Best St Estèphe 2019 wines tasted en primeur
An appellation that performed better overall than in 2018 with plenty of fresh and balanced wines to recommend, particularly when looking for value picks this year, says Jane Anson
Search all St Estèphe 2019 wine ratings
Better balanced in my eyes than the 2018 vintage, as St Estèphe was a little atypical last year with lots of extremely concentrated high alcohol wines.
Scroll down to see the top-rated St Estèphe 2019 wines
The appellation suffered the heatwave as much as everyone else, particularly from June 26 to July 27, but it didn’t have the same concentrating winds that came in during harvest.
Instead, the clay soils that underpin much of St Estèphe were able to better do their work of keeping freshness (a good sign of this is that the Merlots did better – so there is 36% Merlot in Montrose compared to 20% last year).
Scores
It meant that the highest scores were higher for me than in 2018 – 98 points at both Montrose and Cos, and particularly in the case of Montrose a clear possibility of an up-score when tasting in bottle. And for me Calon Ségur had far better balance than in 2018 and is at an extremely strong 97 points. Cos had a high 97 for its white also, showing how well this stable has done overall in 2019.
In total, five wines scored over 95 points, and 31 at 90-94 points.
The ‘strong buy signal’ of 94 points goes to Dame de Montrose, Phélan Ségur and Château Bernard Magrez. It has taken its time to bring this new wine to market, but this is a brilliant debut vintage.
Also extremely impressive at 93 points are Ormes de Pez, Marquis de Calon Ségur, Château de Pez, Le Crock, Haut-Marbuzet, Pagodes de Cos and Tronquoy Lalande.
Yields
The average yield in St Estèphe in 2019 was 50hl/ha, over last year’s already healthy 45hl/ha. Individually we saw 48hl/ha at Cos Labory and 47hl/ha at Montrose
Top Scoring
Cos Blanc, Cos d’Estournel, Phélan-Ségur, Montrose
Best Value
Ormes de Pez, Meyney, Lilian Ladouys, Le Crock, Tour des Termes, Haut Marbuzet, Petit Bocq, Domeyne
See the top-rated St Estèphe 2019 wines
The following wines have all been scored 93 points and above
Not yet tasted: Château la Croix de Pez.
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Château Cos d'Estournel, St-Estèphe, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Powerful and enjoyable Cos. Needs to be given time in the glass to reveal the impressively velvety texture, and the sheer depth of bitter black...
2019
Château Cos d'EstournelSt-Estèphe
Château Montrose, St-Estèphe, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Another triumph from Montrose. Dense, rich and powerful, there is plenty of new oak evident at the moment (60% used). A beautifully sculpted wine which...
2019
Château MontroseSt-Estèphe
Château Cos d'Estournel, Blanc de Cos d'Estournel, Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux, France, 2019
One of the best Cos Blancs for years, this is a real return to form, a great white wine that has presence and impact. Fantastic...
2019
Château Cos d'EstournelBordeaux Blanc
Château Montrose, La Dame de Montrose, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2019
The Merlots were so good this year that most have gone into the first wine, giving this a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than usual...
2019
Château MontroseSt-Estèphe
Château Bernard Magrez, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2019
First vintage that I have tasted from this estate, purchased in 2006 by Bernard Magrez and renamed from Château le Peyre. Vinified partly in oak...
2019
Château Bernard MagrezSt-Estèphe
Château Phélan Ségur, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Blood orange freshness with cigar box elegance, this is at once round and refined. One of the top wines of the Médoc. And while it’s close...
2019
Château Phélan SégurSt-Estèphe
Château Cos d'Estournel, Les Pagodes de Cos, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Plump blackberry fruits, velvety texture and evident tannins. An excellent wine that has sapidity and punch, a great combination that makes this extremely successful. 4%...
2019
Château Cos d'EstournelSt-Estèphe
Château Calon-Ségur, Marquis de Calon, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Gorgeously plump blackberry and damson fruit here, high impact with chewy tannins that build through the palate and give an impression of confidence and pleasure....
2019
Château Calon-SégurSt-Estèphe
Château Tronquoy-Lalande, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Channeling California with a broad attack through to the finish. Decadent blackberry and plum jam on the full-on palate, reflecting the wine’s 15% alcohol. The...
2019
Château Tronquoy-LalandeSt-Estèphe
Château Haut-Marbuzet, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Firm plum and raspberry fruits, this is another good quality St Estephe in 2019, a good sign for the overall quality of the appellation in...
2019
Château Haut-MarbuzetSt-Estèphe
Château Le Crock, St-Estèphe, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel as of the 2018 vintage, this is a totally gorgeous wine with sleek damson fruits and a clear pocket of air running...
2019
Château Le CrockSt-Estèphe
Château de Pez, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Owned by Pichon Comtesse, this is a lovely St Estèphe with polish and poise. Good depth to the berry fruits, with an appealing unfussy confidence....
2019
Château de PezSt-Estèphe
Château Lilian Ladouys, St-Estèphe, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Bordeaux, France, 2019
A new Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, freshly minted this year (from the 2018 vintage). I would put this right up there with the best vintages from...
2019
Château Lilian LadouysSt-Estèphe
Château Meyney, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2019
This wine sneaks up on you, it needs time to seduce, revealing fresh, floral aromas with graphite. The chiseled palate - fresh and concentrated but...
2019
Château MeyneySt-Estèphe
Château Lafon-Rochet, St-Estèphe, 4ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
Spiced pepper and cinnamon on the first nose, good concentration, pencil lead and slate abound in this alongside cassis bud and touches of brambled hedgerow,...
2019
Château Lafon-RochetSt-Estèphe
