Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse 2018

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feiner Nougat, schwarze Beerenfrucht, zart nach Gewürze, kandierte Orangenzesten, mineralischer Touch. Stoffig, engmaschig, tolle Komplexität, reife Herzkirschen, frische Säurestruktur, extraktsüßer Abgang, perfekte Tannine, bleibt minutenlang haften, süßer Fruchtnachhall, für Jahrzehnte gebaut, wirklich überzeugender Wein."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, black olive, oyster shell and black tea. Some ash and dried flowers, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Sleek and compact with a savory, mineral finish. Great length and depth. Wonderful texture. Such precision. Try from 2026."

DECANTER: "Nicolas Thienpont has been director here for 10 years now, and the changes that he has brought have had a stunning and important effect, firmly placing this as one of the best estates in the appellation. Everything feels a little deeper and darker than its sibling Pavie Macquin in this vintage: the tannins are a little less pliant and a little more serious. This is clearly going to age well - you can feel the scrape of the limestone, the concentration of the cassis and tight tobacco flavours, the lift of the spices through the finish, and the tannic mass that's undeniable. 2018 saw half the normal yield, down in the mid-20hl/ha, and you can't miss the concentration it lends to the wine. The vines come from the slopes with clay over limestone, and with such natural power allied to these low yields I am sure this will take a full 10 years to become drinkable, but watch it really come into its own in 40 or 50 years!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With all the richness, density and concentration required, you also find endless waves of perfectly ripe, black, blue and dark red fruits, crushed rocks, stone, licorice, smoke, flowers and espresso. Here you find, intensity, purity, minerality, silk and velvety tannins and a seamless, 60 second finish that just won't quit. The wine blends is 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. Only 1,150 cases were produced."

WEINWISSER: "Extrem schwarzes Purpur mit undurchsichtiger Mitte und ganz zartem rubinrotem Rand. Komplexes Bouquet mit Anklängen an frisch gepflückte Alpenheidelbeeren, Wildkirschen und edler Cassiswürze. Im zweiten Ansatz erkalteter Earl- Grey, dunkles Edelholz und dunkle Mineralik. Am erhabenen Gaumen mit einer Textur wie Samt und Seide, kakaoartigem Tannin, tänzerischer Rasse und perfekt geformtem Körper. Im katapultartigen Finale schwarze Beeren, Estragon, Koriander ummantelt von einer royalen Adstringenz. Wow!"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Beausejour Heritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse comes prancing out of the glass with the most gorgeous perfume of plum preserves, kirsch, redcurrant jelly and red roses, followed by suggestions of molten licorice, raspberry leaves, oolong tea and iron ore, with a waft of forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with black and red berry preserves layers, framed by fantastically plush tannins and a seamless backbone, finishing long and earthy. A wine of impeccable poise and polish, it is delicious now, but allow it 3-4 years in bottle to really fan its feathers and drink it over the next 20 years or more."

JEB DUNNUCK: "While the 2018 Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) doesn't match the 2009 or 2016, it's certainly not far off. I wish every reader could taste this beautiful, age-worthy Saint-Emilion, and they should certainly have bottles in the cellar. Coming from a gorgeous hillside terroir of clay and limestone soils outside of Saint-Emilion and a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, it reveals a dense purple hue as well as classic Saint-Emilion minerality in its cassis and blue fruits as well as notes of damp earth, truffle, tobacco, and spring flowers. With full-bodied richness, a concentrated, backward, structured mouthfeel, lots of tannins, and just a brilliant mix of richness and elegance, it needs a good 5-7 years in the cellar and will have 40-50 years of prime drinking."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2018 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse is deep garnet purple in color. It skips out with bright notes of redcurrants and black raspberries, plus touches of violets, cardamom, and cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly styled with very fine tannins and lots of delicate layers, it finishes long and fragrant. Beautiful!"

WINE SPECTATOR: "A head-turner, with velvety-textured cassis, plum sauce and cherry reduction flavors gliding through with a bit of panache thanks to bittersweet cocoa, black tea and dried anise notes. Chalky minerality extends the finish and leaves a mouthwatering echo. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2038. 1,165 cases made."