2018 Château Sainte-Barbe “Men & Gus” Cuvee Bordeaux Supérieur
91 Point Bordeaux Superieur 96 Point Vintage, Vinous Media
Tasting Notes
Dark purple color with almost black reflections. Concentrated nose of intense fruits, blackberries, and black currant jam. Delicate aromas of toasted notes, dark chocolate, vanilla, and sweet spices. The mouth is well structured with sweet fruits, ripe tannins, and a beautiful freshness. A very juicy wine with a subtly full-bodied character, and a convincing length.
Aging: 12 months in French oak barrels.
Vineyard: 4500 to 5000 vines/hectare, clay soil
Food Pairings: Enjoy with red meat, chicken and poultry, game birds, and chocolate desserts.
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Varietals: 85% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Ambès, France
Alcohol: 14%
Aging Potential: 10 years
2018 Château Sainte-Barbe Bordeaux Supérieur
96 Point Vintage, Vinous Media
Tasting Notes
A beautiful nose of ripe fruit and spices with a good freshness. A supple attack with firm tannins, amazing quality. Long end.
Aging: 14 months in French oak barrels.
Cold pre-fermentary maceration and fermentation in temperature-controlled concrete vats.
Vineyard: 28 hectares with a majority of Merlot. Average age = 20 years. Clay soil
Cultivation: Guyot double and Cordon de Royat pruning. Double trellis system.
Density: Between 4 500 to 5 000 per hectare
Food Pairing: Beef, duck, and cheese
Château Saint Barbe is a historical estate that dates to the 14th century. This magical Château, located on the banks of the Garonne, is named a “Monument Historique,” which is a designation given to some national heritage sites in France.
The estate comprises over 74 acres of vineyards, where 85% is planted with Merlot, and the rest with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The vineyard is managed under sustainable practices and is certified HVE3.
The ideal terroir composed of alluvial clay soils, a perfect sub-oceanic climate with some Mediterranean influences, and the expertise of winemakers Phillipe and Estelle, is the perfect combination to create these outstanding, top-tier wines, that will make even the most demanding palates fall in love.
Since 2013, Château Saint Barbe has been owned by the Gaye family, the same owners as Château Grand Corbin Manuel and Château Haut-Cadet in Saint Emilion Grand Cru, and Château La Creation in Pomerol. This family has been pushing for the highest quality in the vineyard and cellar and for an exceptional wine touristic experience. They recently were named one of the world’s “Best of Wine Tourism” by Great Wine Capitals.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Château Sainte-Barbe Mixed Bordeaux Supérieur
4 bottles for $69.99 $17.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $164.99 $13.75/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 Château Sainte-Barbe Mixed Bordeaux Supérieur - $45 = 21.42%
2018 Château Sainte-Barbe “Men & Gus” Cuvee Bordeaux Supérieur
I received an email that I was chosen to be a Lab Rat and was excited to see what would arrive. I was very pleased to discover that it was a Bordeaux.Upon opening the bottle it poured a dark purple color with a nice nose of spices with some vanilla and chocolate.
We decided to pair this with a NY strip steak with some potatoes with black truffle. We allowed the wine to open for 30 minutes to allow it to breathe. The first taste was full bodied with heavy Merlot and a hint of Cabernet Sauvignon and a nice amount of tannins. As it opened, so did the blackberries with a wonderful delicate essence of French oak.
This wine was a perfect compliment to our dinner would recommend this wine around $30 per bottle.
Enjoy!
Chateaux Saine Barbe - 2018 Grande Vin de Bordeaux
The first thing my partner said when she saw the bottle was — THEY SENT US AN ACTUAL FRENCH BORDEAUX!? The excitement could not be contained. She started speaking french words to me, and I was hooked.
After popping the cork, there was a heady, heavenly smell coming from the bottle. We knew this was serious business. As if transported along the Gironde and the Dordogne - this is classic, refined French paradise.
First sips, not sweet at all — smoky and peppery and a wonderful mouthfeel. After it opened, the flavor was passionate, full and brought more bright, and slightly woody, dark-skinned fruits - berries and cherries.
We paired it with homemade lasagna, but this could easily go well with good cheese, a bit of fruit or a beef borguignon. Mmm. It is excellent with some good dark chocolate - really good mouthfeel again.
I wish we had another day so we could really open this up as I think it needs a few more years to really develop out the complexity. Looks like we may need to order a few to make that happen…
Well the 96 point vintage reference from Vinous is a bit misleading. Vinous may have given the vintage 96 points, but here are Vinous reviews for these wines:
The Saint-Barbe: 87 Points. The 2018 Sainte Barbe has quite a potent nose of brambly red fruit, cigar box and light earthy aromas, nicely defined and becoming quite gamy with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, savory red fruit and a bit of wood tannin on the finish that I believe will be soaked up with time. Not terribly complex, but it does have personality. Neal Martin. Tasting date: January 2021. Drink 2021-2027
The Men&Gus: 88 Points. The 2018 Cuvée Men&Gus is a fruity, forward Bordeaux Supérieur with plenty to offer. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, coffee, spice and mint all
race out of the glass. I would prefer to drink the 2018 over the next few years, while the fruit remains vibrant. Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: March 2021. Drink 2021-2028
Back to the Saint-Barbe:
Suckling, 91 Points. Pretty, juicy fruit with a medium body, ripe tannins, and a savory finish. Attractive concentration for the appellation.
Decanter, 91 Points. Part of the Grand Cercle, this is easily a top wine from the tasting. The purity of the fruit in the aromatic profile is very impressive, with blackberry and red currant, as well as pleasing oak-derived spice. The palate reveals some freshly ground coffee beans along with ripe juicy plums. The finish tightens up a bit, so give it time. And kudos to the informative back label.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 Points. Dominated by 85% Merlot, this wine is rich and smoothly textured. Black-plum fruits give the wine a ripe, luscious feel that also brings out the pepper of the alcohol. Drink now. RV 3/1/21
The Men&Gus:
Falstaff, 91 Points. Grand Cercle Tasting Bordeaux 2018 Tasted by : Peter Moser. Published on 14.02.2021. (No notes)
Suckling, 90 Points. Stewed blackberry, blackcurrant-leaf, licorice, and peppercorn aromas. It’s medium-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Drink from 2022.
@kaolis Thanks for finding all of those reviews, very helpful! I’d much rather have those high 80’s/low 90’s reviews with those descriptors than some crazy 97pt off the charts review at this price point that never really seems to transfer to what’s coming out of the bottle. Alc % is a little high for me on the one, but I currently don’t have any French wine, so in for a case!
@wnance Agreed. Showing a bit of my age but back in the day we were all over searching out high 80 scores in Bordeaux from some guy named Parker. As an aside I still enjoy searching out inexpensive Bordeaux like this, but anymore likely to drink them rather than cellar them.
2018 Château Sainte-Barbe “Men & Gus” Cuvee Bordeaux Supérieur
91 Point Bordeaux Superieur
96 Point Vintage, Vinous Media
Tasting Notes
Specs
2018 Château Sainte-Barbe Bordeaux Supérieur
96 Point Vintage, Vinous Media
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $438/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, Mar 16 - Monday, Mar 20
Château Sainte-Barbe Mixed Bordeaux Supérieur
4 bottles for $69.99 $17.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $164.99 $13.75/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 Château Sainte-Barbe “Men & Gus” Cuvee Bordeaux Supérieur
2018 Château Sainte-Barbe Bordeaux Supérieur
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 Château Sainte-Barbe Mixed Bordeaux Supérieur - $45 = 21.42%
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Bordeaux with 15% alcohol?
@klezman
Plenty of them out there!
@ScottW58 that’s got to take some work!
@klezman @ScottW58 says who? Not difficult to do - as long as Mother Nature doesn’t get in the way with rain during harvest . . .
Iiiii’m going to be in trouble in a couple weeks when this shows up…
2018 Château Sainte-Barbe “Men & Gus” Cuvee Bordeaux Supérieur
I received an email that I was chosen to be a Lab Rat and was excited to see what would arrive. I was very pleased to discover that it was a Bordeaux.Upon opening the bottle it poured a dark purple color with a nice nose of spices with some vanilla and chocolate.
We decided to pair this with a NY strip steak with some potatoes with black truffle. We allowed the wine to open for 30 minutes to allow it to breathe. The first taste was full bodied with heavy Merlot and a hint of Cabernet Sauvignon and a nice amount of tannins. As it opened, so did the blackberries with a wonderful delicate essence of French oak.
This wine was a perfect compliment to our dinner would recommend this wine around $30 per bottle.
Enjoy!
Chateaux Saine Barbe - 2018 Grande Vin de Bordeaux
The first thing my partner said when she saw the bottle was — THEY SENT US AN ACTUAL FRENCH BORDEAUX!? The excitement could not be contained. She started speaking french words to me, and I was hooked.
After popping the cork, there was a heady, heavenly smell coming from the bottle. We knew this was serious business. As if transported along the Gironde and the Dordogne - this is classic, refined French paradise.
First sips, not sweet at all — smoky and peppery and a wonderful mouthfeel. After it opened, the flavor was passionate, full and brought more bright, and slightly woody, dark-skinned fruits - berries and cherries.
We paired it with homemade lasagna, but this could easily go well with good cheese, a bit of fruit or a beef borguignon. Mmm. It is excellent with some good dark chocolate - really good mouthfeel again.
I wish we had another day so we could really open this up as I think it needs a few more years to really develop out the complexity. Looks like we may need to order a few to make that happen…
@imshadow22 OK, you twisted my arm:
/giphy peremptory-slim-kettle
This is looking like a “buy now, split later” situation. Anyone in southern / central New England interested?
/giphy painted-magnificent-temper
Ok, there’s space in the wine closet for aging - case it is! Thanks rats.
Wow, a Bordeaux on here! And sounds good. Thanks, rats.
/giphy synonymous-unsightly-crocodile
Curious when this might actually ship out? That may determine whether I smash the buy button. Have a bit of international travel coming up soon.
/giphy barbarous-liable-point
I’m in!
SF/Marin split?
@cosmo108 I am down, but not sure if you got the case before it sold out.
@Tassadar yeah. I didn’t score a case.
Well the 96 point vintage reference from Vinous is a bit misleading. Vinous may have given the vintage 96 points, but here are Vinous reviews for these wines:
The Saint-Barbe: 87 Points. The 2018 Sainte Barbe has quite a potent nose of brambly red fruit, cigar box and light earthy aromas, nicely defined and becoming quite gamy with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, savory red fruit and a bit of wood tannin on the finish that I believe will be soaked up with time. Not terribly complex, but it does have personality. Neal Martin. Tasting date: January 2021. Drink 2021-2027
The Men&Gus: 88 Points. The 2018 Cuvée Men&Gus is a fruity, forward Bordeaux Supérieur with plenty to offer. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, coffee, spice and mint all
race out of the glass. I would prefer to drink the 2018 over the next few years, while the fruit remains vibrant. Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: March 2021. Drink 2021-2028
Back to the Saint-Barbe:
Suckling, 91 Points. Pretty, juicy fruit with a medium body, ripe tannins, and a savory finish. Attractive concentration for the appellation.
Decanter, 91 Points. Part of the Grand Cercle, this is easily a top wine from the tasting. The purity of the fruit in the aromatic profile is very impressive, with blackberry and red currant, as well as pleasing oak-derived spice. The palate reveals some freshly ground coffee beans along with ripe juicy plums. The finish tightens up a bit, so give it time. And kudos to the informative back label.
Wine Enthusiast, 88 Points. Dominated by 85% Merlot, this wine is rich and smoothly textured. Black-plum fruits give the wine a ripe, luscious feel that also brings out the pepper of the alcohol. Drink now. RV 3/1/21
The Men&Gus:
Falstaff, 91 Points. Grand Cercle Tasting Bordeaux 2018 Tasted by : Peter Moser. Published on 14.02.2021. (No notes)
Suckling, 90 Points. Stewed blackberry, blackcurrant-leaf, licorice, and peppercorn aromas. It’s medium-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Drink from 2022.
fwiw
@kaolis Thanks for finding all of those reviews, very helpful! I’d much rather have those high 80’s/low 90’s reviews with those descriptors than some crazy 97pt off the charts review at this price point that never really seems to transfer to what’s coming out of the bottle. Alc % is a little high for me on the one, but I currently don’t have any French wine, so in for a case!
@kaolis @wnance you must have just made it before cases sold out! Cases are gone now.
@wnance Agreed. Showing a bit of my age but back in the day we were all over searching out high 80 scores in Bordeaux from some guy named Parker. As an aside I still enjoy searching out inexpensive Bordeaux like this, but anymore likely to drink them rather than cellar them.
@kaolis @wnance and given Parker’s preferences, those high 80s wines actually we more enjoyable for my palate, too.
Whelp, looks like the cases are already gone!
@vin314 they’re back! (For now)
/giphy tangible-permissive-observation
Got mine before cases get sold out again!
Bah…cases sold out when I went to buy!!!
And cases are back for now!
/giphy lagging-powdery-card
@TimW here then, gone now.
@rjquillin @TimW Oh well.
I had just about consumed enough for everything to fit in my storage area, and then…
/giphy dated-temporal-leech
Settled for the 4 pack.
/giphy white-refined-sugarcane
A bit more inventory just located.
@WCCWineGirl
UPS staff will be pleased
/giphy tumultuous-gothic-waffle
NYC got a case.