Appellations

Labegorce 2018

Margaux, Cru bourgeois

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Tasting Notes

The 2018 Labegorce has a very seductive bouquet of pure black cherries, blueberry and crushed floral scents. This is one of the more precocious 2018 Margaux, revealing an increasing floral element with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red and black fruit laced with tar and licorice. Very cohesive, tightening up toward the finish, which retains fine nuance and mineralité.

Score: 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023 - 2045 Date: 22 August 2021

The 2018 Château Labegorce is a perfumed, already complex Margaux based on 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its medium ruby hue gives way to lovely notes of blueberries, raspberries, flowers, sandalwood, and assorted baking spice cabinet-like nuances. Medium to full-bodied, with beautifully pure fruit and silky tannins, it's a wine that grows on you with time in the glass. It's not a blockbuster, but it exudes elegance and class as well as balance. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 20-25 years or more.

Score: 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2046 Date: 19 July 2021

Another winner from Margaux is the 2018 Château Labégorce, which is an interesting blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (although I was given slightly different blends for the two samples tasted). Aging in 40% new oak, this deeply colored effort offers a beautiful perfume of blueberries, raspberries, flowers, and spice. It’s medium to full-bodied, has remarkable purity, and fine tannins, and should be approachable right out of the gate. It’s worth mentioning this estate has been managed by Marjolaine de Coninck since 2009, and it’s a rocking value in the market today. Tasted twice.

Score: 93 - 96 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 24 April 2019

The 2018 Labégorce is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It has 14% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with a beautiful perfume of kirsch, black cherry compote and cassis, plus hints of licorice, lilacs and baking spices. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly played with soft tannins and compelling freshness supporting the fragrant red and black fruits, finishing on a spicy note.

Score: 93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2023 - 2040 Date: 15 July 2021

Beginning with the 2009 vintage, Labégorce Zédé has been folded into Labégorce, both of which are owned by the Perrodo family (as is the recently acquired Marquis d'Alesme). The 53-hectare vineyard has thus grown to 65 hectares and remains situated on the plateau just north of the town of Margaux, across the road from Lascombes. Density now approaches 10,000 vines per hectare with an average age in 2018 of 29 years. Aging is in 40% new and 60% one-year-old barrels. The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot and it has 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black colored, the 2018 Labégorce is a little subdued by cedar to begin, giving way to a core of plum preserves, Black Forest cake and Indian spices with wafts of garrigue and lavender. Full, concentrated and laden with black fruit preserves, it has an approachable frame of firm, rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a peppery note.

Score: 91 - 93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019

2018 is the first year for eight vintages that this wine is back to being 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, after replantings have come on line. That helps, perhaps, with the lift it shows even in this extremely concentrated year. It's a lovely Labégorce, with some bouncy, chewy tannins alongside blue and bramble fruits and some spice. As it opens up, a more floral character comes out. Harvested between 20 September and 15 October, producing a 35hl/ha yield - less from mildew and more a consequence of the frost in 2017 that affected growth in some areas. There were also some young Cabernet vines on gravel that over-concentrated. Aged in 40% new oak from six forests in Germany and Austria as well as France. 3% Petit Verdot makes up the blend.

Score: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2025-2038 Date: 16 April 2019

This is a plump and rich Labégorce with a full body, juicy tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Lots of pure and intense fruit.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019

The 2018 Labégorce is plump, juicy and forward, with terrific fruit intensity and richness. Suave and silky, with notable persistence, Labégorce has so much to offer. Labégorce is not that complex - at least not today - but it is undeniably delicious and will deliver tons of pleasure upon release. The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Tasted two times.

Score: 90 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019

Really expressive, with a gorgeous beam of raspberry, blackberry and blueberry fruit driving through, inlaid with graphite and anise notes. The very polished feel lets the fruit glisten on the finish.

Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2019