2018 Ch Capbern, St-Estèphe

The 2018 Château Capbern checks in as a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 37% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 60% new barrels. It has a deep, dark, earthy, classic Saint-Estèphe bouquet that gives up lots of cassis and almost blue fruits as well as ample chocolate, damp earth, and leafy herb-like aromas and flavors. With a full-bodied, rich, opulent mouthfeel, loads of sumptuous dark fruits, sweet tannins, and a great finish, this brilliant 2018 brings lots of fruit and opulence, yet stays weightless and balanced, with solid underlying structure. A hidden gem in the vintage, this is every bit as good as the 2016, and it's going to shine for two decades or more.

94 points Jeb Dunnuck

A juicy and savory red with currant, walnut, mushroom and cedar aromas that follow through to a medium body with firm tannins and a savory finish. Drink after 2023.

91-92 points James Suckling 

The 2018 Capbern is composed of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot and comes in at 14.6% alcohol. It's anticipated to age for 16 months in barriques, 60% new. Deep purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with vibrant scents of black raspberries, kirsch and fresh blackcurrants with nuances of cedar chest, pencil lead and forest floor plus a waft of lavender. Full-bodied, rich and packed with juicy fruit, it has a firm line of grainy tannins and loads of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.

91-93 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate

Château Capbern has long been one of Saint Estèphe's great insider buys, sharing ownership with the team behind the celebrated Château Calon Ségur. Under the guidance of Vincent Millet, the estate has earned a reputation for producing wines that capture the appellation's trademark structure and graphite edged character while remaining approachable earlier than many of its neighbours.

The vineyards lie on a mix of gravel, clay and limestone soils close to the Gironde estuary, where Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thrive in the maritime climate of the northern Médoc. The warm and generous 2018 vintage has delivered a beautifully balanced wine with both immediate appeal and excellent ageing potential.

The colour is a deep garnet purple with youthful intensity. Aromas of cassis, blackberry and black cherry emerge alongside cedar, graphite and cigar box. The palate is rich yet classically proportioned, combining dark fruit concentration with fine tannins and fresh acidity. Notes of liquorice, tobacco leaf and spice build with time in the glass, while the finish remains long, savoury and unmistakably Saint Estèphe in personality.

A wonderful match for roast lamb shoulder, beef Wellington, braised short ribs or wild mushroom pithivier with thyme and black garlic. Drinking beautifully with a decant today while continuing to reward careful cellaring over the next fifteen years.