Chateau Faugeres 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "An extremely polished Bordeaux with silky tannins that are integrated and creamy-textured. Lots of blueberry and blackberry character. Such pure fruit here. It’s already long and delicious, but has plenty of structure and needs at least four or five years of bottle age. Try after 2024."

WEINWISSER: "Purpurrot mit satter Mitte. Opulentes Bouquet mit edler Cassiswürze, reifen Brombeeren und Holundergelee, dahinter frischer roter Kirschsaft und zartes Veilchenparfüm. Am festen Gaumen mit spröder Textur, körniges Extrakt, engmaschiges Tanninkorsett und fein nervige Rasse. Im aromatischen dichten Finale kleine zerdrückte schwarze Beeren, Estragon und spürbare Adstringenz. Die Balance ist hier aktuell nicht vorhanden, daher wurde die Trinkreife leicht zurückgesetzt."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Juicy black cherry, jammy raspberries, toasted spices, and leafy herbs notes all emerge from the 2018 Château Faugères, which is medium to full-bodied and has a soft, elegant texture, a kiss of chalky minerality, and remarkable purity of fruit. A blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and the final 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in 50% new French oak, this builds nicely with time in the glass, will positively improve over the coming 2-4 years, and cruise in cold cellars over the following decade or more. It's a beautiful wine."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Angenehme Edelholzwürze, ein Hauch von Zedern und Gewürzen, dunklen Kirschen, schwarzen Beeren, mineralische Note. Saftig, extraktsüß, zart nach Lakritze, präsente, gut eingebundene Tannine, frisch im Abgang, salzig-kalkig im Nachhall, gute Länge, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Dark in color, the wine instantly hits you with licorice, chocolate covered cherries, plums, smoke and espresso. Lush, polished, rich and velvety, there is good density, lift and length here. This wine is forward in style and should be great to enjoy with just a few years of age, if you can keep your hands off it for that long. The wine was made from a blend of 70% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Faugères, which was harvested beginning September 25, is composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it slips sensuously from the glass with notions of blackberry compote, wild blueberries and redcurrant jelly with hints of cardamom, cigar box and dusty soil plus a waft of star anise. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a firm backbone of rounded tannins with bold freshness and loads of black fruit preserves layers, finishing long and spicy."

DECANTER: "This 2018 is true to the Faugères signature of big, bold and totally confident in its tannic and fruit structure. It's high in alcohol but also high in acidity, with great structure without trying to push its agenda. The big, chewy tannins are reflective of its cooler terroir on the eastern edge of St-Emilion. This impressive wine will age well."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Black cherry and plum preserve flavors are fresh and well-defined, with anise, violet and black tea notes gilding the finish. Nicely inlaid graphite edge gives it structure, but that stays in the background, letting the fruit play out. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2032. 5,000 cases made. — JM"