Chapelle de Potensac Médoc 2018 - Second vin

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Undoubtedly the most highly regarded wine in the Médoc appellation, Potensac owes its success to the quality of the winemaking teams assembled by the Delon family, the château’s owners, who work according to the same exacting standards as at Léoville-Las Cases. The vineyard’s advanced age—with some Cabernet plots over 80 years old—does not prevent it from being perfectly productive! The wine embodies the classic style to the highest degree, with notes of cedar on the nose and spices in the tannins, and great firmness. It is currently evolving toward greater immediate finesse and suppleness. The latest vintages are majestic and of the highest class; they will console all those who can no longer afford the most famous wines.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

This second wine boasts a fruity bouquet, followed by a smooth palate with good concentration, though the finish is slightly more austere.

About the estate:

A beautiful estate situated on one of the highest points in northern Médoc, this renowned vineyard—managed by Jean-Hubert Delon (Léoville Las Cases)—spans most of its 84 hectares across clay-gravel ridges with limestone subsoil and a high proportion of gravel, a terroir similar to that of Saint-Estèphe. A must-visit.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

As bargain hunters know, Château Potensac is the flagship of the Médoc appellation, thanks to the 300,000 bottles it produces each year and the consistency of its quality. As the younger sibling of Léoville Las Cases, it benefits from the team’s full expertise, and thanks to the aging of the vineyard, it now produces the best wine in its appellation. Delicious after two or three years in the bottle, it also has the potential for long-term aging. Its style blends generosity and precision, without heaviness or vulgarity.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

A very deep cherry-red color. Enticing aromas of dark red fruits and mineral notes. Juicy, fresh aromas of raspberries. Deliciously approachable and long-lasting. Super-fine tannins that let the fruit shine. Best enjoyed between 2021 and 2028.

Vinous

About the wine:

La Chapelle de Potensac 2018 is a brilliant, fragrant, and beautifully spiced wine, with abundant notes of red berries, dried leaves, and floral character. Silky and airy, Chapelle is a magnificent, refined red from the Left Bank, best enjoyed over the next decade. The 2018 vintage brings a lovely vigor to the fruit, complemented by impeccable balance. 2023–2033

James Suckling

About the wine:

The nose offers aromas of blackberry, mushrooms, and earthy notes. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with elegant tannins and a juicy texture. A savory finish. Slightly less structured in the mid-palate, but nicely crafted. It will be at its best after 2022, once it has gained more body.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

La Chapelle de Potensac 2018 is a juicy, ripe, and seductive second wine. It offers remarkable purity along with notes of raspberries, blackcurrants, leafy herbs, and earth. It has good acidity, freshness, plenty of fruit, and a pure, balanced style.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

A delicate, fresh bouquet with spicy and fruity notes, featuring hints of black berries and pepper. Juicy and delicious on the palate. The wine is elegant, inviting, and perfectly balanced. Like the nose, the finish is refreshing and fruity. A flavorful wine best enjoyed for its fruit while still young. 2021–2028

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity, fresh, lively, and rich, offering minerality and a delicate concentration. It features notes of fresh and ripe blackberry, fresh and ripe blackcurrant, and, to a lesser extent, red berries, combined with a subtle hint of blueberry and flowers, as well as subtle hints of licorice and nutmeg. The palate is fruity and balanced, offering a lovely mineral structure, fullness, juiciness, richness, and a subtle acidity. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy blackberry, juicy blackcurrant, and, more subtly, ripe/juicy raspberry, combined with subtle hints of tonka bean, licorice, and spices, as well as subtle hints of chocolate and a very subtle hint of sweet blond tobacco (in the background). The tannins are well-integrated. A very subtle hint of dried almond is present on the finish and in the aftertaste.