2018 Chateau Croix de Labrie Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 750ml

Château Croix de Labrie, classified Grand Cru, is part of the Grand Vin de Bordeaux and is now considered as one of the great jewels of the Right Bank. The fruit comes from different parcels in Badon and on the plateau of Saint-Christophe des Bardes. The fruit is hand-harvested, destemmed, optically-sorted then vinified by plot. Aged in new barrels for a year and a half before bottling. James Suckling - "A rich, powerful red with so much fruit and intensity. It’s full-bodied with masses of fruit with vanilla and coffee character and a long, warm finish. Layered and intense. Really needs time in the bottle to come together. Better after 2025." 96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "The 2018 Croix de Labrie is a blend is 90% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new oak barrels for approximately 18 months. The wine has 14% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a fair bit of swirling and coaxing to unlock notions of Black Forest cake, preserved plums and blackberry pie with suggestions of star anise, tilled soil, Indian spices and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate has a sturdy structure of firm, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. Here's a beautifully expressed piece of Saint-Émilion turf on a clear upward trajectory! 94+" Vinous - "The 2018 Croix de Labrie has really come together beautifully over the last two years. Inky and layered in the glass, the 2018 possesses striking depth and tons of character. Sweet floral and spice aromas lift a core of inky dark red fruit. Mocha, spice, lavender and blood orange appear later, adding further shades of complexity. A wine of tremendous harmony and class, Croix de Labrie is impressive, to say the least." 94