Arvi Bordeaux 2018 Arrivage
Dolder Grand, Zurich
Tasted Monday, November 2, 2020 by sirpat00 with 682 views
Introduction
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
While my expectations were already high for Rauzan Ségla after the barrel tastings, Léoville Barton was a positive surprise gaining so much posture in only a years' time. Really happy to see Léoville Poyferré and SHL to deliver on expectations as well. Biggest disappointment was Canon which came across way too cooked even though the barrel sample was very promising.
List of wines sorted by appellation and score:
White wines
Chevalier Blanc (93)
SHL (92)
St Emilion
Valandraud (94)
Troplong Mondot (93)
Clos Fourtet (91)
Canon-La-Gaffelière (90)
Pavie Macquin (90)
Canon (89)
Pomerol
Clinet (96)
L'Evangile (95)
Margaux
Rauzan Ségla (97)
Brane Cantenac (91)
St Julien
Léoville Barton (96)
Léoville Poyferré (95)
Saint-Pierre (90)
Paullica
Pichon Lalande (96)
Lynch Bages (93)
St Estèphe
Lafon Rochet (93)
Pessac
Smith-Haut-Lafitte (95)
Pape Clément (94)
Sauternes
Lafaurie-Peyraguey (93)
De Fargues (92)
2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Limited expression initially with mostly green gooseberry fruit coupled with citric elements. Mineral notes of cold Steel and rock. Linear to the verge of coming across a bit simple on the palate with a rather short finish. Lots of minerality here. I think this is just getting off to a slow start but could become really nice in a few years. I like the terroir-focused style and the clarity of aromas.
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2018 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Incredibly salty, like licking an oyster shell, with hints of lychee and white flowers. Later also peach and granite rock. Very crisp on the palate with a bit of an abrupt finish after which only the acidity lingers around. But this gained in intensity and expression quickly in the glass.
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2018 Château Canon 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Cooked and overripe fruit. Jammy in a bad way. Plum and fig topped off with a few dried herbs. Better on the palate. Fresh with a slightly creamy texture and less extracted. Maybe this will turn around with bottle age? Probably my biggest disappointment in tasting, especially after a really strong show at the barrel tasting.
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2018 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Nice red berry fruit with a good amount of ripeness, sweet spices and fresh herbs. Quite some acidity on the palate with mouth-coating tannin and a slightly austere finish.
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2018 Clos Fourtet 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
A nicely perfumed nose with fragranced fruit. A bit of herbs here and there. Fresh fruit and decent balance between acidity and tannin. Solid, but with limited complexity.
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2018 Château Pavie Macquin 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Spicy and savory notes surround a nice red berry fruit at first, but unfortunately cooked fruit continues to pop up time and again. On the palate acidity hits first followed by a build-up of tannin, neither in an excessive way. I wasn't too impressed by the barrel sample already and found no improvement since then.
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2018 Château Troplong Mondot 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
This is a demonstration that you can work with extraction in a hot vintage without overdoing it. Deep and concentrated with captivating intensity and Napa-esque oak notes of vanilla and licorice. Good intensity on the palate although the flavour profile lacked linearity, in my view.
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2018 Château Valandraud 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Good depth here with a dense bouquet. Lots of herbal components like mixed salad seasoning. Fruit pretty extracted, but still in a good place and showing mostly ripe red berries. A creamy texture matching the nose in terms of density. A good length finish. My top pick among 6 St Emilion wines tasted.
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2018 Château Clinet 96 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
A nose showing a tightly woven net of aromas. At this point precision didn't appear to be the strong suit, but you discover tons of flavours. Apart from mixed, mostly red berries there is mint, dried herbs, fresh oregano. Hints of meaty flavours add to a fleshy appearance. Good density on the palate with push and a firm structure. In my view Client continues to punch above its weight / price, especially in very recent vintages starting with 2015.
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2018 Château L'Evangile 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Perfume and floral aromatics abound. Sweet red berries. Slightly minty with other herbal notes on the side. Nice and juicy palate in surprisingly good harmony. There is a lot of appeal to this with a more complete and evolved structure than the rest of the right bank.
