of fruit, this is going to need a decade to develop before it really starts showing its best. The wine was made from a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Only 250 cases were produced so if you find a bottle and this is your thing, grab it. 95 Pts
2018 – Mangot – Rich, plush and polished, with silky tannins, layers of chocolate covered cherries, licorice and earth on the nose and palate. There is good concentration of flavor along with freshness in the lengthy, silky finish. The wine is aged in a combination of new, French oak and clay amphora. 93 Pts
2018 – Mangot Todeschini Distique 11 – With a new name, note the Distique 11 on the label, the dark colored wine hits you with layers of velvet textured dark red, black and blue fruit. Full-bodied, concentrated and with layers of black cherries, licorice, chocolate and plums, the wine hits all the right notes on your palate. This should age for 2-3 decades with ease. This is clearly a new level for the winery. Give this a few years in the cellar before popping a cork. 94 Pts
2018 – Martinet – A dab of spice, hint of espresso and loads of ripe, fresh, sweet, juicy cherries on the nose and palate are found here. The wine, with its soft textures and forward approach makes it perfect for early drinking pleasure. 89 Pts
2018 – Monbousquet – Round, full-bodied, ripe and fruity, the wine is fleshy, chewy, round and concentrated. Oaky at the moment, with coaxing you also find blackberries, plums, cherries, fennel and espresso on the nose, palate and finish. It will take time for the oak to become fully integrated into the wine even though the percentage of new oak has dropped to 50%, placing the fruit center stage. 93 Pts
2018 – Mondou – Opulent, silky, lush and fresh, the wine offers rich textures and layers of ripe, polished, sweet fruits. This is a new wine that comes from vines planted close to Chateau Monbousquet. I look forward to tasting subsequent vintages as the 2019 was equally successful. 93 Pts
2018 – Monlot – Dark cherries and licorice permeate the wines aromatics. On the palate, here you find silky textured, sweet, lush, ripe red fruits with freshness, energy and soft, polished tannins. Give it a few years in the cellar and it will be even better. 92 Pts
2018 – Monlot Heritage – Medium-bodied, fresh, sweet, forward, with an open cherry and red plum core of fruits and soft textures that is ready for current consumption. 86 Pts
2018 – Montlabert – Plush and polished with soft, sweet, juicy, ripe, plums, licorice, cocoa and espresso on the nose and palate, the medium-bodied finish delivers lots of ripe cherry, chicory and espresso notes in the finish. 90 Pts
2018 – Montlisse – Blackberries, cherries, flowers, herbs and espresso form the core of this medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, sweet, supple and silky wine. This is already showing well now and will only get better with a bit of age. 91 Pts
2018 – Moulin du Cadet – Espresso, smoke, licorice, dark chocolate and plum liqueur jump right from the glass. Opulent, luscious and hedonistic, the wine is concentrated, full-bodied, generous, long and palate filling. This hedonistic gem hits all the right notes. This is ready to go. 93 Pts
2018 – Moulin Saint Georges – Flowers, herbs, spice, smoke, licorice and ripe red pit fruits are all over the place. Medium-bodied, soft and silky, with freshness, length and purity. Made from a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 92 Pts
2018 – Moulin-Galhaud – Soft, polished, silky red fruits, oak, licorice, spice and cherries are all over the place. I like this wine, but the oak is still present, so the wine requires a few years of age before it you pull the cork. 90 Pts
2018 – Paradis – Smoke and espresso, along with licorice, bitter chocolate, black cherries and flowers permeate the perfume. Soft and silky, with sweetness and creamy characteristics to the red fruits, this is quite nice now and with a few years in the cellar will be even better. 92 Pts
2018 – Pas de l’Ane – Medium-bodied, forward and stony with a sweet and tart red fruit character, give it a few years in the bottle before pulling a cork. 88 Pts
2018 – Patris Querre – The licorice and ripe, sweet, dark, smoky red fruits are already showing quite well here. Forward, medium-bodied, round, plush, the wine finishes with sweet, ripe red berries. This is one of the best efforts from Patris Querre yet and will be fine to drink on release. 88 Pts
2018 – Pavie – Black ink in color, this could be the most intense wine of the vintage. The intensity is in the color, the palate and in the nose with its licorice, smoke, espresso, crushed rocks, stones, black, red and blue fruit profile. With the weight of dry Port, the wine manages to remain in balance. The fruits are perfectly ripe, expressing purity, length and an incredible depth of flavor and minerality that never wants to quit. There is so much going on here, the wine demands over a decade in the cellar before it begins to unfurl. The wine blends 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. 99 Pts
