2019 Chateau Laforge Saint-Emilion Grand Cru [JD93][V93][JS92][WE92][WA90-92]

Producer: Chateau Laforge 
Region: Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France  
Blend: 92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc 
Year: 2019 

Chateau Laforge was originally owned by a local blacksmith who accumulated vineyards over time in lieu of unpaid bills.  In 1998 Jonathan Maltus, the rockstar winemaker behind Le Dome and Chateau Teyssier, purchased the property.  Laforge wines are made in the same facility as Chateau Teyssier wines.  Today Laforge is turning heads with its bold and opulent wines.  Maltus is a cult winemaker who was once described by Robert Parker as a "visionary, self-styled revolutionary".  Maltus is one of the world's only 100-Point winemakers, a score he earned from Parker himself.  He is considered a rebel among vintners in the area.  He entered in the "garage era" of Bordeaux and made a name for himself with very independent wines.  Maltus loved the idea of making wine that defies people's expectations of what Bordeaux must cost.  Maltus is famous for making small productions of world-class Bordeaux and his wines are always blockbusters.  The wines are met with resounding acclaim and feverish demand.  The 2019 Chateau Laforge Saint-Emilion Grand Cru is complex, layered and seamless.  It is a jewel to drink.  It's sumptuous, bold and racy with a long, round, juicy finish.  This Bordeaux is beautifully balanced with good acidity and ripe tannins.  It has notes of black cherry, plum, blackberry, boysenberry, chocolate, tobacco, licorice, lavender, spice cake and cedar.  It's utterly charming now and will only improve with cellaring.  Enjoy!

Retail Price: $40.00 
Our Price: $19.99* 

Jeb Dunnuck, 93 Points 

"The 2019 Château Laforge is more up-front and charming, with medium-bodied aromas and flavors of savory red and black fruits, leafy herbs, iron, and tobacco. It has good acidity, ripe tannins, and, as with all of the releases from Malthus, is beautifully balanced. Drink this already complex, layered, seamless 2019 over the coming 15+ years." 

Vinous, 93 Points 

"The 2019 Laforge has really filled out nicely.  Black cherry, plum, chocolate, tobacco, licorice and lavender build beautifully with some aeration.  The 2019 is sumptuous, bold and racy, Laforge is an absolute joy to taste today.  This flamboyant, racy Saint-Emilion will be a jewel to drink now and over the next few years." 

James Suckling, 92 Points 

"Lots of lovely fruit and freshness in this red with blackberry and cherry character, medium body and a round, juicy finish. Very attractive already. Drink after 2023." 

Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points 

"This is a fine wine with great black fruits and an impressive density. Spice and ripe tannins make for a wine for aging. Drink from 2025." 

Wine Advocate, 90-92 Points 

"Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Laforge opens with notions of pencil shavings, rose hip tea, crushed rocks and cedar chest over a core of warm black and red plums, boysenberries and spice cake. The medium to full-bodied palate is charged with freshness and energy, offering finely grained tannins to support the red and black fruit layers, finishing long and fragrant. Laforge is from the JCP Maltus portfolio of skillfully crafted Saint-Émilion wines. Neil White is the head winemaker, and Thomas Duclos is a consultant here." 

Alcohol: 14% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Discounts do not apply to wines like this one currently on sale.