Château Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé B 2018

The 10th vintage under the Nicolas Thienpont team, and as it has turned out the penultimate one. Impossible to leave out of my top 50 for laying down because this is easily one of the wines of the vintage, and should form part of any cellar that is looking to reflect the best of 2018. Black cherry and damson fruit roll out layer upon layer, with slate, crushed rocks and baked earth ensuring the progress through the palate is slow and steady, with mouthwatering freshness building up as you go. It’s serious and needs time, but it’s fantastic, and takes you right inside this discreet corner of the St Emilion limestone plateau. Half the normal yield, down in the mid-20hl/h.