2018 Primeur, Médoc, Moulis and Listrac

In Médoc Moulis and Listrac there are some stars this year with denser, richer wines than usual which can be a good thing to balance those sometimes rather rough structures and tannins that doesn’t always have the body and concentration to match. This year there are more meat on the bone. But some are also alcoholic and gone too far for many palates. So read the tasting notes on the wines you are after carefully to check if it is in a style you like. There are wines this year that are the best or among the best ever from the estate. Then it will be up to you if you approve of that style, or not. Some will be a bit untypical. Poujeaux for example is quite rich and dense. On the other side, when I tried a 1928 Poujeaux last year, brought directly from the estates cellar by owner Matthieu Cuvelier, that was also surprisingly dense, rich and big even now. So maybe we have a new 1928 on our hands 90 years after. There will be lots of value in this segment. Another 70 tasting notes.

Médoc

2018 Château d'Argan

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, lighter fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and elegant if lighter. 83-85

2018 Château Beauvillage

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, some liquorice nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, richer, dark fruity, spicy, good length. 85-87

2018 Château Blaignan

Ruby. Anise, dark fruity, blueberries nose. Cassis and lightly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, blueberries and spices, anise, good length. 86-88

2018 Quintessence Château Blaignan

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice nose. Vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, spices, some alcohol, richer, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Prieuré de Blaignan

Ruby. Anise, dark fruity, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, liquorice, detailed, long. Lovely juiciness in this one. 89-91

2018 Château Bournac

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some spices nose. Wood. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, liquorice, good length. 86-88

2018 Château La Branne

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, some vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, dark fruity, spices, good length. 86-88

2018 Château des Brousteras

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, anise nose, liquorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lively, raspberries, fresh and elegant. Lovely! 87-89

2018 Château La Cardonne

MAR 19 Ruby. Scented, blueberries, some anise, fresh fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, elegant texture, good length. 86-88

2018 Château La Chandelliere

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, good length. Bit hollow. 85-87

2018 Château d Escurac

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lean bodied and alcoholic high notes. 84-86

2018 Château La France Delhomme

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity, spices, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, spices, juicy. 87-89

2018 Goulée

APR 19 Ruby. Scented, blueberries, anise, floral, nuanced, denser nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, smooth, elegant, dark fruits, lush, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Les Grands Chênes

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, spicy woody finish. 87-89

2018 Château Greysac

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Grivière

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity body, some structure behind, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Haut Condissas

MAR 19 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, ripe and somewhat jammy nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, jammy, bit short. 84-86

2018 Château Lestruelle

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity nose, spices. Lightly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lighter fruit and body. 85-87

2018 Château Loudenne

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some herbs nose, some spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices and alcohol in the finish. 85-87

2018 Château Lousteauneuf

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, ripe nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, jammy, dark fruity, trying bit hard. 84-86

2018 Château Maison Blanche

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruity nose. Spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, juicy. 86-88

2018 Château Noaillac

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

2018 Château Patache d'Aux

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blackberries, spices nose. Woody. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, structured and firm, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Poitevin

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices nose, lighter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, blueberries. Good length. 86-88

2018 Château Potensac

APR 19 Ruby. Scented, dark fruity, anise, blueberries, liquorice, ripe nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, dark fruity, detailed, long. 90-92

2018 Chapelle de Potensac

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lighter bodied, dark fruits, elegant texture, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Preuillac

MAR 19 Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries,  rounded texture. 86-88

2018 Château Ramafort

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, fruity, scented nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, lighter bodied, good length. 86-88

2018 Château La Ribaud

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

2018 Château Rollan de By

MAR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, some spices, peppery nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, bit hollow mid palate and finish. 85-87

2018 Château La Tour de By

MAR 19 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, some scented notes nose, intense for La Tour de By. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, liquorice, long. 89-91

2018 Château Tour Haut-Caussan

Ruby. Blueberries, ripe, rich and dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, dark fruity, spicy, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Tour Séran

