Chateau Puy Blanquet 2018
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Deeply colored, the 2018 Château Puy-Blanquet checks in as 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from a 20-hectare parcel of clay and limestone soils. Beautifully ripe and sexy, with a massive bouquet of blackcurrants, macerated black cherries, and smoked earth, it's full-bodied, opulent, and layered on the palate, with serious fruit. This brilliant wine will be approachable in its youth yet also evolve gracefully for 15 years or more. It should also be an incredible value.
Range: 92-94 -
James Suckling
A red with lots of richness and density and flavor. Full body, plenty of round tannins and a long and flavorful finish.
Barrel Sample: 92-93 -
Wine Spectator
Warm and direct, with plum and raspberry confiture notes gliding along, infused with a hint of toasted vanilla.
Barrel Sample: 88-91 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Fran and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Puy-Blanquet gives up notes of warm red and black cherries, mulberries and fruitcake with hints of baking spices, fallen leaves and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tautly structured with firm, chewy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and lively.
Barrel Sample: 88-90 -
Decanter
This is the most beautifully ripe plum colour, with soft violet reflections and floral touches on the nose. Pretty strong tannins steal up through the firm, full-bodied palate, which is loaded with acidity and fruit, completing the the triumvirate. This should see slow but steady ageing. Drinking Window 2026 - 2038. Barrel Sample: 90
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Tasting
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.