2018 Primeur, Fronsac, Canon-Fronsac and Lalande de Pomerol

New cellar at Château Dalem, picture from October 2018.

If you want value for money, youthful charm and yet wines that can age, while on a limited budget, look no further. Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac has yet again hit the nail on the head this vintage and was saved by limestone and clay soils that kept the water during the months of drought. These communes have really entered into the public eye for those in the know lately as they should. Some of the finest terroir in Bordeaux is in Fronsac and finally the winemakers can get just enough for their wines to do some necessary investments. Some properties have made lovely stuff for decades already, just try La Dauphine, La Rivière or Dalem with age, if you can find them. Just last winter I got 1967 Dalem blind, I thought that minerality was a weaker vintage (as 1967 is) from Château Canon in Saint-Emilion. If I remember correctly I guessed 1973 Canon. Anyways, if you get one of these blind, you will be guessing on something much more expensive.

Lalande de Pomerol has more clay and is flatter, meaning less drainage than Pomerol, and therefore tend to have cooler soils. That makes the wines sometimes a bit lean and green, and austere. Not in 2018. Again, the heat, drought and enough water made for some of the best I’ve ever tasted from the appellation. Alcohol can be an issue here as elsewhere in 2018, so keep an eye out for that if you are sensitive to it. There are absolute bargains to be had from here. For the savvy buyer with enough confidence to not only drink famous labels or appellations. Again my biggest report ever from these appellations with 52 wines tasted.

Fronsac/ Canon Fronsac

2018 Château de Carles

Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, blueberries and spices nose, blackberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, dark fruits, spices, anise, rich but retained, long. 89-91

2018 Château Carlmagnus

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruity, minerals nose, richer. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, blueberries and spices, rich. 89-91

2018 Château Dalem

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, faint minerals note, long finish. 91-93

2018 Château de la Dauphine

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, scented, some anise and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, light liquorice, elegant texture, long. 91-93

2018 Château Fontenil

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, raspberries, elegant texture, lovely balance, long. 91-93

2018 Le Defi de Fontenil

MAR 18 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries nose. Intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, juicy, long. 90-92

2018 Château Francs Magnus

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, richer nose, dark berries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, blueberries, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Gaby

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, good length. Bit of alcohol showing. 88-90

2018 Château Gaby Cuvée

Ruby. Dark fruity, spicy, scented, some herbs nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, detailed, long. 89-91

2017 Haut-Carles

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, floral, scented, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, spices, liquorice, detailed, long. 89-91

2018 Château de la Huste

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose, ripe. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, fruity, some spices, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Moulin Haut-Laroque

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, floral, blackberries and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, liquorice, detailed, long. One of the best I've tasted from here. 90-92

2018 Château Moulin Pey-Labrie

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, lighter nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, lighter, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Plain-Point

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, juicy, dark berries, fresh and fruity, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Plain-Point blanc

Watery lemon yellow. Lightly scented, fresh citrusy nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, lighter, some lemons and spices. Good length. 86-88

2018 Château de La Rivière

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, layered nose, intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, minerals, intense, long. 90-92

2018 Château La Rouselle

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, some spices nose, liquorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, some spices, elegant texture, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Toumalin

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, blackberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, juicy, some spices, liquorice, good length. Bit sweet. 86-88

2018 Château Les Troix Croix

MAR 19 Ruby. Rich, fruity, ripe nose, dense even. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, some liquorice, some alcohol in the back, long. 89-91

2018 Château La Vieille Cure

MAR 19 Ruby. Intense of blueberries, ripe fruits, some floral notes nose. Vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Villars

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some liquorice nose, faintly floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, liquorice, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Vrai Canon Bouché

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose. Minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, juicy, spicy, lovely freshness, WOW. 88-90

2018 Lalande de Pomerol primeur

2018 L'Ambroise

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries, some spices nose, liquorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice, leaner bodied, long. 89-91

2018 L'Ancien

MAR 19 Ruby. Rich, dark fruity nose, spices and anise. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, some alcohol, vanilla. Good length. 87-89

2018 Château Bechereau Cuvée Speciale

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose, floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, coffee, ripe, rich and dense, not the greatest balance. 86-88

2018 Expression de Bechereau

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, some spices, blackberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spicy. Good length. 87-89

2018 Château de Bel-Air

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, floral and scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, detailed, elegant texture, nuanced, long. 90-92

2018 Château Bertineau Saint-Vincent

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, blueberries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, vanilla, spices and blueberries. Bit hollow. 86-88

2018 Château de Chambrun

MAR 18 cassis, blueberries, some spices, liquorice, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, bit jammy and woody, alcohol shows through, good length. 87-89

2018 Château La Chenade

MAR 19 80M 20CF Ruby. Blueberries, anise, fruity, so e spices, floral notes, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, juicy, some spices, lovely texture, long. 90-92

2018 Château Les Cruzelles

MAR 19 80M 20CF Ruby. Anise, cassis, blueberries, some spices nose. Tighter, light herbal note in the back. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, juicy, some spices and long finish. 90-92

2018 Château La Fleur de Boüard

Ruby. Dark fruity, spicy nose, blueberries, floral, nuanced nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, detailed, layered, one impressive Fleur de Boüard even with some alcohol warmth in the finish. 92-94

2018 La Plus de la Fleur de Boüard

Ruby. Rich, dark fruity nose, minerals, lush dark fruits and chocolate. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, blackberries, blueberries, juicy, dense, some red berries, layered and detailed, long. Some alcohol warmth in the finish. 93-95

2018 Le Lion de La Fleur de Boüard

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries and spices nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, juicy, lovely fruit, body and texture. 88-90

2018 Château Garraud

MAR 19 Ruby. Rich, blueberries, anise, some spices nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, rich and dense. 89-91

2018 Château Grand Ormeau

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, blueberries, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, some vanilla and spices, liquorice, bit hard oaked in the finish turning it bitter. 85-89

2018 Château La Graviere

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, juicy. Firmer finish. 87-89

2018 Château Les Hauts Conseillants

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, red berries, spices, some vanilla, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Haut-Surguet Grande Selection

Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, spices, blueberries and spices, alcohol. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, rich, dark berries, sweet, good length. 87-89

2018 Clos l'Hermitage

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, sweet floral notes, bit jammy and vanilla nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, vanilla, jammy fruit, rich. 85-87

2018 Château Jean de Gué

MAR 19 Ruby. Vanilla, spices, liquorice nose, alcohol high notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Moncet

MAR 19 Ruby. Jammy, dark fruity, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, liquorice, long. Quite woody. 89-91

2018 Château Pavillon Beauregard

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, spices, ripe, some coffee notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, rich, dark fruity and spicy, good length, bit lean finish. 87-89

2018 Château Perron La Fleur

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Sergant

Ruby. Cassis, anise, floral, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, juicy, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Siaurac

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise and spices, cassis, good length. 88-90

2018 Plaisir de Siaurac

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, elegant, refreshing, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Tournefeuille

MAR 19 Ruby. Cassis, blueberry jam nose. Dark fruity. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, lighter bodied. 85-87

2018 Château de Viaud

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, juicy, some spices, good length. 88-90

2018 Domaine des Sabines

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose, spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, refreshing, lovely texture. 88-90

2018 La Sergue

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, rich, dense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, leaner finish. 87-89