2011 St. Emilion Wine Guide to the Best Wines of the Vintage

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2011 St. Emilion wine guide with tasting notes, ratings, reviews and buying guide.

2011 Adaugusta  – From a typical mix of 8% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and with a dark hue, the wine offers a fun, easy-to-like and plush black cherry and chocolate personality. 87-88 Pts

2011 Angelus – 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Franc create the blend, which reached 13.9% alcohol. Deep in color with fresh floral aromas complicated by licorice, plum, boysenberry, coffee, truffle, cocoa and smoke. Round tannins and soft textures leave a plush impression on the palate with corpulent layers of black cherry liqueur and dark chocolate. 93-95 Pts

2011 L’Arrosee – Blending 53% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (for St. Emilion) at 23%, the wine reached 13.5% alcohol and will be aged in 100% new. Smoke, earth and sweet red berry aromas create the perfume. Delicate, but not light, the wine is round, sweet and filled with ripe kirsch. 91-92 Pts

2011 Les Asteries – 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc create the blend. Deep in color with stone, leaf, plum and coffee, the wine is fleshy, ripe, tannic and offers sweet black raspberry and smoky oak in the finish. 91-92 Pts

2011 Ausone From a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the wine goes through fermentation and maceration in thermoregulated wood vats and is aged in 100% new oak for about 20 months. Inky, dark and opaque with blue and purple accents in the color, this wine shows intense mineral, blackberry liqueur, blueberry, smoke, truffle and ripe, sweet essence of black cherry. Rich, concentrated, lush and mouth filling, the wine is graceful, elegant and balanced. This is a definite candidate for wine of the vintage. 96-98 Pts

2011 Chapelle d’Ausone  Blending 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine opens with crushed stone, smoke, floral and cherries. Supple and sweet, the wine feels like polished black cherry.  This is definitely the best second wine in Bordeaux today. 90-92 Pts

2011 Balestard La Tonnelle – Coffee, stone, ripe red berries, polished textures and soft red cherry are found in this supple wine. 90-91 Pts

2011 Barde Haut – Light ruby in color with earth, floral, anise and black cherry scents, this fresh, medium-bodied St. Emilion ends with bright black raspberries. From a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% alcohol. 89-91 Pts

2011 Bergat Light in style with fresh, bright red fruit and coffee bean. 84-86 Pts

2011 Beau-Sejour Becot 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon create the blend. With deep color, truffle, floral, black raspberry, cherry blossom, licorice and vanilla, this round-textured wine ends with plush, polished and silky boysenberry, black cherry and stone.  40% of the wine is now being whole-berry fermented in 600% hectoliter barrels, which, according to Juliette Becot, adds richness and more opulent textures to the wine. 92-93 Pts

2011 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse From an assemblage of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the fruit was harvested between September 26 and October 4, and the wine reached 14.5% alcohol. Inky in color with licorice, sweet black plum, espresso, smoke, caramel and ripe cherries, this is lush, concentrated, silky and polished, as well as very deep for the vintage. 95-97 Pts

2011 Belair-Monange – Minerality, earth, spice and red berry with floral notes open to a soft-textured, refined, spicy, cherry-filled wine of finesse. 91-93 Pts

2011 Bellevue With an assemblage the same as the cepage at 98% Merlot and a bit of Cabernet Franc, this wine is inky in color.  With licorice, smoke, coffee, graphite, boysenberry, truffle and earth, the wine is plush, sexy and concentrated with sweet, ripe, dark, polished boysenberry.  92-94 Pts

2011 Bellevue Mondotte – Deep in color with flowers, stone, blackberry liqueur, coffee, caramel, plum, chocolate mint and smoke, the wine is fleshy, big, dense and concentrated with layers of ripe dark berries. There is a lot of tannin, minerality and oak in the finish. This wine will require time to develop and come together. 92-94 Pts

