2023 Croix de Labrie
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Tasting notes
A brilliant Saint-Emilion from limestone plateau soils, the 2023 Château Croix De Labrie sports a deep purple hue as well as a gorgeous nose of cassis, crushed stone, spring flowers, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, seamless, elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. Based on 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc and aged 22 months in roughly 56% new French oak with the balance in once-used barrels, foudre, and 500-liter vessels, this beauty will benefit from a few years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more if well stored. This is a fabulous estate that every reader should have on their radar. Drink 2029-2046.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Neal Martin, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Croix de Labrie has really come along since I tasted it en primeur . Today it is so showy. Vibrant and explosive on the palate, the 2023 offers up a heady mix of intense fruit, along with floral, spice and mineral overtones that add complexity. I especially admire its pure energy and drive. Tasted two times.
The 2023 Croix de Labrie has a flamboyant nose with pure black cherry and crushed strawberry fruit interlaced with pressed violet petals. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, well-balanced, crisp and fresh with a nicely structured and linear finish. I think this is a classy and quite delicious Croix de Labrie.
The 2023 Château Croix De Labrie comes from 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, aging 80% in barrels (70% new) and the balance in foudre and demi-muids. It has a vivid purple hue as well as a pretty, perfumed bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, spring flowers, and subtle spicy oak. it's certainly a prettier, more elegant wine from this terrific family, with medium to full body, supple tannins, terrific balance, and outstanding length. It's going to shine with just a few years of bottle age and is very much in the more juicy, focused style of the vintage.