ChateauCapbern,StEstephe2018Magnum

This excellent estate situated between Calon Segur and Montrose benefits from the same wine making team as Calon Segur: Laurent Dufau, Vincent Millet and Eric Boissenot. The fruit from this vineyard formed part of Calon Segur until the 2006 vintage, when the late Denise Gasqueton decided to create a separate label. It has now dropped the Gasqueton from its name and will just be called ‘Capbern’. It has its own very smart winery and there is a very handsome Chateau tucked away behind the church in St Estephe. The 2018 is produced from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, cropped at 41hl/ha and is the best example we have tasted to date. This really feels like it has Calon Segur class. Lovely floral Cabernet perfume of violets, cassis and bright cranberry. Texturally, this is really refined and chiselled, with great focus and intensity and a suave tannic profile coated with fine berry detail and minerals. Another very smart Capbern.