About the Wine

Château Noaillac, a well-known Cru Bourgeois property, has been owned by the Pages family since 1983. A rising star. Damien

Pages, Marc Pages's grandson, had taken over the running of this property some years ago. Some 40 years ago, the Pages family realized that the soil in this northerly part of the Médoc once produced excellent wines and the land had been abandoned. Now with 41 hectares and the vines becoming older, 20-25 years on average, their vineyards are composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.

In 2018, Chateau Noaillac was awarded Cru Bourgeois Superieur, a title given to top Chateaux. They have been judged on their viticultural practices, environmental awareness, barrel aging regiment, and a blind tasting of their 5 most recent vintages. The classification is broken into 3 different levels, Exceptionnel, Superieur, and Cru Bourgeois. Exceptionnel is the highest ranking of which there are only 14 Chateaux. Noaillac is one of 56 Cru Bourgeois Superieur. There has never been a better time to buy Cru Bourgeois wines with the estates learning more and more about their vineyards along with their drive to produce better wines the quality of Cru Bourgeois has never been better!

The 2018 vintage was one of the best vintages in Bordeaux of the last century. It's apart of a string of phenomenal vintages including, 2016 and 2015. James Suckling called it an "exceptional vintage" with multiple critics from different outlets awarding it with a 96-point vintage score or higher! (Jeb Dunnuck 98, Wine Enthusiast 98, Vinous Media 96, Wine Spectator 96, and Wine Advocate 96).

Tasting Notes: See critical reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

The nose is elegant and offers complexity, a small richness, a fine grain as well as intensity. It reveals notes of crushed blackberry associated with touches of violet, licorice stick, toasted oak as well as hints of caramelization, crushed violet plum, a discreet hint of saffron, tea, and hazelnut. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, and offers a juicy/mineral frame, a good definition, a beautiful richness, gourmandize, tension as well as freshness and roundness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fleshy cassis, crushed strawberry, and small notes of pulpy raspberry associated with touches of small pulpy blue fruits as well as hints of violet, toasted, hazelnut, cardamom, a discreet hint of tea, and a subtle hint of chocolate. Tannins are racy, elegant, and finely firm. ~93 VertdeVin

The 2018 Noaillac has a very well-defined bouquet of blackberry, black tea/Earl Grey and light earthy scents, classy and gaining intensity with aeration. As I mentioned in my original barrel review, there is something reminiscent of a Graves. Very well balanced with a structured, fresh, and lightly spiced finish that lingers. Excellent. ~91 Vinous Media

Deep dark ruby ​​garnet, violet reflections, delicate lightening of the edges. Fresh oak spice, nuances of vanilla, a hint of cassis, some nougat, inviting bouquet. Medium complexity, fine cherry fruit, present tannins, delicate dark chocolate, sticks, a spicy food companion. ~91 Falstaff

Based on Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, the 2018 Château Noaillac sports a healthy ruby/purple hue to go with impressive notes of blackcurrants, cherries, lead pencil, and tobacco. This is classic Bordeaux aromatically (I'd almost guess Pauillac by the nose), and it's medium-bodied, with a balanced, layered texture and a great finish. It's a hidden little gem of a Médoc that should keep for 8-10 years in cold cellars. ~90 Jeb Dunnuck

Some stewed plums, orange peel, and flowers that open nicely on the nose and follow through to a medium body with very fine tannins that are polished and rather soft, giving a beautiful and enjoyable impression on the palate for a young wine. Try after 2024. ~90 James Suckling

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