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Just Arrived. The Latour and Petrus Touch on an “Off-the-Beaten-Path Value!” The “Unquestioned Sleeper’ and “Crown Jewel” at $59.99. Best Pricing 24 Hours Only.
“one of the wines of the vintage…the 2018 Le Prieuré is a wine of total understatement and class… superb, and an incredible value…” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
You have heard us ask the question before: what are the greatest “under-the-radar” values in Bordeaux? Well, we are able to confirm that Château Le Prieuré deserves a spot on the list of contenders. Surrounded by the likes of Château Trottevieille, Troplong Mondot, and Pavie Macquin, this tiny estate, like Tour St. Christophe, is another one of those tiny ancient Saint-Émilion properties that is difficult to find on a GPS but worth the search – as they truly are beginning to flourish. Yes, there is a rich history that dates back to 1696, but it wasn’t until the 2014 vintage, when the team behind Château Latour purchased the vineyards, that the wines were brought to new heights. We are now talking unmatched and unrivalled pedigree at $59.99. Just 1,200 cases were produced, and we are able to share a final twenty cases of this special value.
By now, I have had the opportunity to gratefully taste the 2018 Le Prieuré on three different occasions as a rare ten case allocation has just arrived and is ready to ship today! This is truly one of those Bordeaux of elegance that delivers approachability with age-ability. One pull of the cork and the aromatics alone are worth the price of admission – it is simply intoxicating and transporting. There is a purity and finesse to the wine in this ripe vintage with nuances of minerality, and truffles that linger in the background destined to become more pronounced with age. Once again, cheers to Le Prieuré, the Château Latour team at the time led by Pénélope Godefroy, and consulting winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet (formerly of Petrus), for this remarkable achievement in 2018!
FEATURED WINES: Château Le Prieuré and 2018 Bordeaux Arrivals (ORDER HERE)
I have had an infatuation with this historic six-hectare property since the 2016 campaign. Antonio Galloni then further raised the bar when he declared that the 2016 Le Prieuré was the “unquestioned sleeper,” and one of the wines of the vintage. With an annual production of just 1,200 cases, not only is this estate difficult to find on a GPS, it is difficult to find on the shelf of another wine store. That is what makes today’s offer so special. I was so impressed with the Château and wine, I decided to knock on the farmhouse door during an annual visit along the Bordeaux trail back in 2019. And while this special off-roading detour may have caused us some painful scheduling issues at some prestigious neighboring addresses, it was well worth the challenge of finding this historic rising star and Technical Director Pénélope Godefroy! I can now say after tasting the 2018 firsthand in the tiny, Burgundian-like cellar, with the wine’s elegant, silky tannins, and shockingly fresh and complex finish, this is a worthy follow up to the 2016 release, Antonio Galloni is correct in stating this is, “one of the wines of the vintage…the 2018 Le Prieuré is a wine of total understatement and class.”
It is worth noting that the owners of Chateau Latour have sold the estate to the owner of Chateau Calon Segur. However, that is not an issues as, Antonio has pointed out, “Technical Director Pénélope Godefroy has taken the farming and winemaking principles she learned at Latour and the other Artemis Group properties and applied them at Siaurac, Vray Croix de Gay, and the crown jewel Le Prieuré.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND REVIEWS:
“Le Prieuré represents the height of finesse in Saint-Émilion. Jean-Claude Berrouet consults for the Artemis Group, which is now the sole owner of Le Prieuré…”
2018 Chateau Le Prieuré
Christopher Deas, Italian Wine Merchants: "Tasted three times. This is one of those rising star values of Saint Emilion that gets us excited about drinking Bordeaux with its approachability on the palate and in the wallet – best of all, it will age as well. One pull of the cork and the aromatics alone are worth the price of admission – it is simply intoxicating and transporting. There are explosive notes of blackberries, black currants, macerated black cherries, black licorice, and violets. There is concentration and an inviting creamy texture, but yet, the wine has precision, and a bio-dynamic verve that keeps it incredibly light on its feet. There is an awesome inner perfume to the wine that echoes across the palate. And yes, there is awesome purity of dark fruit wild herbs and citrus with finesse here, but it is the nuances of black olives, crushed rocks, smoke, and minerality that hints at what's to come. It is a juicy and silky crowd-pleaser now and will be difficult to not to drink early. Cheers to Le Prieuré, Château Latour, and consulting winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet (formerly of Petrus), for this remarkable achievement. This is a 2018 to buy by the case(s) and enjoy over the next twelve years.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2018 Le Prieuré is all class, just as it was en primeur. Silky, perfumed and light on its feet, the 2018 is a fabulous example of how refined Saint-Émilion can be. Once again, I am so impressed by the wine's freshness and vitality. Sweet red cherry fruit, blood orange, mint and cinnamon all build over time, but what stands out most is the wine's exceptional balance and harmony. Technical Director Penelope Godefroy has done a magnificent job at Le Prieuré since taking over a few years ago. The 2018 is superb, and an incredible value."
Jane Anson, Decanter: "An utterly gorgeous wine, rippling with freshness and hidden power. It has an amazing texture with notes of freshly cut herbs and flowers by the armful. Seductive, concentrated but joyful, I love this - it's the best they have made here so far in my opinion." This is an email ONLY offer! If you would like to take advantage of this offer (that is only available until 11:59pm, Sunday, February 20, 2022), we are asking that you email your orders back to chris.deas@italianwinemerchants.com , connect with your portfolio manager or mention receipt of this offer if calling the store. All orders are subject to confirmation. IWM is not responsible for typographical errors. All my best,
Chris |
