Barboursville Octagon 2018
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Suckling
James
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 50% Merlot, 50% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Overturned earth and dark fruit drive the nose, with fresh and dried herbs as well. Full-bodied with tight tannins. Very good depth and balance. Well-crafted acidity lets the fruit sing, lifting it up from its more brooding character and breathing life into the palate. Espresso and baking spice add charming complexity. Really impressive, given the tribulations of the 2018 vintage. Best after 2023.
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One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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