Chateau Croix de Labrie 2018

Château Croix de Labrie 2018

• James Suckling – (95 – 96 pt)

This could be better than the excellent 2015. Very dense palate of currants, dark chocolate and hazelnuts. Full and velvety yet fresh with a firm texture. The center palate is really impressive. 90 per cent merlot, seven per cent cabernet sauvignon and three per cent cabernet franc.

• Wine Advocate – Lisa Perrotti-Brown (92 – 94 pt)

Axelle and Pierre Courdurié’s 50-year-old, 3.79-hectare vineyard consists of a mix of clay and limestone soils, a portion of which are in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes and another portion of which are located at the foot of the Pavie slope in Saint-Émilion. 2018 yields were just 24 hectoliters per hectare after selection. Aging is to occur in 100% new oak barrels for an anticipated 18 months. The blend is 90% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc and the wine has 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black colored, the 2018 Croix de Labrie gives up expressive baked black cherries, warm mulberries and plum preserves with kirsch and raspberry tart sparks plus hints of smoked meats, tar and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has lovely freshness and a chewy texture with bags of bright red and black fruit, finishing with an herbal lift.

This could be better than the excellent 2015. Very dense palate of currants, dark chocolate and hazelnuts. Full and velvety yet fresh with a firm texture. The center palate is really impressive. 90 per cent merlot, seven per cent cabernet sauvignon and three per cent cabernet franc.

• Decanter – Jane Anson (93)

This is a vibrant damson colour, exhibiting extremely polished, dense fruit flavours. The oak is apparent, walking a halfway house between old and new styles of St-Emilion. It’s full of crushed brambly fruits, chocolate and liquorice, with bulky tannins that don’t try to hide their intent. And yet if you sit with this for a while, the quality comes through in its floral notes and a really pretty, striking upward lift through the finish. An ambitious and impressive wine from Axelle and Pierre Courdurie. It is undergoing organic conversion, and in 2018 they tested playing music to the vines during the growing season. Hubert de Bouard consults as of 2018