Appellations

Quinault l'Enclos 2017

St Emilion, Grand Cru

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Tasting Notes

The 2017 Quinault L'Enclos comes across as rather light in this vintage, with only modest depth and complexity. Bright red stone fruit and floral notes are nicely lifted. It will be interesting to see if the 2017 fleshes out a bit during aging. Today, it is a slightly compact and vegetal. The blend is 64% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 87 - 89 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 May 2018

The 2017 Quinault l’Enclos has a slightly warmer microclimate than Cheval Blanc so it was not affected by frost at all. It is managed exactly like Cheval Blanc even though the terroir is different. It is the first vintage to be vinified in the new cellar equipped with 22 different sized vats and in recent years, more and more Cabernet Sauvignon has been planted due to its gravel soils. This is matured in 50% new oak and 50% used, including one 20-hectolitre foudre. It has a curiously Fronsac-like bouquet with broody dark berry fruit laced with warm gravel, becoming more Left Bank in style as it opens up. The palate is medium-bodied with lace-like tannin, very linear and conservative in style, quite saline in the mouth with a brisk, dried herb, perhaps even fennel-tinged finish. Give this three, maybe four years in bottle as I would like to see it develop a little more grace and personality.

Score: 89 - 91 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2035 Date: 01 May 2018

There was no frost at all in Quinault l’Enclos, as it is right in Libourne and a bit warmer. The 2017 Quinault l'Enclos is blended of 64% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak and 50% one-year-old oak—only 500-liter barrels and foudres. Deep garnet-purple in color, it gives expressive notes of warm plums, blackberry pie and black forest cake with touches of Chinese five spice and dusty soil. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and grainy with a good amount of earthy fruit and a savory finish.

Score: 89 - 91 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 27 April 2018

Deep crimson. Delicately herbaceous and slightly dusty aroma. Smells of stone dust. Or is it the concrete in the cellar? Under that, light cassis. Strange mix of herbaceous flavours and sweet chocolate. Sweet/sour at the moment. Smooth tannins, chocolate texture. Gentle but fresh. (16- Points)

Score: 16 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2029 Date: 25 April 2018

From a pure gravel terroir in Saint-Emilion, the 2017 Quinault l'Enclos is mostly Merlot blended with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, all aging in 50% new barrels. This medium-bodied, elegant 2017 has terrific black cherry fruit, plenty of minerality and floral nuances, ripe, sweet tannin, and a great finish. It’s a fair step back from the blockbuster 2015 but should easily be an outstanding wine.

Score: 90 - 92 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 23 April 2018

A firm and silky red with blackberry and chocolate character. Medium-to full-bodied, pretty and focused. A delicious young wine.

Score: 92 - 93 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 03 April 2018

This is a success for an estate that has now seen ten years under the stewardship of Cheval Blanc, undergoing lots of replanting and reworking of the vineyards, as well as changing the way they work in the cellar. There was no frost here thanks to their proximity to the town of Libourne. The vines are on gravelly soils from the river bed, as on the Pomerol plateau, and the lack of water over the summer meant the Cabernet Sauvignon did better than the Cabernet Franc. There is still the slightest dip of savoury fruit, reflecting the vintage conditions, but this is coupled with a freshness and juiciness that I really like, alongside touches of florality and some clean redcurrant, raspberry and brambled fruits. The tannins are fine and the acidity is good without being sharp. Matured in 500l casks, 50% new, for 12 months.

Score: 91 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2023-2036 Date: 01 April 2018