93pts Vinous

The 2017 Meyney has turned out beautifully. Dark, pliant and generous in feel, the 2017 possesses striking depth and polish to match its mid-weight personality. Dried cherry, mint, dried flowers, licorice, cedar and tobacco infuse the 2017 with lovely layers of aromatic nuance and complexity. All the elements meld together nicely. Just as it was en primeur, the 2017 is relatively understated for Meyney, but that is not a bad thing at all. Meyney appears to be moving in a very positive direction over the last few years, and that is, of course, great to see.

92pts Jeb Dunnuck

A terrific effort, the 2017 Meyney is a concentrated, nicely structured wine in the vintage that’s going to have a broad drink window. Lots of black cherry, chocolate, cedarwood, and leafy tobacco notes define the bouquet, followed by a medium-bodied red with a solid spine of acidity, supple tannins, and a great finish. It’s a classic, beautifully done Saint-Estèphe to enjoy over the coming 15 years or so.

92pts James Suckling

Some quite assertive, ripe dark berries here. The bold, quite rich palate is firm yet fresh with cassis and black-fruit flavors. Lighter, elegant vintage. Drink or hold.

90pts Wine Spectator

Fresh and direct, featuring a pure core of damson plum and cherry fruit, laced with light floral and red tea notes. Subtle chalky minerality gives the finish cut and length, while a pretty perfume lingers. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

90pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Medium to deep garnet-purple, the 2017 Meyney opens a little broody, giving way to red cherries, black berries and stewed tea scents with a waft of dried herbs. Medium-bodied, the palate is chock-full of vibrant black fruits with ripe, grainy tannins and a refreshing kick to the finish. Rating: 90+

About the Winery

Chateau Meyney in Saint Estephe has a long history starting in the 17th century. At that time, the Bordeaux wine estate belonged to the monks who planted the first vines at Meyney about 1660. Prior to the planting of the vines, the property was previously used as a convent.

However, the modern age of Chateau Meyney starts in 1917, when it was purchased by the well-established Cordier family that same year. The wines were produced at the time by the same team that looked after all the numerous Cordier estates.

Headed by Georges Pauli, the other wineries in the group included; Chateau Gruaud Larose in St. Julien and Chateau Cantemerle in Haut Medoc among their properties.

In 2004, Chateau Meyney was purchased by CA Grands Crus, which owns several other Bordeaux properties including; Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse in Pauillac, Chateau Rayne Vigneau in Sauternes, and other assorted Cru Bourgeois estates. Thierry Budin was placed in charge of the various Bordeaux wine-producing estates.

Hubert de Bouard of Chateau Angelus began consulting Chateau Meyney and all the other CA Grands Crus properties in late 2013.

Things quickly changed for the better at Chateau Meyney. With the 2014 vintage, Chateau Meyney produced what could be the best wine in the history of the estate. That is until the sublime 2016 vintage which is even better! Chateau Meyney Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 51-hectare Left Bank vineyard of Chateau Meyney is planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. The current vineyard plantings represent a change in the Chateau Meyney vineyard. Previously, there was some Cabernet Franc planted in their Medoc vineyard. Those vines were removed and more Merlot was added to the vineyard in its place.

The vineyard is in 1 large, single parcel, which is unusual for such a big vineyard. However, the large vineyard is divided into 63 separate plots. Situated close to Chateau Montrose and not far from Chateau Phelan Segur, they have some very good terroir.

Chateau Meyney has a terroir of gravel and sand with a large streak of blue clay close to three meters thick, that resides underneath the gravel and sand, topsoil.

The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 9,000 vines per hectare for their newer plantings. The older plantings are closer to 7,500 plants per hectare. The vines are on average between 35 and 40 years old. However, they also have very, old vines that are close to 100 years of age, which are some of the oldest vines in the Saint Estephe appellation.