Assorted St-Emilion Tasting Lot

“The nose is really glorious with strawberry, wet-earth, blackberry and dark-mushroom character. Full body, a solid core of fruit and beautiful tannins. It’s polished and velvety. Better in 2022 but gorgeous.” (02/2017)

“The 2014 Larcis Ducasse is soft, silky and nuanced. Dark cherry, plum, tobacco, mint and spice flesh out effortlessly in a midweight Larcis that will drink well with minimal cellaring. There is gorgeous depth and density in the glass, but the 2014 also appears to be a bit closed following its bottling in May 2016. With time in the glass, the wine's raciness and voluptuousness start to emerge. Even so, I would prefer to cellar the 2014 for at least a few years. (AG)” (03/2017)

“The 2014 Château Larcis-Ducasse is another elegant wine from this estate. Incorporating slightly more Cabernet Franc (15%) and the balance Merlot, this medium to full-bodied 2014 gives up a pretty, elegant, supple texture as well as a beautiful perfume of sweet strawberries, red and black currants, bouquet garni, tobacco, dried flowers and beautiful minerality. While it shows the hallmark purity and classic style of the 2014 vintage, it has more texture and depth than most. It’s going to offer pleasure for two decades.” (11/2017)

“This is extremely young but is pulsing with minerality. It’s clear that this was a late ripening vintage, with the grapes gathering up flavour and nuance as they inched towards ripeness. It could do with a double decant to show off the complex array of flavours. A floral edge evident, pushing out among the cassis and blueberry fruit, and the tannins are fully in control. (JA)” (09/2019)

“A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2014 Larcis Ducasse is deep garnet colored. It needs a bit of swirling and coaxing to unlock notes of juicy black cherries, blackberry preserves, and dried mulberries, plus suggestions of unsmoked cigars, cast-iron pan, and dusty soil with a waft of dried herbs. The medium to full-bodied palate is mature and ready to enjoy now, delivering lightly chewy tannins and plenty of earthy/tertiary goodness, finishing with lingering black tea and exotic spice notes. It should cellar a further 12-14 years, but why wait? (LPB)” (09/2022)

“This sports some dark fig and boysenberry confiture fruit, laced with a mulling spice hint. Waves of tobacco start to fill in on the back end before the fruit reemerges with a purer edge. A substantial chalky spine pulls everything together. (JM)” (03/2017)

“The 2015 Le Dragon de Quintus is more classic in style, as well as balanced. Offering notes of cassis, blackberries, plums, damp earth and lead pencil, it’s medium-bodied, balanced and nicely concentrated, with beautiful purity and freshness. There’s no harm drinking this today, but it will keep for a decade.” (11/2017)

“Composed of 76% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 le Dragon de Quintus reveals a medium to deep garnet color with notes of crushed black currants, black cherries and mulberries plus touches of garrigue, dried herbs and rose hips. Medium to full-bodied with loads of juicy black fruit and earthy layers supported by ripe, grainy tannins and a lively backbone, it finishes with great persistence. (LPB)” (02/2018)

“An impressive second wine, the 2015 Le Dragon de Quintus captures the richness of the vintage in spades. The flavors are unctuous and succulent, with plenty of dark cherry, plum, spice and new leather nuances. I imagine the 2015 will drink well upon release. This is exactly what a top-rate second wine should be.(AG)” (04/2016)

“Merlot dominates in this second wine of Château Quintus. Ripe, juicy and with delicious red fruits, it is smooth and lightly tannic. This wine will develop over the medium term. (RV)” (04/2018)

“The 2017 Fonplégade is classy, polished and simply impeccable in its balance. The Fonplégade is not a huge wine, but it has really gained in finesse over the course of its aging. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, blood orange, mint and cinnamon add character to this racy, silky, exceptionally polished Saint-Émilion. Floral overtones add brightness to the finish. (AG)” (03/2020)

“This shows a very pretty center palate with blueberries, blackberries and white pepper. Solid tannins and structure. Long and flavorful.” (04/2018)

“Blended of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Fonplegade rolls out of the glass with pronounced notes of plum preserves, baked black cherries and mulberries plus hints of damp soil, cedar chest, new leather and fried herbs. Medium-bodied, the palate is soft-spoken and elegantly played with soft, well-managed tannins and lovely freshness, finishing earthy. (LPB) 93+” (03/2020)

“Open-knit, with light anise, tea and cinnamon hints leading off, followed by gently mulled cherry and plum fruit. Lively acidity is embedded on the finish. (JM)” (04/2018)

“Another great vintage from an estate that has been firing on all cylinders over the past few vintages, aided by consultants Michel Rolland and Stéphane Derenoncourt. There's a gorgeous vibrant colour here with violet reflections, and the firm tannins on the attack are well plumped up. The austerity of the vintage is there but extremely well-handled, and even turned to its advantage because it plays its hand slowly and carefully. It's really quite a serious and well-structured wine, with a freshness through the palate; I love it. 60% new oak. The estate has been organic since 2013 and undergoing biodynamic conversion since 2017. (JA)” (04/2018)

“The 2017 Château Fonplegade is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from a beautiful terroir not far from Pavie. It showed some aggressive tannins, but I suspect they’ll soften and round out during the élevage. The color is deep purple, and it offers a terrific bouquet of cassis and currant fruits, licorice and graphite. Medium-bodied, with nicely integrated oak, a touch of minerality, and solid overall balance, it has plenty of length and oomph on the finish. I suspect 2-3 years of bottle age will be warranted and it will drink nicely for a decade or more.” (04/2018)