Château Le Bon Pasteur 2018

Special Price $93.85 Average US Price $120.00
In Stock   Usually ships in 2-5 days, weather permitting
SKU
0580-2018
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• Domaine: Château Le Bon Pasteur
• Appellation: Pomerol
• Classification: Pomerol, Bordeaux
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux, France

For wine lovers who enjoy the softness of a ripe, lush Pomerol but also the power of a bold, mineral-driven Saint-Émilion, Château Le Bon Pasteur is a producer that is well worth discovering.  This property is significant not just because the quality of its wines, but because of its strong connection with a very influential Bordeaux consultant, one who many vignerons consider to be the best blender in all of Bordeaux – Michel Rolland.
 
Like many of the top tier Pomerol properties, Château Le Bon Pasteur dates to the 1920s.  The tiny house that is now a tasting room was built in 1865.   In Bordeaux and other regions, the philosophy of many vignerons is that truly great wines begin with perfect fruit. Many great wine producers often start out as growers, as such is the case with the well-respected Napa phenomenon, Pym Rae.  Château Le Bon Pasteur is no exception, as initially this property was simply dedicated to grape growing. The choicest, most luscious plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc would then get chosen by surrounding négociants.  Eventually Château Le Bon Pasteur was acquired by the Rolland family in 1978 and they began making wine at the estate.  Château Le Bon Pasteur was then handed on to the two sons of the Rolland family - Danny and Michel Rolland.  What makes Château Le Bon Pasteur so significant is that it was the first estate Michel Rolland began implementing his techniques as a vigneron. 
 
Michel and Danny Rolland were the first wine consultants in Bordeaux to advise winemakers with techniques that were considered by many vignerons to be a bit unusual back in the day but are now commonplace.  They promoted green harvesting, effeuillage – a practice where one removes the lower leaves on the vines to let the sun hit the grapes more, and harvesting grapes based on their phenolic ripeness. During overly rainy seasons, the Rolland brothers would place plastic sheets on the vines to protect them from absorbing excessive moisture.  As their consulting business grew, they would share their knowledge with their clients, leading to some of the most renowned wines in the world – including: Château Angélus, Château Pontet-Canet, Château Lascombes, and Château Ausone to name a few.  Château Le Bon Pasteur is currently owned by the Goldin Group which is headed by Sutong Pan.
 
The vines at Château Le Bon Pasteur are scattered throughout Pomerol, with a portion of parcels in neighboring Saint-Émilion.  Harvesting is done on a plot-by-plot basis on the patchwork terroirs of different soil types.  Some of the finest plots are on the Caillou plot, which has the same blue clay as the legendary producer Pétrus.  Fermentation here takes place with truly indigenous yeasts, and for 25 to 30 days, the barrel is not moved at all.  The wines of Château Le Bon Pasteur require a bit of time before they are enjoyed, and one should wait about 6-8 years before discovering this wine.  At their peak, they are the perfect blend of softness and strength. 

Tasting Notes

"The 2018 Le Bon Pasteur has a very pure bouquet with crushed violet and iris scents infusing the black cherry and raspberry fruit. There is a citrus quality to the aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and more grip than I expected thanks to the structure on the finish. The acidity is well judged with a touch of black pepper on the aftertaste. Very promising but it will require some bottle ageing." - Neal Martin, vinous.com, (November, 2019), Rating: (91-93), Drink: 2024-2040

"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Bon Pasteur offers up expressive notions of baked red and black cherries, mulberries and warm blueberries with hints of licorice, chocolate box and menthol. The full-bodied palate has great freshness with firm, ripe, rounded tannins and bags of juicy fruit, finishing long with a minty kick." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, (4/23/2019, Bordeaux 2018 Issue), Rating: (92-94)+

''Showing even better from bottle than barrel, the 2018 Château Le Bon Pasteur is a sexy, opulent beauty that just begs to be drunk. Gorgeous black and blue fruits, white truffle, green tobacco, flowery incense, and damp earth give way to a full-bodied, textured, luscious Pomerol with ripe, velvety tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. Reminding me of the 2012,as well as a little of the 2009, this is a knockout 2018 to drink over the coming 20+ years.'' Jeb Dunnuck, 2018 Bordeaux From The Bottle (3/11/2021) Ratings: 95+ Drink: 2021-2041


More Information
LWIN 1007156
Stock Status In Stock
Appellation Pomerol
Vintage 2018
Brand Château Le Bon Pasteur
Shipping Weight 3.000000
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Pomerol is one of the most prestigious wine appellations in the Bordeaux region of France. Located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, in its earlier history, the area was primarily engaged in mixed agriculture. It was home to many apple (“pommes,” in French) orchards that gave the name to the appellation. Its origins date back to the Knights Hospitallers, symbolized by the Pomerol Cross, and it flourished even amidst challenges like the Hundred Years' War. Proximity to the river port at Libourne facilitated exports, and post-World War II investments from French and Belgian investors contributed to its global acclaim. 

What sets Pomerol apart is its unique terroir, which includes both clay and gravel, distinguishing it from the traditional clay and limestone composition of Bordeaux's right bank. Merlot dominates, constituting 80% of the plantings, and thrives in the iron-rich clay subsoil called "crasse de fer" and its core of sticky blue clay, imparting distinct character and aging potential to Pomerol wines. 

Some of Pomerol's most prominent châteaux include Pétrus, Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Le Pin, Château Trotanoy, Château La Conseillante, Château Clinet, Château L'Eglise Clinet, Château Gazin, Château L'Evangile, Clos du Clocher, Château Feytit-Clinet, Château La Petite Eglise, Château La Violette, Château Nenin, Château Hosanna, Château Beauregard, Château Bon Pasteur, Château Rouget, Clos du Beau-Père, Château Fleur de Gay, Château La Pointe, Château Petit Village, Clos l'Eglise, Château La Cabanne and Vieux Château Certan. Pomerol lacks an official classification system, instead, the reputation and quality of châteaux are based on historical performance. Unlike neighboring Saint-Emilion, the appellation exclusively produces red wine, while its white wines remain unclassified. 

Pomerol wines are known for their elegance, full body, and lush character, with dark fruit flavors, smooth tannins, and aging potential. While some can be enjoyed in youth, top wines can age gracefully for several decades, developing complexity and character over time.

Footnotes on Futures, Pre-Arrivals, and potential US Tariffs: 

1. As of June 15, 2021, the US and the EU agreed to suspend tariffs resulting from the Boeing-Airbus aircraft trade disputes. Accordingly, such import taxes are now suspended for the next five years.

2. Futures are expected to be available for delivery two years after the sales (e.g., the 2022 vintage, sold in 2023, will be delivered in 2025 mostly, or 2026 if the producer ages the wine longer).

3. Pre-Arrivals are items currently stored in our Bordeaux cellar or in transit from France to the US. It usually takes 1-6 months for Pre-Arrivals to become available for delivery, depending on the stage of the import process.

4. Regarding futures and pre-arrivals, we cannot guarantee specific delivery dates, which factors beyond our control may impact. However, we will notify you once your wine arrives in our cellar.

5. While a buyer of Bordeaux wine futures locks in an allocation of the specified items, the final delivery of the purchased items from France to the US may be impacted by intervening and unforeseeable events. Despite our due diligence, additional costs or delays may be caused by such intervening and unforeseen events and "an irresistible, superhuman cause, or by the act of public enemies of the state of California or the United States."  In such circumstances, if a buyer does not accept unforeseeable costs or delays, the sole and exclusive remedy is a cancellation of the futures order concerned and a refund of the original purchase price. We are NOT liable for any lost profits on a canceled order.

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