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Tasting notes
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Prade (88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc) leaps from the glass with vivacious notes of ripe, juicy black plums, Morello cherries and boysenberries, plus suggestions of crushed rocks, bouquet garni and lavender with an earthy hint of wild mushrooms. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of juicy black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and earthy. A wine with a lot of personality and backbone, it's delicious now but should also cellar gracefully over the next 15+ years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2018 La Prade is just missing a bit of fruit intensity on the nose, and even left to one side for 45 minutes, it doesn’t quite engage. The palate is better, offering slightly rustic tannins, citrus-infused black fruit and a rather robust finish. It’s a bit coarse at the moment but bottle age should smooth out its edges.
Cocoa, black raspberries, truffle, herbs and dusty red berries are found on the nose and palate. Soft and stony, with a strong mineral essence, this needs just a couple of years before it is ready to unfurl. If you are seeking value Bordeaux and you\'re not familiar with La Prade -- get to know this wine, which is made from 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc.
A blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc brought up in 50% new oak, the 2018 Château La Prade offers a ripe, up-front, impressively textured, medium-bodied style with plenty of darker, blue-tinged fruits, notes of tobacco and cedar, sumptuous, fruit-forward flavors, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This is another undeniably delicious 2018 that's going to drink nicely for 8-10 years.
About the producer
Nicolas Thienpont purchased this estate in the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux in 2000. The seven hectares of vines average 40 years in age, divided between 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, sitting partly on the limestone plateau in the village Saint-Cibard.