2018 Rochebelle
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Tasting notes
I love this vintage in St Emilion, and this is a great example of why. Concentration, texture, power, intensity, salinity, minerality, gorgeous cassis, blackberry and blueberry fruits. Brings out the best of limestone, effortlessly making you salivate, with chalky tannins, well balanced fruit, fine tannins and just extremely drinkable. A yield of 57hl/ha, Cécile Dulimbert consultant.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
Based on 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from a tiny lieu-dit located between Troplong Mondot and Bellefont-Belcier, the 2018 Château Rochebelle reveals a dense purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of pure black raspberry and cassis fruits interwoven with obvious mineral, white truffle, chocolate, and graphite nuances. With medium to full-bodied richness, it has a wonderful mid-palate, building yet ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. This is up with the top wines in the appellation. It has some approachability today, yet I suspect a solid 4-5 years of bottle age are warranted, and it should keep for 20 years or more.
The 2018 Rochebelle offers plenty of immediacy. Inky red fruit, mocha, spice, cedar and tobacco are all pushed forward. Mid-weight structure suggest the 2018 is built for the near-term, but all the elements are impeccably balanced.