Château Bernard Magrez 2018

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Bernard Magrez (from Saint-Estephe) rolls effortlessly out of the glass with notions of plum preserves, baked blackberries and blackcurrant jelly plus wafts of hoisin and cedar chest. The medium to full-bodied palate has a chewy texture and a lively backbone lifting the dried berry and exotic spice flavors on the finish.

A red with very pure blackberry, currant and clove, as well as hints of white pepper. It’s medium-to full-bodied with integrated, refined tannins and a creamy-textured finish. Finely crafted young red. Drink after 2023.

The 2018 Bernard Magrez, formerly “Magrez La Peyre,” comes in an extremely heavy bottle. It has a lush bouquet of black cherries, crème de cassis and violets, very similar to how it came across in barrel. The palate is full-bodied with layers of ripe black cherry and cassis fruit, and plush and sweet with citrus peel/orange zest toward the finish, which is actually more restrained than expected. It just misses some personality. Not a Saint-Estèphe that sticks in the mind.

The sweet, ripe red fruits have a nice polish to them. Round, juicy, and bright, the finish shows good staying power with plenty of fruit and a touch of cocoa in every sip. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Lots of red plums, blackberries, cassis, cedarwood, tobacco, and bouquet garni notes emerge from the 2018 Château Bernard Magrez, which is medium to full-bodied and offers beautiful depth of fruit, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This outstanding Saint-Estèphe will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and drink nicely over the following decade.

Complex bouquet of good intensity, with notes of black berries and graphite. Pleasant, refreshing touch of menthol followed by delicate filigree notes from the élevage. Juicy, moreish character on the palate. The wine is balanced and well supported by its tannins. It deserves a little cellaring to fully blossom on the finish.

The nose is fruity, fresh, racy and offers power, intensity and a lovely bouquet. It reveals notes of red berries, gravel and, more subtly, blackberry, along with small touches of blackcurrant, licorice, flowers (peony, iris), hints of minty licorice, very discreet hints of cola and Sichuan pepper. The palate is fruity, elegant, delicate, very slightly restrained, and offers lovely definition, gourmandise, power and a fine grain. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry, fleshy/juicy raspberry and, more subtly, small fleshy/juicy red berries, combined with fine touches of cherry, floral hints, and discreet hints of toast, chocolate and vanilla. The tannins are finely marked. Very discreet hints of chocolate and almond and a touch of iris linger on the finish.

Logo on the cork: DF