France Wines

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I missed the 2018 Château De Sales in this year’s Bordeaux report but was able to get a bottle from the domaine. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as a beautiful, classic Pomerol nose of earthy red and blue fruits, truffle, damp soil, cedary herbs, and tobacco, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a nicely balanced, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a gorgeous finish. Building nicely with time in the glass, it marries notable elegance with plenty of richness and is ideal for enjoying any time over the coming 15 years or so.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDA soft, juicy red with a creamy texture to the tannins. Berry, cherry, light cedar and almond flavors. Pretty and balanced. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 92 JSDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 De Sales rocks up with expressive blackberries and black cherries notes with an undercurrent of tilled soil, truffles and mossy bark. Medium to full-bodied, it has a solid structure of ripe, rounded tannins and impressive freshness, finishing with bright black fruit layers.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RPSilky and refined in feel, with alluring dark tea, dried anise, mulled plum and steeped black cherry notes gliding through in unison. Bay leaf note twinkles on the finish. Drink now through 2031. 6,800 cases made, 1,000 cases imported. Wine Spectator | 91 WSTechnical director Vincent Montigaud has managed this vintage well, making an accessible Sales that has fairly full-on tannins at this early stage, with traces of bitterness through the finish, but met step for step by blueberry and cassis fruits. (Drink between 2023-2036)Decanter | 91 DEC

A juicy intensity with bright red fruits, delicate and alive in the glass - friendly but with a salty liquorice kick that gives it some seriousness. Lean and direct but polished and clean on the finish. A touch of lingering heat at the end but this has vibrancy and is well structured with clear bite and power.Decanter | 94 DECA full and juicy red with blackberry, black olive, dark chocolate, and hazelnut aromas and flavors. Creamy, round and deliciously textured. Not a big and powerful wine but very attractive now and for the future. Seductive in so many way. Merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Best after 2026.James Suckling | 94 JSDominant Merlot in the blend gives this wine both its richness and its smooth texture. Black fruits and generous acidity are sure to develop well. Drink this fine wine from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEI loved the 2020 Château De Sales from barrel, and it’s showing beautifully from bottle. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as a ripe, sexy, medium to full-bodied style, it has ripe, supple tannins, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and classic aromatics of ripe black cherries, plums, licorice, spring flowers, and damp earth. It’s another beautiful, layered, elegant Pomerol in the vintage that will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and drink brilliantly through 2040.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDAn attractive, elegantly fruit-driven Pomerol, the 2020 De Sales offers up aromas of sweet berries, dried herbs and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless palate. With a core of vibrant fruit and melting tannins, this is a success for this large estate, where Jean-Claude Berrouet consults.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP