2018 Richebourg
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Richebourg Grand Cru has a much more imposing bouquet compared to the Cros Parantoux, the intense blackberry, bilberry, crushed stone and clove scents gently unfurling in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and enormous depth, yet gentle in terms of grip. There is a sense of symmetry on the finish here, along with superb length, yet this will clearly require more bottle age than the Cros Parantoux.
Critic scores
Average Score
The Wine Advocate
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Don't Miss! This too is aromatically quite reserved with reticent aromas of overtly floral-suffused dark berry fruit that is also cut with spiced Asian pekoe tea and sandalwood nuances. The outsized, intense and tautly muscular flavors possess excellent mid-palate concentration where the sappy dry extract helps to buffer the very firm but not hard tannins shaping the explosively long, powerful and beautifully balanced finish. This is a veritable 'wow' wine.
The 2018 Richebourg Grand Cru is a little more backward than the premiers crus that preceded it, opening in the glass with notes of strawberry compote, cherries, raw cocoa, espresso roast and a lavish application of new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and enveloping, with a textural, concentrated profile underpinned by succulent acids. My sense is that this will come together very positively with further élevage. There's certainly a sweetness to the fruit here that recalls Méo's very successful 2003 vintage, as well as the freshness and structure to ensure balance.