At a glance

Producer

Château Croix de Labrie

Region

Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France

Grape variety

Merlot-dominant blend (typically Merlot with Cabernet Franc and occasionally Cabernet Sauvignon)

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Smooth

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$90-$180 USD per 750ml

Tasting profile

Intense dark fruit (blackberry, plum, black cherry), floral violet notes, fine oak integration, cocoa and licorice hints

Evolution: Fruit will evolve to include dried fig, forest floor, truffle, and spice with tertiary development in 8+ years

At peak: Seamless structure, plush mouthfeel, refined tannin integration; expressive minerality from Saint-Émilion limestone terroir

Structure

Acidity

Medium to medium-plus

Tannins

Firm and fine-grained

Alcohol

14-14.5% ABV (typical recent vintage)

Aging potential

Excellent; high quality micro-cuvée with proven reliability in cellar (15-20 years)

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2030 to 2038

Optimal window

2027 to 2042

Current status

Young and structured; still in barrel/tank or recently bottled

Current condition

Primary and vibrant, not fully integrated, high potential for graceful aging

2022 is a high quality modern Bordeaux vintage with plush fruit and structure; this micro-producer makes small lots with meticulous attention to detail, enabling a long development trajectory. Peak will be reached once tannins soften and secondary aromas emerge, generally 8-16 years from vintage.

Food pairing

Roast lamb, duck breast, beef tenderloin, wild mushroom risotto, mature hard cheeses

Serving

Decant

Yes (30 minutes) — The wine is medium-bodied with firm tannins, which can benefit from aeration to soften the tannins and enhance the aromatic profile.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 8/10

Hand-harvested, organic viticulture, extensive cover crops, no herbicides/pesticides, meticulous sorting, solar use at estate, rainwater capture for vineyard use, eco-conscious light bottles and recyclable packaging

Château Croix de Labrie is recognized for its commitment to organic and sustainable viticulture in Saint-Émilion. The estate employs regenerative agricultural practices, eschews synthetic chemicals, and increases biodiversity with natural hedgerows and cover crops. The winery uses lightweight bottles and eco-certifiable packaging, and has implemented energy savings with partial solar power. Despite these positives, export logistics (especially small-batch air freight to overseas markets) slightly reduce the score. Overall, the estate ranks among Bordeaux’s more sustainable producers, with continual improvement noted.