Chateau Le Gay 2018 - Pomerol 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Jeb DUNNUCK

97 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/16/2021

This estate has been on fire in recent vintages, and the 2018 Château Léoville Barton is up there with the best of them. Based on 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot that was brought up in 60% new French oak, this classic, flawlessly balanced, straight-up awesome Saint-Julien has loads of cassis and mulberry fruits as well as notes of freshly sharpened pencils, leafy tobacco, chocolate, and earth. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has building tannins and healthy acidity, yet the fruit is pure, perfectly ripe, and wonderfully integrated with all the wine's components. As is normal with this cuvée, it closes down with extended air and is going to take a solid 8-10 years of bottle age to reach the early stages of maturity. It's going to evolve for 30-40 years in cold cellars.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96 / 100

byJeff Levethe3/16/2021

Wow could be the perfect descriptor here. If only brevity sufficed. This stunner is rich, concentrated, full-bodied and packed end to end with countless layers of perfectly ripe, velvet drenched, fruits, licorice, smoke, chocolate and truffles. Dark, brooding, long, complex and intense, as well as sensuous and palate coating, this is just beautiful. Time is your friend here. If you can wait for 8-10 years, this is going to be a cellar treasure. The wine is made from blending 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc and is 100% entirely vinified in new, French oak barrels. Less than 1,500 cases are produced so if you want the wine you need to buy it early.

Vinous

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe3/12/2021

Like its stablemate La Violette, the 2018 Le Gay is initially reserved on the nose and gradually unfurls to reveal precise blackberry, bilberry, black truffle and light raspberry preserve aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. This is a relatively conservative Le Gay, but it is very precise and full of tension. Lovely blackberry and graphite notes surface toward the sustained finish. Very fine, but it will require 3–4 years in bottle. [This Pomerol radically changed with aeration, developing a stronger marine, almost briny nose and palate.]

Yvesbeck.wine

96 / 100

byYves Beckthe1/26/2021

Beaucoup de fruits noirs dans le bouquet de Le Gay. Invitantes notes de mûres et de cassis suivies de nuances d'élevage avec de fines notes chocolatées. Caractère crémeux en bouche où le vin est savoureux et parfaitement soutenu par sa structure acide. Les tannins se révèlent lentement et assurent parfaitement les arrières. Belle intensité fruitée en fin de bouche. Que de persistance en finale ! Belle réussite.

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/12/2021

Aromas of plums, violets and mushrooms with earthy notes. Fleshy and succulent texture to the full body with round, firm tannins and a salivating, savory finish. Very persistent. Opulent and reserved at the same time. Contrastive wine. Drink after 2025.

WeinWisser

18 / 20

the5/7/2019

Vinous

94-97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/3/2019

One of the highlights of the vintage, the 2018 Le Gay is fabulous. Crème de cassis, new leather, tobacco, minty and dried flowers all race out of the glass, but what impresses most is the wine's combination of fruit richness and vertical explosiveness. Black cherry, coffee, dried flowers, mint and lavender all soar. Le Gay is rich and concentrated in feel, and yet all the elements are wonderfully fused together. Tasted two times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Full-bodied, concentrated and abundant in depth, this wine balances its power, grace, elegance with ribbons of ripe, dark, red pit fruits from start to finish. The fruit comes in gradations, building and expanding on your palate -- and it just doesn't quit. The plummy finish rocks! Give this 7-9 years, allowing the wine to soften, flesh out and encourage the truffles, flowers and chocolate to unfold. The wine is made from blending 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc and is 100% vinified in barrels. The harvest took place September 19-October 3. Less than 1,500 cases are produced so if you want the wine you need to buy it early.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Le Gay opens with fragrant notes of lavender, oolong tea, baked plums and blueberry compote leading to wafts of red roses, spice cake and fallen leaves. Full-bodied, concentrated and decadently fruited, it has a firm backbone of rounded tannins and lovely freshness lifting the perfumed fruit to a long finish.

Jamessuckling.com

97-98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

A tight and dense red with depth of fruit and polished tannins that really impress at this stage. It’s naturally refined and complex with so much dark-berry, chocolate, cedar and hazelnut character. Great wine.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

94 / 100

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

Plum, boysenberry and açaí berry flavors give this a slightly exotic character, with a polished texture and lingering anise notes. Shows latent grip on the finish.