Agent Noir just got back from a week in Bordeaux, more on that later…

Among the takeaways, it’s the ultimate “who you know” region. It’s been that way since Roman times. What you know can change overnight, like intel in the world of espionage.

Relationships matter, and more so in Bordeaux. Petit Château, as in little estates, by the hundreds are splattered all across the Right Bank. Some famous, some mediocre, and some hidden. We have MANY collaborators who scout the region hunting little overlooked gems that are highly deserving of the limelight.

Like Château Coudert.

As a sign of this delightful vintage, it’s fresh and bright with dried lavender and violets, abundant red and black berries, cassis, and red currants, too. Medium to full-bodied, with fine tannins, and a pleasant cigar box and cedar finish. Very drinkable right off the bat, however, it will reward bigger in a few years as the dusty mouthfeel morphs into a silkier grace. Reminding us of neighbors that fetch 10 times more.

It is, in short, off the QPR charts!

We’ve been keeping an eye on this one since this early En Primeur impression by Wine Advocate finding a “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Coudert has a nose of baked blackberries, warm plums and blueberry preserves with hints of black soil, tar, and charcoal. Full and rich, with a velvety texture, it has plenty of freshness and a long, berry-laced finish.”

And Vinous echoed “the 2018 Coudert is deep, fleshy, and super-expressive. Dark cherry, cedar, chocolate, licorice, and spice all race through this supple, inviting Saint-Émilion. I very much like the sense of immediacy here.”

But it was James Suckling that beat everyone to the punch. “Very beautiful.” he raved, once it was in the bottled, “Super for this estate.” he added…

We agreed it was an UNBELIEVABLE value when we cut the middlemen out and directly imported this pallet for you. Now we’re banging our heads against a brick wall, wishing we took on more, we reached out, but it was long gone. Not another bottle. Nothing online either, except a few older vintages listed at over $100 a bottle. That’s how it is with Petit Château, they hit big in a vintage and poof.

The same will happen here. Poof it will disappear. What else can one expect at over 60% off a 94 pointer?!

94 Points – James Suckling

“Seriously fruit-intensity to this red with raspberry, blueberry, and cherry character, as well as some dried herbs and flowers. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Very beautiful. Super for this estate. Try after 2024.”