Winemaker Notes
The heat and sun of the vintage produced exceptional wines in Saint-Emilion, with fruit, depth and balance in abundance. In the perfectly proportioned cellar, optical sorting was followed by a pre-fermentation cold soak, fermentation in concrete tank, and aging for around 16 months in a majority of new oak.
Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
One of the best in this tasting. Silky and rich, with aromatic black fruits and a complex layering of cut herbs, liquorice and sweet spices. Restrained elegance without putting a foot wrong in terms of its silky soft tannic hold and appealing saline finish. Brilliant. 50% new oak. Stéphane Toutoundji consults.
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Jeb Dunnuck
This estate continues to produce a brilliant Saint-Emilion. The 2018 Château La Serre is based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, all from the upper plateau and clay and limestone soils. Its saturated purple hue is followed by a ripe, polished, medium to full-bodied wine with beautiful cassis fruits, succulent aromas and flavors of tobacco, chocolate, and lead pencil, sweet tannins, and a great mix of elegance and richness. It's a beautiful wine that will evolve gracefully for 15-20 years.
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Wine Spectator
Fresh, ripe and engaging, with a mix of plum, raspberry and cherry compote notes taking the lead, while light red licorice, applewood and savory details dot the finish. Approachable now, but no rush. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2032.
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.