Extraprima Bordeaux 2018 Catalog english version

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extraprima Bordeaux2018 MERLOT AND PETIT VERDOT For different reasons, Merlots in the past vintages have been significantly less aromatic and flavor-full than usual: in 2014, the cold summer was to blame, in 2015 and 2016, the Merlots suffered from drought and heat. In 2017 there was frost and drought, followed by rain during harvest time. Even in 2018, only a few wines have a typical, red berry to cherry-scented Merlot component with its full-bodied richness. Significantly more aromatic than in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, the 2018 Merlots show an unusual dark-berry fruit set. Later picked Merlots even seem less expressive and fruity, instead, they show aspects of chocolate. Interestingly enough, in many assemblages, you can see a higher participation of Petit Verdot this year. In conversation with winemakers, most are aware of the reduced expressiveness of Merlot in the past vintages. Some claim that phenolic and aromatic ripening do not reach maturity in Merlots at the same time. One oenologist believes that presumably, the spraying against botrytis, especially in the case of Merlot, leads to a delayed aromatic development in the grapes. On the other hand, some classically-oriented growers produced early harvested Merlots from warmer terroirs that even in the past vintages showed very typical aromas and proved that it is possible to make classic Merlot. In addition, the time window for harvesting fully mature Merlot is very small. Francois Mitjavile from Tertre-Rôteboeuf says that in his opinion, there are only about two days when to harvest Merlot with full maturity and a perfectly developed aromatic profile as well as freshness. Just before this time window, Merlot tends to be lean and slightly green, and after that, it gets chocolaty and overripe, with a liqueury sweetness. The perfection, freshness and elegance a classical Merlot can achieve, simply is to be seen at Pétrus. Winemaker Olivier Berrouet, even in these difficult vintages, was able to produce a perfect wine out of 100 % Merlot, due to the ideal conditions the unique terroir of Pétrus provides and his sensible hands, that observe vegetation and vinification. Until the 1990s, Petit Verdot often didn’t reach full maturity. Today, due to generally warmer weather, Petit Verdot is reaching full maturity in nearly every vintage. The aromatic profile of the two grape varieties could hardly be more different, nevertheless it could be possible that Petit Verdot replaces Merlot as a complementary part in the assemblages. At least as an opponent to the Cabernets on the left bank. In addition, only a few percents of Petit Verdot are sufficient to turn the taste of a wine completely. So growers won’t have to replace Merlots by a large part in the vineyards. Interestignly Petit Verdot was to be found as a novelty in the assemblage of La Fleur Pétrus, without changing the character of the wine too much. THE VINTAGE COMPARISON 2018 cannot be compared with any previous vintage from Bordeaux. On the one hand, I am not aware of a vintage that has produced such a ripe dark-berry-fruit characteristic in broad across all appellations, which is especially as well present in Merlot-driven wines. On the other hand, such a uniformity of fruit flavors is more familiar from warm to hot vintages such as 2003, with jammy and cooked fruit aromatics. While the uniformity of flavors is there, jammy aromas can hardly be found in 2018. The abundant dark-berry-aromatics and richness at the same time, paired with freshness, is absolutely unique. As the 2018 vintage presents itself as a bit heterogeneous, similarities to previous vintages can only be found from Château to Château. One 2018 commemorates 2005, the other 2009, 2010, or others. Therefore, it has to be repeatedly stated: The general vintage characteristics of 2018 is standing above the characteristics of the terroir and even above characteristics of the grape varieties. This has never happened to modern Bordeaux before just as there have never before been four consecutive vintages with qualities up to the absolute top-level. Hopefully,youfindalotoffunwiththisvintage! Yours,ThomasBoxberger 7 Translation from the original version in german Dr.RobertParker RoberthasadoctorinChemistry,studiedinOxford,living inHeidelberg,Germany.Robertsupervisedthetranslation toEnglishforthisarticleuptopage7. LeoConstantinvonSchaabner MysonLeohelpedtranslatingallthereviewsofwines toEnglishfrompage16to91.