2011 Berliquet – 75% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and a little bit of Cabernet Sauvignon produce the blend. Aged in 50% new oak, with coffee, black cherry, supple textures and a round, plush, black cherry-filled finish. 90-92 Pts

2011 Cadet Bon – From 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14.4% alcohol. Coffee, fennel, stone, vanilla and black raspberry with a round black cherry finish. 87-89 Pts

2011 Canon – Blending 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.55% alcohol and will be aged in 70% new oak. The Merlot was harvested starting September 7, for the young vines and September 13 for the old vines, ending September16. Cabernet Franc was picked September 16 -17. Floral, stone, cherry blossom, black raspberry and kirsch create the complex aromatics. Silky, soft and fresh, the precise finish ends with round, sweet, pure red berries and minerality. 92-93 Pts

2011 Canon La Gaffeliere – From 60% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is aged in 80% new oak and reached 13.4% alcohol. Espresso, plum, floral, truffle, licorice and chocolate mint are found in the aromas. On the palate, the wine is fresh, sweet, round and lush. 92-93 Pts

2011 Le Carre – 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc open to black cherry, oak, licorice, caramel and smoke. The round, mineral-driven finish includes black cherry, oak and anise. 91-92 Pts

2011 Cheval Blanc – From 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Merlot, the wine will be aged in 100% new oak and reached 13% alcohol. The Grand Vin represents 65% of the harvest. This is a fresh, elegant style of Cheval Blanc that offers soft, ripe, pure, fresh black and white cherries, floral, spice, truffle, smoke and earthy aromas along with supple textures. While refined and polished, 2011 Cheval Blanc lacks the depth found in 2009 and 2010, but the beautiful sense of purity in the fruit is something to behold. 95-96 Pts

2011 Le Petit Cheval – With a large portion of Merlot at 75% and 25% Cabernet Franc in the blend, the wine opens to truffle, caramel and black cherry.  Medium-bodied, with some dryness in the finish, the wine ends with black raspberry sensations. 88-89 Pts

2011 Clos Badon Thunevin – 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc create the blend. The wine reached 13.5% alcohol and will be aged in 100% new oak.  Deep in color with oak, toast, vanilla, jammy blackberry and earth in the nose. The wine is polished, lush and round, but there is a bit too much oak in the supple-textured finish that still needs to come together. 88-90 Pts

2011 Clos de Sarpe – Smoke, black raspberry and stone notes lead to a powerful, dense, tannic, stone-filled, severe wine that will take a long, long time to soften. 88-90 Pts

2011 Clos des Jacobins From a blend of 75% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and the rest made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine opens up with black licorice, dark cherry, oak, chocolate and wet earth scents. Medium-bodied, round and fresh, at 13.5% alcohol, the wine ends with coffee, licorice and black cherry. 89-92 Pts

2011 Clos Dubreuil – Blending 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc produced a wine with coffee, vanilla, black and blue fruit and smoke with minerality in the aromatics. Aged in 100% new oak, this plush, tannic wine ends with a fresh, blackberry, oak and red plum finish. 90-92 Pts

 

2011 Clos Fourtet – Coffee, black cherry, minerality, black raspberry liqueur with rich, silky, opulent textures, deep color and a long sensuous mouth  feel are found in the wine. From a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine will be aged in 60% new oak.  Licorice, sweet blackberry, jam, truffle, chocolate, floral and black cherry aromas are found in the aromatics. Very rich for the vintage, the wine is packed with sweet, ripe, juicy and luscious dark berries. Balanced and supple, there is a lot to like about this wine. 94-96 Pts

2011 Clos de l’Oratoire From 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine will be aged in 60% new oak. Black raspberry, cocoa and earthy aromas open to a fresh, black cherry and chocolate, round textured, sweet wine. 90-92 Pts

2011 Clos La Madeleine 75 % Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, create the blend.  The wine opens with espresso bean, vanilla, jam and raspberry. Medium bodied, with oak and cherry in the finish. 88-91 Pts

