2025 Haut Simard
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Tasting notes
The 2025 Haut-Simard was picked between September 9 and 17 and aged for 18 months in one-year-old barrel. The aromatics here are cut from a different cloth thanks to the 80% Cabernet Franc, and here we have bell pepper-tinged red fruit that impresses because they do not hesitate in translating the grape variety. It offers something different, fresh, almost Loire-like. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy tannins, again the Cabernet Franc proud and up front, with that touch of bell pepper and cracked black pepper on the finish. If you like Cabernet Franc, you will love this.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
A Cabernet Franc-dominant blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot that will spend 18 months in once-used barrels, the 2025 Château Haut-Simard has a pure, focused, structured style as well as beautiful red and black fruits on the nose supported by leafy herbs, cedar pencil, tobacco, and graphite. Medium-bodied, straight, and focused on the palate, it has building structure and is going to need some bottle age to gain elegance.
The 2025 Haut-Simard is a powerful wine. Strong savory, earthy and mineral inflections all run through this driving Saint-Émilion. I especially admire the energy and tension here. Hints of chalk, mint and white pepper lift the vibrant, energetic finish. Cabernet Franc takes the leading role in this complex, super-expressive Saint-Émilion.
Aromas of sweet berries and crushed mint introduce the 2025 Haut-Simard, a medium-bodied, taut and youthfully compact wine from holdings at the foot of the slope opposite Canon-la-Gaffelière.
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.