2018 Pomerol is a contender for the appellation of the vintage. There are numerous, concentrated, exciting, sultry, sensuous wines in this vintage that will appeal to hedonistic wine lovers. Edouard Moueix is bullish on 2018 Pomerol. He explains why. “What we enjoy most in our 2018s is the controlled power. The harmonious and polished tannins and the great persistence. These are wines that will need to age to fully express their potential.”
It is amazing to consider the embarrassment of riches here. 2018 Pomerol continues the appellation’s streak of recent great vintages, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016 and now 2018. And if you have been keeping up with us, 2019 and perhaps 2020 are also at the same high level! Ronan Laborde Chateau Clinet describes the vintage: “2018 Pomerol is a vintage with a lot of richness, tannins and texture which also offers elegance.”
2018 Pomerol is not homogenous. With 2018 Pomerol, you need to look at the rich clay soils on the plateau along with some gravel terroirs for the best wines. But make no mistake about this. The top wines from the plateau are future Bordeaux legends!
Jean-Valmy Nicolas owner of La Conseillante explains his wine, “This contrasting weather has an impact on the wine character. 2018 is complex and powerful certainly due to this contrast. It is maybe one of the most powerful vintage La Conseillante produced.”
In fact, as you will see in our tasting notes, the wine of the vintage, or at least the Right Bank might come from Pomerol! Guillaume Thienpont Vieux Chateau Certan on the vintage, “2018 is the product of blending very concentrated Merlots with smooth, fresh Cabernet Franc. The uniqueness of2018 shows amazing balance between freshness and ripeness.”
What makes 2018 Pomerol so good is the best wines offer stunning levels of concentration and intensity, silky, opulent textures, freshness and elegance. All those characteristics are hard to find.
As you know by now, 2018 Pomerol did not begin life with a promising future. The early part of the growing season found a region drenched from almost non-stop rains. To give you an idea of how much water fell in Pomerol, from January to July, close to 24″, (600 mm) drenched the region over 6 months!
All that water ignited ferocious attacks of mildew with the potential to destroy large parts of the harvest. Vignerons with the ability to react promptly held off most of the mildew. Other appellations were not so lucky.
By middle of summer, the clay terroirs maintained a healthy water level. The water retention mattered because the second half of the growing season turned out to be one of the hottest and driest vintages of the past 50 years! Helene Garcin-Leveque of Clos LEglise agrees: “The 2018 is magical. It started with a rather complicated spring, but the perfect summer made everything work!”
For many soils, especially sandy terroirs it was difficult for the grapes to reach full desired levels of ripeness. But the plateau with its clay soils retained ample water to promote maturity in the vines.
Another key factor with the vintage is the amount of sunshine the vines received during the summer months. In fact the 1,136 hours of sunshine set a record. You have to go back more than 50 years to find a vintage with that much sunshine according to Edouard Moueix.
The harvest took place in picture-perfect conditions over an extended picking window. Conditions were so good, vignerons were able to pick at their chosen level of maturity. Jean-Christophe Meyrou, General Manager of Enclos Tourmaline recalls the vintage and its concentration. “It was not necessary to look for more extraction in the wine, the extraction was already there naturally.”
If you want to read tasting notes for other 2018 Bordeaux wines 2018 Complete Guide to All the Best Wines of the Vintage
The following 2018 Pomerol wines were all tasted in my home office in non-blind conditions. 2018 Lalande de Pomerol wines are published in their own article.
