JCP Maltus, Château Pontet Labrie, 2018 - Magnum
JCP Maltus, Château Pontet Labrie, 2018 - Magnum
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Pontet Labrie is a single vineyard Grand Cru Saint-Émilion, owned by one of the original Bordeaux ‘garagistes’, 100-point winemaker Jonathan Maltus OBE. Jonathan has evolved his winemaking philosophy pioneering a Burgundian approach, unusual in Bordeaux, focussing on small production, single site cuvées (rather than blending his various blocks, like everyone else). In 2014 he approached us as he owned a single 1ha of vines on a prime site of the prestigious plateau of Saint-Émilion, with vines pre-dating the frost of 1957, which he believed had the potential to be the Merlot-based equivalent to his famous Le Dôme.
The six vintages produced have attracted excellent 94/96+ point reviews and, given the exceptionally limited production, are immediately collector’s items, even featuring in the Robb Report’s “Hard To Get” feature on the world’s most elusive bottles. Pontet Labrie has been produced across the greatest six vintage run in Bordeaux’ history – 2015-2020, every year a winner and showing the individual character one would expect from a single vineyard wine. In August 2022 Prince Robert of Luxembourg’s Domaine Clarence Dillon (owner of First Growth Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion) bought the other 14ha of the vineyard from the owner, convinced of the quality of the terroir. This only helps to enhance the allure of Pontet Labrie.
The vineyard produces a maximum 300 cases of this exceptional Merlot/Cabernet Franc and allocations are available exclusively through Honest Grapes.
Read about a Club Pontet Labrie membership.
What the critics say:
"Based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc all from the upper, limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion, the 2018 Château Pontet Labrie has a rich, chocolaty nose of ripe black fruits, tobacco, new leather, and graphite. A more backward, closed, yet certainly promising Saint-Emilion, it's full-bodied and has loads of chalky minerality, ripe yet integrated tannins, and a great finish. It needs a solid 4-5 years in the cellar yet should keep for 15+ years."
"As always this is a blend predominantly Merlot, picked on October 1st, with the complementary Cabernet Franc picked on October 12th. The alcohol is 15%, the highest figure in the Maltus portfolio (only by 0.1% admittedly) with a pH of 3.65. The nose is filled with wonderfully perfumed and grilled blackcurrant and black bean fruits, with a touch of limestone dust, along with praline, tobacco and macerated cherry. A rich, bold, substantial and broad palate, with a very polished, creamed fruit substance running through the middle, and a peppery substance and energy. It is rich, with grilled blackcurrant, grilled damson and currant fruits through to the very end, all wrapped a svelte and tightly knit tannins. A high-alcohol model here, but one that is substantial and imposing in style. The élevage will be in 80% new oak."
