A Blind Tasting Extravaganza Of 2018 Bordeaux's 100 Pointers

Welcome back to our wine blog, fellow oenophiles! I recently had the pleasure of hosting a blind wine tasting session with 19 wine enthusiasts, and let me tell you, it was a true journey of the senses. We delved into some exquisite 2018 vintage from Bordeaux In this article, I'll share our collective thoughts on the wines, and of course, I'll reveal the standout performers that deserve a spot in your cellar.

All wines were decanted for 4 hours with the same decanter.

Flight #3:  2018 Leoville Las Cases (8.3 Stars) vs.  2018 Chateau Montrose (8.6 Stars)
Our journey continued with the 2018 Chateau Montrose and the 2018 Leoville Las Cases. Chateau Montrose emerged as the star of this flight, earning an impressive 8.6/10 rating. It displayed an irresistible combination of power and finesse, with bold black fruit flavors and a velvety texture. Leoville Las Cases, a close competitor, secured an 8.4/10 rating, proving its worthiness in this prestigious winery.

Flight #4: 2018 Pavie Macquin (8.1 Stars) vs. 2018 Chateau Pavie (8.9 Stars)
In the penultimate flight, we sampled the 2018 Pavie Macquin and the 2018 Chateau Pavie. Chateau Pavie claimed the throne in this duel, earning an astonishing 8.9/10 rating. This wine was a revelation, boasting intense blackberry and licorice notes, supported by a structure that promises years of aging potential. Pavie Macquin, though slightly less acclaimed, still impressed with its 8.1/10 rating.

Overall Results
#1 - 2018 Chateau Pavie - 8.9 Stars  >> Click Here To Purchase
#2 - 2018 Chateau Montrose - 8.6 Stars  >> Click Here To Purchase
#3 - 2018 Haut Bailly  - 8.4 Stars  >> Click Here To Purchase
#4 - 2018 Leoville Las Cases - 8.3 Stars  >> Click Here To Purchase
#5 - 2018 Ducru Beaucaillou - 8.2 Stars  >> Click Here To Purchase
#6 - 2018 La Mission Haut Brion - 8.2 Stars  >> Click Here To Purchase
#7 - 2018 Pavie Macquin - 8.1 Stars  >> Click Here To Purchase
#8 - 2018 Cos d'Estournel - 8 Stars  >> Click Here To Purchase

Bonus Flight #5: 2019 Moulin De La Grangere St Emilion Grand Cru ($79) vs. 2019 Leoville Las Cases ($360)
In this bonus flight, every one had to guess the region and give the quailty score. It was also mentioned to everyone that both wines were from 2019 vintage and one of the wines was a repeated label from the above flights. 

The results are just shocking! Watch the video here! 

2019 Leoville Las Cases - 7.8 Stars
2019 Moulin De La Grangere St Emilion Grand Cru - 7.5 Stars

The 2019 Leoville Las Cases, priced at $360 and boasting an impressive 98-point rating from professional wine critics, left us with an unexpected twist during our blind tasting session. Despite its high acclaim, it only managed to secure an average score of 7.8 from our discerning group of tasters, a notable drop from its 2018 counterpart.

This discrepancy piqued our curiosity. Could it be a matter of vintage variation? Perhaps, but here's where things get fascinating. The 2019 Moulin De La Grangere St Emilion Grand Cru, priced at a mere $80, was a close contender, trailing behind by only 0.3 points in the ratings.

At first glance, both of these wines presented themselves as equals, bearing the prestigious titles of a 2nd Growth Grand Cru Classe for Leoville Las Cases and a seemingly humbler St Emilion Grand Cru for Moulin De La Grangere. This, my friends, is precisely what blind tasting is all about – stripping away preconceived notions and price tags to let the wines speak for themselves.

The question inevitably arises: Why splurge $400 on a bottle when $80 can deliver nearly identical satisfaction? It's a compelling argument for those who appreciate the value of hidden gems in the wine world. The story doesn't end there...2019 Moulin De La Grangere St Emilion Grand Cru received further validation. It clinched a Gold Award at the Tower Club Annual Wine Awards in 2022 through a blind tasting panel led by Singapore's esteemed wine advocate, Ch'ng Poh Tiong.