2018 – Aromes de Pavie – Black and red fruits with loads of licorice, dark cocoa, plum, espresso and spice box notes are quick to surface on the nose and palate. Lush, round, forward and fruity, the wine focuses on its freshness, layers of sweet berries and dark cocoa oriented finish. 92 Pts
2018 – Pavie Decesse – Powerful, full-bodied, deep and concentrated, the display of espresso, black and blue fruit, smoke and licorice on the nose and palate comes along with a gorgeous salty minerality which adds complexity. The wine is tannic, firm, fresh and focused. This will require time to come around, so be prepared to wait at least 7 or more years before everything comes alive. The wine is made from blending 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. 96 Pts
2018 – Pavie Macquin – The knockout nose, with all its sensations of cherry, plum liqueur, smoke, licorice, kirsch, flowers and boysenberry is all you need to know this is great wine. On the palate, the wine meshes silk and velvet textured fruits with minerality seamlessly. Long, intense, expansive, stony and character driven, this is going to offer sublime tasting experiences if you can wait for at least 7 years before pulling a cork. The wine blends 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. 97 Pts
2018 – Peby Faugeres – Incredibly dark in color, the wine is full-bodied, rich, deep, sensuous and velvety. On the palate, the wine is packed with ripe, black and dark red pit fruits, licorice, chocolate, espresso and spice. Long, mouth-filling and supple, with a velvety finish, give this at least 5-7 years in the cellar before popping the cork. 97 Pts
2018 – Petit Faurie deSoutard – With a strong floral essence that meshes perfectly with all the sweet, ripe, juicy cherries. The wine is soft, silky, elegant and a nice touch of minerality. There is freshness, rocks and stones mixed in with all the ripe red fruits in the finish. The wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 92 Pts
2018 – Petit Gravet Aine – Espresso, spice, smoke, flowers, plums and cherry aromatics pop from the glass. The palate shows off its silky, fresh, elegant, juicy, sweet, stony core of fruits with little effort. The stony edge gives a fabulous sense of minerality to the wine on the nose, palate and finish. The wine was made from 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. 93 Pts
2018 – Peymouton – Raspberries, cherries and earthy nuances on the nose lead to a medium-bodied, fresh, red berry and herb wine with soft tannins and a savory, sweet, kirsch filled finish. This will show well on the young side. 88 Pts
2018 – Pierre 1er – Still showing some of the oak from its time spent in the barrel, the medium-bodied, fresh and lively wine, with its vibrant core of red fruits and soft tannins will be better if you wait 2-3 years from now before opening a bottle. 89 Pts
2018 – Poesia – Inky in color, the wine is deep, rich, lusciously textured and packs ample amounts of silky, opulent, fresh, ripe, red fruits, anise, coffee bean, smoke and cocoa. Long and with great intensity, this is hitting all the right notes. Give it a few years in the cellar and it promises to be even better. 95 Pts
2018 – Pontet Labrie – Medium-bodied, soft, approachable, forward, silky and sweet, this has loads of charm from start to finish. Chateau Pontet Labrie is a small production wine of only 300 cases from Jonathan Maltus that is made exclusively for the British merchant Honest Grapes. 90 Pts
2018 – Pressac – Floral and spicy, with a dash of spearmint, licorice, black cherries and smoke on the nose. The wine is elegant, fresh, medium/full-bodied, soft and silky, with an inviting finish of sweet, ripe, plums, cherry and black raspberry. One of the few Bordeaux wines using all five allowable grape varieties, blending 74% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Carmenere and 1% Malbec. 94 Pts
2018 – Tour de Pressac – Medium-bodied, fruity and fresh, with soft, earthy sweet red cherries, plum and licorice in its core. This is perfect for early drinking pleasure. 87 Pts
2018 – Quinault LEnclos – Much better in bottle than in barrel, the wine has filled out, gaining complexity and texture. Now you find a rich, luxurious, licorice, black cherry, smoke, spice and floral oriented wine. Medium-bodied with velvety tannins, give it a few more years in the cellar and it should really start rocking! The wine is a blend of 71.5% Merlot, 14.5% Cabernet Franc and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon. 92 Pts
2018 – Quintus – Flowers, spice, licorice and ripe, red fruits are all over the place. The wine somehow manages to balance elegance with high alcohol as this does perfectly. Sweet, long and intense, with a beautiful purity to all the red fruits, the finish lingers, expands and frankly, just feels great on your palate. The wine was made using 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, 15.2 ABV. 95 Pts
2018 – Quintus Le Dragon de Quintus – Fresh, sweet, silky, and filled with elegant, sweet plum and cherry filled charm, the wine is medium bodied, forward, refined and perfect for near term drinking, while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. 90 Pts
