Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Croix de Labrie wafts out of the glass with flamboyant notions of sandalwood, red roses, ground cloves and cedar chest, giving way to a core of stewed black plums, Morello cherries and boysenberries, plus a waft of bouquet garni. The medium to full-bodied palate has a rock-solid backbone of firm, ripe, rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, nicely framing the muscular black fruits, finishing long and spicy.
James Suckling (98)
Number 56 in the Top 100 from 2023
This is a glorious 2020 with such pure fruit of currants and blackberries, as well as dark chocolate. It’s full and layered and opens in the glass to a lovely layer of fine, velvety tannins that are bright and citrusy. Crunchy. It really opens and shows so many layers. Spectacular.
BOW (8.50)
Falstaff (95)
Dark garnet, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. A touch of suede, balsamic, woody nuances, liquorice, black forest berries, a touch of tobacco. Deep, juicy, elegant, fine fruit expression, ripe tannins, some nougat on the finish. Has good freshness, a charming giant with good ageing potential.
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The Grand Vin 2020 Château Croix De Labrie is brilliant and the finest wine I've tasted from this estate. Dense purple-hued, with a liqueur of limestone-like minerality intermixed with ripe black cherries, boysenberry, spring flowers, and graphite, it's full-bodied, has a wealth of fruit and texture, sweet tannins, and remarkable purity. Its oak is perfectly integrated, and it brings richness as well as an incredible sense of precision and purity. This brilliant Saint-Emilion will be drinkable in just 3-4 years and will evolve for two decades. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
Vinous (94)
The 2020 Croix de Labrie is rich, sumptuous and a real head-turner. Jammy dark fruit, blood orange, mint, cinnamon, sweet oak and mocha are all amplified. Plush, silky tannins wrap it all together beautifully. The 2020 is opulent and flamboyant, but also remains light on its feet, showing impeccable balance and tons of class.
Decanter (93)
Glass-staining purple, plenty of violet reflections. It starts off with confidence, with sappy fruits and a whisk of mocha gourmet edging, and keeps up the pace through the palate. Nicely held together with tension, concentrated flavours and a swagger of grilled oak. Axelle and Pierre Courdurié. A yield of 25hl/ha, 100% new oak. Harvest September 16 to 27.
Jancis Robinson (16.50)
Plastic cork! Black-fruited, dense, sooty and powerful. Stallion structure, rippling with glossy muscle and a frisson of darkly gleaming danger. Deeper umami soy and roast-mushroom notes on the underlay. Savoury, aggressive finish. One to put away for a long time.
