93 / 100
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Advocate
The 2018 Monbousquet is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has a pH of 3.78 and 14.38% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with energetic notes of baked blackberries, kirsch and Black Forest cake, following by suggestions of Chinese five spice, iodine, unsmoked cigars, eucalyptus and crushed rocks with a waft of lavender. The palate is full-on full-bodied, possessing tons of rich, spicy black fruits and a velvety texture, delivering impressive tension for this level of ripeness, finishing long with a lifted savoriness. Give it 3-4 more years in bottle and drink it over the next 20+ years. Drink 2024-2044.
Always one of the most concentrated and "mondiale" style wines of Saint Emilion. Monbousquet was the first vineyard purchased by Chateau Pavie owner Gerard Perse back in 1993. The 32 hectares are planted with 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2018 yield was 39 hl/ha and the elevage is in 50% new oak.