Château La Serre
Château La Serre 2018
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe
Château La Serre has an exceptional position in the very heart of Saint-Emilion, six hundred feet from the town ramparts of this magical UNESCO protected area, on outstanding limestone soils with a due south exposure. The history of the property dates to the 15th century, with the residence constructed at the end of the 17th century by a prominent local family. Arnaud d’Arfeuille’s grandfather purchased the property in 1956, and his father Luc in particular worked on renovating the vineyards and cellars to produce wine equal to its terroir.
The estate spreads over 18 acres between Villemaurine and Trottevieille, on shallow clay over limestone – the road dividing the two major vineyard parcels on Château La Serre is in fact blocked off, since there is an old limestone quarry below the vineyard and it’s dangerous for cars to drive over it. The vineyards consist of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc with an average vine age of 35 years.
La Serre is one of the absolute little gems of Saint-Emilion.
The heat and sun of the vintage produced exceptional wines in Saint-Emilion, with fruit, depth and balance in abundance. In the perfectly proportioned cellar, optical sorting was followed by a pre-fermentation cold soak, fermentation in concrete tank, and aging for around 16 months in a majority of new oak.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Appellation
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe
Alcohol
14.5%
Reviews
"Restrained elegance"
Decanter - January 8, 2021 "One of the best in this tasting. Silky and rich, with aromatic black fruits and a complex layering of cut herbs, liquorice and sweet spices. Restrained elegance without putting a foot wrong in terms of its silky soft tannic hold and appealing saline finish. Brilliant. 50% new oak."
"Ripe, open and very enticing"
Wine Spectator (92-95) - January 8, 2021 "Ripe, open and very enticing, with lots of intertwined blueberry, boysenberry and plum compote flavors, carried by licorice threads and backed by a polished finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc."
"A great mix of elegance and richness
Jeb Dunnuck - March 15, 2021 "This estate continues to produce a brilliant Saint-Emilion. The 2018 Château La Serre is based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, all from the upper plateau and clay and limestone soils. Its saturated purple hue is followed by a ripe, polished, medium to full-bodied wine with beautiful cassis fruits, succulent aromas and flavors of tobacco, chocolate, and lead pencil, sweet tannins, and a great mix of elegance and richness. It's a beautiful wine that will evolve gracefully for 15-20 years."
