Chateau La Croix de Gay 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "A rich, multilayered nose of dark fruit, mushrooms, earth and violets. Some black olives, too. Full-bodied with layers of ripe tannins that are polished and refined. The finish is persistent and beautiful. Creamy at the end. Drink after 2023."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This powerful, Merlot-dominated wine is densely textured and concentrated. Powerful, dark fruits are as intense as the tannins, offering huge richness. For contrast, fresher acidity shoots through the wine, adding to the ageworthy promise. Drink from 2025."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Tabakig-kräuterwürzig unterlegtes schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, frische Orangenzesten, reife Pflaumen. Saftig, elegant, dezente Extraktsüße, integrierte Tannine, schokoladig im Abgang, gute Länge, verfügt über Reifepotenzial."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Medium bodied, forward and already displaying its mix of truffle, leaf, cherry, spice and red plum on the nose and palate. The wine is soft, juicy and fresh, leaving you with silky, sweet cherries and a lot of up-front, Pomerol charm in the finish."

DECANTER: "This has deepened over ageing, with a clear focus on blackberry puree, still with silky tannins and a touch of gloss. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038"

JEB DUNNUCK: "Showing nicely, the 2018 Château La Croix De Gay offers a rich, nicely concentrated, textured style as well as notable purity in its smoky black fruits, charcuteries, spice, dried herbs, and cedary aromas and flavors. It packs plenty of richness on the mid-palate, has ripe yet present tannins, subtle background oak, and outstanding length on the finish. It's impressive but needs 3-4 years at a minimum in the cellar and will cruise for 10-15 years."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Enticing, with a mix of crushed plum and loganberry fruit that has good inner brightness, while racy anise, savory and mineral details fill in throughout. Good cut on the finish too. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030."