2015 CHÂTEAU MONTLABERT SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU

For my palate, the best wines of Saint Emilion stand out for sensuous textures, rounded mouthfeel, supple fruits and vividly detailed flavors, and Chateau Montlabert’s 95 Point Saint Emilion Grand Cru is a stunning example.  After all, Saint Émilion is the oldest active wine producing region in Bordeaux, officially formed in 1199, and like most wines in Saint Emilion, Chateau Montlabert is based around a core of Merlot.  Their vineyard has a unique terroir that’s laden with sand, clay, gravel, and limestone that’s perfectly suited for ripening Merlot.  And the vintage? The 2015 vintage set a record for perfect 100 Point wines from Wine Enthusiast, and around half of those were from Saint Émilion.  The Wine Spectator rated the overall vintage 97 Points, noting Saint Émilion was the sweet spot…

Chateau Montlabert is owned in part by the Castel group who also owns the iconic Chateau Beychevelle in St. Julien, and their consulting winemaker is Hubert De Bouard who’s well-versed in Saint Emilion terroir. Hubert co-owns Chateau Angelus, which is one of the top houses in Saint Emilion, and their wines can top $500/btl… Needless to say, at $49.99, Chateau Montlabert is a remarkable value.