Chateau Villemaurine Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé 2018 i trækasse

James Suckling

Polished aromas of currants, dried violets, dark chocolate and praline. Hints of cedar and sandalwood, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins. Tight, complex layers of fruit and bitter chocolate with some mineral undertones. Racy and so beautiful. Very fine. Serious.

Jeb Dunnuck

A wine that seems to fly under the radar, Château Villemaurine nevertheless produces an impressive, classic Saint-Emilion from their estate on the upper plateau. The 2018 Château Villemaurine checks in as 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 75% new French oak. It has a spicy, exotic, already complex bouquet of red and black fruits, sandalwood, dried flowers, and touch of incense. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, elegant Saint-Emilion with a terrific floral character, ripe yet present tannins, solid overall balance, and a great finish. It's as good, if not better than both the 2015 and 2016.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Espresso, licorice, smoke and toast aromas come along with juicy, earthy, dark red fruits and licorice. Lush, opulent, silky and fresh, the fruit lingers, which is a good thing as the berries are perfectly ripe, showing nice purity and length.

Robert Parker

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, aged for around 14 months in oak barriques, 75% new, the 2018 Villemaurine sports a deep garnet-purple color and expressive notes of chocolate-covered cherries, ripe blackberries and boysenberries with suggestions of redcurrant jelly, clove oil and lavender, plus a waft of star anise. Weighing in at 15% declared alcohol, the full-bodied palate is nicely balanced with a plush texture and refreshing backbone cutting through the generous black fruits, finishing long and perfumed.

Decanter

Deep, firm damson fruits on the nose lead to a palate with a gourmet twist of liquorice on the attack, which pulls up carefully as it progresses. It's a well judged wine with good extraction that emphasises the ripe depths to the fruit, and gourmet notes of tar and chocolate come in towards the finish, well balanced by the fruit so as not to overpower. 36hl/ha after selection. Owned by the Onclin family, with Hubert de Boüard consulting.

Falstaff

Dark ruby, purple reflections, discreet brightening on the rim. Delicate liquorice, cassis and mint on the nose with a fine touch of noble wood and orange zest in the background. Complex and substantial on the palate, some nougat and cherry, integrated, supporting tannins and pronounced fruit on the finish. Still needs time and has certain ageing potential.

Vinous

“The 2018 Villemaurine is generous and intense on the nose, featuring blackberry, raspberry, tobacco and light violet aromas, and less reserved compared to when I tasted it from barrel. The fleshy palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well-judged acidity and impressive mineralité and poise toward the finish. One of the more elegant Saint-Émilion wines that you will find. Excellent.”

Andreas Larsson, Tasted

Bright dark purple colour. Ripe nose offering red pepper, blackberry, Kirsch, clove and some oak notes. Youthful texture, dense and concentrated fruit, present tannin, rigid with a long and dense finish. Still needing some time to shed its full potential drink from 2023.

Vivino