The 2018 Badette Bordeaux Blend, produced by Badette in the Saint-Emilion sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a wine that has garnered consistently high praise from several professional reviewers. This red wine, closed with a cork and containing 14.5% alcohol, is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.

James Suckling awarded the wine a score of 93, describing it as "a tight and polished red with dark-berry, chocolate and hazelnut character" and highlighting its "medium body, refined tannins, and a flavorful finish" (jamessuckling.com, 4/1/2019).

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, also giving it a 93, notes its "deep garnet-purple color" and "bold notions of stewed black plums, Christmas pudding, and Black Forest cake," further accented by "hints of Chinese five spice, woodsmoke, and pencil shavings." Lisa Perrotti-Brown emphasizes the wine's "impressive freshness countering the densely packed black fruit preserves flavors," and adds that it finishes with "a lingering exotic spice note" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 3/31/2021).

Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com is particularly impressed, rating it 94 and praising its "assertive nose of espresso, licorice, cocoa, black cherry and smoke." He describes the wine as "concentrated, full-bodied, ripe, round, opulent, and fruity," with "loads of sweet, dark fruits, licorice, oak, and chocolate in the voluptuous finish" (TheWineCellarInsider.com, 3/9/2021).

Jeb Dunnuck also rates the wine at 94, calling it a "beautiful 2018 Château Badette" with "rock star notes of blueberries, cassis, candied violets, toasty oak, and graphite." He highlights its "elegant, pretty texture," and predicts it will continue to develop over the next decade or more (jebdunnuck.com, 3/11/2021).

Vinous offers a detailed look, with Antonio Galloni describing the wine as "exciting" and "unctuous and flamboyant to the core," while noting its "inky blue/purplish fruit, chocolate, licorice, spice, lavender, and mocha." Galloni asserts that all the elements "come together so effortlessly" (Vinous, 3/9/2021).

Overall, the 2018 Badette is a well-regarded wine that showcases the darker, richer side of Saint-Émilion with its bold flavors and opulent finish. It is characterized by its deep color, pronounced fruit and spice notes, and a balanced structure that promises to age gracefully.