YOHAN CASTAING’S TOP 100 BORDEAUX 2018 WINES – 21-30
Yohan Castaing is the founder and director of Anthocyanes, a young man of 40 (at least he wants to believe) whose passion for wine has never stopped since his early years in the family vineyards. Yohan is from Bordeaux, but turned very quickly to the wines of Burgundy and the Rhône and began commercial studies without ever departing from this passion. Trader, consultant specialised in marketing, author of several books, with an experience of nearly 20 years in the world of wine in different positions, he is now totally dedicated to the magazine Anthocyanans. He also writes for various French and English media.
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| Chevalier (de) | Pessac-Léognan | 2018 | Although slightly closed, the nose contains pure and fresh notes, very smoky and liquorice, a little blackcurrant and ripe. A fleshy and velvety mouth, a big density doubled by a big tannic load but which melts in perfect balance. At once full of potential and power. Finish airy and fresh. A big Domaine de Chevalier that will be drunk in the next 10 to 20 years minimum. | 96-98 + | Red |
29
| Beau-Séjour Bécot | Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé | 2018 | A radiant, vibrant and fresh nose of blackberry, blueberry, plum and raspberry for an aromacy that becomes more floral with light aeration. A crystalline structure, on a magnificent limestone bedrock thanks to chiseled, pure and clean tannins. Airy lengthening that never ends and overall precision. A Beau-Séjour Bécot of the most successful, most accurate for a long time. The duo Juliette Bécot and Thomas Duclos sparkle. A very great wine. Maturation could improve the rating and make this wine THE surprise of the vintage. | 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. | 96-98 + | Red |
28
| LaMission Haut-Brion | Pessac-Léognan | 2018 | Blueberry, blackberry, hints of black fruits well contained, perfectly “al dente”. A floral touch with aeration. Fleshy, almost chubby, the touch in the mouth impresses with its delicacy, its tension and its airy side. No heaviness, “laser-like” tannins as our English friends say and a fresh and long finish. A Mission Haut-Brion of the highest class. Full of charm. | 97-98 | Red |
27
| Margaux | Pavilion Blanc du | White Bordeaux | 2018 | Nose pure, crystalline and fresh with superb notes of white fruits, pore, white peach. Fleshy and juicy. An elongated structure with a beautiful and saline acidity as well as density. Slightly tannic in its construction with an emotional freshness. A magnificent white Pavilion of purity with a high class of acidity. One of the biggest of the recent years. | 97-99 | White |
26
| Lafite Rothschild | Pauillac | 2018 | Nose of cassis, slightly mocha, beautiful spices for a complex bouquet. Dense, massive palate with a strong tannic charge and a tight tannin grain. Very nice velvety, notes of black fruits, the elongation for a Lafite-Rothschild is very Cabernet in its structure with stretch and beautiful tension. Crystalline and dense, this wine will age perfectly for the next 25 to 50 years. | 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot. | 97-99 | Red |
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| Ducru-Beaucaillou | Saint-Julien | 2018 | Very floral, elegant, perfectly contained (with notes of black fruits “al dente”), smoked and toasted. Dense palate and big tannic charge for a powerful wine but a touch of satiny mouth. Rich and powerful, this Ducru-Beaucaillou 2018, will remain one of the most muscular wines while keeping large digestibility. On the finish, liquorice and a little graphite. Will date in style and ageing. | 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. | 97-99 | Red |
24
| Trotanoy | Pomerol | 2018 | Very nice nose both spicy (graphite and liquorice) and very fruity (blackcurrant, blackberry) with a touch of violet. Round and soft mouth, fleshy, velvety with very beautiful tannins and an overall power perfectly mastered in an elegant corset. A very big Trotanoy, less austere than usual at this stage and which will go far in keeping. Very far. | 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. | 97-99 + | Red |
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| Smith Haut Lafitte | Pessac-Léognan | 2018 | Menthol, aniseed, very floral, Smith Haut Lafitte’s bouquet is elegant and fresh. The palate, sweet and tasty, contains very nice fresh and digestible tannins with a most important fleshy density. Touch of mouth satin and percussive. On the finish airy, fresh, quite tannic it must be admitted, but nicely balanced. A wine that combines the classicism and singularity of the vintage. Bravo! To keep for 20 to 40 years. | 97-99 + | Red |
22
| Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande | Pauillac | 2018 | Black cherry, a little plum, a very nice nose of black fruits “al dente”. Fleshy, juicy, dense without being heavy, sweet tannins and suggesting velvet, silk. A wine that is not easy to approach but remains a breed of magnificent splendour. Full, palatable and airy. Very beautiful bitters with hearth notes of chimney and smoke on the finish. A very big Pichon Comtesse that will be a milestone. | 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. | 97-99 + | Red |
21
| Pichon Baron | Pauillac | 2018 | Slightly spicy, very nice notes of blackberry, blackcurrant with a touch of menthol. Beautiful fleshy, very beautiful density, depth with superb tannin precision and real complexity. Dense, deep still holding the set on magnificent tension. Chiseled and crystalline. High purity. A very great wine for the next 20 to 50 years. | 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. | 97-99 + | Red |