2011 Clos St. Julien – This property maintains one of the highest concentrations of Cabernet Franc in St. Emilion. With 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, the wine is filled with stone, flowers, pepper, raspberry and green leaves. The wine ends with stone and red berries. 89-91 Pts

2011 Clos St. Martin, the smallest classified St. Emilion wine in the Bordeaux appellation comes from a 1.33-hectare vineyard. The production is always tiny, but with the combination of only 20% of the vineyard being replanted and a difficult vintage, less than 500 cases will be made of the 2011. From 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is aged in 100% new oak. Coffee, floral, black plum, earth and smoky barbecue aromas open to a supple-textured, round, sweet, black cherry-filled wine. 91-93 Pts

2011 Clos Saint Vincent Signature – Produced from 100% Merlot, this medium-bodied wine shows cherry and herbs. 85-87 Pts

2011 La Clotte From limestone, sand and clay terroir, this round-textured wine has notes of mineral and black raspberry with some dryness in the finish.  88-90 Pts

2011 La Commanderie – Earth, stone, blackberry and raspberry aromas lead to a medium-bodied, bright wine with a red berry-dominated personality. 86-88 Pts

2011 La Confession – From 69% Merlot and 31% Cabernet Franc, the wine offers coffee, licorice, cherry and oak.  Supple and round, ripe black raspberry, vanilla, licorice and coffee can be found in the finish. 90-91Pts

2011 Cote de Baleau. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc create the assemblage. The wine will be aged in 50% new oak. With coffee, spice, black raspberry and earth, this medium-bodied wine finishes with cherry and a touch of oak. 87-88 Pts

2011 Corbin has been making better wine since the 2009 vintage. From a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine will be aged in 80% new oak. Medium bodied with soft textures, floral notes, fresh raspberry, licorice and kirsch, this will drink well young. 90-91 Pts

2011 La  Couspaude This wine is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The family has changed their barrel program. They recently started aging their own wood in special cooperage for 5 years, with the goal being to reduce the dryness and wood flavor sensations. The wine is deep in color with oak, chocolate, coffee, cherry, truffle and earthy aromas. A forward, low-acidity style of wine, the blend is packed with sweet, ripe black cherry and licorice. 89-91 Pts

2011 Croix de Labrie is produced from 100% old vine Merlot. Deep purple in color with fresh blackberry, chocolate, coffee and plum aromas, the wine is supple in texture with lush, sweet, black cherries. 92-93 Pts

2011 Dassault  –  As of 2010, the wine has begun to see malolactic in barrel and is aged in 100% new oak. With an assemblage of 80% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine opens with spice and red berries, has a medium body and ends with a slight dry sensation with kirsch and black raspberry. 87-89 Pts

2011 Le Dome  – Inky in color and from a blend of 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.10% alcohol. With espresso bean, licorice, earth and black cherry, this wine is densely packed with tannin, black cherry liqueur, licorice and coffee. Structured to age, this will take time to come around. 92-94 Pts

2011 La Dominique – Blending 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc produced a wine with truffle, smoke, coffee and black raspberry scents. Silky textures and a sweet, black cherry and stone sensation are found in the wine. 90-92 Pts

2011 Edmus Previously, the wine was produced from a 5.8-hectare plot, yet as of the 2011 Bordeaux vintage, the fruit comes from a mere 3 hectares, allowing more Cabernet Franc in the blend. With silky textures, jammy raspberries, licorice, coffee and citrus open up to a supple, fresh cherry griotte finish. 90-91 Pts

2011 Faugeres –  From 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine is aged in 50% new oak. This medium-bodied wine displays floral, red plum , licorice and earthy aromas and ends with a light red berry finish. 89-90 Pts

2011 Faurie de Souchard – With floral, stone and black cherry, this wine has medium body and drying tannins. 85-87 Pts

2011 Ferrand Lartigue– 81% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon produced a deep-colored wine with minerality, smoke and plum, and finishes with plush black plum and chocolate. 89-91 Pts

