Jean Voisin Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2018

The Estate was founded in 1583 when Jean Voisin, a local citizen and eventual mayor of Saint-Émilion, established his residence on a small, preserved, piece of hillside. He quickly identified the terroir quality, as already proven by his illustrious neighbor, Château Figeac, who at the time also owned the parcels that would one day become Château Cheval Blanc and Château Petrus. The vineyard today is an unsegmented parcel surrounding the Château, and tended as 19 individual plots. Each plot of land is farmed differently according to its potential. Merlot comprises 95% of the plantings, with the rest cabernet franc.

The 2018 vintage was a tremendous one for the region, albeit after a difficult start. Downfalls of rain drenched the early clusters of grapes, and significant yield was lost to rot and mildew. What survived was then treated to a very warm and dry summer that offered excellent potential. Voisin’s 30-year-old vines, grown on sandy-clay soil with veins of the region's famous ferrous blue clay, thrived throughout the growing season with excellent water retention and a hillside exposure to minimize rot. This wine is 100% merlot, crafted in conjunction with their premier consultant Hubert de Boüard of Château Angélus, and stands as an absolute achievement.

The wine is texturally rich and supple – like liquid velvet – with black cherry, blackberry compote, plums, Chinese five-spice, licorice, and cigar box and…just so much more. It goes on and on, and at the end of the day, it is simply easy to sip and stare in wonderment as the wine coaxes you down a river of ambrosial lustiness. There’s a lot packed in this wine, and the vintage is the perfect either/or dichotomy. Drink me now, or save me for years and years later, one thing is certain…you will not be disappointed!

** Fun fact: ancestor Gabriel B. Voisin was an aviation pioneer and manufacturer who turned to making luxury automobiles between WW1 and WW2. These iconic and rare vehicles were often chosen by Heads of State and various members of well-off international societal elites. **

PAIRING IDEAS: The texture, the spices, the tremendous unctuousness of this wine all lead me to this… Galbijjim (Korean braised short-ribs) dish. Perfection!

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: The meat is braised, the wine is decanted and the evening is just getting started… complete the vibe with Duke Ellington and John Coltrane getting sentimental.