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2018 Château Rauzan-Ségla 97 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Delicate and feminine with a beautiful fruit-forward nose. Sugar-coated strawberry, some savoury and spicy bits and cool mineral notes. A classic, firmly structured yet silky palate. This was already my one of my favourite in a barrel sample tasting a year ago and again fully delivered. My sense was the 2018 could turn out to be a vintage with a very early drinking window – whether this comes at the expense of ageability is hard to say.
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2018 Château Léoville Barton 96 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
A bold and intense wine with cassis fruit, perfume notes, dark chocolate and a bit of dry earth. Juicy palate with a strong backbone and a good length finish. No doubt one of the wines to own in the vintage if you have to be half-conscious of your purse. For me a noticeable step-up from the barrel sample – and extrapolating the trend there could be even more potential down the road…
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2018 Château Léoville Poyferré 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Dark berries with bramble berry, mineral notes, elements of fresh mint. Intense and fruity palate, muscular yet well balanced - maybe just a tiny acidic overhang - and so dense it appears almost viscous. I was already fond of the barrel sample and this is keeping the promises made then. For me Léoville Barton scored a notch better in the bottle, but for my wife the conclusion was exactly the opposite. Best to own both to avoid arguing.
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2018 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
First impression: very classic. Multi-dimensional with a basket of mixed berries, herbs, spices and a peppery seasoning. On the palate fresh with plenty of acidity. This appeared to need much more time than St Julien or Margaux cousins. But not sure the tannic structure is quite strong enough given the acidity and also not entirely convinced of the aromatic depth here.
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2018 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Beautiful, fruit-forward nose that tickles all the right nerves. Combines sweet notes without being too imposing, some herbal aromatics, even hints of leather. Fruit profile includes both dark and ripe red berries. A well-structured palate with fruits, herbs, mineral notes and a medium length finish.
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2018 Château Brane-Cantenac 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Quite one-dimensional but good is the one-liner here. A rather darkish fruit profile, a bit earthy and herbal. Surprisingly juicy on the palate, but also with some heat.
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2018 Château Saint-Pierre 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
The fruit is borderline over-ripe and cooked. Otherwise nice and classy nose but doesn't offer much complexity. Palate with good harmony, pretty dense and showing a much cooler fruit profile.
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2018 Château Lafon-Rochet 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Intense nose with depth, showing mostly dark berries but also elements of floral notes and herbs. Plush and concentrated with pretty high intensity palate and more distinctly herbal flavours. Not an estate I'm familiar with and first time having actually, but I see how you can like this – especially at this price.
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2018 Château Pape Clément 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
I have found Pape Clément to be one of the estates prone to over-ripe and jammy fruit, most notably in the 2010 vintage. On the other hand some older wines (like 1996) have aged gorgeously while more recent ones (2016) offered a big bucket of joy. This fortunately belongs more to the second category. Intense and fruity, red and dark, concentrated without being over-extracted. Elements of mineral schist, dried herbs, tobacco and pepper. Pretty wild palate but with a good structure hence well worth cellaring.
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2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
I admire the consistency in recent years with 2018 falling in-line with 2015, 2016, 2017 which for me were all 95-97 experiences fresh in the bottle (even though I should add that the last 2015 tasting was underwhelming, seems to have closed down now). Sprawling aromas from the glass with red and dark berries, for me signature grassy herbal notes, a bit of spices and earthy notes. A fantastically juicy palate that no doubt needs time to settle down but already shows perfect balance between acidity, tannin and flavour intensity with a good length finish. Fully confirms a strong first appearance in the barrel.
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2018 Château de Fargues 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
An archetypical Sauternes with honeydew melon, honey, bee wax and with imagination some fresh, green herbs. Viscous and creamy palate, but the acidity can't quite balance the sweetness and perceived sugar.
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2018 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
A slightly less concentrated and not as sweet interpretation of Sauternes. Fresh spearmint elements add a kick to the candid fruit profile. Palate again more classic, viscous with lots of sweet honey flavours.
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