Château Le Crock Saint-Estèphe 2018 (37.5cl)
£22.75
The wine
Pleasant and silky, with plum and ripe fruit aromas and an elegant tannic frame.
Saint-Estèphe is the most northerly of the great Médoc communes, with more clay in its soil than its neighbours, which holds water in dry years and gives wines that are firmer, more austere in youth and slower to open than Pauillac or Saint-Julien. Château Le Crock has 32 hectares in Saint-Estèphe and belongs to the Cuvelier family, who also own Château Léoville Poyferré in Saint-Julien. This is the half bottle.
The producer
Château Le Crock
View all Château Le Crock winesChâteau Le Crock is a handsome estate in Saint-Estèphe, the northernmost of the Médoc's great communes. Owned by the Cuvelier family, who also hold Léoville Poyferré in Saint-Julien, it enjoys both fine terroir and expert guidance. Its château and grounds are among the appellation's most striking.
The vineyard sits on a gravel rise overlooking the Gironde, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a little Petit Verdot. Saint-Estèphe's clay-rich soils lend the wines their depth and firm backbone. Farming is meticulous, in keeping with the family's standards.
In the cellar, the same team behind a classed growth brings precision and polish. Ageing in French oak builds structure while preserving the fruit. The style is sturdy yet refined, classic Saint-Estèphe with a modern sheen.
Le Crock delivers the power and longevity of Saint-Estèphe at a fair price. Deep, savoury and built to age, it is serious claret for the cellar and the table alike.