2011 Figeac –With equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the wine reached 13% alcohol.  Aged in 100% new oak, forest floor, stone, red berry and leafy aromas open to a medium-bodied, tannic , red berry-dominated St. Emilion. There is some dryness in the kirsch finish. 88-90 Pts

2011 Fleur Cardinale – From an 18-hectare clay and limestone vineyard, located next to Valandraud and across the street from Faugeres, Florence and Dominique Decoster continue to produce strong wine with their 2011 vintage.  Blended from 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 15% alcohol. With floral, licorice, mineral, chocolate-covered  blackberry and chocolate, this opulent, balanced, open and round St. Emilion ends with chocolate-covered black cherries. 90-93 Pts

2011 Croix Cardinale is the debut vintage for the owners of Fleur Cardinale and Secret de Cardinale. With the name Croix Cardinale, are you sensing a pattern here? Truffle, chocolate, licorice and jammy black berries are found in the perfume. Rich, polished, sexy and long, the plush finish is filled with chocolate-covered plums. From a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 15% alcohol and will be aged in 100% new oak. 91-93 Pts

2011 Secret de Cardinale – From a parcel that is separate and distinctive from Fleur Cardinale and planted with 100% Merlot, the vines are 35 years of age. Deep in color with purple accents, vanilla, chocolate, plum and black raspberry scents, this plush, supple-textured wine opens into a long, ripe and pure dark chocolate-, black cherry- and blue fruit-filled finish. 91-93 Pts

2011 Fonbel With the highest concentration of Petit Verdot in St. Emilion, as well as the largest plantings of Carmenere in the Right Bank, the assemblage is 63% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 7% Carmenere. The wine will be aged in 30% new oak. With spice, floral, earth and dark cherry scents, this medium-bodied wine ends with soft red berry flavors. 89-91 Pts

2011 Fombrauge – Coffee, licorice, smoke, black raspberry and truffle scents lead to a soft, medium-bodied wine that ends with a cocoa-covered black cherry finish. 88-91 Pts

2011 Fonplegade From 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13% alcohol and represents 65% of the production.  This deeply colored wine begins with fennel, stone, coffee and black cherry aromas and opens to a wine filled with sweet, round and fresh blackberries. 91-93 Pts

2011 Franc Mayne – 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% alcohol and will be aged in 70% new oak. With licorice, coffee, floral and black raspberry scents, this soft-textured, polished, fresh St. Emilion ends with a medium-bodied, red berry finish. 89-91 Pts

2011 La Gaffeliere From 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13% alcohol. Stone, coffee, black cherry and earthy scents are found in the perfume, while round tannins and a ripe, sweet and long cherry personality are the hallmarks of this wine. 91-93 Pts

2011 Godeau is located not far from Tertre Roteboeuf and Troplong Mondot. Stephane Derenoncourt started consulting the property in 2007.With 5% Cabernet Franc and 95% Merlot, the wine offers coffee, oak, black cherry and vanilla. With medium body and soft cherries, this should drink well early. 88-89 Pts

2011 La Gomerie From 100% Merlot, this wine will be aged in 100% new oak. Black pepper, cherry and fat textures open into a chocolate and cherry finish. 89-91 Pts

2011 Gracia 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in 100% new oak.  Chocolate, licorice, black cherry and truffle scents, lush textures and a polished black cherry, raspberry and chocolate-filled finish are found in this wine. 91-93 Pts

2011 Les Angelots de Gracia With oak, truffle, smoke and dark berry scents, this ripe, jammy wine ends with coffee and sweet blackberries. 90-91 Pts

2011 Grand Barrail-Lamarzelle – From 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, this  medium-bodied, lighter-styled St. Emilon is filled with fresh and bright red berries. 84-86 Pts

2011 Grand Corbin Manuel – This St. Emilion is characterized by spice, licorice and red berry scents, medium body and a fresh, bright red berry finish. 85-88 Pts

2011 Grandes Murailles – From 100% Merlot planted on clay and limestone soils, the vines are, on average, 25 years of age. The wine is aged in 100% new oak.  This medium-bodied wine opens with espresso bean, smoke, black and blue fruit, and truffle, and ends with burnt toast and fresh black cherry. 90-91 Pts

2011 Grand Mayne – From an assemblage of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, licorice, flowers, chocolate and black cherry scents are found in this wine with a strong sense of minerality and a cherry-filled finish. 90-91 Pts

2011 Haut Simard With 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the wine will be aged in 50% new oak. This minerally wine shows herb, black cherry and spice with a round black cherry finish. 88-89 Pts

2011 La Fleur Morange – From an even split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the wine is made from vines that are over 100 years old and aged in 100% new oak. This round-textured St. Emilion opens with coffee, truffle, chocolate and black cherry and ends with a black cherry-filled finish. 92-93 Pts

2011 La Fleur Morange Mathilde From 100% Merlot that comes from vines that average 50 years of age. This is one the top value plays in all of Bordeaux. Reaching 14.5% alcohol, this wine shows licorice, black cherry and jam aromas, soft, round textures and a sweet, black raspberry finish. 90-91 Pts

2011 Le Jurat – 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon were blended to produce a wine with jammy boysenberry and coffee, medium body and a red berry finish. 86-88 Pts

2011 Laforge – With good color, notes of espresso bean and black cherry lead to ripe, sweet licorice and black cherry with strong coffee tones in the round finish. 90-91 Pts

2011 Larcis Ducasse Intense minerality, coffee, flowers, licorice, plum, barbecue and black cherry create the complex perfume. From a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14.4% alcohol.  Deep in color, the wine ends with opulent layers of sweet black cherry and black raspberry liqueur flavors. 94-96 Pts

2011 Larmande – From 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine offers cherry griotte, tannin and stone. 87-89 Pts

2011 Laroze – A blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, this deep-colored, medium-bodied wine is earthy with black cherry and a red berry finish. 87-89 Pts

2011 Louis – Earthy, jammy black raspberry scents open into a round, ripe, soft-textured blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that finishes with chocolate and black cherry. 88-89 Pts

2011 Lucia comes from a 3.06-hectare vineyard, part of which was planted in 1901 to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. With mineral and fresh, ripe berry flavors, the wine offers licorice and polished textures. 90-91 Pts

2011 Lusseau –The owner Laurent Lusseau, who is also the winemaker at Chateau Pavie, put together a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc to produce a wine with coffee bean, black cherry and plum scents, medium body and a sweet, oaky, plum finish. 87-89 Pts

2011 Lynsolence – This fleshy, sweet, ripe wine features jammy black cherry, fennel and chocolate. It’s medium bodied with round textures and a plummy finish. 88-90 Pts

2011 Magdelaine – Floral, black raspberry and cherry tones with medium body open into a delicate red berry and spice finish. 89-91 Pts

2011 Magrez Fombrauge – 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc create a wine with stone, licorice, blackberry, chocolate-covered cherry and coffee notes. Flashy and fleshy, the wine finishes with a round, tannic and fresh plum-, coffee- and cocoa-filled finish. 91-94 Pts

2011 Monbousquet – With licorice, cherry and earthy notes, this medium-bodied wine, with soft red cherries, spice, oak and olives in the finish, will drink well young.  90-91 Pts

2011 La Mondotte comes from a 4.5-hectare vineyard that realized yields of only18 hectoliters per hectare. The wine reached 13.9% alcohol and will aged in 100% new oak. This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc has intense minerality, smoky black raspberry, truffle, oak, floral, cocoa and fresh black cherry aromatics. This is a concentrated, balanced, polished and forward vintage for La Mondotte. 93-95 Pts

2011 Moulin St. Georges Produced from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine opens with coffee, earth, kirsch and black raspberries, round tannins and an open, medium-bodied, soft finish. 90-91 Pts