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruits, anise and spices nose, liquorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Tour St Bonnet

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, fruity, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, juicy. 87-89

Moulis

2018 Château Anthonic

APR 19 Ruby. Anise, spices, blueberries, cassis nose. Lighter nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, dark berries, structured, quite firm actually, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Biston-Brilette

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity, minerals, floral nose, quite intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, firmer. 88-90

2018 Château Branas Grand Poujeaux

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose, dark fruity. Fresh acidity, dark fruity, some spices and anise, leaner bodied. Good length. 87-89

2018 Château Brillette

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark berries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruity, spices, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Chasse Spleen

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, scented, layered nose, cassis. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, long finish. 91-93

2018 Château Caroline

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, floral, scented, raspberries nose. Vanilla. Fresh avidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, structured body and finish. 87-89

2018 Château Chemin Royal

Ruby. Blueberries, cassis, dark fruits, scented if a bit lighter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner bodied, red fruity, good length. 85-87

2018 Château Duplessis

Ruby. Spices, blueberries, ripe, rich nose, dark fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, jammy, woody and alcoholic. 84-86

2018 Château Guitignan

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, some herbal notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lighter bodied, cassis and anise, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Lalaudey

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice, some herbs in the far back on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, leaner bodied, good length. 85-87

2018 Château Maucaillou

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice, detailed, some floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, elegant texture even if structured, long. 90-92

2018 Château Mauvesin Barton

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, some spices, ripe nose, some alcohol. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, jammy and dark fruity, some spices, liquorice, good length. Bit hollow. 87-89

2018 Château Moulin a Vent

MAR 19 Ruby. Dark fruity nose, some spices, rich and ripe nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, liquorice, dark berries and spices, rich. 86-88

2018 Château La Mouline

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity and herbal nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Myon de l'Enclos

Ruby. Blueberries, scented, vanilla, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, detailed, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Pomeys

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, slightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Poujeaux

MAR 19 Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, anise, spices, nuanced, scented, faint floral note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, juicy with structure, long. 92-94

Listrac

2018 Château Baudan

Ruby. Scented, lighter nose, dark and red fruity, spicy. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark and red fuity, lighter. 84-86

2018 Château Cap Léon Veyrin

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, lighter bodied, good length. 85-87

2018 Château Capdet

Ruby. Dark fruity, anise, blueberries, spices, ripe, nose, lighter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, dark fruity and herbal, good length. 85-87

2018 Château Clarke

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, some vanilla notes nose. Lightly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, elegant texture, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Donissan

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, blackberries nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, dark fruity, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Ducluzeau

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, liquorice nose, floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, anise, elegant. 87-89

2018 Château L'Ermitage

Ruby, dark fruity, some spices, ripe, detailed, elegant, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, dense and dark fruity, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Fonréaud

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, liquorice, cassis, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, structured, firm finish, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Fourcas-Borie

APR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, cassis, some floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries and spices, juicy, good length. 87-89

2018 Château Fourcas Dupré

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

2018 Château Fourcas Hosten

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, scented notes nose. Elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, spices, detailed, elegant texture even with more structure behind, long. Fourcas Hosten seems to be setting a new pace these days. 90-92

2018 Château Lafon

Ruby. Anise, blueberries, lighter red fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, light bodied, red fruity, anise, spices, herbal. 83-85

2018 Château Lalande

Ruby. Red fruity, anise, spices, blueberries, spices, lighter nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, elegant. 85-87

2018 Château Lestage

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, spices, juicy, long. 89-91

2018 Château Liouner

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruity, spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, spices, lighter, dark fruity. 85-87

2018 Château Mayne Lalande

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark berries, elegantly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, juicy, blueberries and cassis, structured behind, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Reverdi

Ruby. Anise, blueberries, dark fruity, scented, violets nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Saransot-Dupré

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, blueberries and spices, quite juicy, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Vieux Moulin

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruity nose, floral notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, anise, blueberries, juicy, good length. 87-89