Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Large-scale renovations to the vineyard and the advice of Patrick Valette as consultant have paid great dividends at this ancient vineyard. The wine is ripely opulent but balanced, with new wood that supports rather than dominates, and a structure that promises long aging.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 Points -
Connoisseurs' Guide
Complexing elements of graphite, dusty earth and olives bring added notes of interest to the moderately rich aromas of well-ripened cherries that are the central theme of this comparatively refined claret, and that sense of refinement holds throughout despite the wine's slightly grippy last-minute tannins. While there are aspects about it that are easy to like now, the wine is still in its infancy and needs five to eight years of age.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Resiny characteristics combined with notions of black cherries, cassis, herbs, and new oak emerge from this deep ruby/purple-colored 2005. Medium to full-bodied, moderately tannic, and impeccably well-made, consumption during its first 10-15 years of life is recommended.
Barrel Sample: 88-90 Points
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.