Le Point 15,5 / 20 par Jacques Dupont le 20/06/2018 Fruits rouges, mûre, tendre, onctueux, petite note fumée, petits tanins serrés, sapides, juteux, bien enrobés, finale fraîche, gourmande.
Jeb DUNNUCK 90-93 / 100 par Jeb Dunnuck le 12/06/2018 Château Desmirail looks to have turned out a sensational wine in the vintage, and their 2017 offers a forward, already irresistible style as well as loads of spicy red and black fruits, incense and spice aromas, and flavors. I love its purity of fruit, it has medium-bodied richness, and ripe tannin. Drink it on release and over the following 10-15 years.
Vinifera 89-91 / 100 par Jacques Perrin le 28/05/2018 Prise de bois marquée, fruit assez mûr et confit. Bouche plutôt extraite, tanin travaillé mais un peu appuyé. Il faudra voir comment il se comporte en fin d’élevage.
Vinous 86-89 / 100 par Antonio Galloni le 15/05/2018 The 2017 Desmirail offers good depth, but it is also presently dominated by oak. There is good juiciness to the blackberry, chocolate, new leather and torrefaction notes and yet the new oak sweetness is simply overpowering.
The Wine Cellar Insider 89-91 / 100 par Jeff Leve le 11/05/2018 Medium bodied, floral and on the bright, crisp side of the red fruit range, the tannins are soft, giving you a Margaux for early drinking enjoyment.
Vinous 86-88 / 100 par Neal Martin le 01/05/2018 The 2017 Desmirail has quite an intense bouquet with black cherries and crème de cassis scents that seems to gain volume with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with candied sweet ripe blueberry fruit. My problem here is the new oak on the second half that seems to oppress the fruit and dominate the finish. It will need a very prudent élevage to maintain balance and stop the cooperage dominating proceedings by the time of bottling.
Decanter.com 88 / 100 par Jane Anson le 25/04/2018 Denis Lurton has produced a carefully constructed, polished wine with plenty of impact, but be aware of the full-on style before you buy. It's extremely smoky on the nose, with some grilled aromas and flavours. There is some good cassis fruit underneath, running through the mid-palate, but it could do with dialling back on the smoke. It does settle a little, but even retasting it after 15 minutes in the glass the tar and bitumen character dominates. 33% new oak. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038
Wine Enthusiast 87-89 / 100 par Roger Voss le 17/04/2018 The flavor of new wood is strong in this wine. It has a tough structure and the merest hints of fruit. It should fill out once the overbearing wood has gone. Drink from 2024.
Jamessuckling.com 90-91 / 100 par James Suckling le 06/04/2018 Plenty of blueberries and blackberries with hints of spices and green tea. Medium-bodied, tight and focused. Outstanding depth of fruit for the vintage.
Wine Spectator 89-92 / 100 par James Molesworth le 04/04/2018 Pretty lilac and sandalwood notes lead off, followed by a velvety edged core of plum and cassis fruit flavors, all of which knit nicely through the fine-grained finish.—J.M.