CHÂTEAU LABÉGORCE

2017 Cru Bourgeois Supérieur Margaux

EN PRIMEUR

A firm favourite in the L&S camp. This year production is sadly down by about 40%, a great shame as the wine really is superb. Some of the losses were immediate (the frost killed off an entire Merlot vineyard in Soussans) but that only effected about 6% of the total stock. The cold also reduced yields on the surviving vines as fewer bunches could be supported on each plant. The low yield has led to super concentration in the rich, dark fruit which sits beautifully within a framework of well-judged oak. A mineral undertow gives this wonderful shape and restrained power. Simply delicious and drinkable relatively soon. Rating: 91 L&S (Apr 2018)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

Softly spoken, with carefully-constructed architecture, very much focused on blueberry, cassis, liqourice root and fennel, well extracted tannins, this has a floral edge and a mint leaf and slate character that keeps it rooted in the Left Bank. 33% new oak. Harvest September 15 to October 4, technical director Marjolaine de Coninck. Drinking range: 2024 - 2038 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter (Mar 2023)

The 2017 Labégorce is powerful yet nuanced, and wonderfully complete. Cedar, tobacco, mint, dried herbs and licorice grace this wine of tremendous complexity. While it is towering in its size, richness and intensity, the 2017 is also surprisingly elegant. Creamy, ample and flavorful, this is a very good wine with rather pretty floral notes that grace the exquisite finish. Drinking range: 2025 - 2032 Rating: 93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Mar 2020)

The 2017 Labégorce is aged for 14 months in 45% new oak. This has an attractive bouquet with brambly red berry fruit, cedar and subtle dark chocolates scents. It is clean and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, not the most powerful Margaux in this vintage, a little dusty on the finish but still, quite a stylish Labégorce that deserves some bottle age. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2020)

The 2017 Labégorce was picked 15 September to 4 October and matured in 45% new oak. It has a perfumed bouquet with rose petal and violet aromas infusing the dark cherry and raspberry pastille notes. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a fine line of acidity. There is some vanillary oak to be subsumed during the élevage, wood tannins just lining the mouth on the aftertaste. But this is a finely made Margaux that should age well over the next 15 to 20 years. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2018)

Deep cherry red with black core. Sweet-smelling cassis with an attractive dusty graphite overlay. Soft chalky tannins and not a huge amount of fruit on the palate but the tannins are light enough to keep the balance, though the finish is quite dry. Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 15.5 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2018)

Beginning with the 2009 vintage, Labégorce Zédé was folded into Labégorce, both of which are owned by the Perrodo family (as is the recently acquired Marquis d'Alesme). Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Labégorce gives pronounced black fruits, blackberries and black plums with suggestions of underbrush, lavender and bay leaves. The palate is medium-bodied, ripe, plump, juicy and expressive with plush tannins and good length. The current blend is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Rating: 89-91 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Apr 2018)

An excellent Labegorce, full of rich black fruits, textured and layered. A great success in the vintage, with a mouthwatering delivery that holds itself with confidence. It's not hugely intense, as is often the case this year, but makes up for it with a poised delivery and firm, juicy tannins. Drinking range: 2025 - 2038 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter (Apr 2018)

The 2017 Château Labégorce checks in as 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot (which is slightly more than normal), 8% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, aging in 45% new French oak. Its vibrant purple color is followed by a beautiful bouquet of crème de cassis, crushed flowers, classy oak, and graphite. With medium to full-bodied richness, an awesome texture, and ripe tannin, it’s up with the top wines from the appellation. Tasted twice. This is an estate readers need to have on their radar. Rating: 91-93 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Apr 2018)

A juicy and rich red with lots of fruit and wet-earth character. Medium to full body, ripe tannins and a fresh finish. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2018)

Fresh and lively, with red and black currant fruit gilded with lilac and sandalwood notes. A fresh mineral edge shows on the finish. Nicely rendered. Rating: 90-93 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2018)

Here we have a restrained and somewhat matchsticky nose, the fruit hidden behind some rather reductive characteristics, although I do get a little blackcurrant fruit coming through for a moment. It has a pretty palate, with a medium-body wrapped in a quite seamless texture at the start, a slightly loose middle, with a rather chalky character to the fruit which persists on the finish. It feels dry, grippy, well-wrapped in oak, quite light in substance though, with more grip than stuffing. It finishes quite short. Rating: 87-89 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2018)

Nathalie Perrodo brought her father's dream to reality with the 2010, the 'first' vintage from the newly reunited Labégorce vineyards, after they had spent a couple of centuries split into three. The Labégorce vineyard seems to have been named after an Abbé Gorsse, but the truth is somewhat shrouded in mystery. Feret, in his edition of 1865, mentions the existence of the noble La Bégorce house in Margaux from 1332. The estate was split into three after the revolution. The part that was named Labégorce Zédé in 1840 was reintegrated for the first time since then in 2010. Hubert Perrodo bought Labégorce in 1989, and the buildings of l'Abbé Gorsse de Gorsse in 2002 (the vineyard of this one escaped him, bought by Château Margaux). But his dream of re-uniting the historic Labégorce estate after he bought Labégorce Zédé in 2005 was cut short by his death in a ski-ing accident at Courchevel in 2006. After a couple of years of reflection, his twenty-five year-old daughter Nathalie has taken up the challenge of continuing his work, directing this really quite large domaine which also includes the fifteen hectares of the Cru Classé Château Marquis d'Alesme.