2019 Chateau Croix de Labrie Camille de Labrie Bordeaux 750 ml

Don’t let the $16 price on this Bordeaux fool you—Camille de Labrie is a critical darling from one of Bordeaux’s top families.

On our last trip to Bordeaux, we sat down with Pierre Courdurié, who creates what Robert Parker once described as the “quintessential St. Émilion garagiste wine.” There’s good reason for that characterization: The hallowed ground farmed by the winery abuts Pavie’s 100-point terroir, as well as that of neighboring Troplong-Mondot.

This $16 release is made with many of the same techniques behind Croix de Labrie’s top-scoring flagship, including hand-harvesting, hand-sorting, and aging ten months in barrel plus another six months in bottle prior to release. Crafted under the watchful eye of legendary consulting winemaker Michel Rolland (Harlan Estate, Valandraud, Angélus), this classic Right Bank blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon is a bona fide steal.

One of our go-to Bordeaux values, the 91-point 2019 is arguably our favorite Camille de Labrie yet. Bursting with red berries, leather, and Mexican-chocolate aromas, it’s easy to draw a direct line from Camille to the estate’s $90 flagship, which Parker has called “always one of the sexiest wines from Bordeaux.”

In a region where producers are on the hook year after year to turn out wallet-busting wines, we are consistently blown away by the level of detail employed to produce the seamless red that Pierre and his wife Axelle named after their daughter Camille. 

Frankly, with all that goes into it, it’s no wonder the 2019 Camille de Labrie impresses with its deep fruit and warm spice. Whether enjoyed today or over the next five years, few reds anywhere can match the Camille on value, craftsmanship, and pure pleasure.