Pibran's 2018 offering is an opaque crimson blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Merlot, aged for 18 month in French oak barriques (50% new). Loaded with black, blue and red fruit on both the nose and palate, it adds complementary notes of lavender, bittersweet chocolate, cedar and white pepper. Medium-to-full-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (14%), judiciously oaked and with abundant fine-grained tannins, it stays dense on the mid-palate and concludes with a lengthy, albeit astringent finish. This begs for more time in the cellar, despite the fact that this particular bottle was decanted through a Vinturi aerator and given two hours thereafter to prove its worth. At this early stage it needs all the air it can get. Drink 2025-2038.
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Not particularly good value @ $45, as I've had a lot better '18 BDX at or below this price point. For example, Ormes de Pez @$35 is a better wine. Brambly black fruit and licorice on the nose with some herbal notes. Rich and a bit smokey, with blueberry fruit. Somewhat nondescript, lacking body and a bit soft on finish, with hardly any tannin. Not very Pauillac.
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A solid candidate for the best vintage of Pibran ever produced, the ripeness of the vintage really shines here. This is all about the medium-bodied, round, soft, juicy, red cherries and cassis on the palate that is already so easy to enjoy, even at this young stage. Though, a bit of patience will add even more to this well-priced, charm-filled Pauillac.
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Bordeaux 2018 from barrel: some selections (Bordeaux): Bargain alert! Another late ripening terroir that excelled in the vintage. The blend – at 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot – has slightly more Cabernet than the average as they were “magnificent”, remarked Christian Seely. But the Merlots also were “the best we have seen here”. So, win-win. I think the wine is ripe and delicious and deep. Of course the tannins lack the refinement of Pichon Baron, or even Les Tourelles, but the wine is seductive, and it reminds me of the excellent 2009. 90-93
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Flowers, spice and red fruits form the nose. The wine is medium bodied, forward, fresh and juicy with a hint of cocoa along with the fresh fruits. With less rusticity and more elegance than usual, this is a charming, well-priced Pauillac. 89-91 Pts
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4/22/2023 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pibran's 2018 offering is an opaque crimson blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Merlot, aged for 18 month in French oak barriques (50% new). Loaded with black, blue and red fruit on both the nose and palate, it adds complementary notes of lavender, bittersweet chocolate, cedar and white pepper. Medium-to-full-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (14%), judiciously oaked and with abundant fine-grained tannins, it stays dense on the mid-palate and concludes with a lengthy, albeit astringent finish. This begs for more time in the cellar, despite the fact that this particular bottle was decanted through a Vinturi aerator and given two hours thereafter to prove its worth. At this early stage it needs all the air it can get. Drink 2025-2038.
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10/31/2022 - Dithiolium Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep dark red core. Fruit forward nose. Generous Dark berry fruit, cigar box, savoury, toasted. Firm tannin and acidity. Medium bodied.
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10/30/2022 - shagopian87@gmail.com wrote: 99 Points
Not a fan of the merlot. Won’t buy again. Coravin’d it.
It’s young too.
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2/17/2022 - GrapeScott wrote: 89 Points
Not particularly good value @ $45, as I've had a lot better '18 BDX at or below this price point. For example, Ormes de Pez @$35 is a better wine. Brambly black fruit and licorice on the nose with some herbal notes. Rich and a bit smokey, with blueberry fruit. Somewhat nondescript, lacking body and a bit soft on finish, with hardly any tannin. Not very Pauillac.
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3/9/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
A solid candidate for the best vintage of Pibran ever produced, the ripeness of the vintage really shines here. This is all about the medium-bodied, round, soft, juicy, red cherries and cassis on the palate that is already so easy to enjoy, even at this young stage. Though, a bit of patience will add even more to this well-priced, charm-filled Pauillac.
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5/10/2019 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine:
Bordeaux 2018 from barrel: some selections (Bordeaux): Bargain alert! Another late ripening terroir that excelled in the vintage. The blend – at 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot – has slightly more Cabernet than the average as they were “magnificent”, remarked Christian Seely. But the Merlots also were “the best we have seen here”. So, win-win. I think the wine is ripe and delicious and deep. Of course the tannins lack the refinement of Pichon Baron, or even Les Tourelles, but the wine is seductive, and it reminds me of the excellent 2009. 90-93
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4/19/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Flowers, spice and red fruits form the nose. The wine is medium bodied, forward, fresh and juicy with a hint of cocoa along with the fresh fruits. With less rusticity and more elegance than usual, this is a charming, well-priced Pauillac. 89-91 Pts
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