2017 Capbern, St-Estèphe (Pre-Arrival)
SKU #1355637
93 points
James Suckling
A rich, fruity wine with lots of fine tannins and mineral undertones with some flowers. Medium body, pure fruit and a full finish. Drink now or hold. A blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.
(1/2020)
93 points
Wine Enthusiast
This wine’s tannins are firm and initially prominent, bringing out the structure of a classic wine from Saint-Estèphe. At the same time, the wine offers fruitiness, freshness that can only come from the vintage. (RV)
(3/2020)
90-92 points
Jeb Dunnuck
This large estate has turned out a classic wine in 2017 that just screams of Saint-Estèphe. Checking in as a rough blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it will spend 18 months in 60% new French oak. Textbook Saint Estèphe dark fruits, damp earth, and tobacco leaf all flow to a medium-bodied, rounded, nicely textured wine that has the cooler, perfumed, aromatics style of the vintage, good mid-palate depth, and gorgeous purity of fruit. Classic Bordeaux lovers will dig this.
(4/2018)
91 points
Wine Advocate
The 2017 Capbern is medium to deep garnet-purple colored with aromas of baked blackberries, Morello cherries, cassis, fertile loam, unsmoked cigars and sautéed herbs. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and grainy with a good black fruit core and red fruit sparks on the finish. (LPB)
(3/2020)
91 points
Vinous
The 2017 Capbern was bottled at the end April 2019. The wine has a perfumed bouquet with black fruit and light marine aromas, and a touch of brine in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannin, very classic in style and quintessentially Saint-Estèphe. Moderate in length, there is a slight rawness on the finish. (NM)
(2/2020)
Decanter
Deep crimson with purple rim. Fresh and delicious bramble and cassis fruit. Firm, finely grained, super-fresh. Slightly chewy but with plenty of dark fruit in the middle. Full but balanced. (JH) 16.5/20
(4/2018)
Jancis Robinson
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc. They are still restructuring the vineyard, apparently -- the youngest Merlot vines are now 20 years old and the Cabernets 15. Deep crimson with purple rim. Fresh and delicious bramble and cassis fruit. Firm, finely grained, super-fresh. Slightly chewy but with plenty of dark fruit in the middle. Full but balanced. (JH)
(4/2018)
Wine Spectator
Fresh and juicy, with pomegranate and damson plum fruit laced liberally with lilac, savory and pebble hints. (JM, Web-2018)
K&L Notes
55% CS, 39% M, 3%PV and CF. Very spicy aromas and red berry flavors. Actually quite elegant for St Estephe -lively entry. They always make great value wines--at least since 2009. 90 points Antonio Galloni for Vinous: "The 2017 Capbern is a very pretty wine to drink now and over the next few years. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, mocha and floral notes are nicely pushed forward in this supple, racy Saint-Estèphe. Dried herbs and a range of floral Cabernet Sauvignon inflections add character." (03/2020)