Chateau Le Coteau 2018 Margaux, Bordeaux

This modest red is a surprise to me.  Margaux, traditionally offering the prettiest wines in Bordeaux, has been more intensely flavored in recent years.  But not this one.  Le Coteau Margaux is not one of the privileged “Classified Growths” that command high prices all over the world.  Happily, there are no new oak, flashy extracts found in those wines either.  What you have here is elegance for a red Bordeaux, kind of a throwback to a more genteel era.  All the parts are here, integrated fruit with balanced tannins in the background.  You can drink this tonight with any roasted or grilled meats.

“The 2018 Le Coteau has a vibrant nose of wild strawberry and blackberry laced with cedar and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannins, moderate depth and a finish that just needs a little more definition. Quite approachable in style. Drink this over the next 4–6 years.”—Neal Martin, Vinous

“The 2018 Château Le Coteau comes from the Arsac region of Margaux and is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend with a good portion of Merlot. Classic Margaux complexity and elegance define this beauty, and its ruby hue is followed by lovely notes of redcurrants, black cherries, sappy herbs, spring flowers, and cedar. Not a blockbuster, it plays in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum and is nicely balanced, with integrated acidity and a great finish. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following decade or so.”—Jeb Dunnuck