Château Capbern, St Estèphe, 2017
This excellent estate situated between Calon Segur and Montrose benefits from the same wine making team as Calon Segur: Laurent Dufau, Vincent Millet and Eric Boissenot. It has now dropped the Gasqueton from its name and will just be called 'Capbern'. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, this is very dark fruited and elemental with hints of coal dust, cassis and earth. There is plenty of stuffing, good texture and a savoury and dark chocolate finish with just a few hints of red berry fruit coming through. This has developed beautifully in the cellar and exceeds our initial appraisal. Classically styled, yet with a generous seem of sweet fruit at its core, it is already approaching its peek, and should drink well for another 5-10 years
critic reviews
The 2017 Capbern is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. Stewed plums, kirsch, and raspberry pie notes all jump from the nose, followed by suggestions of wild thyme and tar. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a good amount of pure fruit with soft tannins and a lifted finish.
The 2017 Capbern is medium to deep garnet-purple colored with aromas of baked blackberries, Morello cherries, cassis, fertile loam, unsmoked cigars and sauteed herbs. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and grainy with a good black fruit core and red fruit sparks on the finish. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new. The final blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.
The 2017 Capbern was bottled at the end April 2019. The wine has a perfumed bouquet with black fruit and light marine aromas, and a touch of brine in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannin, very classic in style and quintessentially Saint-Estèphe. Moderate in length, there is a slight rawness on the finish.