2023 Croix de Labrie, St-Emilion

Serious nose, full of aromatic intensity. Lovely texture and flavour straight away - intense and so impactful - such concentrated flavour with perfectly integrated tannins. There’s freshness and lift with a mouthwatering edge and a moreish, salty, graphite and stony finish. A brilliant 2023 full of power, flavour, freshness and drinkability. Balanced without trying too hard. Terroir really comes through. I like it because of the intensity and concentration but there's also such. a lightness of touch plus it ends on an enjoyable salty finish. (GH)

A brilliant Saint-Emilion from limestone plateau soils, the 2023 Château Croix De Labrie sports a deep purple hue as well as a gorgeous nose of cassis, crushed stone, spring flowers, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, seamless, elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. Based on 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc and aged 22 months in roughly 56% new French oak with the balance in once-used barrels, foudre, and 500-liter vessels, this beauty will benefit from a few years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more if well stored. This is a fabulous estate that every reader should have on their radar. Drink 2029-2046.