La Couspaude 2002 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé

Château La Couspaude is a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe that has been part of the Aubert family's heritage since 1750. For this 2002 vintage, the fruit was suppressed, as it was using new oak and extended oak fermentation. The wine has a light and soft texture with ripe orangey, red, and black fruits and an herbal finish on the palate. While it lacks complexity, it still pleases the senses. It exhibits a well-integrated grip with a medium mineral finish. If you aim for stylistics long gone, why not this 2002 vintage?

RP did not score it, but older vintages typically score in the high 80s and low 90s, while current vintages score in the mid-90s, such as the 2018 vintage, which is an RP94. The new wine blends Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown on a 7-hectare vineyard with vines averaging 50 years old. Current vintages use aged oak to surface fruit. Regardless of vintages, the grapes are hand-harvested in small crates and chosen by plot. They undergo a meticulous pre-fermentation maceration at low temperatures, with the cap manually punched. The wine then goes through a malolactic fermentation journey in barrels, followed by an 18-month ageing period. This meticulous process ensures a wine of exceptional quality and character, which reflects the winery's unwavering commitment to quality.

Many thanks to OLivier SUblett of CHateau De Roque. If not for Oliver Sublett's introduction to the Auberts, I would not have been able to taste La Couspaude vintages to that extent.