Bordeaux2018 extraprima 8 THE 200 BEST RED WINES BY RATING Rating TB Château – Appellation 99 – 100 AUSONE – Saint-Emilion 99 – 100 LATOUR – Pauillac 99 – 100 MOUTON-ROTHSCHILD – Pauillac 98 – 99 ANGÉLUS – Saint-Emilion 98 – 99 LA CONSEILLANTE – Pomerol 98 – 99 L’EGLISE-CLINET – Pomerol 98 – 99 HAUT-BRION – Péssac-Léognan 98 – 99 LAFLEUR – Pomerol 98 – 99 LÉOVILLE LAS CASES – Péssac-Léognan 98 – 99 MARGAUX – Margaux 98 – 99 PÉTRUS – Pomerol 98 – 99 TERTRE-RÔTEBOEUF – Saint-Emilion 98 – 99 TROTANOY – Pomerol 98 – 99 VIEUX CHÂTEAU CERTAN – Pomerol 97 – 98 CALON-SÉGUR – Saint-Estèphe 97 – 98 CHEVAL BLANC – Saint-Emilion 97 – 98 COS DESTOURNEL – Saint-Estèphe 97 – 98 DUCRU-BEAUCAILLOU – Péssac-Léognan 97 – 98 LA FLEUR PÉTRUS – Pomerol 97 – 98 LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD – Pauillac 97 – 98 LA MISSION HAUT-BRION – Péssac-Léognan 97 – 98 PALMER – Margaux 96 – 98 HAUT-BAILLY – Péssac-Léognan 96 – 98 PAVIE-MACQUIN – Saint-Emilion 96 – 98 SMITH HAUT LAFITTE – Péssac-Léognan 96 – 97 BÉLAIR-MONANGE – Saint-Emilion 96 – 97 CANON – Saint-Emilion 96 – 97 LA CHAPELLE D’AUSONE – Saint-Emilion 96 – 97 LE DÔME – Saint-Emilion 96 – 97 EVANGILE – Pomerol 96 – 97 FEYTIT-CLINET – Pomerol 96 – 97 FIGÉAC – Saint-Emilion 96 – 97 FLEUR DE GAY – Pomerol 96 – 97 LÉOVILLE-BARTON – Péssac-Léognan 96 – 97 LÉOVILLE-POYFERRÉ – Péssac-Léognan 96 – 97 LYNCH-BAGES – Pauillac 96 – 97 MALESCOT-ST.-EXUPÉRY – Margaux 96 – 97 LA MONDOTTE – Saint-Emilion 96 – 97 MONTROSE – Saint-Estèphe 96 – 97 PAVIE – Saint-Emilion 96 – 97 LE PIN – Pomerol 96 – 97 RAUZAN-SÉGLA – Margaux 96 – 97 TROPLONG MONDOT – Saint-Emilion 95 – 97 CROIX DE LABRIE – Saint-Emilion 95 – 96 BEAUSÉJOUR DUFFAU LAGAROSSE – Saint-Emilion 95 – 96 BRANAIRE-DUCRU – Péssac-Léognan 95 – 96 CANON LA GAFFELIÈRE – Saint-Emilion 95 – 96 CLERC-MILON – Pauillac 95 – 96 ENCLOS TOURMALINE – Pomerol 95 – 96 LA GAFFELIÈRE – Saint-Emilion Rating TB Château – Appellation 95 – 96 GRACIA – Saint-Emilion 95 – 96 GRAND PUY LACOSTE – Pauillac 95 – 96 GRUAUD-LAROSE – Péssac-Léognan 95 – 96 HOSANNA – Pomerol 95 – 96 LATOUR A POMEROL – Pomerol 95 – 96 MAGREZ-FOMBRAUGE – Saint-Emilion 95 – 96 PAPE-CLÉMENT – Péssac-Léognan 95 – 96 PÉBY-FAUGÈRES – Saint-Emilion 95 – 96 LES PENSÉES DE LAFLEUR – Pomerol 95 – 96 PICHON BARON – Pauillac 95 – 96 PICHON COMTESSE – Pauillac 95 – 96 TROTTE VIEILLE – Saint-Emilion 95 – 96 VALANDRAUD – Saint-Emilion 95 – 96 LA VIOLETTE – Pomerol 94 – 95 D’ARMAILHAC – Pauillac 94 – 95 BELLEFONT-BELCIER – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 BELLEVUE – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 BELLEVUE MONDOTTE – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 BEYCHEVELLE – Péssac-Léognan 94 – 95 BOURGNEUF – Pomerol 94 – 95 CAPBERN – Saint-Estèphe 94 – 95 CARILLON DE L’ANGÉLUS – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 LES CARMES HAUT-BRION – Péssac-Léognan 94 – 95 CERTAN DE MAY – Pomerol 94 – 95 CLOS FOURTET – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 LA CLOTTE – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 DE FIEUZAL – Péssac-Léognan 94 – 95 LES FORTS DE LATOUR – Pauillac 94 – 95 LE GAY – Pomerol 94 – 95 GISCOURS – Margaux 94 – 95 GRAND CORBIN DESPAGNE – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 HAUT-BAILLY II – Péssac-Léognan 94 – 95 L’IF – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 ISSAN – Margaux 94 – 95 KIRWAN – Margaux 94 – 95 LARCIS-DUCASSE – Saint-Emilion 95 – 96 LE MERLE DE PÉBY-FAUGÈRES – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 MEYNEY – Saint-Estèphe 94 – 95 PEDESCLAUX – Pauillac 93 – 95 LES PERRIÈRES DE LAFLEUR – Bordeaux 94 – 95 LE PETIT MOUTON – Pauillac 94 – 95 LE PLUS DE LA FLEUR DE BOÜARD – Lalande de Pomerol 94 – 95 PONTET-CANET – Pauillac 94 – 95 PRIEURÉ-LICHINE – Margaux 94 – 95 QUINTUS – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 ROC DE CAMBES – Bourg 94 – 95 SAINT-PIERRE – Péssac-Léognan 94 – 95 LA SERRE – Saint-Emilion 94 – 95 TALBOT – Péssac-Léognan 94 – 95 VIEUX CHÂTEAU MAZERAT – Saint-Emilion Ratings in red and all descriptions by Thomas Boxberger © 2019. Other ratings: Suckling = James Suckling | Parker = Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate