Saint-Émilion: 2018 Mondot, 2016 Cantenac, 2016 Tour Peyronneau, 2016 Grand Corbin, 1966 La Gaffelière, 2011 Valandraud

An informal meeting of the Jürade de Saint-Émilion du Singapour at San Shu Gong on 30 August 2023, where even the Saint-Émilion Grand Crus were drinking well. Many thanks, KC, for organising and for the 1966 as well!

2016 Château Cantenac, courtesy of the Wine Council of Saint-Émilion. Shy. Deep crimson. Medium-full. Ample depth of red fruits and black currants that exert structured intensity with sharp definition.

2016 Château Tour Peyronneau, courtesy of the Wine Council of Saint-Émilion. Dark crimson. Big but well-proportioned, gelling together with silky tannins and unobtrusive acidity. Very cohesive and not without charm. Drinking surprisingly well. Many felt the same way.

2016 Château Grand Corbin, courtesy of the Wine Council of Saint-Émilion. Deep ruby. Appreciably more sophisticated. Ample presence of red fruits and dark currants, imbued with overtones of toffee and mocha within a smooth creamy sheen, appearing relaxed and elegant.

2015 Château Chauvin. Ex-château, courtesy of estate owner Sylvie Cazes. Deep crimson. Well extracted, tightly structured with massive proportions, still marked by a dominance of vanillin and paraffin. Not ready.

2010 Château Chauvin. Ex-château, courtesy of estate owner Sylvie Cazes. Deep crimson. Somewhat reductive on the nose. Well extracted but there is some early development, the abundant depth of dark fruits yielding a hint of mocha in spite of its tight tannic intensity. Tremendous vigour. Highly promising.

2018 Mondot. Good colour. Delicious nose of red cherries, carrying well onto the cool ripe medium-full palate with a hint of warm gravel, structured with refined tannins that impart supple intensity. Drinking well. This second label of Troplong-Mondot is an entirely separate 10-ha plot of 100% merlot.

2011 Château Valandraud, courtesy of Marc. Deep crimson, exuding a perfumed fragrance of rose petals and predominant red fruits. Medium weight. Fairly developed now with supple rounded tannins supported by understated minerals. Very beautifully balanced and delicious. Drinking the vintage.

1966 Château La Gaffelière, courtesy of KC. Mature crimson. Still imbued with very good presence of red fruits and plums set against soft autumnal characters of rhubarb and Chinese tea leaves presented in an elegant seamless entity laced with subtle complexity and reasonable acidity, not drying out at all. Supple finish. What a privilege!