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Label 55-18

Chateau Lyonnat - 2018

Blend
4% Cabernet Franc
11% Cabernet Sauvignon
85% Merlot
Country
France
Region
Bordeaux
Appellation
Lussac-Saint-Emilion
UPC
8 72438 80211 8
Red Wine
Verified Stock
55-18
Product Ratings
James Suckling 92pt

Very attractive blackcurrants and berries with some vine-cutting and wet-earth character. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink after 2024.

by James Suckling, 2021
Wine Enthusiast 90pt

Made with 85% Merlot, this wine is richly textured, full of jammy black fruits with good structure and balancing acidity. It is coming together with its fresh edge to be drinkable from 2022.

by Wine Enthusiast, 2021

Ageing

Maturing of 50% in French oak barrels, for 12 months, and in concrete va.

Food pairing

This vintage of Chateau Lyonnat will be tasted with red meat, lamb or cheese.

Tasting notes

A deep ruby red with cherry reflections. An expressive but pleasant nose with notes of ginger, liquorice, red fruits and vanilla. On the palate, a first tasting of candied cherry, then liquorice aromas with menthol notes. The tannins are powerful, rounded and well balanced.

Terrior

The estate is located in the Libournais region north of famous Saint Emilion vineyard. Nested on the top of an argilo-limestone hillside, 30 hectares of Chateau Lyonnat vineyards are dedicated to this cuvee. The three grape varieties worked on this land are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Vineyard

A rigorous selection of the grapes at maturity then three weeks of harvest in October.

Winemaking

The harvest arrives in the cellar to be sorted. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in thermoregulated concrete tanks punctuated by short and frequent winding. The maceration is long for an excellent extraction of tannins.

Estate

Chateau Lyonnat produces about 140,000 bottles of it's eponymous main cuvee. It is made from 32 hectares of vines from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vintage

This year was marked by a warm and rainy winter that ended in a beautiful summer and a dry and sunny early autumn allowing the grapes to reach maturity. Fears due to hail episodes during the month of May which fortunately remained inconsequential. The 2018 vintage is a very good vintage in the Lussac Saint-Emilion appellation which is among the most structured of the Bordeaux vintages.