2018 Clos de l'Oratoire

The 2018 Clos de l’Oratoire, matured in 45% new oak, has an open and generous bouquet of blueberry and light cassis scents. I think this has become more refined during its barrel maturation, as I hoped it would. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth texture, offering blackberry and boysenberry flavors plus tobacco and a sprinkling of white pepper. There is a little compactness toward the finish, so afford this 3–5 years to fully open.

The team of Stephan von Neipperg knocked it out of the park in 2018, producing a brilliant lineup of wines. The 2018 Clos De L'Oratoire checks in as 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 45% new French oak. As with most of the new releases here, it has a crunchy, vibrant style in its blue fruits, scorched earth, violets, cedarwood, and dried flower-like aromas and flavors. Beautifully balanced, pure, elegant, and seamless, this incredibly classy Saint-Emilion is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age (if not longer) and evolve for 30 years in cold cellars. It's certainly in the running for the finest vintage I've tasted.