2018 Clos de Bouard
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Clos de Boüard has a generous, ripe bouquet of blackberry, boysenberry and light violet aromas that all gain intensity with aeration. The palate is ripe and quite extracted on the entry. A powerful Montagne Saint-Émilion with grippy tannins, though it needs a little more amplitude toward the finish, which feels strict and linear. It does open up with aeration and should come around with 2–3 years in bottle.
Critic scores
Average Score
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The Grand Vin is the 2018 Château Clos De Boüard, a deeper, richer wine that's going to benefit from bottle age. Lots of darker currants, cherries, sandalwood, incense, and spicy notes define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a balanced, layered texture, some firm yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following decade.
The 2018 Clos de Boüard is a bold, punchy wine. Succulent dark cherry, chocolate, spice, new leather, licorice, menthol and new oak are all kicked up in this juicy wine from Montagne Saint-Émilion. Readers will find a big, full wine built on textural richness. The oak is maybe just a bit much, but time will help address at least some of that. The 2018 has really come together nicely during élevage.
85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Barrel sample. Very dark crimson. Charry oak entwined with ripe cassis. The oak is really drying on the palate, though there is some juicy fruit underneath. Chocolate-like finish. (JH)