2019 Château La Marzelle
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 La Marzelle comes skipping out with lifted kirsch and raspberry leaves scents over a plum preserves and boysenberry core plus hints of tobacco and lavender. Full-bodied, rich, an opulent, it has just enough freshness, with ripe, rounded tannins and a long vibrant finish.”
95
Lisa Perrotti Brown The origin
- Vineyard
- 14.95 ha of adjoining land
- Grape varieties
- 73% Merlot - 20% Cabernet Franc - 7% Cabernet sauvignon
- Density
- 5 700 à 7150 vines/ha
- Âge moyen
- 30 years
- Production
- 45 000 bottles
- Situation
- Upper terrace of Saint-Emilion formbed by the former Isle riverbed
- Pruning
- Bordelaise method (2 canes per vine)
- Alcohol
- 14%
A vintage of know-how and common sense of the farmer and a year that was marked by contrasting climatic episodes.
The winter was mild with above average temperatures, favoring an early bud burst.
At the beginning of June, the weather was relatively cool and wet, bringing with it a long and difficult flowering with consequential shatter and millerandage. The teams at Chateau La Marzelle would, painstakingly, stop in front of every vine-plant in order to select only the most qualitative bunches and berries.
In the summer, there were heatwave conditions from July until September. Our biodynamic vine culture permitted the vines to thrive remarkably under these particular circumstances.
The ripening of the grapes took place slowly. Under the influence of two stormy episodes in mid-September, the maturity accelerated. The harvest commenced on the 24th of September and ended on the 7th of October, 2019
Our state-of-the-art harvest reception system permitted us to undertake not only a parcel selection, but a berry-by-berry selection. To vinify the small lots produced by this demanding sorting process, we use 20 barrels of 500 liters in micro-vinification as well as our stainless-steel vatting cellar that was fully renovated in 2012 and is perfectly temperature controlled.
The premier wine is aged in new French oak barrels but also in terra cotta amphorae, in order to preserve the fruit.
The first tastings lived up to our expectations offering a wine with a very intense color, a nose that begs a tasting, an ample wine, creamy, thick, long, well-balanced. Once again, a lovely vintage crafted at the property.
Reviews
Lisa Perrotti Brown
95
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 La Marzelle comes skipping out with lifted kirsch and raspberry leaves scents over a plum preserves and boysenberry core plus hints of tobacco and lavender. Full-bodied, rich, an opulent, it has just enough freshness, with ripe, rounded tannins and a long vibrant finish.”
Neal Martin - Primeur
92-94
“The 2019 La Marzelle is extremely pure on the nose with vivacious dark cherries, cassis, pressed iris flowers and incense, well defined with seamlessly integrated new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with dark chocolate infused black fruit. Hints of liquorice surface towards the sensual and lengthy finish. It is a well-crafted modern-style Saint-Émilion.”
Alexandre Ma
94/100
“The nose delivers clear and airing fruitiness and well-defined floral notes, vivid and rhythmic. The entry is succulent and delicious, coupled with iron rust-like mineral notes and a milk-like creamy body. Alcohol is sophisticatedly managed; even though the ripeness is pretty high, you cannot feel any overwhelming heat. On the condition of global warming, this wine tells us how to achieve balance in a Merlot blend.”
Patrick Dussert Gerber
94
“Château La Marzelle 2019 est d'un grand charme, puissant, structuré, très élégant, tout en finesse aromatique, de robe soutenu, aux tanins riches et bien équilibrés, au nez intense de cerise, de fraise et d'épices, onctueux et persistant, il commence à s'apprécier sur une cuisine délicate comme un gigot d'agneau et pommes duchesse.”
Jeff Leve - Primeur
92-94
“Deep, dense and intense, with non-stop waves of licorice, dark red fruits, cocoa and coffee bean. The wine is round, fleshy, fresh and the lift in all the sweet fruits on the palate make this all come together perfectly. The wine is a blend 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.”
Yves Beck
92 - 94
“Couleur dense marquée par des reflets pourpres. Bouquet invitant, frais et intense aux notes de cerises, de cassis et de réglisse. Élégante touche d'élevage avec un peu de Moka. Beaucoup de finesse en bouche où le vin est légèrement crémeux et bien soutenu par sa structure acide. Tout comme le nez, l'intensité aromatique du palais est intense et rafraîchissante. C'est un très beau vin de La Marzelle, bâti sur la finesse, l'élégance et la fraîcheur. 2023-2039 92-94/100”
Antonio Galloni - Primeur
92-94
“The 2019 La Marzelle is such a gorgeous wine. Inky dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, spice, leather, menthol, licorice and espresso give La Marzelle a decidedly dark flavor profile. Rich and unctuous in the glass, the 2019 is a heady, flamboyant wine, but it all works so well here. La Marzelle is not exactly complex, but it sure is delicious. Tasted two times.”