2018 – Beauregard – Showing much better in bottle than in barrel, the plummy wine serves up additional nuances of truffle, flower, black cherry and smoke on the nose. Lush and richly textured on the palate, the wine exudes layers of earthy, silky, sweet, fresh plum and cherry tones along with leaf, licorice and coffee bean in the finish. The wine blends 75% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Franc. 93 Pts
2018 – Bel-Air-Pomerol – Plummy with a touch of cocoa and herbs, the wine is round, soft, fruity and shows a touch of herbs and sweet black cherries in the finish. 88 Pts
2018 – Bellegrave – Medium-bodied, correct, easy to like red cherry filled wine with soft textured characteristics that is ready for consumption on release. 88 Pts
2018 – Bon Pasteur – Another in a long line of success for Bon Pasteur. Opulent, silky, velvety black plums, cherries, chocolate, licorice, espresso, truffle and flowers tastes and feels just great on your palate. The wine is full-bodied, concentrated, fresh, long and polished. Give it 5-7 years to develop even more sensuality. The wine was made from blending 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. 95 Pts
2018 – Bonalgue – Showing much better in bottle than in barrel, the wine starts off with fresh picked flowers, licorice, smoke and red pit fruits on the nose. Lively, silky and refined, with layers of ripe, sweet, pure red fruits and earth on the palate as well as in the seductive finish. 92 Pts
2018 – Bourgneuf – Much better from bottle than it showed in barrel, (Which is always a good thing) the wine is deeply colored with truffle, chocolate, black plums and dark cherries, The wine is round, juicy and silky with plush deep red fruits in the finish. This could be the finest vintage ever produced here. 93 Pts
2018 – Certan de May – Medium-bodied, elegant, silky, fresh and refined, the purity in the sweet, lifted red fruits, length and sensuous textures along with all the ripe red berries, chocolate, espresso, licorice and earthy notes in the finish hits the spot. 95 Pts
2018 – Clinet Deeply colored, the wine is intensely concentrated with layers of black, red and blue fruits accompanied by licorice, dark cocoa, truffle, flowers, espresso bean and hints of Asian spice. There is a fabulous sense of purity to the fruits that really comes alive when the layers of velvet-drenched fruits hit your palate. The wine is equally hedonistic and elegant, which is a hard thing to accomplish. The wine will age and evolve with ease for 3 decades. 97 Pts
2018 – Clos 56 – Produced from 100% old vine Merlot the wine is floral, with chocolate, plums and cherries at its core. Round, plush, polished and silky, the elegant finish shows ample fruit, freshness and a hint of dust in the tannins with good sweetness to the fruits. 92 Pts
2018 – Clos Beauregard – Silky, soft and supple, with a focus on its core of sweet, ripe, elegant, juicy, fresh cherries, plums, espresso bean, dark cocoa and thyme, this forward, medium-bodied, polished, refined Pomerol will drink well-young. 91 Pts
2018 – Clos du Clocher – Another wine that is showing much better in bottle than in barrel, here you find seductive layers of red and black pit fruits, truffle, flowers, cocoa and licorice with silky textures and a sensuous finish. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. 93 Pts
2018 – Clos L’Eglise – Dark in color, the wine pops right off the bat with an array of aromatics. Flowers, truffle, smoke, licorice, black cherry and raspberry liqueur consume your nose. On the palate, the wine is rich, seductive, sensuous and silky. Full-bodied, concentrated, opulent and velvety, everything here is in perfect proportion. The finish feels so good, it is impossible not to take another sip. This superb Pomerol will age effortlessly for 3 decades. 96 Pts
2018 – Clos Rene – Medium-bodied, finesse styled Pomerol focusing on the softness in the tannins and sweetness in the plummy fruits. Elegant, fresh and with good tension in the mouth, give it a few years to fill out and it should be an even better wine. 90 Pts
2018 – Clos-Vieux-Taillefer – Easy to like, medium-bodied, red cherry, thyme and cocoa filled wine with soft, supple textures and sweet, fresh, red plums in the finish. 89 Pts
2018 – Clos-de-la-Vieille-Eglise Pomerol – A light touch of oak, soft, silky textures, and ripe, sweet plums with hints of cocoa fill out this wine on the palate. Medium-bodied and forward, give it a few years in the cellar for further development. 88 Pts
2018 – Compostelle – Herbs, truffle, licorice and red fruits, soft textures and sweet, bright plums in a fresh finish with a touch of olive on the back end. This will be best in its youth. 86 Pts
2018 – Croix des Rouzes – Firm, fresh and fruity, the wine is already showing its licorice, dark cocoa, plum, coffee bean and chewy core of red fruits. You can drink this young or age it a few years for more softness. 88 Pts
