2018 Château Capbern (made by the team at Calon Segur)
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Under recently changed ownership Château Calon Segur is rapidly ascending to become a nominal member of the triumvirate of Saint-Estèphe 'super-seconds' alongside Cos d'Estournel and Montrose.
And as the quality of Calon Segur increases so too does that of its sister property Château Capbern. Capbern has its vineyards just next to the village and north of Chateaux Montrose and Meyney, but has the same ownership and wine-making team as Calon Segur itself. (Then with the suffix 'Gasqueton'), Capbern first became noticed by UK wine buyers with the outstanding 2009 vintage; a new high was later reached with the 2016 vintage and the 2018 now threatens to eclipse them both.
Whilst the price has crept up over the last decade, at under £16 a bottle in bond and with such provenance and potential, Capbern still offers one of the best values in Bordeaux. Unfortunately, as with Calon Segur, supply is very limited so if you would like a case please do let us know as soon as possible.
View all Châteaux releases on our 2018 Bordeaux En Primeur offer page
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2018 Château Capbern, St Estèphe Cru Bourgeois |
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Wonderful intensity on the nose with red and black fruit, broad and ripe on the palate. Fresh acidity, very fine tannins and a long finish. RKL
"A tasty, extremely appetising Capbern that, after tasting, makes you you already look forward to drinking in bottle. It has a real elegance to its black fruits, and the tannins have a softness and succulence to them, leading on to a mouthwatering finish. Harvest took place between 19 September and 8 October, around one week earlier than in a classic year according to Laurent Dufau, and yielding 37hl/ha. 3.7pH. 60% new oak. Drinking Window 2024-2036. 92 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine
"62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. pH 3.75, 60% new oak. Barrel sample. Deepest purple. Dark and stony, lovely slaty nose. Firm, chalky, dense and still with lovely freshness. Not the same richness as the 2009 but with great purity and definition. More serious, less seduction. Long and great structure. So pure in its dark cassis fruit. Cool with a touch of liquorice on the finish. 14.6%. Drink 2023-2029. 17 points" jancisrobinson.com (JH)
"Deep purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with vibrant scents of black raspberries, kirsch and fresh blackcurrants with nuances of cedar chest, pencil lead and forest floor plus a waft of lavender. Full-bodied, rich and packed with juicy fruit, it has a firm line of grainy tannins and loads of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift. 91-93 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com
" A fresh and firm Capbern with lots of dark berries, chocolate and hints of hazelnuts. Medium to full body and dense, lightly chewy tannins. Mineral undertone. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com
£190 per dozen bottles in bond (LIMITED AVILABILITY)
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Prices are per case in bond ex-London City Bond. Most wines are available in halves or magnums for an extra £15 per case; please enquire for all other formats. Shipment expected Spring 2021.
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2018 Château Angélus, St-Émilion, 1er Grand Cru Classé A |
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"This shows beautifully sensibility of generous fruit and soft and velvety tannins with an undertone of chocolate and cedar. Full-bodied, pure and supple with a direct delivery of vibrant fruit and real terroir expression. Savory at the end with hazelnut and crunchy-seed flavors. Reality check here. Incredible fruit quality. 99-100 points." James Suckling, jamessuckling,com, April 2019
£1530 per case of six bottles in bond
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2018 Château Angludet, Margaux Cru Bourgeois |
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"Deepest cherry red. Smells of tiny black berries, expressive and slightly floral. Smooth and rounded on the palate and just the right amount of freshness so that the tannins are not sharpened. Spicy, smooth finish. 13.5%. Drink 2025-2035. 16.5 points" jancisrobinson.com (JH)
"There was no Angludet last year because of frost, so it's good to see it back in 2018. It's making a sterling return, even if in smaller quantities from a yield of just 10hl/ha. It's wonderfully fragrant with touches of florality and beautiful ripeness to the brambly fruits. The palate has a lovely texture, where you feel the alcohol is generous but not overpowering. It's a brilliant wine, reminiscent of the excellent 2015 and possibly even better. It's one of my picks of the vintage in terms of its value to quality ratio, and you won't have to wait too long to drink it. Aged in cement vats, with malo in barrel for the Petit Verdot. 33% new oak. Drinking Window 2025-2038. 93 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine
£156 per case of six bottles in bond (VERY LIMITED)
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2018 Château Beaumont, Cru Bourgeois Haut Médoc |
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45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot. Very intense, open and approachable on the nose with gentle new oak aromas and red and blackcurrant fruits. Very fine, velvet tannins which frame the deep, blackcurrant and plum fruits on the palate. Possibly the much vaunted quality of the Merlot in this vintage is super-charging the blend this year, but still balanced by the assertive tannins. So balanced and lively, a delight to taste. RKL
"Firm, deep and well extracted, this is a rich purple colour with sweet blackberry fruits on the nose along with some gentle spicing. It's an elegant and extremely classic Médoc wine. The tannins are already smooth and starting to integrate with the fruits. The quality bodes well for the medium-priced wines in this vintage. One of the value picks of the Médoc. Drinking Window 2023 - 2035. 91 points." Jane Anson, Decanter April 2019.
