Chateau Petit Bocq Saint-Estephe Cru Bourgeois Superieur 2018
96 POINTS. For UNDER $30!! Yowza. 2018 vintage, under-the-radar producer, and all because of a little visit to our hookup in Bordeaux, with a follow-up visit to the best little Cuban bar outside of Havana. Feel that MOJO!?!? Not a lot, though...so get a move on!
We tasted it, loved it, and bought it BEFORE the 96 POINT score came out, and we get so stoked when that happens. It’d probably cost twice as much if we tried to buy it again, if we could get any at all! Tucked away in the historic region of St. Estephe, with the former winemaking team from Chateau Montrose, no less, Chateau Petit Bocq is a relatively new chateau, but man, have they risen up (quietly, thankfully, for now) over the last decade. 96 points? $26??! I mean, c’mon! Mostly half cabernet and half merlot, with a soupcon of petit verdot, this is straight up SEXY. Golden-retriever-puppy level approachability, with ripe, fleshy, wild berry and baking spice aromatics (judiciously done, though, so good), and a cool, grounding minerality, a bit of that lovely “lead pencil” thing that reminds you you’re drinking Bordeaux, all in a sexy, finessed package. Plums, black and red currants, a dash of dark chocolate, cigar box, kirsch – pretty dang flawless, if I may say so!! THE PRICE!
A rip-roaring buy if you love Bordeaux. Or Napa cabernet, Super-Tuscans, Ribera del Duero… basically, big, lush, and plush with power, grace, and intensity. Call us crazy, but maybe just a few of y’all fall into that category? Did we mention 96 points?! While it lasts!
Saint-Estèphe wines are powerful, concentrated and rich, with sometimes austere, gritty tannins in their youth, and hallmark notes of cassis, tobacco, cigar box and crushed stone. These full-bodied blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot can age extremely well. Saint-Estèphe is situated in the northern end of Bordeaux's Haut-Médoc, with grapes grown on gravel soils atop a clay base.
Technical Details
Country: FranceRegion: Bordeaux
Appellation: Saint-Estephe
Varietal: Bordeaux Blends
Winemaker: Adrien Lagneaux
Alcohol: 14.50%
About The Producer
The owner of Château Petit Bocq, Francis Souquet, an experienced winemaker and connoisseur of the Médoc’s terroirs, was none other than the head of vineyard management at Château Ducru Beaucaillou, listed as Saint-Julien 2ème Grand Cru Classé. Although its undeniable quality was already praised by the likes of Ginestet and Parker, Petit Bocq couldn’t aspire to be listed as Cru Bourgeois, as the production was too recent, too small and too modest. The estate was acquired in August 1993 by Dr. Gaetan Lagneaux, a great wine enthusiast since his teenage years. He worked tirelessly and very diligently to expand the vineyard and improve the quality of the wine. Year after year, the property kept growing through the acquisition or takeover of old vine plots, most of which used to belong to co-operators of the Marquis de Saint-Estèphe winery. Now under a brand new team, Château Petit Bocq keeps working to fine-tune both its wine-growing and wine-making techniques, creating a bright future for the estate, while carrying on the legacy of its illustrious founder.
Pairing Suggestions
Beef, Lamb, Game, Poultry
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