Couvent des Jacobins 2018

The freshness and balance of a Grand Cru Classé from Saint-Émilion

2018 was a great vintage, which will be remembered at the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé Couvent des Jacobins. The year 2018 was quite interesting, for several reasons.

Due to the strong cryptogamic pressure, the technical teams of the magnificent property, situated on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, had to deal with a significant spread of mildew. The challenge was all the greater, considering that Couvent des Jacobins is currently in the process of conversion to organic farming. The climatic conditions that followed - a beautiful, sunny summer - made it possible for the grapes to reach a perfect stage of ripeness.

The harvest was carried out only when each of the grape varieties had achieved perfect maturity, while still maintaining a freshness and energy. The great effort of the technical teams was rewarded by the quality of the fruit, which was quite exceptional. The grapes already had a nice aromatic complexity, with fruity and spicy notes, along with good density. The 2018 vintage of Couvent des Jacobins shows strong similarities to the great 2015 and 2016 vintages.

The gravity-fed winemaking at Couvent des Jacobins was carried out with the greatest respect paid to the fruit, in an effort to accurately represent the identity of each grape variety through maceration, which was extended over 20 to 29 days. Gentle extractions were favoured as a way to preserve the brightness of the fruit.

The Couvent des Jacobins 2018 is made from a blend of 82% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. The wine is aged for 12 to 15 months in French oak barrels from Allier, Tronçais and Bertranges (45% new oak and 55% barrels of one previous wine). The vinification was carried out without the addition of sulfur. The Couvent des Jacobins 2018 En Primeur shows off beautiful aromas: radiant fruit, balance and tension. 2018 promises to be a great vintage in the making.