2018 D'Aiguilhe

The 2018 d’Aiguilhe was picked from September 25 to October 5 at 45hl/ha, and matured in 20% new oak. It has an attractive nose of blackberry, mulberry and still those chestnut aromas, though thankfully there is no overripeness now. The palate is soft and sensual on the opening, with grainy tannins framing cedar-tinged red fruit laced with clove and a little garrigue toward the finish. Not bad at all, though it needs a bit more energy.

Readers looking for a beautiful Bordeaux that's not going to break the bank should check out the 2018 Château D'Auguilhe. Coming from the cooler Castillon region to the east of Saint-Emilion, this beauty offers a terrific perfume of ripe black raspberries, cherries, roasted herbs, sweet mulch, and spring flowers. It has a fresh, crunchy quality to its fruit, nicely integrated acidity, ripe yet present tannins, and the class to keep for 10-15 years.

The 2018 d'Aiguilhe offers up a compelling mélange of inky red/purplish fruit and plenty of structure to match. It is impressive in its peer group, but also needs quite a bit of time to be at its best. The 2018 is not quite as showy as it was en primeur, and yet its energy and depth are intriguing.