2018 Simard
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Simard, owned by the Vauthier family, has a lilting bouquet of red currant and wild strawberry fruit, revealing fleeting glimpses of rose petal and wild heather. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly grainy texture on the entry. This is not a deep Saint-Émilion, but it is bright and tensile. A faint dark chocolate note perks up the finish. Give this 24 months in bottle and it should drink well for several years.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Simard has come together beautifully during élevage, which has tempered some of the edges that were present en primeur. Soft and pliant, with pretty aromatics, Simard is a very pretty wine to drink now and over the next decade, while the red berry fruit remains vibrant. Dried flowers, mint, cedar and sweet tobacco linger. Alain and Pauline Vauthier have done wonders for this once-rustic Saint-Émilion since they took over management of the château a few years back.
A blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Simard opens with vibrant Morello cherries and baked plums scents, giving way to hints of dried lavender, tilled soil, black olives and bay leaves. The elegant, refreshing, medium-bodied palate delivers plenty of juicy fruit, textured with soft tannin, finishing with an invigorating lift.
About the producer
Owned by the Vauthier family, who also own Ch. Ausone, this large Saint-Emilion estate is the entry-point to the Vauthier range. It is an excellent introduction to the family’s wines and great value, offering an earlier-drinking style.