Croix de Labrie - St Emilion 2021 (750ml)
Price: $126.99
| Producer | Croix de Labrie |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 200411 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Vinous: 92 Points
Wine Advocate: 90-92 Points
Including 5% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc this year, the 2021 Croix de Labrie offers up aromas of dark berries, plums, red fruit compote, licorice and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, rich and velvety, it's a lively, rather muscular wine with a fleshy core of fruit, tangy acids and powdery tannins. It attained almost 14% alcohol and will see maturation in 80% new oak.
Axelle and Pierre Courdurié farm their 5.2 hectares of vines organically, introducing agroforestry initiatives and replanting with their own massale selections. Much of the holdings are in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, both around the winery and at lieu-dit Rocheyron, on clay-limestone soils, but there's also a parcel on blue clays and gravel in lieu-dit Le Carteau, as well as 0.97 hectares in the colluvial soils just below Château Pavie. Vinification is in small lots, and élevage is sur lie and lasts 20-24 months in 80% new oak, depending on the vintage. These days, malolactic takes place in tank. The work here is very serious, though to my palate, the cooperage choices are a little obtrusive, lending a creamy, chocolaty patina to the wines, which Pierre Courdurié insists integrates with time.
