St.Emilion Grand Cru Classée values tasting
Tasted Tuesday, February 6, 2024 by Collector1855 with 136 views
Introduction
I went to this merchant tasting to see what entry and mid priced level St.Emilions (20-40€) can do. While there are still some extracted wines out there, overall the ripeness was dialed down and elegant and drinkable wines could be found. 2019 and 2020 felt like a new rendition from 2009 2010. Both very good with the 2020 more structured and 2009 more immediately charming. My favorites included: Fonroque, Corbin, Clos Jacobins, Yon Figeac and La Tour Figeac.
2021 Château Bellefont-Belcier 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Lovely earthy aromas, relatively light though, blue fruit, farmyard. A step down from the 2020.
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2020 Château Bellefont-Belcier 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
A step up from the 2021, this showed classic blue Merlot fruit with spices and a touch of sous bois. Fresh and elegant palate.
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2016 Clos de l'Oratoire 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Both the 2016 and 2020 did not convince me today, despite me usually liking this producer. Much too ripe with plum and Rhum pot aromas. Hmm...
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2020 Clos de l'Oratoire 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Both the 2016 and 2020 did not convince me today, despite me usually liking this producer. Much too ripe with plum and Rhum pot aromas. Hmm...
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2015 Clos des Jacobins 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
This had a lovely nose with some emerging tertiary elements around farmyard fund, spices. Elegant palate.
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2020 Clos des Jacobins 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Like the 2015 next to it a wine with classic proportions, not too big, even though the 2020 was denser than the 2015 but there was also good freshness to the medium body.
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2021 Château Croix de Labrie 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Beautiful blue fruit both in the 2021 and 2020 shown today. I actually liked the 2021 for its elegance and balance. The 2020 had some darker, riper elements which made me worry a bit for late picking. Too early to tell, but definitely a lot of wine for the money here.
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2020 Château Croix de Labrie 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Beautiful blue fruit both in the 2021 and 2020 shown today. I actually liked the 2021 for its elegance and balance. The 2020 had some darker, riper elements which made me worry a bit for late picking. Too early to tell, but definitely a lot of wine for the money here.
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2019 Château Faugères 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Lots of dark fruit and oak, extracted, freshness is there but the tannins a touch drying. I think Faugeres still needs to dial down from the Parker years.
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2020 Château Faugères 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Lots of dark fruit and oak, extracted, freshness is there but the tannins a touch drying. I think Faugeres still needs to dial down from the Parker years.
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2017 Château Péby Faugères 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Both the 2017 and 2020 had a very Californian nose with lots of dark fruit and plum, rum pot, blueberry. Stuck in the Parker era...
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2020 Château Péby Faugères 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Both the 2017 and 2020 had a very Californian nose with lots of dark fruit and plum, rum pot, blueberry. Stuck in the Parker era...
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2019 Château Fonplégade 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
The 2015 (88pt) did not convince me that much as it had some riper, torrefaction notes but the 2019 (92pt) was really elegant with spice box, red fruit, polished tannins.
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2015 Château Fonplégade 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
The 2015 (88pt) did not convince me that much as it had some riper, torrefaction notes but the 2019 (92pt) was really elegant with spice box, red fruit, polished tannins.
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2019 Château Fonroque 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
From a bio-dynamic property in the plateau. Both the 2019 and 2020 showed well. Fresh and elegant, pencil shavings, farmyard funk., the 2020 with some additional pine and dark fruit, both balanced and convincing.
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2020 Château Fonroque 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
From a bio-dynamic property in the plateau. Both the 2019 and 2020 showed well. Fresh and elegant, pencil shavings, farmyard funk., the 2020 with some additional pine and dark fruit, both balanced and convincing.
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2016 Château Grand Corbin 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
On the plateau towards Pomerol. Both the 2016 and 2020 were medium bodied, balanced, but aromatically too fore-square for a higher note.
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2016 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
2016 and 2020 side by side. Nose of dark fruit and wood, medium bodied palate, quite drinkable, but not much aroma in the 2016 (89pt), the 2020 had the edge with additional cloves notes and more oomph.
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2020 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
2016 and 2020 side by side. Nose of dark fruit and wood, medium bodied palate, quite drinkable, but not much aroma in the 2016 (89pt), the 2020 had the edge with additional cloves notes and more oomph.
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2020 Château Grand Corbin 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
On the plateau towards Pomerol. Both the 2016 and 2020 were medium bodied, balanced, but aromatically too fore-square for a higher note.
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2020 Château La Tour Figeac 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Beautiful and balanced wine here, so caressing, polished tannins, attractive aromas with dark fruit and earthy elements. This pleases a larger crowed as well as a more sophisticated palates. Preferred the 2020 it to the also well made 2018. 93-94
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2018 Château La Tour Figeac 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Beautiful and balanced wine here, so caressing, polished tannins, attractive aromas with dark fruit and earthy elements. This pleases a larger crowed as well as a more sophisticated palates. Preferred the 2020 though to this 2018 which was also well made but just a touch less complex.
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2019 Château Laroque St. Émilion Grand Cru 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Both the 2019 and 2020 felt as they were picked too late with rum pot, plum and prune aromas.
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2020 Château Laroque St. Émilion Grand Cru 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Both the 2019 and 2020 felt as they were picked too late with rum pot, plum and prune aromas.
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2019 Château Rol Valentin 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
The 2019 and 2020 side by side felt both rich and extracted, lots of blue fruit, 14.5% Alc. on the heavy side.
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2020 Château Rol Valentin 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
The 2019 and 2020 side by side felt both rich and extracted, lots of blue fruit, 14.5% Alc. on the heavy side.
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2019 Château Yon-Figeac 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
The 2019 (93pt) and 2020 showed really well side by side. The wines were spiced, elegant with red and a touch of dark fruit, farmyard funk like a Medoc wines has. Elegant wines for the table with the 2020 (93+pt) having an additional punch and depth to it but needs longer in the cellar to come around.
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2020 Château Yon-Figeac 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
The 2019 (93pt) and 2020 showed really well side by side. The wines were spiced, elegant with red and a touch of dark fruit, farmyard funk like a Medoc wines has. Elegant wines for the table with the 2020 (93+pt) having an additional punch and depth to it but needs longer in the cellar to come around.
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