Chateau Puy Blanquet Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2018

Chateau Puy Blanquet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018 is a Merlot-dominant Bordeaux red wine from the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation, bottled at 14.0% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Jeb Dunnuck awarded this vintage 94 points, praising its opulent fruit and layered palate — a remarkable score for an estate historically positioned as one of Saint-Émilion's best-value Grand Cru properties.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.0%  |  Origin: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Estate: Château Puy Blanquet

Production & Heritage

Château Puy Blanquet sits on the eastern limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, a sector known for producing structured, age-worthy wines at accessible prices. The 2018 vintage is built from a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested manually with optical sorting to ensure only fully ripe, healthy fruit entered the winery. Vinification took place in thermo-regulated concrete vats — a traditional Bordeaux approach that preserves freshness and terroir expression. Notably, only 20% of the wine saw any barrel aging, and of those barrels just 10% were new French oak; the remaining 80% matured in vat. This restrained oak regimen sets Puy Blanquet apart from many Saint-Émilion peers that lean heavily on new wood, allowing primary fruit character and mineral structure to lead. In 2020, the Malet-Roquefort family — proprietors of Château La Gaffelière, a Premier Grand Cru Classé estate — acquired Puy Blanquet, signaling confidence in the property's terroir potential.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with beautifully ripe blackcurrants and macerated black cherries, layered over smoked earth and dried Provençal herbs. Deeper breaths reveal fruitcake, baking spice, and a subtle floral lift of rose petal.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied, opulent, and immediately fruit-driven, with warm red and black cherry flavors meeting rich damson plum at the mid-palate. Cedar and tobacco emerge as the wine develops, supported by a taut structure of firm, chewy tannins that provide serious backbone. A thread of bold freshness runs throughout, preventing the generous fruit from feeling heavy.

Finish: Long and lively, with lingering notes of mint, dark spice, and fine-grained tannin. The restrained oak influence allows the fruit and mineral signatures to persist cleanly through the close.

How to Drink Puy Blanquet 2018

This wine is at its best served at 16–18°C (60–65°F) and benefits from 30–60 minutes of decanting, which allows the dense fruit and tannin structure to open fully. Drinking neat from a large-bowled Bordeaux glass highlights the aromatic complexity. For cocktail-adjacent serves: a classic Bordeaux Sangria using this wine's dark fruit profile adds genuine depth; a Red Wine Reduction for sauces leverages the concentrated cherry and spice character; and a chilled Kalimotxo (equal parts red wine and cola) makes a surprisingly refreshing warm-weather serve that benefits from the wine's robust structure.

Best For

• Bordeaux collectors seeking high-scoring 2018 Right Bank values
• Dinner party centerpiece with roasted or braised red meat courses
• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates Saint-Émilion terroir
• Cellar aging — the tannic structure and freshness suggest a 10–15 year drinking window

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Puy Blanquet 2018 taste like? It delivers rich, opulent dark fruit — blackcurrant, black cherry, and damson plum — layered with cedar, tobacco, baking spice, and smoked earth, all held together by firm, chewy tannins and bright acidity.

How does Puy Blanquet 2018 compare to Château La Gaffelière? Since the Malet-Roquefort family acquired Puy Blanquet in 2020, the two estates share ownership and a similar terroir-driven philosophy, though La Gaffelière holds Premier Grand Cru Classé status and commands a significantly higher price. The 2018 Puy Blanquet offers comparable Merlot-led richness at a fraction of the cost, making it a compelling value alternative from a related stable.

Is Puy Blanquet 2018 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the opulent fruit, layered complexity, and extended finish make it an excellent wine for contemplative drinking, especially after 30 minutes of decanting to soften the firm tannins.

Where is Puy Blanquet made? Château Puy Blanquet is located on the eastern limestone plateau of the Saint-Émilion appellation in Bordeaux, France, an area recognized for producing structured, terroir-expressive Grand Cru wines.

What foods pair well with Puy Blanquet 2018? Braised short ribs complement the wine's chewy tannins and dark fruit density. Roast leg of lamb with rosemary echoes the herbal spice notes. Duck confit mirrors the rich, savory mid-palate. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese bridges the cedar and tobacco undertones. Dark chocolate truffles align with the wine's lingering spice finish.

What sizes does Puy Blanquet 2018 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this vintage.

Is Puy Blanquet 2018 worth the price? Positioned as a value-tier Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, this wine punches well above its weight — a 94-point rating from Jeb Dunnuck and scores of 90–93 from Wine Spectator and Vinous place it alongside bottles that often cost two to three times as much from the same appellation.

Why Puy Blanquet 2018?

The 2018 vintage represents Puy Blanquet at a peak of quality, benefiting from one of Bordeaux's warmest and most generous growing seasons on record. The 94-point score from Jeb Dunnuck — the estate's highest from a major critic in recent memory — confirms the wine's serious ambition. Its deliberately restrained oak program, with 80% of the wine never touching a barrel, allows the limestone-driven minerality and primary Merlot fruit to speak with unusual clarity for the appellation. For drinkers seeking authentic Right Bank character without the steep entry price of classified Saint-Émilion estates, the 2018 Puy Blanquet stands as one of the vintage's most compelling discoveries.