Château Saint-Pierre 2018

Superb aromatics, spicy, fruity; elegant attack, balanced structure, crisp, polished and fresh tannins, ideal length: balanced and stylish.

On the muscular side, this red offers a robust core of raspberry and blackberry compote flavors flanked by roasted apple wood, backed by a licorice root note on the finish. More chunky than refined overall, but well-packed. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2030. 400 cases made.

This is creamy and rich with impressively well-structured tannins, but you can feel a little heat through the mid-palate that throws things off balance at the finish.

A rather tight, refined red with berry, chocolate and light walnut character. Rather smoky with toasted oak, too. Some seaweed. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink in 2023.

Medium-bodied, with a nice touch of chocolate that accompanies all the sweet, fresh, luscious, silky plums on the nose and palate.

Inky dark core with a bright purple hue. Pure nose, good intensity and ripeness with some truffle, smoke, and plenty of crushed dark berries. The palate is rather ample with good volume, youthful tannin but no hard edges, generous fruit with cocoa flavours. Fresh acidity underneath and fine length, concentrated and youthful. Still needs time to open.

A big, rich, almost chewy wine, the 2018 Château Saint-Pierre (Pomerol) (95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc) offers lots of red and black currant and cherry fruits as well as roasted herbs, cedar, graphite, and mineral-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied on the palate, it has lots of broad tannins, good concentration, and a solid finish. It brings plenty of fruit but certainly lacks the purity and precision found in the top 2018 Pomerol. Give bottles 4-6 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade. If the tannins resolve in a positive way, it should merit an outstanding rating in the future.

Lovely refined tannins, with a fresh, ripe length.

With good intensity, the bouquet of this Saint-Pierre 2018 combines charm and complexity. Inviting notes of blackberry, blackcurrant and licorice wood followed by smoky nuances. On the palate, the wine is ample, with velvety yet powerful tannins. A promising wine with a fruity, persistent finish. It deserves a little cellaring to blossom.

The nose is fruity, offering a touch of concentration, very fine intensity, freshness, and a hint of brightness. It reveals notes of ripe wild blackberry, fleshy/pulpy plum and, more subtly, fleshy strawberry, joined by hints of Morello cherry, nutmeg, cornflower, fine touches of pepper and spices, and a very discreet hint of orange. The palate is fruity, delivering smoothness, freshness, precision, a certain straightness, a sense of opulence/richness, minerality, a fine tangy backbone, and a finely creamy texture. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of pulpy/fleshy raspberry, fresh/fleshy boysenberry, and, more subtly, blue plum, along with hints of ripe strawberry, cornflower, lily, fine touches of Morello cherry, cardamom, blood orange, a subtle hint of vanilla and chocolate, and an imperceptible hint of bergamot. The tannins are finely firm. Lovely persistence. A gourmet indulgence on the finish/persistence.

Logo on the capsule: DF From this vintage onward, young Cabernet Franc grapes are included in the blend. And it changes everything. Dark, intense, youthful colour. Very aromatic nose with ripe fruit. Supple on the attack, fragrant mid-palate, with greater body than previous vintages, the wine develops with a refined mouthfeel. It stretches out, sapid and long on the finish, also fragrant, while retaining the velvety texture. Blend: 86% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc.