2018 Pessac-Léognan in bottle

 Pessac-Léognan

2018 Château d’Alix

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner bodied, anise, spices, good length. Some alcohol warmth. 86

2018 Château d’Alix blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Light nose of pears, peach and ripe lemons, delicate vanilla note. Fresh acidity, soft palate, gentle, elegant, some texture, good length. 87

2018 Château Bardins

Ruby. Jammy plums and blackberries nose and palate, sweet, lacks lift, flat and jammy. 84

2018 Château Bouscaut 

Ruby. Dark fruity, blueberries and spices, lush nose, somewhat floral note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, spices, lush, fruit driven, but actually there is some mineral notes going on beneath. Ripe and sweet, but not dense and big, even if a bit of alcohol warmth in the finish. Long. 93

2018 Château Bouscaut blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Fruit driven, some lemons, minerals, peach, some spices, faintly smoky nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples, lemons, some bitter notes, detailed, long. 89

2018 Château Brown

Ruby. Has the herbs and jamminess of some wines this vintage on both nose and palate, high alcohol. 87

2018 Château Brown blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Grilled citrus and vanilla nose and palate, lacks a bit of lift. 86

2018 Château Cantelys

Ruby. Rich, blackberries, borderline jammy nose. Medium acidity, rich, fruit driven, some spices, good length. 88

2018 Château Cantelys blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Fruit driven, peach and grilled lemons nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, fruit driven, good length. 88

2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Ruby. Intense, blackberries, spices, nuanced, violets, bright and detailed nose, layered and deep. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, superb texture, nuanced, detailed, bright and layered, superb balance, incredible depth. A superb effort and so much brighter than many in the vintage. 98

2018 Domaine de Chevalier

Ruby. A richer Domaine de Chevalier, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, lovely depth! Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, well hidden alcohol warmth, detailed and nuanced, long. This has a new richness and depth. And is probably the greatest vintage since the twins 1928 and 1929 from Domaine de Chevalier. 96

2018 L’Esprit de Chevalier rouge

Ruby. Blackberries and blueberries, fruit driven nose, spices and some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries and spices, fruit driven, a serious L’Esprit, long. 90

2018 Domaine de Chevalier blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Peach, fruit driven, apples, grapefruits and grilled lemons nose, some vanilla and faintly smoky nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, fruit driven, intense, creamy, peach and grapefruits, long finish. Some will miss a more energetic Domaine de Chevalier blanc, but they have the 2017 to go to! 94

2018 L’Esprit de Chevalier blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, citrus, fruit driven, grapefruits nose. Fresh acidity, grapefruits, nuanced, somewhat creamy, minerals, long finish. 91

2018 Clos Marsalette

Ruby. Sweet dark fruits, liquorice and blueberries with vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, rounded body, ripe tannins, fruit driven, long finish. 91

2018 Clos Marsalette blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Grapefruits, lemons, some light smokiness nose, pears. Fresh acidity, fruit driven, rounded, some bitterness, grapefruits, good length. 89

2018 Château Couhins blanc

Pale straw yellow. Pears, peach, candied lemons, vanilla, some minerals nose. Fresh acidity, intense, fruit driven, rich and deep, creamy and rounded, alcohol on the high side, long. 92

2018 Château d’Eyrans

Ruby. Blackberries, fruit driven, vanilla and coffee nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, jammy, dark fruits, anise bit short. Lacks lift. 87

2018 Château d’Eyrans blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Nettles, apples, leaner nose, some pears. Fresh acidity, nettles and grapefruits, leaner. 85

2018 Château de France

Ruby. Anise, vanilla, some anise and blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, anise, dark fruits, elegant texture, fruit driven, a powerful Château de France, good length. 89

2018 Château de France blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Vanilla, grapefruits, light spicy notes and faint peach nose. Fresh acidity, apples, elegant texture, rounded, light creaminess, good length. 89

2018 Château La Garde

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruit driven and vanilla nose. Some coffee. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, jammy, fruit driven, bit short. 86

2018 Château Haut-Bailly

Ruby. Dark fruity nose, very fruit driven, blackberries, cassis, blueberries, some spices, minerals, truffles, freshly ground coffee touch, faint of dark chocolate nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, lush, rich, deep, intense, lots of phenolics, structured yet smooth, aftertaste travels between satin, velvet and silk and then back again. Long, incredibly long. 97

2018 Haut-Bailly II

Ruby. Lush blackberries, spices, liquorice, rich and deep nose, with just a hint of something floral above on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, blackberries and spices, juicy, almost a faint salinity to it, somewhat flamboyant, hedonistic, long. 93

2018 Château Haut-Bergey

Ruby. Vanilla, blackberries and spices nose, some herbs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits and anise, leaner, good length. 87

2018 Château Haut-Bergey blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Pears, grapefruits and light vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, leaner, fruit driven, bit short. 86

2018 Château Haut-Brion

Ruby. Intense, lush dark fruits, spices, liquorice, blueberries, vanilla, intense, deep and powerful nose. Both 2017 and 2018 has needed a few hours open after pouring the first glass to reveal their layers, very compact wines and Haut-Bailly had a similar tightness to them this vintage. Or maybe it was the shipment. But they have needed a good six to eight hours of following. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dense, sort of a blockbuster, with silk cravat and Savile Row suit, Rocky Balboa going to visit the Queen. This is somewhat different for Haut-Brion, plusher, lusher, alcohol is high, but they have been for quite a few vintages now. There is so much of everything in here, but does it have the grace of 1989? 2017 besides it lacks some elements, but also gains in finesse. At least at this stage. This may go higher, as with many 2018’s, it depends on where they stand when the baby fat goes. How well do they then cope with some of the excesses? Still a grand vin, no doubt about it. 98

2018 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, some vanilla and spices, intense, touch of plums and chocolate nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, spices, anise, liquorice, fruit driven and intense, long finish. 92

2018 Château Lafargue

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, vanilla and spices, good length. High alcohol. 86

2018 Château Lafargue blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, peach, lighter nose. Fresh acidity, apples, peach, fruit driven, lighter, good length. 86

2018 Château Lamothe-Bouscaut 

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, light nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner bodied, some boiled fruits, blackberries, lean finish. 86

2018 Château Lamothe-Bouscaut Blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Some grapefruits, vanilla and light smokiness nose. Fresh acidity, leaner palate, apples, pears and grapefruits, bit short. 86

2018 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries, sweet dark fruits, liquorice, long finish. 90

2018 Château Latour-Martillac

Ruby. Anise, vanilla, cassis, dark fruits, quite intense and rounded nose, rich. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries, anise, fairly lush, hides richness well, feeling more dense, long. 94

2018 Château Latour-Martillac blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Peach, grapefruits, vanilla, elegant nose, fruit driven. Fresh acidity, peach, fruit driven, nuanced, rounded, a fresher style this vintage and even somewhat more citrusy than usual for Latour-Martillac. Surprisingly linear finish if you care to notice it. 92

2018 Château Léognan

Ruby. Blackberries, fruit driven, cassis, some light floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dark fruits, blueberries and light spicy notes, blackberries finish, long. 90

2018 Château Lespault-Martillac

Ruby. Blueberries, some vanilla, light spices, faintly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, plums, spices, anise, some herbs, high alcohol, good length. 89

2018 Château Lespault-Martillac blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Lemons, grapefruits and some vanilla nose. Not the most intense. Fresh acidity, fruit driven, touch of lemon peel bitterness, some yellow fruits behind. Good length. 89

2018 Château Luchey-Halde

Ruby. Blackberries, blueberries, light scented nose with some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruit driven, blackberries and spices, some vanilla, good length. 89

2018 Château Luchey-Halde blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Vanilla, peach and grilled lemons nose. Medoum acidity, fruit driven, soft, peach and pears, some vanilla, good length. 87

2018 Château Malartic-Lagraviére

Ruby. Sweet, rich, intense, fruit driven, cassis nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, sweet and big for the estate, juicy with texture, untypical style from here, long. 93

