Chateau Sansonnet 2019

JEB DUNNUCK: "Another beautiful wine from the Lefévère family that does everything right, the 2019 Château Sansonnet has a textbook Saint-Emilion bouquet of chalky minerality, ripe red and black fruits, notes of truffle and flowers, medium to full body, and beautiful overall balance. In the past, this wine has had a glossy, slightly modern style (in a good sense), but the 2019 has an incredibly classic feel with its oak nicely integrated and just a liquid rock-like minerality on the finish. It's a gorgeous wine that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for over two decades."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Opaque garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Sansonnet comes skipping out of the glass with vibrant notes of Morello cherries, blueberry compote, mulberries and warm black plums plus hints of raspberry leaves, Sichuan pepper, cassia and cumin seed with a waft of tree bark. The full-bodied palate is packed with crunchy black and red fruits, framed by exquisitely ripe, rounded tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Beautiful!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deeply colored, the wine is loaded with an array of black, dark red and blue fruits. Full-bodied, and packed with dark chocolate, toasty oak, opulent, flamboyant-textures that comes in layers, this is going to need a few years in the cellar to soften and fully-integrate. There is a minor touch of heat in the finish, (At 15%) but the wealth of fruit covers most of that up. Drink from 2025-2043."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Ripe blackberries, cherries, praline, walnuts and lavender on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine, plush tannins. Creamy and polished. Drink after 2024."

WEINWISSER: "Undurchlässiges Purpur mit lila Rand. Ein Bouquet wie ein Donnerhall! Exotische Hölzer gepaart mit Schokopastillen, dahinter dominikanischer Tabak und frisch eingekochte Zwetschgen. Am molligen Gaumen mit unbändiger Kraft, fein mehligem Extrakt und einem durchtrainierten Bodybuilderkörper. Im aromatischen Finale mazerierte Kirschenhaut und Schlehensaft. Wie immer am Maximum vinifiziert, aber auch dieses Jahr geht die Rechnung auf!"

DECANTER: "Beautifully aromatic nose, rich and ripe filled with bramble fruits and dark cherries. Wow, this packs a punch on the palate. Laser precision when it comes to the fruit, summer strawberries and red cherries - with a touch of really satisfying sweetness - mixed with blackberries but well defined with such clarity. Tannins are fine and support the fruit while providing a softy chalky texture. Nice density and drive with freshness throughout. Feels well made and will have a long ageing potential."

WINE SPECTATOR: " This is both lush and structured, with a gush of dark, steeped cassis, blackberry and fig notes leading the way and quickly followed by singed alder and juniper, warm humus and cast iron notes, which really linger. This won't ever be a charmer, but it will develop nicely over time. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2038. 2,100 cases made, 300 cases imported."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Mit zarter Kräuterwürze unterlegte frische Beerenfrucht, tabakige Nuancen, zart nach Kirschen. Mittlere Komplexität, rotbeerige Nuancen, dezente Tannine, mineralisch, wirkt leichtfüßig, vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter."