The 2018 Chateau Le Rey Les Rocheuses is a Bordeaux blend produced by Chateau Le Rey in the Bordeaux region of France. This red wine, sealed with a cork, boasts a 15.0% alcohol content and presents a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It is distinguished by its rich and complex flavor profile, which has garnered attention from various professional reviewers.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown on April 22, 2021, awarded this wine a score of 90. Perrotti-Brown described the wine as having "notes of baked blackberries, preserved plums and dried mulberries with touches of spice box, unsmoked cigars and potpourri." She noted that the full-bodied palate delivers "rich, spicy black fruit preserves flavors with a racy backbone and chewy texture," and finishes on an earthy note.
Decanter provided an excellent review of the 2018 Les Rocheuses, scoring it 93. The reviewer highlighted the wine's transformation over time, stating that it was "more austere than Les Argileuses" during en primeur but developed beautifully after a few years. The review, published on November 9, 2020, praised the wine for its "tons of salinity on the finish" and called it "great, juicy and mouthwatering." The drinking window for this wine is suggested to be between 2023 and 2036, indicating its potential for aging.
James Suckling also offered a favorable review, scoring the wine 92 on September 29, 2020. He described it as "an attractive Bordeaux with currant, blackberry and black-tea undertones," and noted the presence of "crushed stones" as well. Suckling remarked on its full-bodied nature with "firm, chewy tannins" and highlighted the "lovely purity of fruit and intensity." He also mentioned that the wine was made partly in amphora, which adds to its unique character. Suckling suggested that it can be enjoyed immediately or held for further aging.
Overall, the 2018 Chateau Le Rey Les Rocheuses is a complex and robust Bordeaux blend that has received strong reviews from notable wine critics. Its rich fruit flavors, earthy finish, and potential for aging make it a noteworthy choice for enthusiasts of Bordeaux wines.