2019 Chateau Croix de Labrie, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France (750ml)

WINEMAKER'S NOTES: 

Rare and unique wines of Château Croix de Labrie are rich, dense, very fruity, with perfect ripeness. A very elegant very deep color, with lots of finesse. An ability to age for more than 15 years, but in his youth Croix de Labrie brings a lot of power, balance and freshness.

Blend: 93% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon

The Barrel Sample for this wine is above 14% ABV.

TASTING NOTES: 

Fabulous aromas of blackberries, blueberries, pine needles and spices, such as nutmeg and allspice. White pepper, too. Full-bodied and very tight with a solid core of fruit and ultra-fine yet powerful tannins. It’s got so much energy and drive. Vibrant at every level. Precise and not overpowering, yet so structured. 97% merlot and 3% cabernet sauvignon. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. This needs time to soften. Try after 2026.

- James Suckling, 98 pts. 

The 2019 Château Croix De Labrie is gorgeous and jumps out in the vintage. Almost all Merlot brought up in new barrels, it offers a beautiful bouquet of red and black currants, spicy oak, dried herbs, and flowers, with a beautiful loamy earth and chalky minerality emerging with time in the glass. With remarkable purity and finesse, it's full-bodied, has a great mid-palate, silky tannins, and a great finish. It could be drunk today with a decant but will ideally be given 4-5 years of bottle age. I suspect it will have 20-25 years of overall longevity. Best after 2026.

- Jeb Dunnuck, 96 pts. 

Composed of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon with a potential of 14.5% alcohol and aging in 100% new French oak barrels, the 2019 Croix de Labrie has a very deep purple-black color. The nose opens with some very classy cedary notes, giving way to a profound core of baked plums, blackberry preserves and blueberry pie with touches of licorice, chargrilled meats, mocha and eucalyptus with a waft of red roses. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the palate has wonderful vibrancy for its weight, with a solid backbone of plush, ripe tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant. This chateau has been on a roll recently—I am more and more impressed every year.
Barrel Sample: (93-95)+

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 pts. 

Croix de Labrie always delivers a wine that is bursting with fruit and certainly you have polish and glamour here, with things are smartly reined in on the finish. Excellent quality, gourmet and velvety but not overdoing anything with tons of plump damson and black cherry. A yield of 25hl/ha (after selection, it was 30hl/ha at harvest), 100% new oak. Harvest September 20 to October 2, vinified in stainless steel vats and 500l oak barrels.
Barrel Sample: 93

- Decanter, 93 pts.