2011 du Parc A blend of 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and made from vines averaging 25 years of age, the wine opens with black pepper, earth, espresso, blackberry, red plum and blueberry aromas. This 13.5% alcohol wine is soft textured, medium bodied and should offer pleasure early. This is the debut vintage for Alain Raynaud, who purchased the estate in 2010, but did not make the wine from start to finish until 2011. 88-90 Pts

2011 Pavie – Inky and opaque in color with truffle, stone, black cherry, plum, espresso bean, licorice and floral scents. This rich, deep and intense wine is fleshy, round, concentrated and supple with silky tannins and liqueruious dark fruit. Blackberry, plum, mineral and espresso bean can be found in the opulent, tannic finish. 93-95 Pts

2011 Pavie Decesse – Blackberry liqueur, mocha, stone, chocolate, floral, coffee and truffle scents create the perfume of this inky black/purple wine.  Dense and concentrated, the wine is very tannic and leaves a strong mineral sensation along with a wealth of ripe fruit. This will require time to soften.  Pavie Decesse was one of the last wines to finish harvesting in St. Emilion in 2011. 92-93 Pts

2011 Pavie Macquin From clay and limestone soils, strong stone, espresso, ripe black cherry and minerality scents pop from the glass.  Ripe, long and packed with sweet cherry liqueur, this blend of 84% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon managed to reach 14% alcohol. 91-93 Pts.

2011 Petit Gravet Aine With a massive dose of 80% Cabernet Franc, blended with 20% Merlot, this wine was produced from 50 year-old vines and aged in 100% new oak. This is an interesting wine due to its high level of Cabernet Franc, showing stone, pepper, black raspberry and green leafy aromas with some dryness in the finish. 88-90 Pts

2011 Pierre de Lune One of the smaller St. Emilion vineyards at just 1.05 hectares, the wine was produced from a blend of 90% Merlot%, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and reached 13.5% alcohol.. Flowers, black raspberry and spice make up this medium-bodied, soft-textured wine with a soft, sweet, red cherry-filled finish. 89-90 Pts

2011 Pressac – Oak, stone, coffee and black raspberry scents, medium body and a red berry jam finish are found in this wine. 87-89 Pts

2011 Quinault L’Enclos – While 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon create this blend, the estate will add more Cabernet Sauvignon in 2017 due to gravel in the soil. The wine will be aged in 40% new oak. Truffle, smoke and black raspberry notes open to a medium-bodied, light, bright and fresh red berry-dominated finish. 88-90 Pts

2011 Quintus – This blend of 50.5% Merlot and 49.5% Cabernet Franc will be aged in between 40% and 50% new oak and reached 13.9% alcohol. Licorice, earth, spice, floral and jammy black cherry are present in this soft, fresh, medium-bodied wine that ends with fresh red berries and minerality. 90-91 Pts

2011 Le Dragon de Quintus – 54.3% Merlot and 45.7% Cabernet Franc make up this wine that reached 13.8% alcohol. With a soft kiss of oak, sweet cherry and fennel, polished textures and a forward style are present. 87-88 Pts

2011 Rol Valentin Deep ruby in color with truffle, licorice, dark cherry, spice and coffee scents, this medium-bodied, charming St. Emilion offers a finish filled with bright, fresh black raspberries and vanilla. 88-90 Pts

2011 Saint Hubert – Simple, crowd-pleasing, easy wine. 83-85 Pt

2011 Saintayme From 100% Merlot planted on limestone and gravel soils and managed by Denis Durantou, this medium-bodied, round-textured wine ends with fresh red cherry. 85-87 Pts

2011 Sanctus de La Bienfaisance produced from 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc was aged in 90% new oak to produce plush, round textures with licorice, chocolate and minerality, ending with a bitter chocolate-covered, plum-filled finish. 91-93 Pts

2011 Sansonnet Since the new owners took over in 2009, this has been a St. Emilion estate to watch. Blending 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc, there is minerality, floral and raspberry with soft textures, medium body and a sweet cherry-filled finish. 90-91Pts

