2019 Ch Capbern, St-Estèphe

I love the nose on the 2019 Château Capbern, a medium to full-bodied, spicy, rich, tobacco and cedar pencil-filled beauty with ripe yet building tannins, a great mix of richness and freshness, and a blockbuster of a finish. It's incredibly impressive, and while it offers pleasure even today, it deserves 5-6 years of bottle age, and I can't imagine it not evolving for two decades.

94 points Jeb Dunnuck

This is a gorgeous young sample with wonderful blue fruit and spices, as well as a nice overlay of pretty wood. Medium to full body and firm, silky tannins. Hints of minerals. Better than 2018.

93-94 points James Suckling 

Château Capbern has become one of Saint Estèphe's standout success stories under the stewardship of the Cazes family of Château Calon Ségur. Long recognised for delivering exceptional value, the estate combines meticulous vineyard management with traditional Bordeaux winemaking to produce Cabernet driven wines of structure, refinement and impressive ageing potential.

The vineyards are planted on gravel, clay and limestone soils in the southern reaches of Saint Estèphe, where Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot ripen slowly under the moderating influence of the Gironde Estuary. The outstanding 2019 vintage produced wines of remarkable concentration, freshness and harmony, making it one of the finest releases from the estate.

The colour is a deep garnet with youthful ruby highlights. Aromas of cassis, blackberry and black cherry are complemented by cedar, graphite, cigar box and subtle violet notes. The palate is rich yet beautifully proportioned, carrying concentrated black fruits across polished tannins and vibrant acidity. Hints of dark chocolate, liquorice and crushed stone unfold through a long, refined finish that captures the character of this classic Left Bank appellation.

A magnificent companion to roast lamb, dry aged rib eye, beef Wellington or wild mushroom pithivier with black garlic. Drinking superbly with a generous decant, this impressive Saint Estèphe will continue rewarding careful cellaring well into the 2040s.