Chateau Quinault L'Enclos, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2018

"In 2008 Alain Raynaud sold Château Quinault L’Enclos to the owners of Château Cheval Blanc, Bernard Arnault and Albert Frère. Today, Pierre Lurton and his talented team manage Château Quinault L’Enclos. After the purchase, the estate switched to organic farming and earned the certification in 2012.

The 20 hectares Right Bank vineyard is planted to 83% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Many of the vines are over 50 years of age. The vineyard is planted in 1 single parcel, which is unusual for a vineyard of that size in Saint Emilion. The soils are made of rocks, sand, gravel, and clay.

Chateau Quinault l’Enclos has a warmer microclimate than many St. Emilion estates, so they often harvest earlier than other properties. Today, they pick even earlier to avoid jammy or overripe qualities.

To produce the wine of Chateau Quinault L’Enclos, vinification takes place in wood vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels. The wine is then aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for up to 18 months.

Much better in bottle than in barrel, the wine has filled out, gaining complexity and texture. Now you find a rich, luxurious, licorice, black cherry, smoke, spice and floral oriented wine. Medium-bodied with velvety tannins, give it a few more years in the cellar and it should really start rocking!"

92 pts - The Wine Cellar Insider.