2018 Chateau La Vieille Cure Fronsac
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Tasting notes
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Vieille Cure opens with cedar chest, graphite and tree bark scents, giving way to a core of baked blackberries, stewed plums and cherry compote, with wafts of Sichuan pepper and star anise. The full-bodied palate (15% alcohol) is wearing a lot of oak at this stage, with a good core of baked black fruits and loads of exotic spice accents, supported by grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing woody. Give it a good 5 years for the oak to integrated and drink it over the next 12-15 years or more.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2018 La Vieille Cure is smudged and lacks the freshness and delineation of other Fronsac 2018s that I tasted. The palate is sweet and candied on the entry, offering menthol-infused black cherries that make it taste more like a McClaren Vale Cabernet! Tasted twice with consistent notes.
The deep ruby-hued 2018 Château La Vieille Cure is a smoking wine that readers should snatch up! Lots of red and black currants, cedary spice, dried tobacco, and a touch of chalky minerality all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a fruit-loaded, concentrated mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It has a touch of background oak, but that should integrate with 2-4 years in the cellar, and this gorgeous Fronsac will shine over the following decade or more.