2018 – Ripeau – Deep in color with an equal depth in its fruit, the wine starts off with spice box, espresso, licorice, incense and dark red berries. Opulent, rich, sweet and juicy, with layers of licorice, ripe, cherries and plums, the wine is silky, plush and polished with a gorgeous sweetness and decadent texture in the finish. This should age quite nicely. 94 Pts
2018 – Rochebelle – Medium-bodied, soft, earthy, plummy and fresh, the wine has developed quite nicely during its time in the barrel. I like the touch of spice and sweetness with all the soft, ripe, fruits in the finish. You can drink this on release, or with just a bit of aging. 90 Pts
2018 – Rocheyron – Dark in color, this sexy wine gets you going with all its opulent, velvet drenched, full-bodied, rich, concentrated spicy, black and red fruits. This has fabulous intensity, length, purity, character and sensuous textures. This is a hedonistic treat indeed! This will offer fabulous drinking for 2-3 decades with little effort. 97 Pts
2018 – Rol Valentin – Fresh, soft, elegant, refined, medium-bodied and with loads of ripe, red fruits, dark cherries, flowers, earth and coffee bean on the nose, palate and silky finish. This is probably best in its first 12-15 years of life. 92 Pts
2018 – Rolland-Maillet – Supple, silky, fresh and lush, the wine fills out nicely on your palate with all its layers of sweet, plums, black cherry, licorice and cocoa on the palate and in the finish. This is already quite nice to taste, and it is only going to get better from here. 91 Pts
2018 – Roylland – Medium-bodied, soft, silky, fresh and with a judicious touch of oak along with sweet, ripe plums and crushed rocks, give this just a few years to round out and it could be even better if the oak further integrates. 88 Pts
2018 – Saintayme – Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh and floral, with brightness and lift to the sweet red pit fruits on the nose and palate. The red fruits carry through to the finish with tobacco leaf and spice tones. The wine is always made from 100% Merlot. Give it a few years of age and it will be even better. 91 Pts
2018 – Saint-Georges-Cote-Pavie – Medium-bodied, soft, fresh and with a core of ripe, sweet red berries and leafy herbs on the nose and palate. You can drink this on release or age it a bit for more complexity. 90 Pts
2018 – Sanctus – Elegant, soft, sweet and fresh, the wine is medium-bodied, and loaded with spicy fruits, licorice, coffee and cocoa. There is good energy and fruit in the finish. Give it a few years in the cellar to allow it to all come together. 93 Pts
2018 – Sansonnet – The showy nose, with its licorice, smoke, flowers and wild cherries gets your attention. Dark, almost opaque in color, the wine is opulent, lush and velvety. Full-bodied, ripe, rich and with density, length and purity, this is just great. And it is still priced quite fairly too! The wine blends 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. 95 Pts
2018 – Simard – Earthy black raspberries and wet forest notes mingle perfectly with all the silky, fresh, sweet, ripe fruits. Medium-bodied, with a soft, inviting, fruit and earth finish, this will be even better with a year or two of cellaring. The wine is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 91 Pts
2018 Sol Beni – Spicy oak, espresso beans, leafy herbs, flowers and cherries in the nose. Full-bodied, robust, alcoholic, riper style of wine with a touch of heat in the espresso and cherry finish. 88 Pts
2018 Sol Beni Coup du Chapeau – Packaged in a large, oversized bottle, the wine is big, rich, powerful, full-bodied and shows off its dark, cocoa-covered, very ripe, black cherries and espresso easily on the nose and mouth. 90 Pts
2018 – Soutard – Showing much better in bottle than in barrel, the wine is medium/full-bodied, soft, silky, elegant and fresh. The fruit is sweet, pure, refined, long and lifted, with good length and vibrancy in the finish. The wine is a blend of 61% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Malbec. 93 Pts
2018 – SoutardCadet – Deep and dark in color, the lusciously textured fruit is equally dark as well. Here you find richness, opulent textures, ripe, sweet fruits, licorice and chocolate galore, with a finish that really sticks with you. The wine was made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. 94 Pts
2018 – Soutard-Petit – Light, fresh, early drinking, soft, red plum and cherry filled wine made for easy, uncomplicated, near-term consumption. 85 Pts
2018 – Tauzinat L’Hermitage – Silky, soft, round, and approachable, the wine is medium-bodied, with a forward approach to all the juicy, plummy fruits. It is better in bottle than in barrel. You can enjoy this young, or over the next decade. 88 Pts
2018 – Tertre Roteboeuf – Intense aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, plum liqueur, fig, Kahlua, smoke, licorice and cocoa grab and keep your attention. Full-bodied, luscious, rich, intense and seductive, the fruit coats and seduces your palate with layers of silky, velvet drenched fruit that goes on and on and on.vThe wine is made from blending 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc, reaching 15% ABV. Yes, those numbers are high but the wine is not hot or jammy. 97 Pts
