Château La Confession Saint-Emilion Grand Cru - 2018

75 cl

James Suckling: 92 points

Grape varieties: 73% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc

Vinification:

Double sorting of the grape harvest, the first time in the vineyard and then again in the cellar. The whole grapes are then macerated with daily pumping over until the end of alcoholic fermentation and maceration. Maturation takes place in oak barrels on the fine lees for 6 months.

Tasting note:

Mineral, deep, tart, peppery bouquet, blueberries, black cherries, cold smoke. Pithy, powerful, dense palate with a muscular structure, lots of good tannin, fine fruit, dark flavours, long, tart finish.

 

Château La Confession is a renowned Grand Cru estate on the right bank of Bordeaux, known for its modern style and its complex wines.

Location and terroir

The vineyard covers an area of around 7.5 hectares.

Region: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, France.

Exact location: It is situated on the much sought-after The Saint-Émilion Plateau and is situated in the immediate vicinity of the famous estates Château Beauséjour Bécot and Clos Fourtet.

Floors: The terroir is characterised by a mixture of Clay, limestone and gravel soils (clay-limestone soils). These give the wine its characteristic structure, body and a distinctive mineral freshness.

Owner

The château is owned by Jean-Philippe Janoueix.

He founded the winery in the year 2001 through the merger of the two former estates, Château Barreau and Château Haut-Pontet.

In the wine world, Janoueix is regarded as extremely dynamic and ambitious. Among other things, he also runs Château La Croix and Château La Croix Saint Georges in Pomerol.He used to work with the renowned consultant Michel Rolland on the winemaking process. Since the 2023 vintage, he has been relying on the mastermind Thomas Duclos as an oenological consultant.

Style and characteristics

The wines of Château La Confession combine rich opulence with modern precision.

Grape variety index: The cuvée typically consists of approximately 70 % of Merlot, 28 % of Cabernet Franc and 2 % of Cabernet Sauvignon.

flavour profile: The profile reveals deep, concentrated fruit notes of dark berries, ripe plums and blackberries, often underpinned by subtle hints of baking spices, mocha and cocoa.

Structure: On the palate, the wine is medium- to full-bodied with solid, round tannins and a silky texture. The finish is often described as long-lasting, spicy and featuring elegant, „firm“ tannins.

Expansion: The wine is usually aged for 12 to 15 months in wooden barrels. Part of the ageing process takes place in special „Cigar“ barrels (elongated barriques), which optimises contact with the wood and lends the wine additional complexity and elegance.