2018 – Croix du Casse – Soft, elegant, silky, sweet red fruits and flowers define the wine. There is good lift, energy and refinement in the juicy, earthy red berries on the mid-palate and in the finish. The wine blends 93% Merlot with 7% Cabernet Franc. 91 Pts
2018 – Domaine-de-LEglise – Chocolate fudge, smoke, licorice, espresso and plums are all over the place. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky and rich with a fabulous, velvety, chocolate covered, black cherry finish. The wine was made from 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. 94 Pts
2018 – Enclos Tourmaline – The nose, with its licorice, flowers, plums and chocolate covered cherries entices you into wanting to know what’s next. The answer is, velvety textured plums and seductive black cherries with silky tannins that grace your palate in all the right ways, finishing with layers of perfectly ripe red fruits coated in cocoa. This is a hedonistic beauty that is made from 100% Merlot. Sadly, this is difficult to find as only 275 cases were produced. 96 Pts
2018 – Fayat – Medium-bodied, lifted, soft, polished, sweet, bright, fresh cherries and red plums are accompanied by licorice, dark chocolate, coffee bean and herbs on the mid-palate and in the finish. 90 Pts
2018 – Feytit Clinet – Deeply colored, the wine is packed with dark chocolate-covered black fruits with strong truffle notes on the nose and palate. Concentrated, lush, rich and with a serious depth of flavor, the finish delivers with its long, supple, luscious, fruit and truffle and cocoa character and velvety tannins. Give this stunner 6-8 years in the cellar and it will really begin to shine. 96 Pts
2018 – Franc-Maillet – Black cherries and herbs with an oaky presence on the palate are what you notice first and foremost. The wine is fruity, chewy and shows an herbal edge that you taste in the finish. 88 Pts
2018 – Franc-Maillet Cuvee Jean-Baptiste – Full-bodied, rich, lush, round, ripe, juicy, fruit filled expression of Merlot with wet earth, coffee bean, chocolate, licorice and black plums. The fruit-filled opulent finish comes with a lot of oak at the moment, so give it a few years of cellaring before pulling a cork. 92 Pts
2018 – Gazin – Plums, truffle, chocolate covered cherries and licorice hit all the right notes. Rich, silky, plush and concentrated with layers of suave cherries and plums. This is so good now, it is hard to resist. But wait another 7-8 years and it will be a markedly better wine. This could be one of the best vintages ever produced at Chateau Gazin. The wine is made from blending 93% Merlot with 7% Cabernet Franc. 95 Pts
2018 – Gouprie – Medium-bodied, forward, soft, short and sweet, with an approachable, light red cherry finish. This will be best in its youth. 88 Pts
2018 – Guillot Clauzel – If you are seeking a Pomerol that’s still well-priced, because it is not yet famous, look no further! Luscious, silky, velvet textured plums and dark chocolate come alive here. Concentrated, rich and elegant, the perfectly ripe plums and black cherries, with their earthy accents and dark cocoa finish just go on and on. From a blend of 75% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Franc, the debut vintage for Chateau Guillot Clauzel with Guillaume Thienpont at the helm is a strong first effort. 94 Pts
2018 – Haut-Maillet – Forward, early drinking, soft, easy going, spicy expression of Pomerol with sweet cherries, oak, spice and a hint of cocoa in the finish. 88 Pts
2018 – Hosanna – Full-bodied, rich, intense and with the ability to age and evolve for 2-3 decades, this beauty is packed with black cherry, truffle, dark chocolate, smoke, thyme and earthy nuances. The finish is focused, concentrated and fresh, with layers of velvety, chocolate-coated dark red berries. Allow it at least 7-9 years before pulling a cork. 97 Pts
2018 – La Cabanne – The flowers, truffle and dark cocoa notes show nicely on the nose. Silky, soft and loaded with ripe, juicy, fresh, sweet, earthy plums and freshness on the palate, give this a few years in the cellar and enjoy it over the following 15 years or more with ease. 92 Pts
2018 – La Clemence – Dominated by oak, licorice and smoke, it takes effort and coaxing to find the fruits. On the palate, the wine is however quite tasty with round textures and sweet berries. The finish is drying on the end notes. 88 Pts
2018 – La Commanderie Pomerol – Slightly oaky on the nose, which should integrate into the sweet, ripe, plums on the nose and palate. The wine finishes with a nice shot of red fruits, cocoa and a touch of espresso. You can drink this on the young side, probably on release. 89 Pts
2018 – La Conseillante – With a heart stopping bouquet of violets, lilacs, cocoa, dark cherries, plums, wet earth and espresso, you are already hooked. But it is on the palate that the show comes to fruition. With depth of flavor, silky, elegant tannins, concentration and countless layers of perfectly ripe, dark red pit fruits, the wine provides a sublime, sensuous experience that no other wine offers. Give this at least 7-8 years before popping a cork. The wine blends 83% Merlot with 17% Cabernet Franc. 98 Pts