2018 – Teyssier – Flowers, licorice, tobacco and sweet cherries are on the nose and palate, where you also find a dash of chocolate in the finish. Soft and silky, this will drink well on release and for at least 12-15 more years. The wine was produced from blending 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. 90 Pts
2018 – Tour Baladoz – Dark in color, the nose with its smoke, oak and ripe plums is easy to find. Medium-bodied, round and already open, this forward styled, easy drinking fruity wine is ready for consumption. 88 Pts
2018 – Tour Saint Christophe – The color of dark ink with purple accents, the wine explodes from the glass with fresh brewed espresso, black cherry, licorice, smoke, menthol and chocolate. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, rich, supple and vibrant. The fruit balances power with elegance, sweetness and purity. The finish is all about the non-stop layers of fruit. The wine is made from blending 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. This is a contender for the finest vintage or Tour Saint Christophe and should age with ease for at least 20-25 years. 96 Pts
2018 – Trianon – Forward in style, you find mint, cherries, espresso and plums. Soft, approachable, easy to drink with its gentle tannins and ripe plum finish. You can drink this on the young side. 90 Pts
2018 – Trimoulet – Medium-bodied, fresh, fruity, soft, round and vibrant, the wine is already a pleasure to drink with its earthy, plummy, structured character. 90 Pts
2018 – Troplong Mondot – Concentrated, full-bodied, deep and opulently textured, there is a beautiful sense of elegance and balance here. There is richness, power but also symmetry. The purity in the fruit, along with its freshness stand out as one of the keynotes of its character. This should age and evolve for 3 decades, and be drinking perfectly after a decade of aging. The wine was produced from a blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. 97 Pts
2018 – Trotte Vieille – 2018 marks the year Trottte Vieille really upped their game. From the initial floral centric notes on the nose, you move to the palate with its velvety textured, multiple layers of sweet, lush, pure, silky red fruits, touch of oak, herbs and licorice and a sensuous finish. This is just great in every way. Much better in bottle than in barrel, this is going to offer fabulous drinking for 2-3 decades with ease. I am certain this is the finest wine ever produced from Chateau Trotte Vieille. The wine was made from blending 54% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% ABV. 97 Pts
2018 – Valandraud – Inky dark in hue, the wine opens with a flamboyant perfume of licorice, barbecue smoke, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, espresso and plum liqueur. On the palate, the wine is as rich as the color. Multi-layered, opulent, showy and intense, the wine gracefully coats your palate with waves of perfectly ripe, velvety textured, sweet dark fruits. 2018 is one of the best vintages of Valandraud produced yet. If you follow their wines, you know that is really saying something! This will age gracefully for at least 2-3 decades with ease. 97 Pts
2018 – Virginie de Valandraud – Smoky with licorice and espresso overtones to go along with all the ripe fruit, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky, fresh and will be perfect to enjoy while waiting for the Grand Vin to mature. You can drink this young and over its first decade or so of life. 91 Pts
2018 – Vieux Chantecaille – Medium-bodied, soft, forward wine with a strong dose of herbs that come along with the cherries. cocoa and espresso in the finish. 87 Pts
2018 – Vieux Chateau Mazerat – Showing much better in bottle than it did while in barrel, the wine is dark in color. On the nose you find spicy aromas meshed with roasted dark plums, peppery herbs, flowers, rocks and stones. On the palate, the wine shows off its layers of lush, mineral driven, dark pit fruits, oyster shell, spice, espresso and cocoa on the mid-palate and in the long finish. This is going to get even better with 8 years or so of aging. The wine is a blend of 65% Merlot with 35% Cabernet Franc. 96 Pts
2018 – Villemaurine – Espresso, licorice, smoke and toast aromas come along with juicy, earthy, dark red fruits and licorice. Lush, opulent, silky and fresh, the fruit lingers, which is a good thing as the berries are perfectly ripe, showing nice purity and length. 94 Pts
2018 – YonFigeac – Herbs, olives, forest leaf and red berries are fond on the nose and on the palate of this early drinking, medium-bodied, his soft, early maturing, medium-bodied, lighter-styled red wine. This will be best in its youth. 86 Pts
For more 2018 Saint Emilion wines, please see 2018 St. Emilion Wine Guide Pt 1 for wines A-G, or the 2018 St. Emilion Wine Guide Pt 2 for wines H-L.