£105 per dozen bottles; £120 per 6 magnums in bond
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2018 Château Branaire Ducru, Grand Cru Classé St Julien |
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Classic Branaire on the nose and typically tightly-furled at this stage; however, pretty, supple fruit on entry, red fruits and wonderful balance. Plenty of tannins appear mid-palate but these are more than matched by the depth of rich, dark fruit. Very fine, great length. RKL
"Branaire-Ducru has managed to produce an exceptionally balanced and refined St-Julien in a year when that was not the easiest task. Depth and complexity is clear, although it's just a little held back right now. The architecture is such that there are walls to scale and depths to plumb, but with less generosity overall. 53hl/ha yield. Drinking Window 2027-2040. 93 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine
"The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Branaire-Ducru begins just a tad reduced with broody tar, rubber and fried herbs scents giving way to a fragrant core of warm cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry coulis with touches of smoked meats and tobacco. Full-bodied, firm and rugged in the mouth with brawny, muscular fruit and a sturdy frame of grainy tannins, it finishes long and savory. 92-94 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com
"This is a fantastic Branaire with deep and dark fruit, such as blackberries and blackcurrants. Lots of raspberries, too. Full-bodied with firm and creamy tannins and a super long finish. We will see if it’s better than 2016, but on its way. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com
£462 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Château Carlmagnus, Fronsac |
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"Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Carlmagnus gives pronounced notes of plum preserves, baked blueberries and mulberries with touches of mocha, licorice and tar. Full-bodied and jam-packed with opulent, expressive black and blue fruit, it has a firm, velvety frame and fantastic freshness, finishing long and layered. 92-94+ points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com
£110 per dozen bottles; £125 per 6 magnums in bond
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2018 Château La Chenade, Lalande de Pomerol |
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Seemingly riper on the nose with lovely, leafy Cab Franc notes in evidence. Sweeter on entry than the Saintayme with delicious red fruit flavours combining with the darker, plummy fruits. Elegant and very long. RKL
"This is super fresh and juicy - an easy wine to recommend. It’s full of well-ripened autumnal fruits and is in fact pretty concentrated in terms of flavours – a wine that shows just how fully the grapes ripened on gravel soils in 2018 and yet maintains its floral aromatics and sense of easy elegance. 30% new oak was used. A yield of 40hl/ha. Drinking Window 2024-2038. 92 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine
"This is really delicious and fresh with lovely dark berries and purity at the same time. Medium body, fine tannins and a lovely finish. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com
£145 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Château Les Cruzelles, Lalande de Pomerol |
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A big step up in richness and power here. A lovely entry with intense fruit spreading across the mid-palate and finishing very long. The tannins are so ripe and well-controlled this year. Delicious. RKL
"This is produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet. The 2018 Les Cruzelles is blended of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc with 40% new oak and 14.5% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it features slightly reduced notions of asphalt and tires over a core of warm red and black plums, blackberry pie and boysenberries with hints of fruitcake, incense and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and packed with perfumed black fruit, it has a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long. 91-93 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com
£210 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Enclos Tourmaline, Pomerol |
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"Wow. The purity of fruit in this wine is stupendous with crushed raspberries and blackberries. Full-bodied, very layered and gorgeous with superbly fine yet forceful tannins and a driven finish. A triumph. Pure-merlot magic here. 97-98 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2019
£309 per case of 3 bottles in bond
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2018 Château de Fonbel, St-Émilion Grand Cru |
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Lovely concentration of red and black fruits, beautifully supple tannins and good balance. This should drink relatively early. RKL
"Made up of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Carménère, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Fonbel gives up spicy notes of Sichuan pepper, cinnamon stick, cloves and fenugreek with a core of warm red and black cherries, mulberries and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has wonderful freshness and a soft, creamy texture supporting the vibrant red and black fruit preserves flavors, finishing with a peppery lift. 91-93 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com
£160 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Château Haut Brisson, St Emilion Grand Cru |
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"This is a very powerful and structured Haut-Brisson, showing incredible depth and richness. Full-bodied and layered with incredible depth and purity. Layers of fruit and tannin. Best ever. 95-96 points." JamesSuckling.com, April 2019
£220 per 12 bottles in bond
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Chateau Labégorce, Margaux 2018 |
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Deep, dark black cassis and blueberry fruits on the nose which are confirmed on the palate, open and approachable but with a structure which seems pleasingly classical, powerful tannins and already beginning to show signs of integrated cedary oak influence. RKL