2018 – La Conseillante Duo de Conseillante – Soft, fresh, bright and fruity, with a zippy, dark cocoa, thyme and plum character. The wine is medium-body with an open, dark chocolate covered, red plum finish. You can drink this young while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. 90 Pts
2018 – La Croix de Gay – Medium bodied, forward and already displaying its mix of truffle, leaf, cherry, spice and red plum on the nose and palate. The wine is soft, juicy and fresh, leaving you with silky, sweet cherries and a lot of up-front, Pomerol charm in the finish. 92 Pts
2018 – La Croix St. Georges – Deeply colored, with smoke, wet earth, licorice, plums, vanilla, espresso and floral aromatics, the wine is concentrated, fresh, sweet, lush and round with an array of plums, cherries and dark chocolate in the finish. Give it some time to develop secondary characteristics and it should be a solid Pomerol. The wine was produced from 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. 92 Pts
2018 – La Grave Pomerol – Flowers, herbs, smoke, spice, thyme and ripe red fruits create the perfume. From there you find a medium bodied, elegant, fresh expression of Merlot with a refined, delicate, red pit fruit filled, silky finish. This is a solid example of a Pomerol that’s not going to break the bank and is clearly the finest example of La Grave Pomerol I’ve ever tasted. 92 Pts
2018 – La Patache – Forward, soft, sweet, early drinking, medium-bodied, refined, cherry filled wine with nuances of espresso and dark cocoa. You can enjoy this on release and over the next 10-15 years. The wine was made from blending 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. 90 Pts
2018 – La Pointe – Substantially better in the bottle than in barrel, the wine shows much more weight and richness. Espresso, cherries, spice and cocoa create the core of this medium bodied, forward, soft, elegant, fresh, red plum and cherry filled wine. You can drink this on the young side, or age it for more earthy nuances. 92 Pts
2018 – La Renaissance – Medium-bodied, soft, silky, sweet and fruity, with loads of dark chocolate covered, sweet, black plums and cherries. The finish, with all its ripe, black cherries, licorice and cocoa notes is already showing well. – 91 Pts
2018 – La Violette – Powerful, full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the wine initially focuses on its floral centric nose with all its black plums, cherries, chocolate, truffle and espresso nuances. Opulent, velvety, sensuous and intense, the non-stop display of voluptuous, ripe, deep fruits in the finish goes on and on. Produced from 100% old vine Merlot and vinified entirely in barrel the total production is only 425 cases. 97 Pts
2018 – Lafleur – This could be the wine of the vintage! Profound in every sense, the wine smells like you walked into a flower shop carrying a bushel of just picked red and black pit fruits and berries and your pockets were filled with an array of spices, herbs, cocoa, spearmint and thyme. If that didn’t seal the deal, the breathtaking purity in the fruit along with the non-stop layers of sweet, vivacious red fruits with their silky, sexy, erotic textures will. The seamless finish does not seem to quit. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Franc with 46% Merlot. 100 Pts
2018 – Les Pensees – Flowers, herbs, cherries, plums and kirsch with a dash of cocoa comes through on the nose. But it on the supple, silky, fresh, elegantly textured palate that wine really shines. The purity in the red fruits, along with its poise and grace is just great. Medium-bodied with lift and length, this is clearly the finest Les Pensees ever produced. Also, note that the wine name has changed, to separate it from Chateau Lafleur. Give this few years to age allowing the wine to expand and soften and enjoy it for 10-12 years after that. The wine blends 54% Merlot with 46% Cabernet Franc. 94 Pts
2018 – Lafleur-Gazin – With a nose displaying flowers, spice, wet earth, licorice, cherries and plums, you also enjoy a soft textured, medium-bodied, silky textured, savory mid-palate finishing with sweet, red cherries. This is one of the best vintages I’ve tasted of La Fleur Gazin. Give it a few years in the bottle before pulling a cork. 91 Pts
2018 – La-FleurPetrus – The floral dominated nose is accompanied by dark cherries, black plums, boysenberry, dark cocoa and truffles. Full-bodied, rich and focused, your palate is taken over by layers of silky, velvet textured fruits, all of which display incredible purity and elegance. This stunning Pomerol will age and develop for at least 3 decades. 98 Pts
2018 – LatourPomerol – Medium/full-bodied, firm, yet elegant, this silky textured display of flowers, plums, truffles and cocoa is fresh, focused, earthy and concentrated. This will age and evolve quite well. 94 Pts