2011 La Serre Located close to the St. Emilion village, this wine offers earth, cocoa  and black cherry scents with soft textures, medium body and a soft red berry finish. 88-90 Pts

2011 Simard 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc was aged in concrete vats to create a wine offering ripe strawberry, earth and cherry notes with a soft red berry finish. 87-88 Pts

2011 Soutard – From 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% alcohol. Fennel, truffle and black raspberry can be found in this medium-bodied wine with a cherry-filled, round finish. 90-91 Pts

2011 Tertre Roteboeuf  – From 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine is aged in 100% new oak and reached 13.5% alcohol. Licorice, coffee, earth and black cherry jam aromas lead to a medium-bodied, silky, fresh and ripe plum- and red cherry-dominated wine. 92-93 Pts

2011 Teyssier – Stone, smoke, coffee and boysenberry are found in this soft-textured, medium-bodied wine that ends with bright cherry notes. 87-89 Pts

2011 La Tour du Pin 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc create the blend. This is an increase in Cabernet from last year, since the Merlot on sandy soil did not achieve the desired level of ripeness. Kirsch, stone and anise scents open to a soft, sweet, ripe black cherry-filled finish with gentle tannins. 90-92 Pts

2011 La Tour Figeac is made by Christine Derenoncourt, the wife of Stephane Derenoncourt. From a blend of 77% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14.4% alcohol. With, flowers, stone, licorice and red berries, the wine offers round, supple textures and a soft cherry finish. 90-91 Pts

2011 Trimoulet Starting with the 2011 vintage, Nicolas Thienpont began consulting this semi-obscure St. Emilion property. Earth, black cherry and smoky aromas lead to a soft, round-textured St. Emilion with minerality and red berry fruits. 88-90 Pts

2011 Troplong Mondot – Blending 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached approximately 14.5% alcohol. From yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare, the wine is aged in 85% new oak. Inky in color with blue/purple color in the rim, the wine is plush, rich, round and polished with chocolate-covered boysenberry, caramel, earth, coffee and plummy scents. Filled with sweet, ripe, fresh bitter chocolate and cherries, there is length, purity and polish. 94-96 Pts

2011 Trotte Vieille – With a high percentage of Cabernet Franc at 48%, 50% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is light ruby in color with a lighter style of St Emilion featuring finesse and a kirsch-filled finish. 88-90 Pts

2011 Valandraud Murielle Andraud has been in charge of the Bordeaux winemaking at Valandraud since 2008. In 2007, she shared the job with Jean-Luc Thunevin.  Produced from an assemblage of 18% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine was aged in 100% new oak and reached 14.5% alcohol. From an average of 32.5 hectoliters per hectare, the wine is deep in color with licorice, black cherry, smoke and oak scents that open to a style of Valandraud with finesse. Lush in texture, the wine ends with a round and sweet black cherry finish. 93-95 Pts

2011 Virgine de Valandraud – An assemblage of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is aged in 100% new oak. Coffee bean, licorice and black cherry are found in this medium-bodied wine with a ripe, sweet, supple black cherry-filled finish. This will be a fun wine to drink young. 89-91 Pts

2011 Valandraud 3 de Valandruad – 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon make up the blend that is aged in 50% new oak with the remainder aged in tank. Cherry and earth in the aromas. 88-89 Pts

2011 Vieux Chateau Mazerat – 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc create a wine that is deep in color. With jammy black raspberry and stone, this intense wine is packed with minerality, iron and black cherry. Full bodied, severe, mineral driven and structured, the wine ends with coffee bean and black cherry. 89-91 Pts

2011 Villemaurine is located not far from the village of St. Emilion. The new owners spent a lot of money to upgrade their winemaking, building all new wine cellars and hired Stephane Derenoncourt for advice. Smoky red berries, lush silky texture, medium body and minerality are found in this wine that is packed with fresh, sweet cherry and black raspberry. 91-92 Pts

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