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Composed of 67% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Ripeau was aged for 16 to 18 months in 100% new oak barrels, and the wine has 14.2% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it offers up open-knit, ready-for-business scents of baked black plums, stewed black cherries and mulberries with hints of wild mushrooms, tree bark and tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate has impressive freshness and a soft texture supporting the juicy black fruits, finishing earthy. This vineyard has a little over eight hectares in production, and the average age of the vines in 2018 was 35 to 40 years old. The soil is composed of sandy, slightly gravelly soils atop a ferrous clay subsoil.
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Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Ripeau has a ripe, flamboyant bouquet of macerated black cherries and cassis aromas, maybe just a little monotone compared to others. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, a little oaky at the moment, although that should be absorbed with time. Good density on the finish, which fans out reassuringly. I suspect this will drink well in several years.
From the upper plains of Saint-Emilion, not far from Cheval Blanc and Figeac, the 2018 Château Ripeau has a big, exuberant bouquet of ripe black cherries and cassis to go with notes of tobacco, chocolate, vanilla bean, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has wonderful purity of fruit, present yet ripe, seamless tannins, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous, layered, elegant 2018 that seems to have one foot in Saint-Emilion and one in Pomerol. The blend is 67% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged in new barrels. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following 15.