2018 – Le Gay – Wow could be the perfect descriptor here. If only brevity sufficed. This stunner is rich, concentrated, full-bodied and packed end to end with countless layers of perfectly ripe, velvet drenched, fruits, licorice, smoke, chocolate and truffles. Dark, brooding, long, complex and intense, as well as sensuous and palate coating, this is just beautiful. Time is your friend here. If you can wait for 8-10 years, this is going to be a cellar treasure. The wine is made from blending 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc and is 100% entirely vinified in new, French oak barrels. Less than 1,500 cases are produced so if you want the wine you need to buy it early. 96 Pts
2018 – Manoir de Gay – Dark in color and in its fruit, the wine is forward, soft, juicy, sweet, fresh and earthy with chewy plums, licorice and dark cocoa accents on the nose and finish. Drink this young while waiting for its big brother to evolve. 90 Pts
2018 – Le Moulin – Dark in color, the wine shows off its espresso, flower, plum, licorice and cherry nose with little effort. On the palate you find loads of round, lush, richly textured, deep red fruits, polished tannins and a strong touch of oak. Give it a few years in the cellar for the oak to better integrate. 90 Pts
2018 – Lecuyer – Lush, round and loaded with dark chocolate covered black plums and cherries, There is nice weight on the palate with a juicy fruit and cocoa filled, earthy finish. You can enjoy this with just a year or two in the cellar, or age it longer for more complexity. This is one of the better values in the increasingly expensive, Pomerol appellation. 92 Pts
2018 – LEgliseClinet – With a serious depth of color, this hedonistic thrill ride opens with an aromatic display of truffle, flowers, dark chocolate, herbs, black cherries and plum. Plush, opulent, rich and with the texture of silk and velvet, the wine coats your palate with layers of fresh, sensuous, perfectly ripe fruits, chocolate and truffle. This full-bodied wine is only going to get better with age. If you can wait a decade, this will be even better. The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc 98 Pts
2018 – La Petite Eglise – Refined, elegant, silky, fresh, pure, sweet, red fruits, licorice and cocoa hit the spot. This is sensuous, sexy and vibrant, with a gorgeous finish. You can drink this young as it is already such a pleasure to taste. The wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 93 Pts
2018 – LEvangile – The wine is completely opaque. It is impossible to see through the glass. Concentrated, full-bodied, dense and intense, black cherries, blue fruit, dark chocolate, truffle, smoke, licorice and plum liqueur notes, the wine shows all that with ease aromatically. On the palate you find concentration to match the intensity, volume to pair with length, purity and velvet textured tannins with a rich flood of dark red fruits and chocolate that keeps on coming. The wine is made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV. This demands at least a decade in the cellar. With time, depending on how this develops, this could be an even better wine. 96 Pts
2018 – Maillet – Truffles and chocolate with black cherries, plum, espresso and a hint of coconut on the backend grabs your attention. Opulent, hedonistic, sensuous and richly textured, this is just great now and after 5 years or so in the cellar. If you like hedonistic wines, this is for you. 95 Pts
2018 – Mazeyres – Medium bodied, fresh, lively and light on its feet, the red cherry essence comes out nicely in the finish. 89 Pts
2018 – Monregard La Croix – A big juicy gulp of Merlot here. Ripe, round, dark cherries, black plums, espresso, chocolate, licorice and smoke form the core of this wine. Lusciously textured, rich, ripe and more savory than sweet, this wine already hits the spot. 91 Pts
2018 – Montviel – Dark chocolate, mint, licorice, espresso and black with red plums come along on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky and savory, with a sweet, juicy, red pit fruit and herb filled finish. This is a serious value for the Pomerol region in 2018. Savvy shoppers should be all over this. 91 Pts
2018 – Moulinet – Forward, soft and silky, medium-bodied, with good freshness, sweet plums, cherries, smoke and cocoa. The wine is already quite charming and easy to drink, leaving you with sweet red fruits and a touch of chocolate in the finish. 90 Pts
2018 – Nenin – Flowers, plum, wet earth, smoke and cocoa open the wine. On the palate the wine has firmed up since it was in barrel. The wine is concentrated, full-bodied, ripe, deep, fresh and energetic, with the structure to age quite well. The finish fills you up with sweet, ripe fruits and chocolate. It will require some aging to fill out and soften, so give it at least 5-7 years in the cellar. The wine is made from 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV. 92 Pts
