Château Capbern 2018, 150cl - Magnum bottling - 1.5litre

The start of the first age of the modern era for Chateau Capbern Gasqueton begins when the Left Bank vineyards were purchased by Georges Gasqueton in 1894. The estate took its name from two of its more famous owners, the Gasqueton and Capbern families. The Gasqueton family managed the estate until 2012.

The following year, the second and current modern era for the chateau began July 2012 when Chateau Capbern Gasqueton and Chateau Calon were sold to the large French Insurance company, Suravenir Insurance. Jean-Pierre Moueix, the owner of Petrus and the negociant company Duclot, took a minority stake in Chateau Calon Segur and Chateau Capbern Gasqueton.

Starting with the 2013 vintage, they dropped the second part of their name and began selling their wine under the simpler name of just Chateau Capbern. Since the new owners took over Chateau Capbern, they started a serious program of improving the wine making at Chateau Capbern. While the owners began a complete renovation of the winemaking facilities at Calon Segur, that was not the case with Capbern Gasqueton, because the estate renovated their wine making facilities in 2011.
(Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Inside, April 2019)

The 37 hectare vineyard and chateau of Capbern is located just behind the Church of Saint Etienne in the village of Saint Estephe. The vineyard is planted to 62% Cabernet Sauvignon , 37% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot . The terroir is a mix of gravel and clay soils. On average, the vines are close to 30 years of age. The Medoc vineyards are located in two different areas with slightly different terroirs. The other section is closer to the Gironde river.

"62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. pH 3.75, 60% new oak. Barrel sample.
Deepest purple. Dark and stony, lovely slaty nose. Firm, chalky, dense and still with lovely freshness. Not the same richness as the 2009 but with great purity and definition. More serious, less seduction. Long and great structure. So pure in its dark cassis fruit. Cool with a touch of liquorice on the finish. Drink 2023 - 2029.
17 points."
(Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com, 1 Apr 2019)

"From the team at Calon Ségur, the 2018 Château Capbern is another smoking good Saint-Estèphe. This ripe, sexy wine (it hit 14.6% natural alcohol) sports a deep purple color as well as blockbuster notes of crème de cassis, jammy blackberries, crushed flowers, and scorched earth. Despite all the fruit and texture, it stays beautifully balanced, has classic Saint-Estèphe earthy minerality, ripe tannins, and a great finish."
92/94 points.
( Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, May 2019)