Bordeaux bargain hunters will have a hard time choosing from this outstanding range of 2019 Bordeaux blends, all scoring 93 pts. and above and now affordably priced for stocking up. Summing up the outstanding 2019 Bordeaux vintage, critic James Suckling declared "Harmony, balance and freshness are definitely the hallmarks of 2019," these truly delicious, long-lived Bordeaux delivering lush aromatics and energetic fruit at impressive value prices, perfect for mixing a case or two or choosing a few favorites to cellar in original wooden cases.
Crafted by the Right Bank Fronsac estate of renowned consulting enologist Michel Rolland, the Merlot-dominated 93 pt. 2019 Chateau Fontenil is "easy to recommend" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson with "lots to enjoy," describing the 2019 vintage as "particularly successful in Fronsac." Produced with the same meticulous attention to detail as their iconic Grand Vin from Chateau Leoville Las Cases, the Delon family's 94 pt. Chateau Potensac is "showing beautifully" according to Jeb Dunnuck, calling it a "pure, elegant Medoc that's well worth seeking out" and declaring it a "wine to buy in multiples or a case." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni describes the 95 pt. 2019 Moulin du Cadet from St. Emilion as "pure, silky and impeccable in its balance," while the 96 pt. 2019 Tour Saint-Christophe is "a broad powerful wine" that's "one of the greatest values in Bordeaux," offering "plenty to look forward to." Described as "lush and structured" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, James Suckling calls the 96 pt. 2019 Chateau Sansonnet from St. Emilion "creamy and polished" while Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson notes its "lovely sense of freshness," summing it up as "good stuff." Crafted as Chateau Valandraud's second wine by St. Emilion's legendary Jean-Luc Thunevin, the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss describes the 95 pt. 2019 Virginie de Valandraud, as "seriously structured," and Decanter's Georgina Hindle calls it "rich and concentrated" with "lots to like." Described as "off the charts gorgeous" and "positively stunning" by Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, the 96 pt. 2019 Chateau Clos de Sarpe St Emilion is "a beautifully seamless, perfumed and authoritative wine" according to the Wine Advocate's William Kelley, ranking as "the finest Clos de Sarpe of the modern era." And finally for fans of Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Left Bank blends, a pair of 97 pt. beauties - the stunning 2019 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge from Pessac Leognan is "unquestionably up with the crème de la creme of the vintage" according to Jeb Dunnuck, a "magical wine in the making" that the Wine Advocate's William Kelley deems "worth a special effort to seek out," and the elegantly seductive 2019 Chateau Durfort-Vivens is "a brilliant Margaux" of "immense nobility" according to critic Kelley, who describes it as "full-bodied, deep and concentrated" with "a long and penetrating finish."
From a "superb vintage" producing "finessed wines built on persistence and length" according to Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, these top rated 2019 selections are a treasure trove of fantastic values delivering exceptional quality and longevity, all solid choices for the cellar to enjoy over the next decade and beyond.
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.
96 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)
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.
95 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2022)
This estate has been delivering the goods for numerous vintages now, and the 2019 Château Tour Saint Christophe is another terrific wine. Ripe black cherries, black raspberries, graphite, new leather, and chalky minerality all define the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a tight, straight, focused texture, ripe yet present tannins, and outstanding length. It doesn't have the mid-palate density or opulence of the 2018, but it’s more pretty, focused, and straight on the palate. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.
94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)
The 2019 Tour Saint Christophe is deep garnet-purple in color. Black cherry preserves, dried mulberries, and baked plums all waft from the glass followed by hints of Indian spices, fragrant soil, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating, bright black fruits with a lively backbone and soft, ripe tannins, finishing with a skip in its step. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc
94 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Apr 2022)
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