2018 Ch Clarke, Listrac-Médoc

Owned by a branch of the Rothschild family since 1973, this is a major estate in Listrac. Rich in black fruits and dense with ripe tannins, the wine is a 70/30 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, reflected in the rounded texture that cushions the structure. Drink from 2025.

93 points Roger Voss Wine Enthusiast

Château Clarke has long stood apart in Listrac Médoc, shaped by the vision of Baron Edmond de Rothschild and a style that leans more polished and generous than many of its neighbours. The estate’s clay limestone soils suit Merlot particularly well, giving the wine a plushness that balances beautifully against the firmer Cabernet backbone. In 2018, with its warmth and concentration, Clarke produced one of its more opulent and immediately appealing releases.

The nose is rich and expressive, blackcurrant, dark plum and blackberry layered with cedar, cocoa and warm spice. There’s a velvety ripeness to the fruit, but also a savoury edge of tobacco leaf and graphite that keeps it firmly in Bordeaux territory.

It carries plenty of depth without becoming heavy. Merlot brings a rounded, almost creamy texture through the middle, while Cabernet Sauvignon tightens the frame with fine tannins and structure. Dark chocolate, spice and a little earthy complexity build steadily, the finish lingering with cassis and cedar.

This is exactly the sort of Bordeaux that loves generous food. Slow roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary feels made for it, but it’s equally brilliant with mushroom and truffle pie, smoky aubergine with tahini and pomegranate, or a rich lentil and root vegetable casserole on a cold night.

The warmth of the vintage makes it approachable already with a decant, though it still has plenty of life ahead over the next decade or more.

There’s a comforting richness here, but also enough structure and freshness to stop it ever feeling overdone.