“The bouquet displays freshness and hints of black berries. On the palate, it is the charm of Merlot that defines the attack. The wine is slightly creamy and well-supported by its tannins. Unlike some 2018 vintages, de Sales shines with its freshness and even a certain elegance. It is already quite approachable while still offering potential for aging. The finish is fruity and lingering.” (Yves Beck 2021) - Delivered in a wooden case for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (excluding Pickup Point delivery method)
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Eye
Deep garnet red color
Nose
A delicate, elegant, slightly woody bouquet with notes of ripe fruit (blackcurrant)
Palate
A complex wine with aromas of dark fruit, blackberry, and spices. Silky tannins, full-bodied, and beautifully balanced. A long, harmonious finish with great finesse.
Serve
At 16-18°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink from
2023
Drink before
2035
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy it with roast goose with apples, capon stuffed with porcini mushrooms, or a Riez truffle scramble
Bettane & Desseauve
Winery rated 1 star (A high-quality, recommended wine that lives up to what one would expect from its appellation(s))
About the estate:
The long driveway leading to this 16th-century château beautifully frames Pomerol’s most striking building, which has been owned by the de Lambert family for five centuries. The family owns the largest estate in the appellation.
Decanter
Wine rated (2021 guide) 91/100
About the wine:
The 2018 Château de Sales is approachable, with robust tannins and a hint of bitterness that lingers through the finish, but gradually gives way to notes of blueberry and blackcurrant.
Guide Hachette des vins
Rated estate (2020 guide) Mentioned (Successful wine)
About the estate:
Vincent Montigaud has been the estate manager since 2017, succeeding Bruno de Lambert, who retired. With 47.5 hectares, making it the largest estate in the appellation, Château de Sales has been owned by the de Lambert family for 550 years. The estate is currently headed by a member of the family, Marine Treppoz. Two wines are produced here: Château de Sales and Château Chantalouette, the second wine.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Rated estate (2022 guide) Selected (Please note that this guide is a ranking, and as such, all the estates listed here—even those without a star—represent, in our view, the pinnacle of French winemaking.)
About the estate:
On the outskirts of the town of Libourne, with its majestic park stretching out before it, Château de Sales has been in the same family for five centuries. Defying the vicissitudes of history and inheritance taxes—which have become confiscatory for many winemaking families—the appellation’s largest wine estate has never felt the need to join the bidding war, the race for roundness and opulence. With its specific terroir of fine gravel, Château de Sales remains faithful to a refined, classic, delicate style, minimally influenced by oak, which is undeniably back in vogue and deserves the full attention of wine lovers. While the stylistic direction seems firmly maintained, 2017 is a vintage of change for this historic estate: a new president of the operating company—which brings together many cousins—Marine Treppoz, and a new director, Vincent Montigaud from Libourne.
Wine Spectator
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Wine Spectator)
James Suckling
Wine rated (2021 guide) 92/100
Rated: Recommended
About the wine:
A smooth, juicy red wine with a creamy, tannic texture. Flavors of berries, cherry, cedar, and almond. Lovely and well-balanced.
Yves Beck
Wine rated (2021 guide) 91/100
About the wine:
The bouquet is fresh with hints of black berries. On the palate, the charm of Merlot is immediately apparent. The wine is slightly creamy and well-supported by its tannins. Unlike some 2018 vintages, de Sales shines with its freshness and even a certain elegance. It is already quite approachable while still offering potential for aging. The finish is fruity and lingering.
Vert de Vin
Wine rated (2021 guide) 93-94/100 (Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche)
About the wine:
The nose is elegant and refined, offering a lovely finesse of texture, a well-balanced richness, as well as intensity and depth. It features notes of vibrant blackcurrant, violet, and, more subtly, lily and blueberry, combined with hints of crushed raspberry and boysenberry, as well as touches of tonka bean, almond, and green cardamom, along with subtle hints of vibrant red berries, and discreet notes of toast and vanilla. On the palate, it is fruity, fresh, and mineral, offering a delicate texture, a certain energy, as well as a fine grain and a sense of indulgence. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fresh/tart plum, pulpy/juicy raspberry, and, more subtly, vibrant blackcurrant, combined with hints of blueberry, lilac, tonka bean, as well as hints of cardamom, vanilla bean, tea, a touch of cubeb pepper, an imperceptible hint of saffron, and subtle notes of sweet/toasty spices. A touch of pleasant bitterness (cocoa/roasted notes) on the finish (adds a lively kick).
Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing
Wine rated (2020 guide) 90/100
About the wine:
Aroma of crushed strawberries and blackcurrant buds. Round on the palate, with velvety tannins and a full-bodied texture, resulting in a silky structure and a rich, smooth profile. Perfect for the next decade. Reflects the upward trend in quality at this estate.