2018 Soutard-Cadet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux

JD96+ Emerging from the talents of Marie Lefévère (of Château Sansonnet and Château Moulin du Cadet), the 2018 Château Soutard-Cadet clocks in at 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in new barrels. Its dense purple color is followed by a powerful, concentrated Saint-Emilion with stunning cassis and black raspberry fruits, notes of spice, candied violets, camphor, and chocolate, full-bodied richness, beautiful elegance married to serious power, and a blockbuster of a finish. This is another thrill-a-minute Saint-Emilion that readers should snatch up. It’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and should drink well for a solid two decades.

JS94 Blackberry and bark with some sandalwood and mushroom on the nose. It’s full-bodied with juicy fruit and tight, creamy tannins. Linear and racy. Gorgeous finish. Rather reserved now, but good, serious promise. Try after 2024.

WA93 The 2018 Soutard-Cadet is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, and the wine has 15% alcohol. It was aged in 100% new oak barrels for about 18 months. Deep purple-black colored, it starts out a little broody with tar and damp earth scents soon giving way to a core of plum preserves, Christmas cake and blackberry pie, followed by hints of cedar chest, chargrill and sandalwood. The full-bodied palate packs in the black fruit preserves and savory layers and is supported by velvety tannins and a fantastic backbone of freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. Give it another 2-3 years in bottle to really hit its stride and drink it over the following 15 years or more. This 2.7-hectare vineyard was acquired in 2015 by the Lefévère family, owners of the nearby Sansonnet and Moulin du Cadet. This single block, situated in front of Château Soutard, is planted to 6,000 vines per hectare and in 2018 had an average vine age of 40 years. The vineyard is planted on thin clay soils atop limestone.