92 Point Saint Emilion: 2018 Clos Albertus "La Garenne" Saint-Georges Saint Emilion
We’re a bit enamored with the wines coming out of Château Corbin, owned by respected French winemaker Jacques Rambeaud. Rambeaud has vineyards in some of the most special appellations in Saint-Émilion including Montagne and Saint Georges. The main cellar has some prestigious neighbors—it’s located one mile from Petrus and Cheval Blanc and two miles from Figeac.
It’s from the Saint Georges appellation that the 2018 Clos Albertus La Garenne is born. Saint Georges is known for its red wines. In fact, it produces only red wines, often Merlot-heavy. But for the La Garenne, Rambeaud veers from the typical, producing a high-quality blend of equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.The result is a wine that’s truly luxurious and bursting with pleasure.
2018 was an excellent vintage in Saint-Émilion. Decanter finds that the wines from 2018 “tend to be rich in fruit, softer in mouthfeel with less tannin and acid.” And Vinous gave 2018 a stunning 96-point review, saying, “The 2018 Right Bank wines are opulent, flamboyant reds. It is a very strong vintage that falls just short of being truly epic.”
The terroir in Rambeaud’s vineyards is full of “crasse de fer,” the local name for the iron-rich clay found in the soils. It’s this particular soil composition that’s thought to be responsible for the notable aromas and textures found in the region’s Merlot. Rambeaud has the utmost respect for the land his grapes grow on, and he’s driven by innovation, authenticity, and sustainability.
James Suckling praised the luxurious, juicy Clos Albertus with 92 points, particularly noting its “chewy tannins and a fresh, creamy finish.” It’s a blackberry and limestone beauty that will please even the most demanding Bordeaux-loving palate.
Big Hammer Wines is so impressed with this wine (and with Rambeaud) that we’ve chosen to be the exclusive importer of La Garenne. That means we can offer it to you at a significant 33% discount and the Lowest Price Anywhere! That makes this Saint-Émilion an amazing value as well as a quality wine from an (almost) epic vintage.
