2018 Le Bon Pasteur
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Hugely seductive nose. Very smooth. Tannins almost completely hidden under the fruit. But they are there. Classic Pomerol with real persistence. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Le Bon Pasteur has an expressive bouquet, those violet and iris flowers from barrel still intact, and plenty of black fruit backed up with just a touch of wild mint. The palate is medium-bodied with quite thick tannins lending this Le Bon Pasteur a solid backbone. Grippy and more masculine than I predicted from barrel, offering tar and tobacco toward the finish and white pepper lingering on the aftertaste. This should turn into a fine Pomerol, but as I said before, it requires bottle age.
Showing even better from bottle than barrel, the 2018 Château Le Bon Pasteur is a sexy, opulent beauty that just begs to be drunk. Gorgeous black and blue fruits, white truffle, green tobacco, flowery incense, and damp earth give way to a full-bodied, textured, luscious Pomerol with ripe, velvety tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. Reminding me of the 2012,as well as a little of the 2009, this is a knockout 2018 to drink over the coming 20+ years.
About the producer
Famed winemaking consultant Michel Rolland is synonymous with this estate. The vines here were purchased by his grandparents and he ran the property from 1979. Although Rolland still makes the wine today, he sold the estate in 2013.