Jean-Marc Quarin - Primeur
93/100
“Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Superbe nez éclatant de fruits noirs et frais, avec un fond crémeux et épicé. Bouche voluptueuse, où le corps ne cesse de fondre, gracieux, suave, velouté, sans une once de tannin dans la persistance. Bonne longueur sèveuse et parfumée. Une expression générale plus proche d'un Pomerol que d'un Saint-Emilion. Assemblage à venir. 2025 – 2040.”
Jeb Dunnuck - Primeur
93-95
“I loved the 2018 from this estate, and the 2019 Château La Marzelle looks to be the same class, offering a ripe, full-bodied, yet balanced style as well as classy note of darker, almost blue fruits, flowers, and spice. The class of tannins here is brilliant and this is a stunning 2019 in the making. Tasted twice.”
James Suckling - Primeur
92-93
“A compact red with blackberry, currant and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a solid finish. Shows polish.”
Jane Anson - Primeur
93
“Inky medium to full intensity blackberry colour, tight firm cassis fruits with a lovely savoury feel overall, grilled cedar and crushed stones add complexity through the close of play. A successful and well controlled wine, charged but highly enjoyable.”
Weinzeitung - Primeur
18/20
“Elegantes Bouquet, Schwarzbeeren, Kräuter, reife Brombeeren, Kakao. Dicht, saftig, fein adstringgierend, feine Säure, viel dunkelbeerige Frucht, Bitterschokolade, schwarze Brombeeren, zart Kräuter im Finisch, gute Länge.”
Adrian van Velsen
18/20
“Kräftiges Rubinrot. Dunkelfruchtige Nase, wirkt etwas verbrannt, rauchig, Kohle, dann auch Weihnachtsgewürze, Lebkuchen, reife Brombeere, komplex. Der Gaumen dann durchaus frisch, gut strukturiert, keinerlei Holzdominanz, die Frucht harmoniert mit den Tanninen. Langanhaltend im Abgang, wirkt ausgwogen und hat Reserven. 2024-2035.”
Lisa Perrotti - Primeur
91-93+
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 la Marzelle unfurls slowly in the glass, building up to a great intensity of crushed blackberries, black cherries and black raspberry scents over nuances of rose petals, tar and clove oil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has impressive vivacity and freshness with a solid structure of grainy tannins and loads of spicy layers coming through on the finish.”
Markus Del Monego - Primeur
92
“Dark purple colour with violet hue and black core. Ripe nose with fine fruit, dark berries, plums and cherries, hints of roasted hazelnuts in the background. On the palate juicy fruit, ripe berries and black cherries, mature tannins well balanced with fine acidity, convincing length.”
Chris Kissack - primeur
90-92
“From an estate well out from St Emilion, on the way to Libourne, planted on sandy soils, this has a glossy and dark mulberry-black hue, essentially opaque. The style here usually leans towards the modern, and the nose suggests this remains true with its scents of liquorice-wrapped confiture fruits, smoky and lifted, and wrapped in tobacco oak. There follows a rather svelte, creamed, plush sense of texture to the palate, dark and spicy, with tobacco oak, dark chocolate-coated fruits, liquorice, scented currants and tar. This all comes wrapped in a richly polished curtain of tannins, velvety and creamed, nuanced with dark fruits and lifted by bright acidity. A substantial result, with one of the more gentle acid levels I have felt in this vintage, leading into a modest, gripped and smoky finish. Considering its impact on the palate it doesn’t linger too long, but it does the job.”
Terre de Vins - Primeur
92
“Robe noire et très dense, nez discret puis attaque au fruité très mûr qui appellerait une grande concentration mais la bonne surprise réside dans sa finesse, sa fluidité, presque épurée, aux saveurs de guignolet, d'écorce, la structure tannique reste suggérée, finement veloutée. Croquant et acidulé. Une facture à l'ancienne.”
Peter Moser - Primeur
92
“Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Frisches rotes Waldbeerkonfit, ein Hauch von Mandarinenzesten, zarte Kräuterwürze, Herzkirschen unterlegt. Mittlerer Körper, rote Fruchtnuancen, feine Tannine, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, straffer Stil, verfügt über Entwicklungspotenzial.”
Markus del Monégo
92
“Deep purple colour with violet hue and almost black core. Expressive nose with aroma remini scent of ripe dark berries and dark stone fruit, hints of mild spices and liquorice, fine toasting aroma in the background. On the palate juicy character with ripe berries and black cherries, well balanced tannins, hints of dark chocolate in the finish. A Grand Cru Classé with freshness and convincing length.”
Izak Litwar - Primeur
91+
“17 ha, terraces with gravel, sand and red stones, 75% Merlot + 17% Cabernet Franc + 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sweet cherries on the nose, aromatic and delicate fruit, well-composed with a velvety texture, silky tannins and lovely fruity finish. Appetizing.”
