The 2018 Chapelle de Potensac is the second wine of Château Potensac, one of the Médoc’s most respected estates and long regarded as a benchmark for traditional Left Bank Bordeaux. Owned by the Delon family of Château Léoville Las Cases, Chapelle de Potensac is crafted from younger vines and selected parcels, offering a more approachable expression of the estate while retaining its hallmark balance, freshness and classic Médoc character.
The nose reveals blackcurrant, red cherry and cassis layered with cedar, tobacco leaf, spring flowers and earthy spice. Medium-bodied and beautifully polished, the palate combines ripe dark fruit with silky tannins, fresh acidity and subtle savoury complexity. The excellent 2018 vintage brought generous fruit and concentration, yet the wine remains elegant and approachable, with notes of dried herbs, graphite and red berries carrying through a long, balanced finish. James Suckling awarded the wine 91 points, while Vinous and Yves Beck praised its freshness, refinement and vibrant fruit profile.
Ben’s Recommendation:
A superb value Médoc that delivers the pedigree of a top Left Bank estate in a more accessible, early-drinking style. Refined, savoury and wonderfully food-friendly, it pairs beautifully with roast lamb, grilled steak, beef bourguignon, duck and hard cheeses. Drinking beautifully now with a short decant, but it has the structure and balance to evolve gracefully through 2030–2033.
