Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Château Croix de Labrie 2016

Château Croix de Labrie

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Château Croix de Labrie
2016

  • Organic
Country
France
Regulated designation
Appellation origine controlée (AOC)
Region
Bordeaux
Appellation
Saint-Emilion
Classification
Grand cru
Varietal(s)
Merlot 95 %
Cabernet Sauvignon 5 %
Colour
Red
Sugar
Dry
Producer's website

About this winery

See the Château Croix de Labrie detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

Château Croix de Labrie is considered today as one of the rarest and greatest wines of Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion with Ausone, Angelus, Cheval Blanc, Canon, Valandraud.

Production notes

In organic farming, the harvest is manual. Several passages per row are made in order to collect only the ripe grapes. Aging continues for a minimum of 18 months in new barrels.

Tasting notes

With a deep, elegant color with a lot of finesse, the wines, in their youth, express freshness, power and balance. Cellaring time 15 years and over. Pairings with entrecote with truffles, pan-fried mushrooms and sheep's cheese.

Press reviews

James Suckling

- 98 points -

James Suckling, February 2022 (Vintage 2019)

Fabulous aromas of blackberries, blueberries, pine needles and spices, such as nutmeg and allspice. White pepper, too. Full-bodied and very tight with a solid core of fruit and ultra-fine yet powerful tannins. It’s got so much energy and drive. Vibrant at every level. Precise and not overpowering, yet so structured. 97% merlot and 3% cabernet sauvignon. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. This needs time to soften. Try after 2026.

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James Suckling

- 97 points -

James Suckling, March 2021 (Vintage 2018)

A rich, powerful red with so much fruit and intensity. It’s full-bodied with masses of fruit with vanilla and coffee character and a long, warm finish. Layered and intense. Really needs time in the bottle to come together. Better after 2025.

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Vinous

- 94 points -

Antonio Galloni, March 2021 (Vintage 2018)

The 2018 Croix de Labrie has really come together beautifully over the last two years. Inky and layered in the glass, the 2018 possesses striking depth and tons of character. Sweet floral and spice aromas lift a core of inky dark red fruit. Mocha, spice, lavender and blood orange appear later, adding further shades of complexity. A wine of tremendous harmony and class, Croix de Labrie is impressive, to say the least.

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James Suckling

95-96

James Suckling, May 2022 (Vintage 2021)

So much cool blue fruit and flowers here with minerals and subtle clove notes. Black licorice and black pepper, too. Medium body with very fine yet firm tannins. Focused and linear. Vibrant. The energy keeps going. 87% merlot, 8% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc. From biodynamically grown grapes.

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Vinous

91-93

Neal Martin, April 2022 (Vintage 2021)

It has a quite a perfumed, floral bouquet of violet tinged red fruit with a touch of blueberry coming through. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied and silky-smooth, delivering pliant tannins and a persistent finish. This is a very pleasant surprise. A great showing.

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Wine Advocate

93-95 +

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, June 2020 (Vintage 2019)

Composed of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon with a potential of 14.5% alcohol and aging in 100% new French oak barrels, the 2019 Croix de Labrie has a very deep purple-black color. The nose opens with some very classy cedary notes, giving way to a profound core of baked plums, blackberry preserves and blueberry pie with touches of licorice, chargrilled meats, mocha and eucalyptus with a waft of red roses. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the palate has wonderful vibrancy for its weight, with a solid backbone of plush, ripe tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant. This chateau has been on a roll recently—I am more and more impressed every year.

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Wine Advocate

94+

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, March 2021 (Vintage 2018)

The 2018 Croix de Labrie is a blend is 90% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new oak barrels for approximately 18 months. The wine has 14% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a fair bit of swirling and coaxing to unlock notions of Black Forest cake, preserved plums and blackberry pie with suggestions of star anise, tilled soil, Indian spices and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate has a sturdy structure of firm, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. Here's a beautifully expressed piece of Saint-Émilion turf on a clear upward trajectory!

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Jancis Robinson

17/20

Julia Harding, April 2019 (Vintage 2018)

Black core with purple rim. Intense aroma of sweet black fruit, more plum and damson than cassis. Rich and powerful on the palate but the firm, compact tannins and oak are fully balanced by the ripe generous fruit. Massive density but remarkably fresh on the palate, especially with this much new oak. Chewy and moreish with a long dry finish. Needs a lot of time even though the tannins are so smooth.

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