Chateau Corbin 2018
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wilfred
Wong - Decanter
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
In each and every vintage, the wines of Château Corbin are the fruit of true luxury craftsmanship. Carefully tended vines, a meticulous selection of the grape bunches, and slow barrel ageing are prerequisites in the Corbin method to ensure longevity in its wines. Each vintage is a journey of its own, in which the senses travel to and fro between elegance and complexity.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a dense wine with big tannins and spice from the new wood, melded with rich black fruits and acidity. It is a step up for this property, showing the potential of its fine terroir. Barrel Sample: 92–94.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from the northwestern part of Saint-Emilion, not far from the border of Pomerol, the 2018 Château Corbin is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 50% new French oak. This rockingly good Saint-Emilion has a perfumed nose of black raspberries, blackberries, toasted spice, dried flowers, and loamy earth. Much more refined and elegant now from bottle than barrel, it's medium to full-bodied and has some classic Saint-Emilion chalky minerality, quality tannins, and a great finish. This is well worth seeking out, and while it already offers pleasure, it's going to benefit from just 3-4 years of bottle age and drink brilliantly for 10-15 years.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Château Corbin delivers a beautiful and persistent Right-Bank style. TASTING NOTES: This wine is bold yet well balanced with aromas and flavors of black fruit and licorice. Pair it with grilled, well-spiced lamb chops. (Tasted: November 10, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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Decanter
Annabelle Cruse is the owner of this lovely estate on the Pomerol side of St-Emilion. Evident coffee toasting suggesting well-handled oak, this has poise and definition, with slate and ripe blueberry notes, clear tannic hold and a fresh, sappy finish. Elegant but concentrated, serious in its intention but with St-Emilion gloss. Jean-Luc Thunevin is consultant as of this vintage. 50% new oak.
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James Suckling
This is firm and linear, showing a solid core of fruit and a rich palate with a bit of alcohol showing. It’s full-bodied with lots of fruit and intensity. Creamy, ripe tannins. Slightly hot finish, but stays together. Try after 2024.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Corbin has been aged for approximately 18 months in oak barrels, 50% new. It has 15% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bold notions of blueberry coulis, baked black plums and blackberry pie, plus suggestions of incense, ground cloves, violets and camphor. The rich, full-bodied palate is ready for business, featuring bags of black fruit preserves and a velvety texture, finishing with plenty of freshness and a spicy kick.
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2022-
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
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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.