Château Villemaurine 2018

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, aged for around 14 months in oak barriques, 75% new, the 2018 Villemaurine sports a deep garnet-purple color and expressive notes of chocolate-covered cherries, ripe blackberries and boysenberries with suggestions of redcurrant jelly, clove oil and lavender, plus a waft of star anise. Weighing in at 15% declared alcohol, the full-bodied palate is nicely balanced with a plush texture and refreshing backbone cutting through the generous black fruits, finishing long and perfumed.

Ripe and solid, with dark plum and blackberry compote notes framed by a hint of roasted apple wood. The grippy, slightly tarry edge to the finish is a touch extracted in feel, but the fruit pushes through. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2024. 2,700 cases made, 500 cases imported.

You can feel the weight of alcohol and the clearly ripe fruits, but there is an attractive sappy feel overall to this wine, with plenty of layers of coffee and dark chocolate that give it a St-Emilion gloss. Enjoyable overall, with bright blueberry fruit and a smooth finish. 75% new oak. Hubert de Boüard is the consultant.

Polished aromas of currants, dried violets, dark chocolate and praline. Hints of cedar and sandalwood, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins. Tight, complex layers of fruit and bitter chocolate with some mineral undertones. Racy and so beautiful. Very fine. Serious. Try from 2025.

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc; 70% new oak. Barrel sample. Black core. Fragrant with fresh dark fruit. Lifted and lightly floral. Nicely dry and stony on the palate, a coolness that is rare in this vintage but a little flat on the finish, making the tannins slightly drying. (JH)

The 2018 Villemaurine is generous and intense on the nose, featuring blackberry, raspberry, tobacco and light violet aromas, and less reserved compared to when I tasted it from barrel. The fleshy palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well-judged acidity and impressive minerality and poise toward the finish. One of the more elegant Saint-Émilion wines you will find. Excellent.

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.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, discreet brightening on the rim. Delicate liquorice, cassis and mint on the nose with a fine touch of noble wood and orange zest in the background. Complex and substantial on the palate, some nougat and cherry, integrated, supporting tannins and pronounced fruit on the finish. Still needs time and has certain ageing potential.

Bright dark purple colour. Ripe nose offering red pepper, blackberry, Kirsch, clove and some oak notes. Youthful texture, dense and concentrated fruit, present tannin, rigid with a long and dense finish. Still needing some time to shed its full potential; drink from 2023.

A wine that seems to fly under the radar, Château Villemaurine nevertheless produces an impressive, classic Saint-Emilion from their estate on the upper plateau. The 2018 Château Villemaurine checks in as 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 75% new French oak. It has a spicy, exotic, already complex bouquet of red and black fruits, sandalwood, dried flowers, and a touch of incense. This carries to a medium- to full-bodied, elegant Saint-Emilion with a terrific floral character, ripe yet present tannins, solid overall balance, and a great finish. It's as good, if not better than both the 2015 and 2016.

Purple with ruby highlights. Playful red-berry bouquet with fresh morello cherry juice, a bouquet of violets, and lingonberry jelly. On the dense palate, creamy in texture, with a tightly knit tannic frame, fine-grained extract, and a well-toned body. The concentrated finish shows red currant drops and rosehip jam, supported by a delicate astringency. Impressively confirms the strong en primeur showing.

Kunz barrel sample 19: (80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc) Medium, silky, refined bouquet, blackberries, cherries, chocolate. Light, finely structured palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, good aromatics, elegant structure, slightly bitter finish.

Fruity, velvety bouquet, blackberries, cherries, liquorice, tobacco. Fruity, full palate with sweet fruit, firm tannins, a bourgeois structure, powerful, spicy aromatics, long, full finish. 17/20 2024 - 2040

The 2018 Villemaurine has a deep garnet-purple color. It delivers notes of black raspberries, kirsch, and warm plums, plus suggestions of dried herbs and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm and chewy, with just enough savory-laced fruit and a spicy lift on the finish.

Great textural finesse and a racy, slender depth—this is a truly great Villemaurine, fully worthy of its exceptional limestone terroir.

Highly oaky and clinging to its bacon-like note, the nose seems to be battling to shake off a slightly heavy extraction. Quite rightly, the palate brings the wine back into balance: the chew is juicy, the tannins are well judged, and the finish is more powdery. The nose–palate rivalry does nothing to detract from the pleasure of tasting this vintage.

A highly attractive nose of red and black forest fruits, with herbal and saline notes. The palate is concentrated just as it should be, with hints of pine grove, chocolate, and almost hazelnut, all in harmony and vibrant, with supple, integrated tannins. A long, very well-controlled finish, above all saline and mouthwatering.

This estate, situated just on the edge of the city of Saint-Emilion, has produced a big, juicy wine. Soft tannins and superripe black fruits suggest it will develop well over the medium term. This is a rich wine, ready to drink from 2024.