2018 Chateau Les Reuilles Bordeaux 750 ml

Whether a wine sells for $200 or $20, we aren’t interested unless it delivers a superior experience for the price—and often those experiences are harder to find the less expensive we go. That’s why Château Les Reuilles’ rich, plummy Bordeaux is such a revelation—a compelling wine packed with dark fruit and classic Cabernet character, at a back-up-the-truck price.

While Bordeaux is best known for its historic châteaux, the region is a bargain hunters’ paradise if you know where to look—but next to none rise to the level of Les Reuilles’ 90-point 2018. 

Of the few thrilling wines at this price, most are heavily Merlot-dominant, making Les Reuilles—which balances 50% Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, even more of a rarity—a chance to scratch that old-world Cabernet itch with aplomb.

Master of Wine Jancis Robinson, the grand doyenne of British wine writers, has loved this wine in the past, declaring that “it offers masses of pleasure per penny” while remaining classic in style. We felt the same way after trying the ‘18 against a group of $25 wines and watching Les Reuilles emerge victorious.

Pouring a rich, dark ruby in the glass, the nose announces the wine as classic Left Bank Bordeaux with a trumpet blast of black currants, boysenberries, thyme, hints of mint, and graphite. The palate is broad and mouth-coating, with a wave of dark fruit accented by classic Cabernet leafiness, pencil shavings, and a long finish.

If it sounds like it could be from Graves, consider that Patrick Todesco’s silty-clay soils and blend of grapes remind us of the fabled Left Bank region as well. The rugby-loving Todesco is the third generation of his family to grow grapes in Savignac de Duras, the undiscovered corner of eastern Bordeaux that he calls home, and the 2018 is almost certainly the finest wine he’s made.

That’s due largely to the dramatic 2018 vintage, one of the most intense years in Bordeaux’s history. A hot summer meant that small grapes with thick skins would produce “aromatically intense, deep, dark wines that beautifully marry fruit intensity with structure,” according to Vinous. The water-holding clay in Les Reuilles’ soils meant that they did extremely well, which shows in this edition’s uncommon power and depth.

One final thing we’ve noticed about Château Les Reuilles is how fast bottles seem to disappear. Having a top-quality wine around at this price means we keep finding reasons to open another bottle—and the next thing you know, we’re out.