97
JAMES SUCKLING: "Elegant, complex nose with dark and blue fruit, as well as spicy and earthy undertones. Sandalwood and cedar with dark chocolate, too. Full body with firm, ultra fine tannins. Structured, layered and flavorful on the palate. It’s very polished with a lovely texture and a long finish. Pure and luscious. Merlot with 37% cabernet franc. Best ever. Try after 2024, but already very beautiful."
95
JEB DUNNUCK: "I think the 2018 Château Nenin might check in behind the magical 2019, but it's certainly in the same league as the 2016. Based roughly on 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, its deep purple color is followed by a beautiful nose of ripe black cherries, cassis, chocolate, violets, and spring flowers. With beautiful freshness, medium to full-bodied richness, seamless tannins, and a great finish, this gorgeous Pomerol is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and evolve for two decades."
95
FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Dunkles Beerenkonfit, feine Pflaumenfrucht, ein Hauch von Edelholz und Orangenzesten. Am Gaumen kraftvoll süßer Kern, etwas Nougat, reife Herzkirschen, mineralisch und straff, von frischer Säure getragen, gute Länge, würziger Nachhall, ein Vin de Garde."
94
THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Nenin is a blend of 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc, weighing in at 14.6% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, the nose explodes with bombastic notions of baked black plums, stewed cherries and boysenberries with suggestions of licorice, eucalyptus, clove oil and hoisin. The medium to full-bodied palate has a lovely line of freshness lifting the ripe, rich, dark fruit layers, framed by plush tannins, finishing with lingering exotic spice notes."
18
WEINWISSER: "63 % Merlot, 37 % Cabernet Franc. Lese war vom 13. September – 10. Oktober. Dichtes Purpurrot. Komplexes Bouquet mit Wildkirschen, getrockneter Rosmarin und Holundergelee, dahinter helle Schokonoten, Burleytabak und Sommertrüffel. Am molligen Gaumen mit kakaoartigem Tannin, perfekt stützende Rasse, sehr geradlinig, beeindruckende Tiefe. Im gebündelten Finale ein langes Finale mit Schattenmorellen und Nelken. Hier geht es im Vergleich zu den Primeurs einen Punkt nach oben."
93
DECANTER: "Clear pencil lead and slate gives a sense of restraint and balance to what are fully ripe fruits. There are figs, blackberries, liquorice and black chocolate; a ton of interest and depth, and full, chewy tannins through the close of play. It maintains a Left Bank feel that is so typical in this Pomerol, and is hugely successful. Tasted twice and both times I got the same character of crayon and concentration. 3.63pH. Drinking Window 2026 - 2038"
93
WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This structured wine conveys a strong sense of power. Rich, black Merlot fruits are kept in shape by tannins and by freshness, a hallmark of wines from the Delon family of LĂ©oville-las-Cases in Saint-Julien. The wine should age well, so wait until 2027."
93
WINE SPECTATOR: "Ripe, and even a bit showy (atypical for the vintage), with plum, blackberry and blueberry notes bursting forth, backed by licorice and fruitcake accents. Starts to show its spine through the finish, with a tug of warm stone and tobacco adding contrast and cut. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2035."
92
THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Flowers, plum, wet earth, smoke and cocoa open the wine. On the palate the wine has firmed up since it was in barrel. The wine is concentrated, full-bodied, ripe, deep, fresh and energetic, with the structure to age quite well. The finish fills you up with sweet, ripe fruits and chocolate. It will require some aging to fill out and soften, so give it at least 5-7 years in the cellar. The wine is made from 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV."