2020 Château Croix de Labrie Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Magnum

The 2020 Château Croix de Labrie Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Magnum is a plush, modern Right Bank Bordeaux that captures the intensity and finesse of a top-tier vintage. Bottled in the generous magnum format, it offers both immediate pleasure and superb aging potential for the cellar. This is a small-production, artisanal wine that stands out for its concentration, precision, and the meticulous care behind every grape.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Croix de Labrie shows a deep, saturated ruby-purple color that hints at its richness and youth. The nose is expressive and layered, with ripe blackberries, black cherries, and plum compote framed by notes of violet, cocoa, vanilla bean, and a subtle graphite minerality, along with a touch of sweet spice from high-quality French oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, velvety, and opulent, driven primarily by lush Merlot fruit. Expect waves of dark berries, black cherry, and ripe damson, intertwined with hints of mocha, clove, and a fresh, lifted floral character. The tannins are fine-grained yet powerful, giving the wine structure without harshness, while a vibrant acidity keeps everything in balance and prevents any heaviness. The finish is long, polished, and mouthcoating, with lingering notes of dark chocolate and spice. In magnum, this 2020 has excellent aging potential; it can be enjoyed now with a good decant but will reward 10–20+ years of careful cellaring, evolving greater complexity and secondary nuances of truffle, tobacco, and forest floor over time.

Production
Château Croix de Labrie is situated on some of Saint-Émilion’s most prized terroirs, where clay-limestone and gravel soils help produce intensely flavored yet refined grapes, particularly Merlot, supported by smaller proportions of Cabernet Franc and occasionally Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate follows a highly attentive, nearly obsessive, vineyard regime, often with organic or biodynamic-inspired practices, focusing on low yields and precise canopy management to ensure perfect ripeness. Grapes are typically harvested by hand in small crates, with rigorous sorting in the vineyard and at the winery to keep only the best berries. Vinification is carried out in small, temperature-controlled vats, allowing each parcel to be treated individually; gentle extraction preserves fruit purity while building structure. The wine is then aged in a high proportion of new French oak barrels, where it rests on fine lees for many months, gaining texture, aromatic complexity, and polish before being bottled—here, in magnum—for extended maturation.

Food & Serving
This Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is a superb match for richly flavored, refined dishes. It pairs beautifully with classic roast lamb, dry-aged ribeye, beef tenderloin with truffle jus, or slow-braised short ribs. It also complements duck breast, venison, and earthy dishes featuring porcini mushrooms, lentils, or black truffle, as well as aged hard cheeses like Comté or Manchego. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. Given the concentration of the 2020 vintage and the magnum format, decanting for 2–3 hours in its youth is highly recommended to allow the wine to open aromatically and soften on the palate; older bottles will need a more delicate, shorter decant just to remove sediment.

Producer
Château Croix de Labrie is one of Saint-Émilion’s emblematic small estates, often associated with the ‘garagiste’ movement that helped redefine Bordeaux in the late 20th century. Working on a tiny scale compared to many famous châteaux, the team at Croix de Labrie has built a reputation for meticulous vineyard work, ultra-selective harvesting, and a modern, detail-driven approach in the cellar, yielding wines of remarkable concentration and precision. Over the years, the property has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal following among enthusiasts who seek limited-production, handcrafted Saint-Émilion with a luxurious yet terroir-driven profile. Today, Château Croix de Labrie stands as a reference point for boutique Right Bank Bordeaux, consistently delivering wines that punch well above their size in both character and prestige.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.