Chateau Capbern 2025

Jeb Dunnuck: Deep ruby-hued, the 2025 Château Capbern is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc that will spend 18 months in 60% new oak. The bouquet offers cassis, black fruits, violets, and smoky tobacco and graphite nuances. On the palate, it's ripe and medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, sweet tannins, and beautiful overall balance. Checking in at 13.8% alcohol with a pH of 3.6, this is a classy, juicy, elegant yet ripe and textured beauty."

Jane Anson: Beautiful tension and concentration, delivers energy and balance, cassis, bilberry, orange peel, showing the gravel clay limestone terroir, lovely fresh lift, well balanced with finesse. A real drinkability is apparent, helped by wine making choices such as low temperature fermentation, low extraction, low amounts of press wine. Harvest September 4 to 20. New label from 2024 vintage, has the Calon heart and makes explicit the link that the two estates were owned by same family since the 19th century. Vincent Millet director. 60% new oak. 3.60 pH. Yield 32 hl/ha."

Decanter: Slightly herbal aromas mixed with blackcurrant leaf, leading to a grippy and saline palate straight away with sticky liquorice, mint and cooling blueberry aspects. Straight and forward but so clean and precise, really in one line with such persistence and lovely crushed powdery velvet tannins. Excellent presentation - young and a little tight as expected but so pure and focused, with a wonderful soft red cherry aspect underneath. General manager Vincent Millet said: ‘It wasn't very easy in St-Estèphe this year with an intense 15-day harvest across all three wines in the portfolio as all varieties matured quickly, yet we found great Cabernet Sauvignon. For me this is a wine with great potential showing the tannins of the great vintages 2005, 2010 and 2015.’ 3.2pH."

Falstaff: Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Schwarze Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von Brombeeren und Cassis, kandierte Orangenzesten unterlegt. Saftig, kraftvoll, dunkle Kirschen, runde Tannine, gute Frische, mineralisch, rotbeeriger Nachhall."

Lisa Perrotti-Brown: Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Capbern pops from the glass with notes of fresh blackberries, cassis, and red currants, plus hints of pencil lead and lavender. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly crafted with black fruit layers and mineral accents, framed by firm, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing earthy. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. It has a pH of 3.6 and the alcohol is 13.8%. The wine is aging for 18 months in French barriques, 60% new."

The Wine Cellar Insider: Flowers, currants, cocoa, cherries, and chocolate are on full display in the nose, and on the palate, finishing with a sweet, fresh blast of black cherries, chocolate, and espresso. You can enjoy this already delicious wine on release, or age it for a few years for more secondary notes. Capbern represents one of the best values in the Medoc today. This is perfect to enjoy on release, and for at least 15, or more years after that. The wine blends 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 36% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. 13.8% ABV. Drink from 2028-2045."

Wine Advocate: A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2025 Capbern now sports a new label that reflects its historic links to Calon-Ségur. Offering up notes of violets, dark berries and a deft touch of creamy new oak, it's medium- to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with supple, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully structured finish. It checks in at 13.8% alcohol."

James Suckling: A rich and tannic red with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium-bodied and slightly chewy, but should soften with age. Like eating small berries."

Vinum: Rauchige Aromen vermählen mit kühler Mineralik und schwarzer Johannisbeere; am Gaumen satt, dicht und konzentriert, mit zupackenden, sehr hochwertigen Saint-Estèphe-Tanninen und einer cremigen Textur; im Abgang knackig, saftig, erfrischend."