CHÂTEAU LABÉGORCE

Another winner from Margaux is the 2018 Château Labégorce, which is an interesting blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (although I was given slightly different blends for the two samples tasted). Aging in 40% new oak, this deeply colored effort offers a beautiful perfume of blueberries, raspberries, flowers, and spice. It’s medium to full-bodied, has remarkable purity, and fine tannins, and should be approachable right out of the gate. It’s worth mentioning this estate has been managed by Marjolaine de Coninck since 2009, and it’s a rocking value in the market today. Tasted twice. Rating: 93-96 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Apr 2019)

Black core with purple rim. Sweet, dark and a little charry on the nose. Darkly and sweetly spiced. Rich and chewy, not meshed yet but in good health for the future. Drinking range: 2025 - 2033 Rating: 16+ Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2019)

Beginning with the 2009 vintage, Labégorce Zédé has been folded into Labégorce, both of which are owned by the Perrodo family (as is the recently acquired Marquis d'Alesme). The 53-hectare vineyard has thus grown to 65 hectares and remains situated on the plateau just north of the town of Margaux, across the road from Lascombes. Density now approaches 10,000 vines per hectare with an average age in 2018 of 29 years. Aging is in 40% new and 60% one-year-old barrels. The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot and it has 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black colored, the 2018 Labégorce is a little subdued by cedar to begin, giving way to a core of plum preserves, Black Forest cake and Indian spices with wafts of garrigue and lavender. Full, concentrated and laden with black fruit preserves, it has an approachable frame of firm, rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a peppery note. Rating: 91-93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Apr 2019)

This is a plump and rich Labégorce with a full body, juicy tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Lots of pure and intense fruit. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2019)

In this vintage Labégorce is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, and the declared alcohol is 14%. It begins with a nose dominated by reductive elements, along with a wealth of toasted oak, although there are also intriguing seams of praline, liquorice and black bean too. The palate is certainly attractive, showing a really beautifully polished substance, with creamed summer berry, black cherry and blackcurrant fruits, laced with black bean and black pepper, beneath which sit some fine and peppery tannins, all elegantly knit together. This is a really serious effort from Labégorce, surely one of the best efforts in recent years. A lovely juicy substance in the finish, with a fine grain of tannins beneath. The élevage is in 40% new oak and 60% second-fill oak. Rating: 93-95 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2019)

There are notions of some serious wood aging here, which are happily sustained by the black currant flavor and lively acidity. It will be a firm wine for many years before it opens up. Rating: 94 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast www.winemag.com (Apr 2019)

2018 is the first year for eight vintages that this wine is back to being 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, after replantings have come on line. That helps, perhaps, with the lift it shows even in this extremely concentrated year. It's a lovely Labégorce, with some bouncy, chewy tannins alongside blue and bramble fruits and some spice. As it opens up, a more floral character comes out. Harvested between 20 September and 15 October, producing a 35hl/ha yield - less from mildew and more a consequence of the frost in 2017 that affected growth in some areas. There were also some young Cabernet vines on gravel that over-concentrated. Aged in 40% new oak from six forests in Germany and Austria as well as France. 3% Petit Verdot makes up the blend. Drinking range: 2025 - 2038 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter (Mar 2019)