About the Wine

Chateau Monbousquet has always been recognized as a high-performing Chateau in Bordeaux. In 1999 when it was purchased by Gerard Perse, the quality of the wine, drastically improved, so much that some years later, in 2006, the estate was elevated to Grand Cru Classe. Today legend Michel Rolland consults. His lifetime of expertise has helped position this Château as one of the most awarded estates in Saint Emilion. 

Located over 3 miles away from Premier Grand Cru Classified Château Angelus, Ausone, and Pavie, this estate is located in a truly exceptional terroir with mostly warm, deep gravel to the south and sandy-clay soils to the north. As at Cheval Blanc and Figeac, its soils are largely gravel, and thus warm. The warm soils in the vineyards allow for the relatively late-ripening Cabernets to ripen perfectly. This natural feature accounts for a particularly large proportion of Cabernet grapes in the vineyard’s composition.

Dating back to 1540, Chateau Monbousquet is no stranger to winemaking. In its long history, the estate has always been highly regarded for the wine that is produced, known both for power and finesse.

2018 was an outstanding year for Saint-Emilion. One that Vinous Media blessed with 96 points stating that "The 2018 Right Bank wines are opulent, flamboyant reds. It is a very strong vintage that falls just short of being truly epic.”

Tasting Notes: 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

Really attractive aromas of crushed berries and black cherries with some violets and stones. It’s full-bodied with layers of ripe fruit and ripe tannins that give it density and intensity. Classy, polished tannins. ~95 James Suckling. 

Espresso crema and melted black licorice aromas give way to a lush range of cassis, plum reduction, and blackberry confiture flavors that roll through with authority. The long finish is carried by a buried graphite note and a hint of smoldering earth. An amped in style but if you like muscle and panache, you'll dig this. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2038. ~95 Wine Spectator.

Another brilliant vintage for this estate, which has been going from strength to strength over the past decade, the 2018 Château Monbousquet reveals a dense purple, opaque color as well as a rich yet lively bouquet of cassis, chocolate-covered currants, new leather, and graphite. With sumptuous levels of fruit, full-bodied richness, and ample mid-palate depth, it's the purity of fruit as well as the quality of the tannins that have brought this cuvée up another notch. Readers are going to love this cuvée, and it should keep for 15-20 years. ~95 Jeb Dunnuck.

The 2018 Monbousquet is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has a pH of 3.78 and 14.38% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with energetic notes of baked blackberries, kirsch, and Black Forest cake, following by suggestions of Chinese five spice, iodine, unsmoked cigars, eucalyptus and crushed rocks with a waft of lavender. The palate is full-on full-bodied, possessing tons of rich, spicy black fruits and a velvety texture, delivering impressive tension for this level of ripeness, finishing long with a lifted savoriness. Give it 3-4 more years in the bottle and drink it over the next 20+ years. ~93 Robert Parker. 

The 2018 Monbousquet is a total turn-on. Rich, heady and voluptuous, the 2018 is flat-out delicious today. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, leather, new French oak and licorice are all dialed up in this unapologetically flamboyant Saint-Emilion. ~93 Vinous.

A successful Monbousquet, although still with the tell-tale wide tannins and expansive mid-palate that threaten to overtake the whole structure. It takes a heartbeat to kick in, which is enjoyable, and the tannins certainly have walls and flexibility to them, with juice running through the fruit. It retains the signature style, with a nod to softening things up. 39hl/ha yield in 2018. ~91 Decanter.

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