2018 Haut Simard
Buying options
Tasting notes
The nose of the 2018 Haut-Simard is instantly more expressive than the 2016 – combining red fruit and an herbaceous note with a toasty sweetness. It’s more linear on the palate. The intense core of fruit is rich and tightly packed, framed by grainy tannins at this relatively youthful stage. The finish is long and savoury, with a hint of blackcurrant leaf. Blend: 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Haut-Simard jumps out of the glass with exuberant notes of redcurrant jelly, black raspberries and mulberries, plus touches of forest floor, mossy tree bark and tar with a hint of cinnamon stick. The medium-bodied palate has a solid structure of chewy tannins and well-knit freshness supporting the youthful, crunchy red and black fruits, finishing earthy.
The 2018 Haut-Simard is brisk and aromatically expressive, with mid-weight structure and tons of verve. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, sage, lavender and rose petals all grace this beautifully layered, vibrant Saint-Émilion. Drink it over the next decade.
The 2018 Haut-Simard is tangibly more complex on the nose compared directly with the Simard. It evokes sea spray and estuary scents, all beautifully interlaced with black fruit and showing very fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy blackberry and bilberry and distinctly finer tannins than the Simard that enhance its focus and precision. Quite linear on the finish, it will need 3–4 years in bottle before it hits its stride.
About the producer
Ch. Haut-Simard is owned by the Vauthier family of Ch. Ausone. Since Alain Vauthier took over the Saint-Emilion estate in 2008, quality here has risen exponentially with vintages from 2019 onwards in particular showing the potential of this exceptional terroir.