2018 – Petit Beausejour – Early drinking, soft, plummy wine with soft textures and a fruity finish that will be perfect to enjoy in its youth. This of the smallest estates in Bordeaux, with only .7 hectares planted to 100% Merlot making it difficult to find, as less than 300 cases are made per vintage. 88 Pts
2018 – Petit Village – Better in the bottle than in barrel, the wine now shows more of a floral character. Fresh, soft and silky, with a luscious texture and layers of sweet, ripe, vibrant, elegant fruits. The finish, with its minty-fresh wave of cherries really clings to your palate. This is the finest vintage of Petit Village I recall tasting. The wine blends 72% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Franc. Give it 4-5 years of age and it will be a much better wine. 93 Pts
2018 – Pierhem – Floral, fresh, medium-bodied, red and black plummy wine with soft textures and a silky, fresh, cherry filled finish. This should drink well for at least 10-12 years. 90 Pts
2018 – Plince – Discrete notes of flowers, red pit fruits and earth create the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, with a gentle touch of oak that rides along with the sweet, ripe, red cherries in the finish. This is much better in bottle than it showed in barrel. 91 Pts
2018 – Rouget – Showing much better in bottle than in barrel, the wine is full-bodied, rich, round and supple. Layers of silky, sweet, black and deep red fruits meld perfectly with spice, cocoa, licorice, espresso bean and wet earth. The fruit filled finish combines length, lift and finesse. Give this 3-5 years before popping a cork. 93 Pts
2018 – Sacre Coeur – Bright and fresh, with sweetness to the fruits, earthy accents, soft tannins and good lift, this should be ready to drink shortly after release. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. 89 Pts
2018 – Saint-Pierre-Pomerol – Medium-bodied, with a nice touch of chocolate that accompanies all the sweet, fresh, luscious, silky plums on the nose and palate. 91 Pts
2018 – Taillefer – Showing much better in barrel than in bottle, the wine offers loads of ripe, supple textured, red fruits, hints of licorice, and coffee bean. Round, medium-bodied, fresh and fruity, this is already showing quite well and has room for improvement with aging. 91 Pts
2018 – Tour Maillet – Plummy, rich, lush, spicy, oaky, round, cherry and cocoa filled wine with soft, supple, earthy fruits on the mid-palate and in the velvety, albeit oak laden finish. Give it 3-4 years for the oak to better integrate and it should be a much better wine. 92 Pts
2018 – Trotanoy – Breathtaking in every sense of the word, this is what great Pomerol is all about. Dark in color, the complex bouquet starts off with flowers, truffle, chocolate, black cherry, incense, smoke, licorice and spice. But the best part of the wine takes place on your palate with its lavish display of velvet drenched fruits. The level of purity, coupled with its opulent, sensual qualities, length and complexity is almost off the charts! The finish easily crosses the 60 second mark! This is a future legend of Bordeaux. 100 Pts
2018 – Valois – Earthy, herbal and leafy, with soft textures and easy to like red fruits, you can enjoy this on release and over the next 5-7 years. 88 Pts
2018 – Valois L’Eclat de – Medium-bodied, elegant, silky and fresh, with a good purity to the fruits as well as touches of flowers, cocoa, licorice and cherries. I like the sweetness and purity in the finish a lot here. 92 Pts
2018 – Vieux Chateau Certan – There is no hotter wine in Pomerol these days than Vieux Chateau Certan. 2018 joins 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2019 in the pantheon of incredible vintages for VCC! The opaque colored wine explodes with dark red, black and blue fruits, dark cocoa, herbs, flowers, spice, wet earth and licorice in the nose. If that didn’t hook you, the incredible level of density, with its palate coating richness and seamless over 60 second finish with all its velvet and silk textured fruits with their remarkable purity will. This is a future legend of Bordeaux. If decadent drinking is your thing, this belongs in your cellar. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. 99 Pts
2018 – Vieux Chateau Certan La Gravette de Certan – It is hard to believe this is only a second wine, with all that is going on here. Soft, silky, polished, elegant and loaded with richly textured, sweet, ripe, black plums, cherries and chocolate, the opulent finish is sublime. Drink this while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. This is the best vintage of La Gravette de Certan I have ever tasted. 93 Pts
2018 – Vieux Maillet – Ripe, soft, round cherries, plums and licorice show up nicely on the nose and on the medium-bodied palate, before you touches of coffee bean, licorice and ripe, sweet, juicy plums in the finish. This is already quite nice to drink. 89 Pts
2018 – Vieux-Taillefer – Earthy, leafy, spicy plum notes on the nose and on the soft, medium-bodied, herb and red cherry infused palate. You can drink this on the young side with pleasure. 88 Pts
