Chateau Labegorce 2017

JEB DUNNUCK: "Under the helm of Marjolaine de Coninck, who arrived from Fonplegade in 2009, this estate has been firing on all cylinders, and they've made a beautiful 2017 Chateau Labegorce. Based on 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that spent 14 months in 45% new oak, its deep purple/plum color is followed by a complex, medium to full-bodied, seamless Margaux that has complexity as well as depth and richness. With lots of cassis fruit and notes of sandalwood and spice, they’ve done a fabulous job with the tannins, and it has a great mid-palate and outstanding purity. You’d be excused for drinking bottles today, yet it should benefit from short-term cellaring and evolve for 15 years. This estate covers 65 hectares (there are 53 hectares under vine) located just north of the town of Margaux, on the plateau just across the road from Lascombes. If you haven’t tried these wines in a while, now is an excellent time to give them another look."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This has a swathe of very attractive plums and ripe red berries on offer. The palate has a very fresh array of fine tannins. Smooth and easy with a rich, deep-set drive to the finish. Drink or hold."

DECANTER: "An excellent Labegorce, full of rich black fruits, textured and layered. A great success in the vintage, with a mouthwatering delivery that holds itself with confidence. It's not hugely intense, as is often the case this year, but makes up for it with a poised delivery and firm, juicy tannins. Drinking Window 2025 - 2038"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Floral, black raspberry, espresso and earthy notes initiate a fresh, round, forward wine. This is soft, medium bodied with elegant textures and a sweet, ripe, fruity finish. Made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot, the wine reached13% alcohol. Thirty percent of the harvest was hit with frost."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Ripe and stylish, featuring dark plum and blackberry compote flavors, infused with singed alder and tobacco notes. The fine-grained finish has nice flow. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032."

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes Purpurgranat. Intensives Brombeerbouquet, dahinter duftige Veilchen, schwarze Johannisbeerdrops, Virginia-Tabak und Milchschokolade. Am molligen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, Lakritze- artiger Mineralik und feinstoffigem Extrakt, getragen von einer perfekt stützenden Rasse. Im gebündelten Finale blaubeerige Konturen, helle Edelhölzer und Estragon. Ein absoluter Best-Buy aus Margaux, der sich über eine wachsende Fangemeinde freuen darf."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a wood-laden, spicy wine. It seems as though the wood has taken precedence over the fruit, giving the tannins prominence. While it will soften, the wine's dryness will stay. Drink from 2024."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Labégorce has quite an oaky nose to begin, giving way to scents of warm plums, pencil shavings and blackcurrant pastilles plus a waft of black olives. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers a lot of muscular fruit, framed by firm, chewy tannins and bold freshness, finishing a little hard."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, reife Pflaumen, etwas Kakao, kandierte Orangenzesten, Nougat unterlegt. Schlanke Textur, reife Kirschen, runde Tannine, zart schokoladig, bereits entwickelt, rasch antrinkbar."