"2018 is the first year for eight vintages that this wine is back to being 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, after replantings have come on line. That helps, perhaps, with the lift it shows even in this extremely concentrated year. It's a lovely Labégorce, with some bouncy, chewy tannins alongside blue and bramble fruits and some spice. As it opens up, a more floral character comes out. 93 points." Jane Anson, Decanter April 2019
"This is a plump and rich Labégorce with a full body, juicy tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Lots of pure and intense fruit. 93-94 points." James Suckling, jamessuckling.com April 2019
£255 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Château Langoa Barton, Grand Cru Classé St Julien |
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Lovely ripeness evident on the nose here; rich entry to the palate with a delicious chewy sweetness. The tannins are very firm and the overall sense is of balance but considerable power. RKL
"There’s real freshness to the crushed-raspberry and blueberry character of this young red. Medium-to full-bodied and zingy with energetic tannins. Crisp finish. Lovely purity of fruit to this. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com
"The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Langoa Barton is slightly shy at this nascent stage, revealing wonderfully pure, warm red and black currant scents with nuances of blueberry preserves, chocolate mint, smoked meat and a waft of bouquet garni. Full-bodied, rich and sporting a lot of vibrant, juicy fruit in the mouth, it has firm, rounded tannins and a lively backbone lifting the fruit to a good, long finish. 92-94 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com
£435 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Château Laroque, St-Émilion, Grand Cru Classé |
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"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Laroque is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal fragrant black cherries, wild blueberries and blackberry preserves scents with hints of crushed rocks, underbrush and violets plus a waft of Marmite toast. Full-bodied and jam-packed with bright, crunchy black and blue fruits, it has a firm line of ripe, fine-grained tannins and loads of freshness, finishing very long and layered. Impressive! Being aged in oak barriques, 50% new, the blend is 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. 95-97 points." Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com
£210 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Château Montlandrie, Castillon, Cotes de Bordeaux |
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A broader structure with darker brambly notes. Lovely sweetness in the mid-palate and ripe albeit more noticeable tannins. A little less concentration than the Cruzelles. RKL
"Produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, the 2018 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with 14.5% alcohol and is currently aging in 40% new oak. Deep purple-black in color, it features fragrant notes of lilacs, Morello cherries and blueberry compote over a core of plum preserves and woodsmoke plus a waft of underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is richly fruited with black and blue fruits, lifted by earthy accents and lovely freshness, finishing long and velvety textured. 92-94 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com
£174 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Château Potensac, Médoc |
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"Dense on the nose and palate, some cedary oak notes, with a very fine tannic structure hinting at the old austere style of Potensac, but complimented by lots of bright damson plum fruits, presumably from the increasing proportion of Merlot in the blend. Has the structure to age but that fruit will likely make it accessible quite early too. RKL
"The excellence of this lies in the quality of the tannins, which are so polished and refined. Compact and tight. Medium-bodied. Very, very long. Beauty already. 93-94 points." James Suckling, jamessuckling.com April 2019
£216 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Château Saintayme, St Emilion Grand Cru |
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After a beautifully pure Merlot nose the palate is structured and ripe but quite austere at the moment. Long on the finish and medium-bodied, this should be an elegant and very fine iteration of this super-value St Emilion. RKL
"Produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, the 2018 Saintayme is made of 100% Merlot with 30% new oak and 14.5% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with plum preserves, crushed blackberries and chocolate-covered cherries with hints of lavender, unsmoked cigar and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals beautiful freshness and elegance with soft tannins and loads of mineral sparks on the finish. 89-91 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert.Parker.com
"Vibrant ruby in colour, this is a touch austere right now, subdued but rippling with potential. The plump and glossy fruits are good quality and the palate is well structured, with clear lift on the finish. It may be holding back right now but it has a long life ahead. 30% new oak. Harvested between 29 September and 9 October. 3.7pH. Drinking Window 2025-2038. 91 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine
"This is very perfumed with a firm and solid, stony tannin structure. Lovely, linear line through this. Full and tight at the same time. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com
£135 per dozen bottles in bond
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2018 Château Tour St Christophe, St Emilion Grand Cru |
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"Blueberry and blackberry character with hints of white pepper and chalk. Salty, too. Full-bodied, tight and polished with fantastic texture and length. Very closed and tight with gorgeous tannin quality. 96-97 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2019
£260 per 12 bottles in bond
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Minimum order: 1 case as listed.
Payment: on receipt of invoice.
Shipment: due to land in the UK in Spring 2021.
Delivery: delivery, duty & VAT charged at prevailing rates at time of clearance from bond.
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