Lawther’s 10: style-shift in St-Emilion

Château Troplong Mondot,

St- Emilion 1GCC 2018 95

£66 (ib)-£ 101.67 Bordeaux Index, Christopher Keiller, Cru, Crump Richmond Shaw, Davy’s, Farr Vintners, Fine & Rare, Goedhuis & Co, Jeroboams, Justerini & Brooks, L’Assemblage, Millésima, Montrachet, Nickolls & Perks, Richard Kihl

This is a dense and profound wine, but it’s a little shy aromatically at present. The palate is juicy and well constituted with attractive volume, beautiful texture, silky tannins and an unreserved but unaggressive power behind. The finish is firm and persistent. Despite the alcohol, everything is balanced and contained. Aged in 60% new oak barrels. Drink 2025-2040 Alcohol 15%

Château Beau-Séjour Bécot,

St- Emilion 1GCC 2018 94

£43.33-£ 55.83 (ib) Armit, Bordeaux Index, Corkr, Cru, Crump Richmond Shaw, DBM Wines, Grand Vin, IG Wines, Justerini & Brooks, L’Assemblage, Montrachet, Nickolls & Perks, Richard Kihl, Uncorked, Wineye

The bouquet is so pure and refined, with floral and dark fruit notes. This alone denotes the change in style. The palate is digestible and fresh with a lovely pitch of fruit and mouthwatering acidity. Minerally firmness of the chalky terroir, and the tannins give plenty of drive on the finish. It’s appealing already but will stay the pace. Harvest dates were 12-25 September for the Merlot and 4, 5, 10 October for the Cabernets. Drink 2025-2040 Alc 14.5%

Château Soutard, St- Emilion GCC 2018 93 £ 33.42 (ib)-£49.17 Crump Richmond Shaw, Millésima

The colour is deep and the nose refined with plenty of lift and freshness, the limestone soils evident. The attack on the palate is lively but smooth, the tannins finely honed. There’s good depth on the mid-palate and the freshness persists throughout a long, clean finish. Certainly this is one of the best Soutards I can remember in recent times. Harvested from 20 September-12 October. The blend is completed with 1% Malbec.

Drink 2025-2038 Alc 14.5%

Château Angélus, Carillon d’Angélus

St- Emilion GC 2018 92

£ 77.17 (ib)-£ 113.33 Crump Richmond Shaw, Millesima

Lifted and spicy on the nose with a splash of dark fruit, the wine affirms its style with freshness, clean lines and a lightness of touch. Nonetheless, there’s plenty of depth and the tannins have been finely worked, the 60% new oak well integrated. It has early appeal but will age. Produced from fruit from three separate parcels: close to Angélus, behind Figeac and at