Chateau Marquis d'Alesme 2018

Professional Ratings

• 97 Jeb Dunnuck
  A rock star Margaux that should be snatched up by readers, the 2018 Château Marquis D'Alesme reveals a dense purple hue as well as ripe, sexy notes of blackcurrants, spicy oak, tobacco leaf, earth, and cedar. Deep, full-bodied, and gorgeously concentrated, it has velvety tannins, a layered, mouthcoating texture, and a great finish. It's a baby, but wow, what a wine. Hide bottle for 5-7 years if you can (you'll be forgiven for opening a bottle early) and it's going to evolve for 30-40 years.
• 95 Wine Spectator

  Gorgeous mouthfeel right from the first sip, with a velvety, fine-grained texture that lets the range of dark plum, black currant and blackberry fruit flavors splay out without losing focus, while mouthwatering black tea, alder and mineral notes wait gracefully in reserve, showing just a hint, for now, of what they can do on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038.

• 95 James Suckling
  This is a wonderful wine with dark berries, wet earth and dark tea. Full body, firm and striking tannins and a long, flavorful finish.
  Barrel Sample:94-95
• 95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The 2018 Marquis d'Alesme Becker is from the lieu-dit Les Terrasses de Margaux. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it has 14.5% alcohol. It was aged for 18 months in 65% new and 35% two-year-old barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs considerable swirling to unlock notes of ripe blackcurrants, wild blueberries and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of violets, star anise, underbrush and Sichuan pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is charged with energy, featuring loads of red and black fruit preserves layers and a finely grained texture, finishing long and mineral tinged. 95+
• 93 Decanter

  Plenty of power and tannin up front, but you need to wait for the nuance of the fruit to unfold. The palate is dominated by gourmet curls of coffee bean, chocolate, black cherry and pepper. As the tight frame softens, a more seductive edge of blueberry and raspberry fruit appears, and the texture softens to creaminess. 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Drinking Window 2026 - 2042