| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Formerly owned by the same family as neighbour Chateau Lafleur, the 6.5 hectare Le Gay is now owned by the family of the late Catherine Péré-Vergé along with other Pomerol properties Montviel and la Violette. The vineyard is planted with 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc with vines around 50 years old. It has been producing outstanding Pomerols in recent vintages. The 2018 yield was 35 hl/ha picked from 19th September to October 3rd. Double-sorted by bunch and single berry. 100% micro-vinified in new oak. 14.5 alcohol. Production 20,000 bottles.
Aromas of plums, violets and mushrooms with earthy notes. Fleshy and succulent texture to the full body with round, firm tannins and a salivating, savory finish. Very persistent. Opulent and reserved at the same time. Contrastive wine. Drink after 2025.
From one of my favorite estates in Pomerol, the 2018 Château Le Gay knocks it out of the park and has that classic Pomerol mix of sexy opulence paired with an incredible sense of finesse. Offering an already complex bouquet of crème de cassis, black cherries, white truffle, camphor, tobacco, and acacia flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, expansive texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. I'd be thrilled with bottles in the cellar. It's going to put a smile on any wine lover's face over the coming 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046)
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Le Gay has a beautifully perfumed nose of lavender essence, chocolate-covered cherries and preserved plums, leading to a fragrant undercurrent of kirsch, licorice and fertile loam. The concentrated, full-bodied palate (15% alcohol) delivers bold, black fruit flavors with compelling red berry sparks and a plush texture, finishing long with just enough freshness. 2023 - 2045
Tasted blind. Lovely combination of richness and freshness – all perfectly balanced. Tannins well mastered. Very long. 15%
Drink 2027 – 2045
Barrel sample. Black core. Dark, ripe and luscious fruit on the nose. Blackberry and elderberry compote, full on. A touch charry on the palate but the tannins unexpectedly gentle and rounded. Not sure how well this will age but quite seductive in that ripe roundness. Not my favourite style of wine but could give pleasure if it is yours. (JH) 14.5%
Drink 2023-2028
Deep in colour with a violet hue, the nose here is peppery and floral, with black cherries, plums and toasty new oak coming through and giving an exotic, hedonistic impression to the wine. The palate is opulent in black fruit but chalky and rich in tannins, providing structure and balance. The acidity is fresh and adds a savoury, leafy element that adds wonderful freshness. The finish is bold and powerful, with the tannins still driving through in tandem with the fruit at this stage, suggesting that this will need a few years in bottle to show its best.
(90 Merlot, 10 Cabernet Franc) Nice and plush on the mid-palate with some very ripe, smooth, creamy black fruit and a good use of oak, this is a blocky wine but it has a good flavour and the oak and tannin are under control.
Like its stablemate La Violette, the 2018 Le Gay is initially reserved on the nose and gradually unfurls to reveal precise blackberry, bilberry, black truffle and light raspberry preserve aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. This is a relatively conservative Le Gay, but it is very precise and full of tension. Lovely blackberry and graphite notes surface toward the sustained finish. Very fine, but it will require 3–4 years in bottle. [This Pomerol radically changed with aeration, developing a stronger marine, almost briny nose and palate.] 2023 - 2045
The 2018 Le Gay has a more reserved bouquet than expected, nothing wrong with that, since it is well defined with attractive scents of incense and peony emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, fleshy and ripe with a sensual, very pure finish that is an absolute joy. I look forward to re-tasting this Pomerol once in bottle. Drink 2023 - 2045.
A tight and dense red with depth of fruit and polished tannins that really impress at this stage. It’s naturally refined and complex with so much dark-berry, chocolate, cedar and hazelnut character. Great wine.
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Le Gay opens with fragrant notes of lavender, oolong tea, baked plums and blueberry compote leading to wafts of red roses, spice cake and fallen leaves. Full-bodied, concentrated and decadently fruited, it has a firm backbone of rounded tannins and lovely freshness lifting the perfumed fruit to a long finish.
I loved the 2018 Château Le Gay from one of my go-to estates in Pomerol. The 2018 (a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc) has a lusty, sweet bouquet of pure crème de cassis and jammy blackberries intermixed with lots of spice and spring flower notes. Full-bodied, rounded, and flamboyantly textured on the palate, it stays perfectly balanced, has fabulous purity, and a great finish. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for 20-25 years or more.
