Tour St Christophe 2019 (6L)

92-94+ Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate: "In 2012, Hong Kong-based Peter Kwok purchased this vineyard located in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. The average age of vines is 30 years old. The wine is aging in 40% new oak barrels, 40% one-year-old barrels and 20% two-year-old barrels. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with fruit from the Cassevert lieu-dit, and the wine has 14.3% alcohol at a pH of 3.6. Deep purple-black in color, the 2019 Tour Saint-Christophe leaps from the glass with gregarious notes of fresh red and black cherries, mulberries and wild blueberries plus suggestions of eucalyptus, chocolate pie, cinnamon stick and clove oil with a waft of cedar chest. The full-bodied palate has seriously impressive freshness, featuring a firm, finely grained frame and loads of energetic black fruit layers, finishing long and spicy." 6/20

"The 2019 Tour Saint Christophe builds on the promise it showed from barrel. This sample was actually tasted at my home, where I afforded it a two-hour decant. It revealed precocious yet controlled blackberry and blueberry fruit scents, with that violet component still intact. The tannins have not lost any of their grippiness or assertiveness. This is a Saint-Émilion that is in for the long haul. Great potential." 02/22

94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2019 Tour Saint Christophe is a fabulous wine that marries fruit intensity and structure. Black cherry, graphite, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and spice give this driving, potent Saint-Émilion tons of character. Tour Saint-Christophe remains one of the greatest values in Bordeaux. Tasted two times." 02/22

96 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "Beautiful, intense fruit, dark-earth and chocolate character on the nose. Full-bodied with great density and plush, fine tannins that give a fine-velvet texture. It’s extremely long, polished and sophisticated. Needs time to come together, but expressive and glorious. Fantastic relative value. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc. Drink after 2025." 12/21

92 Points, Jane Anson, Decanter: "Pretty high austerity and salinity in this one, reflecting the higher percentage of Cabernet Franc and the full emphasis of limestone soils. Will bide its time, and should be a delicious glass of wine in five or six years - the blueberry, gunsmoke and grilled rosemary finish is extremely promising. A yield of 37hl/ha. 40% new oak. 3.6pH." 5/20

96 Points, Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider: "Dark red, purple in color, the nose pops with flowers, licorice, incense, herbs and dark red berries. On the palate, the wine is silky, fresh, sweet, full-bodied and concentrated. Yet, there is no heaviness. Everything is in proportion. Better balanced than 2018, this is another step-up in quality here. If you are not yet on the Tour Saint Christophe bandwagon, get on it before prices rise." 5/20