Chateau La Couspaude Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2016

Check those TRIPLE 94 POINT scores – this is a Saint-Emilion to savor! An under-the-radar estate that has been family owned for over a century, Château La Couspaude is clearly on a tear, making waves with consistently high scores over the past decade. The prices have started to creep up in line with the rest of the top Saint-Emilion chateaus – but not here at First Bottle! Next best price in the USA on this wine is a full $25 more per bottle! Let’s go!

Château La Couspaude sits at the entrance to the medieval village of Saint-Emilion, a UNESCO heritage site and an absolute must on any visit to Bordeaux. The 7-hectare estate has been farmed to grapes since the 17th century and sits at the perfect geographical location atop the revered clay-limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion. The soils are comprised of a thin clay-limestone layer roughly 25 inches deep when the land shifts to a rigidly hard limestone plate.

The estate’s old vines (that average over 50 years in age, with some plots dating well over 100 years old) grant the wine extreme concentration and depth – making for a plush and modern style of Right Bank Bordeaux that shows many similarities to exceptional Napa cabernet. The primary grape here however is merlot, accounting for some 75% of the vineyard, followed by 20% cabernet france and 5% cabernet sauvignon.

The remarkable 2016 vintage is on full display here with a beautifully dense purple-ruby color and a preponderance of dark bramble fruit aromas. Blackberry, black currant, and raspberries leap from the bottle, followed by dark cherry notes, toasted pastry dough, supple leather, and warm, baked plums. There’s a heady, almost apothecary-like scent of dried herbs, tea leaves, and mineral tinctures supporting the ample fruit and a finish that stretches endlessly and with a considerable presence. This is a powerful, lustful wine that is just beginning the prime of its life – with decades of magic yet to be revealed.

Simply glorious, spell-binding stuff that is not to be missed! Best price in the USA by far, so this is apt to move on quickly. Grab some while you can!

PAIRING IDEAS: Ever rubbed a steak with coffee before? Definitely worth a try with this beauty. I went for a tri-tip, rubbed it down with fresh ground coffee, black pepper, salt, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Reverse seared it with a touch of smoke from some cherry wood, and brought it to about 125, before a quick 90 second sear on each side directly over the heat. Rest, slice, sip, savor and simply revel in a perfect match.