Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages Red Blend 2018

Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages Red Blend 2018 is a flagship Bordeaux-style red blend from Sonoma County, California, bottled at 750ml. Named for the five ("cinq") classic Bordeaux grape varieties it unites, the 2018 vintage has earned an average critic score of 92 points, reflecting a year of concentrated fruit and structural refinement in Sonoma County.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: Sonoma County, California  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Producer: Chateau St. Jean

Production & Heritage

Chateau St. Jean, founded in 1973 in the Kenwood area of Sonoma Valley, has long built its reputation on vineyard-designated wines and its marquee Cinq Cépages program. The 2018 blend draws from proven Bordeaux-varietal vineyards across Sonoma County and is composed of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. Each vintage, the winemaker selects fruit from outstanding sites and adjusts the proportions to showcase the best expression of the growing season — a true Meritage-style approach that has defined this label since its inception.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The 2018 opens with inviting layers of cassis and blackberry jam, followed by dried currants, worn leather, and soft nuances of nutmeg and cardamom spice. There is a quiet complexity that deepens with air.

Taste: On entry, rich, ripe dark fruits dominate — black cherries, plum, and concentrated cassis roll across the mid-palate. Secondary flavors of vanilla, maple spice, black tea, black licorice, a hint of fennel, and blueberry fruit leather emerge as the wine opens up. The structure is well-built, with silky tannins that are fully integrated and give the wine real presence without roughness.

Finish: The finish is satisfying and persistent, carrying notes of cedar cigar box, tobacco, and dark olive. Tannins remain polished through the close, leaving a savory, cocoa-powder-like dryness that invites another sip.

How to Drink Cinq Cépages 2018

This wine is best enjoyed in a large-bowled glass at around 62–65°F; decanting for 30–45 minutes allows the layered aromatics to fully reveal themselves. Neat sipping is the ideal approach for a wine of this complexity, though it also holds up remarkably well in food-driven settings. For cocktail-adjacent applications: try it in a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) for a casual twist that tames the tannins, a Red Wine Spritzer on a warm afternoon to highlight the fruit character, or a classic Sangria where the blend's dark fruit and spice create a deeply flavorful base.

Best For

• Gifting a Bordeaux-blend enthusiast looking for a Sonoma County expression
• Anchoring a multi-course dinner centered on grilled red meats
• Adding depth to a curated California wine tasting lineup
• Celebrating a milestone vintage year with a cellar-worthy bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cinq Cépages 2018 taste like? The dominant profile is concentrated dark fruit — cassis, blackberry, black cherry, and plum — supported by savory notes of tobacco, cedar, and cocoa powder, all framed by silky, well-integrated tannins.

How does Cinq Cépages 2018 compare to a traditional Bordeaux blend? Compared to a Left Bank Bordeaux of similar composition, the Cinq Cépages 2018 leans riper and more fruit-forward, with a rounder mouthfeel and softer acidity, characteristic of Sonoma County's warmer climate and longer growing season. Both styles share structural elegance from Cabernet Sauvignon dominance, but the Cinq Cépages emphasizes lush fruit over austere minerality.

Is Cinq Cépages 2018 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a wine built for contemplative drinking, with enough layered complexity and tannic structure to reward slow, undistracted attention over the course of an evening.

Where is Cinq Cépages 2018 made? It is produced by Chateau St. Jean, located in Kenwood in the Sonoma Valley, with fruit sourced from select vineyards throughout the broader Sonoma County appellation.

What foods pair well with Cinq Cépages 2018? Grilled lamb chops benefit from the wine's herbal and savory depth; braised short ribs mirror its dark fruit concentration; aged cheddar or Gruyère cheese echo its nutty, cocoa-toned finish; mushroom risotto complements the earthy undertones; and herb-crusted prime rib stands up to the wine's full body and tannic backbone.

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

Is Cinq Cépages 2018 worth the price? Cinq Cépages positions as a premium flagship expression within the Chateau St. Jean portfolio, and its 92-point average critical rating, five-grape complexity, and cellar-worthy structure place it competitively among Sonoma County's serious Bordeaux-style blends in its price tier.

Why Cinq Cépages 2018?

The Cinq Cépages program is Chateau St. Jean's crown jewel — a wine that only exists because the winemaker found the fruit worthy of the flagship label that vintage. The 2018 growing season in Sonoma County delivered concentration and balance in equal measure, and the resulting blend captures that quality: five Bordeaux varieties working in concert, each contributing a distinct structural or aromatic element. With an average critic score of 92 points and a track record that includes the Cinq Cépages program earning Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year for a prior vintage, this release carries genuine pedigree. For collectors and drinkers who value vineyard-driven California reds with a Bordelaise blueprint, the 2018 is a compelling addition.