Château Croizet-Bages 2018

Noticeable oak spice; full-bodied attack, straightforward on the palate, fruity, crisp tannins, juicy finish, balanced, ending on lovely berry notes.

Violet edging with a lovely texture, this is full of rich chocolate, coffee bean and mocha, cassis, blackcurrant and bilberry. This is classic Pauillac and a great showing from Croizet-Bages.

Fresh blackcurrant, tobacco leaf, licorice and walnut on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Sleek and fresh. Try from 2024.

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot; 50% new oak. Barrel sample. Darkest purple crimson. Like several other Pauillacs, finely scented with fresh black fruit, gently cedary and with a gentle sweetness too. On the palate, juicy at the core but clothed with firm, grainy tannins. A bit of a wall of tannins on the finish. (JH)

Medium-bodied, forward, fruity, fresh and already showing some secondary nuances of tobacco leaf, herbs, olives, forest, cedar and cherry tones. Give this 5 years or so in the bottle and it should start to show quite nicely. This is a solid step up in quality here.

Deep ruby garnet, purple glints, faintly lighter at the rim. Dark berry jam, black cherries, a hint of candied orange zest, delicate hardwood tones. Medium-bodied, red cherries, integrated tannins, freshly structured, some nougat on the finish. Already a well-developed, versatile food companion. (2020-2035)

Deep purple with a black core. Complex bouquet of blue berries, juniper, and tobacco leaf. On the palate, a rugged structure with a burly body, turning austere, with firm, hearty notes underneath. Encapsulated finish with sloe, delicate graphite notes, and mulberries. Rounded off!

Kunz barrel sample 19: Spicy, austere bouquet, blackberries, old wood, rubber. Medium-bodied, firm palate with light fruit, sandy tannins, austere aromatics, dry finish. Has room to improve.

Floral, slender, slightly vegetal bouquet, red cassis, old wood, white pepper. Firm, medium-bodied palate with light red-berry fruit, sandy tannins, subtle aromatics, austere finish. 16/20 2023 - 2034

The 2018 Croizet-Bages has a deep garnet-purple color. It offers scents of warm blackberries, boysenberries, and juicy blackcurrants, with touches of wild thyme and fallen leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate is slightly hollow, with chewy tannins and an abrupt finish.

Sample may be tired. To be reviewed. Provisional score.

The 2018 is full-bodied, showing lovely volume on the palate. It’s a success for the cru, which is indulgent, with a silky finish.

Elegant, inviting bouquet with notes of red berries and a hint of candied fruit. Juicy, indulgent attack. On the palate, the wine is fine, slender, and perfectly balanced. The tannins ensure longevity and the structure carries the freshness.

The nose is distinguished and offers depth as well as a refined minerality. It reveals notes of fresh/ripe strawberry, fresh blackcurrant and, more subtly, refined mineral/gravel tones, combined with hints of white pepper and spices, along with fine touches of nutmeg, discreet hints of almond and toast, and a very discreet hint of cardamom. The palate is fruity, balanced, elegant, finely defined, and offers indulgence, a beautiful texture marked by delicacy and finesse, a creamy side, roundness, a fine tangy backbone, smoothness, energy, very subtle richness, and lovely finesse. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/tangy blackberry and pulpy/tangy redcurrant, and, more slightly, cherry, combined with touches of refined minerality as well as discreet hints of toast, tonka bean, and a touch of vanilla. The tannins are elegant, fine, precise, and supple. Indulgent on the finish/persistence.

A soft, ripe and fruity wine, this has attractive blackberry fruits and gentle tannins. A core of dryness gives the wine some aging potential. It will be an enjoyable, friendly wine from 2024.