Wine Advocate – 93 Points
From the owner of Chambrun and La Croix St.-Georges (Jean-Philippe Janoueix), this is an impressive debut vintage for La Confession. Made from a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, it enjoyed time in open-top oak fermenters (a la Burgundy), punching of the cap, malolactic in barrel, and lees contact. A dense purple color is followed by sumptuous aromas of chocolate, espresso roast, blackberry and cherry liqueur, and new oak. This expansive, full-bodied, surprisingly powerful, dense 2001 is somewhat atypical of the vintage, but it is well-endowed, gorgeously textured, and admirably pure. There is plenty of tannin in the finish, so 2-3 years of cellaring is suggested. Jun/2004 —Robert Parker, Jr. | robertparker.com
Description
The 2001 Château La Confession, a Bordeaux red wine, stands as a time-honored testament to the excellence of Saint-Émilion’s winemaking heritage. This vintage emanates from the esteemed vineyards of Château La Confession, located on the right bank of the Dordogne River, where the Merlot grape thrives in the region’s clay and limestone soils.
The 2001 growing season, marked by its distinct climatic conditions, has imparted a unique character to this wine. With a blend dominated by Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc, the Château La Confession 2001 exhibits a refined expression of the terroir. Aged in oak barrels, the wine has acquired subtleties and complexities over time, presenting an evolving profile.
Upon opening, the wine reveals an aromatic tapestry of dark fruits, such as blackberries and plums, intertwined with nuances of cedar, tobacco, and a touch of leather. On the palate, it unfolds with a graceful balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. The aging process has softened the tannins, contributing to a velvety texture that lingers through the finish.
As with many Bordeaux wines, the Château La Confession 2001 demonstrates the potential for cellar aging, showcasing the evolution of flavors and the refinement that time imparts. This vintage serves as a snapshot of a specific moment in the winery’s history, inviting enthusiasts to appreciate the complexities and subtleties that make Bordeaux wines enduring classics.
Born in 1867, Jean Janoueix came to Bordeaux in 1898 and founded a wine trading company. His son is the legendary Joseph Janoueix, who bought most of the chateaux in the greater Pomerol region from the 1930s. La Croix, La Croix Saint Georges, La Confession, Haut Sarpe and Croix Mouton belong to the branched family. Today Joseph’s son Jean-Philippe Janoueix is responsible for the wineries. He is a master of extreme dense planting (resulting in limited yield per plant), organic vineyard work and very ripe fruit. La Confession is only about 2.5 hectares. 7000 vines per hectare (50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) in Saint Emilion on clay-limestone soils, extremely densely planted. Vines over 40 years old. Always harvested when ripe and matured in smaller Burgundian style barriques. Only 30 hl/ha yield. Dense finesse with high fruit intensity. Great and very individual wines. A Pomerol style Saint Emilion.
This is the debut vintage for a new garage operation from Jean-Philippe Janoueix, the man behind the brilliant wines of Chambrun (Lalande de Pomerol) as well as La Croix St.-Georges (Pomerol).
This 7-acre vineyard has an unusual planting of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. All the fashionable winemaking techniques (fermentation in small open top Taransaud fermenters, punching down, malolactic in barrel, lees aging, no fining or filtration) are utilized..
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