2018 Château Malartic-Lagraviére blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Rich, waxy, grapefruits and grilled lemons, peach nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, fruit driven and rich, a bigger and bolder Malartic and not a style for everyone. 92

2018 Château Mancèdre

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some spices, scented, some plums nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries and blackberries, fruit driven, rich. 87

2018 Château Mancèdre blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some vanilla and citrus nose. Fresh acidity, apples, lemons, elegant texture, leaner. 86

2018 Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Ruby. Dense, blackberries, anise, spices, faint minerals, some scented high notes. Big and elegant at the same time. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, spices, liquorice, layered and intense, needs serious air to show fully, and the richness of the Merlot this vintage is difficult to put right. 2003 was super jammy while young, now they’re not, but most lacks some acidity. This has the acidity, but also higher alcohol and will that warmth show through more with age? This may be one of those truly great La Missions, but it is also borderline too sweet and alcoholic. I don’t really think it resembles 2003, I just remember that jaminess and very sweet fruit and how that baby fat has left. If this can handle it’s alcohol with age, it will be stunning. My score is betting on that it will. 99

2018 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, somewhat jammy, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries and anise, intense, fruit driven, verging on jammy and verging on alcohol warmth, long finish. 92

2018 Château Olivier

Ruby. Blackberries, blueberries, anise, fruit driven nose, somewhat jammy and high alcohol nose. Medium acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, liquorice, quite rich, sweet dark fruits, alcohol warmth in the finish. An untypical style of Olivier. 91

2018 Château Olivier blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, vanilla, lemons, peach nose. Fresh acidity, apples, peach, vanilla, fruit driven, vanilla, fairly creamy, richer, long finish. 90

2018 Château Le Pape

Ruby. Blueberries, blackberries, some spices, anise, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, blackberries and spices, bit high alcohol, long. 91

2018 Château Pape Clement

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, blackberries nose, red fruits, layered, quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries and spices, intense, spices, fruit driven, alcohol warmth, long finish, dense stuff, almost a wall of fruit. 95

2018 Château Pape Clement blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Peach, apricots, pears, orange, intense and fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, fruit driven, intense, rich, rounded, peach and apricots, vanilla, sweet mandarin, almonds, long finish. 93

2018 Château Pont Saint-Martin

Ruby. Fruit driven, anise, red berries nose, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner bodied, blueberries and spices. 87

2018 Château Pont Saint-Martin blanc

Lemon yellow. Apples, pears, fruit driven nose, spices. Fresh acidity, light bodied, peach and tropical fruits, good length. 86

2018 Château Pontac Monplaisir

Ruby. Jammy nose, rose hips and boiled blueberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, light bodied, jammy and cooked. 84

2018 Château Pontac Monplaisir blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, peach, light nose, easy going. Fresh acidity, tropical fruits, leaner, bit bitter and acidic. 85

2018 Château de Rochemorin

Ruby. Dark fruits, plums and prunes, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, spices, bit rich and sweet, vanilla, structured, good length. 89

2018 Château de Rochemorin blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Fruit driven, pears, vanilla, smoky, grapefruits nose. Fresh acidity, vanilla and smokiness, grapefruits, good length. 88

2018 Château de Rouillac

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, some herbs and vanilla nose. Fresh acidi, ripe tannins, blueberries, dark fruits, anise, good length. 88

2018 Château de Rouillac blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Smoky grapefruits and lemons, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, fruit driven, grapefruits and some peach, food length. 87

2018 Domaine de la Solitude

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, liquorice and anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, blackberries, nuanced, long. 90

2018 Domaine de la Solitude blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some light citrus and light vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, smooth and rounded, apples, grapefruits, minerals, some spices, less concentration than L’Esprit but phenols are showing more. Good length. 88

2018 Château Le Thil de Comte Clary

Ruby. Blackberries, blueberries, vanilla, fruit driven, coffee, rich nose. Medium acidity, ripe tannins, rich, coffee and spices, borderline jammy, and lacks some lift. 87