Château Le Bon Pasteur 2019

[ Primeurs 2019 Scores: 92-93 ] Flamboyant on the palate, the wine unfolds with depth and great subtlety. The tannins are creamy, silky, fresh and seductive.

A dark and seductive wine, with steeped plum and blackberry flavors inlaid with singed sandalwood, anise and savory notes, while a subtle mineral thread works its way through the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2036. 2,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Beautifully expressive nose, wild flowers, summer berries and sweet cinnamon. Still seriously tannic at the moment but they are well textured like crushed velvet giving a chalky aspect to the palate. Lively juicy fruit and I like the really delicate perfume on this. It's a rich and bold style, heady, but carefully presented, everything in line, still quite tight at the moment and run by the tannins but there's nuance and a sense of style here. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

A perfumed nose of dark cherries, plums, mocha, tea leaves, cedar, hazelnuts and cigar box. Full-bodied with fine, creamy and supple tannins. Framed and balanced with a harmonious structure. The tannin backbone runs through the wine. Long and intense with wonderful purity of fruit. Drink from 2026.

Tasted blind. Very dark blackish crimson. Luscious fruit on the nose and then a bit tart on the palate. Rather uncompromising instead of fun. Finishes a bit short. (JR)

The 2019 Le Bon Pasteur is just as compelling from bottle as it was in barrel. Succulent dark cherry, spice, leather, tobacco and cedar lend striking aromatic presence. In fact, it is the aromatics that are especially beguiling. Tasted two times. The 2019 offers a compelling interplay of richness and vibrancy.

Everything that makes Bon Pasteur a great wine is here in spades. The opening floral notes are the perfect setup for the black cherries, cocoa, wet earth and licorice in the perfume. Silky, fresh, vibrant, refined and sensuous, the supple-textured, creamy, soft, polished finish, with endnote of chocolate-coated plums, spice and espresso hit all the right notes. You can drink this young for all of its opulence, or age it for additional complexities. This is one of the finest vintages of Bon Pasteur ever produced. Drink from 2024-2044.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, violet tints, delicate bright rim. Black forest berries, delicate cassis, fresh tangerine zest, floral touch, a hint of eucalyptus. Medium body, black forest berries, tight, integrated tannins, mineral, fine nougat, a pleasant food wine with good ageing potential.

Dense, dark and inky with a bright purple hue. Layered nose blending violet, cocoa, sweet raspberry, blackberry and cassis with fine oak and layered spiciness. Dense palate with a rounded yet youthful texture, fine and grippy tannins, some oak presence, abundant dark-fruit flavours with cocoa and toasty notes leading to a long and powerful finish.

From the talented Michel Rolland, the 2019 Château Le Bon Pasteur shines for its richness as well as its elegance. Ripe black cherries, currants, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and floral notes all define the bouquet, and it has the vintage’s fresher, pure, vibrant style in both its aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has fabulous tannins, a seamless, layered mouthfeel, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's already hard to resist yet has another 20-25 years of prime drinking ahead of it.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% alc./vol., production 25,000 bottles) Velvety, powerful, fruity bouquet, blackberry jelly, caramel, licorice, brown chocolate. Broad, full palate with sweet fruit, slightly powdery tannins, supple structure, powerful sweet aromatics, creamy finish. Still has room to improve.

Good quality, more subdued than the 2018, with dark chocolate and a curl of mint that is very Pomerol, but with clear sculpting from the Cabernet Franc. Integral vinification in barrel.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Le Bon Pasteur is made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Cedar chest and pencil lead notes waft over a core of baked black plums and mulberries with a hint of cardamom. The medium to full-bodied palate is savory and chewy, with bags of juicy black fruits and a long earthy finish.

Fresh, lively, and elegant on the nose, with the grace of a cellist. Still fresh and soothing on the palate, it reveals gentle notes of spices and tamarind. A finely muscled wine that glides across the mouth.

The bouquet of Bon Pasteur 2019 immediately charms with inviting nuances of sweet spices, ripe black berries and licorice. From the very first sip, the wine displays a generous, creamy texture. It is supported by silky tannins and a structuring acidity that ensures freshness and harmony. Velvety and alluring in character, the wine already offers plenty of pleasure while holding excellent cellaring potential.

The nose is aromatic, offering elegance, precision and a touch of intensity. It reveals notes of pulpy wild blackcurrant, boysenberry and, more subtly, ripe blue fruits, combined with fine hints of strawberry, delicate touches of cornflower and nutmeg, as well as very discreet hints of sweet spices. The palate is fruity and indulgent, delivering freshness, juiciness, good definition, tension and a fine creaminess. On the palate, this wine shows notes of pulpy/juicy blackcurrant, crushed blackberry and, more lightly, raspberry, joined by touches of chocolate, small blue fruits, licorice (zan), blond tobacco and discreet hints of nutmeg and sweet spices. Good length.

Dark, intense, and youthful color. The nose is a little discreet, with ripe fruit. Delicate on entry, flavorful at mid-palate, with a gentle flow and precise flavors, the wine finishes a touch astringent, but without harsh edges. Good length.