2018 Château Le Boscq, Cru Bourgeois St-Estèphe

Le Boscq lies minutes from the Gironde estuary, 18ha of vines on a deep gravel bank with clay subsoils. The château first obtained cru bourgeois status in 1932 when the classification began, then in 2020 was promoted to exceptionnel. The 2018 wine is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Individual plots were fermented in small stainless steel vats, then the wine spent 12 months ageing in oak barriques, of which 45% were new. Georgina Hindle: Smooth and full of energy, a touch of sweetness to the red, blue and black fruits and lashings of dark chocolate, liquorice and slate. Brilliant purity of expression and definition. Vincenzo Arnese: Blackcurrant, figs and charred wood, the palate riper with a sweeter feeling: crisp tannins, intense and very oaky, and notes of nutmeg and vanilla. Daphne Teremetz: Blackcurrant cordial fruit and some cedar and light nutty complexity on the nose. Full, bold body with super-fine, tight tannins – moderately smooth, soft acidity and a ripe blueberry finish.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 le Boscq features expressive notes of baked blackcurrants, blackberry pie and stewed plums with wafts of Provence herbs, cigar box and black pepper. Full, concentrated and supported by firm, chewy tannins, it has soft acid and an herbal lift on the finish.

This is savoury, juicy and full of flavour. 2018 is the first year that the new Cabernet Sauvignon plantings have been incorporated into the grand vin and you can feel their weight. The vines are getting older, and so proved more resistant to the weather in this vintage. This is a lovely Le Boscq with real Médoc classicism, showing a graphite edge, and will provide excellent medium-term drinking. Terra Vitis and HVE3 certified (as with the rest of the Dourthe portfolio).

This has a beautiful sense of cabernet sauvignon with blackcurrant, blackberry and hot-stone character throughout. Medium to full body, tight and integrated tannins and a flavorful finish.

The 2018 Le Boscq speaks with real authority. Gravel, dried flowers and grilled herbs add striking aromatic nuance to this succulent, beautifully layered Saint-Estèphe. The purity of the fruit - such a signature of 2018 - is compelling.