2018 Château Croix de Labrie Camille de Labrie Bordeaux 750 ml

Don’t let the price on this Bordeaux fool you—Camille de Labrie is a critical darling from one of Bordeaux’s top families. Today, thanks to our relationship with proprietor Pierre Courdurié, we have this standout, “really delicious” release at the best price ever. 

On our last trip to Bordeaux, we sat down with Pierre, whose estate Robert Parker once described as the “quintessential St. Émilion garagiste wine,” and for good reason—the hallowed ground farmed by the winery abuts Pavie’s 100-point terroir, as well as that of neighboring Troplong-Mondot, inspiring their flagship red and this value-priced standout.

A go-to, traditionally-styled Bordeaux, the 2018 is arguably the best Camille de Labrie yet. Bursting with exuberant plum, red currant, fresh violet, and Mexican chocolate aromas, it’s easy to draw a direct line from Camille to the estate’s $90 flagship, which Robert Parker has called “liquid Viagra” for its sexy opulence.

In a region where producers are on the hook year after year to turn out highly impressive, expensive wines, we are consistently blown away by the level of detail employed to produce the seamless red that Pierre and his wife Axelle named after their daughter Camille. 

In fact, this release is made with the same exact techniques behind their top-scoring flagship, including hand-harvesting, hand-sorting, and aging ten months in barrel before another six months in bottle prior to release. Crafted under the watchful eye of legendary consulting winemaker Michel Rolland (Harlan Estate, Valandraud, Angélus), this classic Right Bank blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon is a bona fide Bordeaux steal.

Ripe blackberry, cassis, and baking spice notes waft from the glass and continue on the palate, framed by plush tannins that build on its medium-full body. A touch of graphite and truffle adds an element of intrigue to the finish. A wine that James Suckling summarized as “really delicious,” this is the perfect everyday Claret to enjoy now.

Wine Access members have made this a perennial favorite, and we too have enjoyed past vintages so much that we’ve made back-to-back trips to the estate in recent years to ensure we received an allocation of this 91-92-point wine from the “exceptional” 2018 vintage.

Frankly, with all that goes into it, it’s no wonder the 2018 Camille de Labrie shows such impressive fruit and savory spice—but it should cost three times as much. Whether enjoyed today or over the next decade, few reds anywhere can match Camille on value, pedigree, and pure pleasure.