Wine Advocate (91-93)

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Wine Advocate (91-93)

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Wine Advocate (92-94)

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Relish in the rare elegance of Liber Pater Graves Denarius 2018, a truly unique wine hailing from the storied vineyards of Graves in Bordeaux, France. Produced by Loïc Pasquet, Liber Pater is revered for embracing traditional viticulture practices, reverting back to indigenous grape varieties while maintaining atypical planting density. As a result, each vine of Liber Pater enjoys an uncompromised access to nutrients, enhancing fruit quality and complexity.

The Liber Pater Graves Denarius 2018 is no exception. Hand-harvested and subjected to meticulous vinification process, this luscious blend embodies sumptuous notes of blackcurrant, cherry, and hints of earthy truffle, underpinned by subtly opulent oak aromas. The finish is elegantly long and nuanced, a testament to the wine's superior craftsmanship and time-honoured methods.

From its ethereal quality to its striking richness, the magic of Liber Pater Graves Denarius 2018 is an example of Loïc Pasquet's relentless pursuit of authenticity, making it an indispensable addition to any discerning connoisseur’s collection.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2018 Desmirail impressed out of barrel. Now bottled, it still represents one of the best vintages that I have tasted from this Margaux estate. Gorgeous blackberry and raspberry scents feature on the nose, the new oak supportive and beautifully enmeshed. The palate is very well balanced with supple tannins, a keen line of acidity and a chalky-textured finish that is extremely well focused. This is a great success for Denis Lurton and his team. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

Vinous - Neal Martin (89-91)

The 2018 Destieux has a lovely, ripe, blueberry and cassis scented bouquet with violet petals that emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet saturated tannins and moderate acidity. It lacks a little structure on the finish and the new oak is too vocal, but hopefully that will resolve itself by the time of bottling. Let’s see.

James Suckling (99)

The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2026.

James Suckling (99)

The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2026.

James Suckling (99)

The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2026.

James Suckling (99)

The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2026.

James Suckling (99)

The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2026.

James Suckling (97-98)

This is dense and very structured with phenolic tension and depth. Full-bodied, lightly phenolic with sliced apples, cooked pears and lemons. Lively and intense. Solid as a rock. This is one to watch.

James Suckling (97-98)

This is dense and very structured with phenolic tension and depth. Full-bodied, lightly phenolic with sliced apples, cooked pears and lemons. Lively and intense. Solid as a rock. This is one to watch.

James Suckling (94-95)

A tight and precise du Tertre with deep and dark fruit, as well as fresh flowers. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a clean and beautiful finish. The tannins are folding into the wine here.

James Suckling (94-95)

A tight and precise du Tertre with deep and dark fruit, as well as fresh flowers. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a clean and beautiful finish. The tannins are folding into the wine here.

The Duclot Collection Case 2018 contains one bottle of nine of the very top wines of 2018 from across both banks of Bordeaux, giving a marvellous cross section of what Bordeaux has to offer in this fabulous vintage. These Duclot cases have become collectors’ items that are especially popular as gifts, legacies for children etc. The year 2018 will always be special to someone, for some reason, and to mark it with nine of the best wines from a vintage like 2018 will always be desirable. And of course, the wines in this case will drink for another 40-50 years.

 

The Duclot Collection Case 2018 contains 1x75cl of each following :

 

Château Pétrus | 100 pts Wine Advocate

Château Ausone | 100 pts Wine Advocate

Château Cheval Blanc | 98+ pts Wine Advocate

Château Margaux | 100 pts Wine Advocate

Château Haut-Brion | 100 pts Wine Advocate

Château Mouton Rothschild | 99 pts Wine Advocate

Château Lafite Rothschild | 100 pts Wine Advocate

Château La Mission Haut-Brion | 99 pts Wine Advocate

Château d’Yquem | 98 pts Wine Advocate

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Looking at the 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, I was stopped in my tracks at this beauty and continue to think 2018 is an incredible vintage for Bordeaux. Checking in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that was raised in new barrels, it has an essence of cassis character as well notes of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, crushed stone, and cedar pencil. Cut from the same cloth as the 2009, although with slightly more polished tannins, it's full-bodied and massively concentrated and structured, yet flawlessly balanced, with incredible purity and no hard edges.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Looking at the 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, I was stopped in my tracks at this beauty and continue to think 2018 is an incredible vintage for Bordeaux. Checking in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that was raised in new barrels, it has an essence of cassis character as well notes of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, crushed stone, and cedar pencil. Cut from the same cloth as the 2009, although with slightly more polished tannins, it's full-bodied and massively concentrated and structured, yet flawlessly balanced, with incredible purity and no hard edges.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Looking at the 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, I was stopped in my tracks at this beauty and continue to think 2018 is an incredible vintage for Bordeaux. Checking in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that was raised in new barrels, it has an essence of cassis character as well notes of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, crushed stone, and cedar pencil. Cut from the same cloth as the 2009, although with slightly more polished tannins, it's full-bodied and massively concentrated and structured, yet flawlessly balanced, with incredible purity and no hard edges.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Looking at the 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, I was stopped in my tracks at this beauty and continue to think 2018 is an incredible vintage for Bordeaux. Checking in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that was raised in new barrels, it has an essence of cassis character as well notes of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, crushed stone, and cedar pencil. Cut from the same cloth as the 2009, although with slightly more polished tannins, it's full-bodied and massively concentrated and structured, yet flawlessly balanced, with incredible purity and no hard edges.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Looking at the 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, I was stopped in my tracks at this beauty and continue to think 2018 is an incredible vintage for Bordeaux. Checking in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that was raised in new barrels, it has an essence of cassis character as well notes of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, crushed stone, and cedar pencil. Cut from the same cloth as the 2009, although with slightly more polished tannins, it's full-bodied and massively concentrated and structured, yet flawlessly balanced, with incredible purity and no hard edges.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

Just as it was en primeur, the 2018 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is rich, sensual and enveloping. Silky tannins wrap around a core of blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather. All the elements are so well balanced in this sumptuous, racy Saint-Julien. A warm growing season yielded small berries and heady, concentrated flavors. This is such a gorgeous wine. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.