Chateau Tour Saint Christophe Saint Emilion 2018

This tiny, picturesque vineyard on the east side of Saint-Émilion has turned out another brilliant wine with their 2018 Château Tour Saint Christophe. The vineyard covers 6.5 hectares of terraced slopes sitting just across from Château Barde-Haut and consists of old vine Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The 2018 is a tentative blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, harvested from September 25 through October 15, that hit 14.6% alcohol and is aging in 40% new French oak, with the balance in second- and third-fill barrels. Its deep purple color is followed by a medium to full-bodied, ripe, brilliantly concentrated Saint-Émilion that has terrific purity of fruit, classic minerality and graphite characteristics, good acidity, and building tannins. In short, it's a classic wine from this cooler terroir that's going to benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for two decades. It well worth a multiple case purchase!

The 2018 Tour Saint Christophe has a delineated and focused, almost clinical bouquet with pretty red cherry and blueberry fruit intermixed with peony and iris flower. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, good acidity and poise with really quite superb tension and energy on the finish. This could have been pushed in the winery - it's not - it's succinctly judged and really utterly delicious. So silky that it will probably drink early, but I would advise cellaring for five years if possible.