On retrouve les caractéristiques que ce millésime a conférées à cette appellation : une couleur riche, de la concentration et des tanins généreux ; il semble d'ailleurs un peu plus frais que le millésime 2018. Le Merlot offre une texture riche et corsée, mais grâce à la part importante de Cabernet Franc, il présente une vivacité sous-jacente rappelant le graphite. L'élevage s'effectue entièrement en fûts de chêne neufs, un choix inhabituel pour un domaine de cette taille, et ce n'est que lors d'une année où les fruits sont bien mûrs, comme en 2019, que le vin peut supporter un tel niveau de chêne sans perdre sa saveur.
Saint-Émilion s'est montré très performant ici, avec d'excellents résultats sur les millésimes 2015, 2016, 2018 et 2019. Ce vin possède la structure nécessaire pour récompenser la patience. Il se dégustera idéalement jusqu'en 2042.
Robert Parker (91)
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Ripeau has an ambitious nose of cedar and clove oil over a core of baked plums, stewed black cherries, dried mulberries and fruitcake with touches of mocha and sautéed herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid, chewy frame and just enough freshness to support the baked berries flavors, finishing a tad firm.
James Suckling (93)
A fragrant nose of dark cherries, dark plums, earth, walnuts, stones and baking spices. Medium-to full-bodied with plush tannins. Layered and creamy with plenty of dark fruit on the palate and a lively, spicy finish. Try from 2024.
Vinous (93)
The 2019 Ripeau offers up a beguiling mix of sweet red cherry fruit, blood orange, rose petal, new leather, licorice and spice. Bright and racy, with striking aromatic presence and inner perfume, Ripeau is wonderfully expressive today. The 2019 will drink well with minimal cellaring. It's a joy of a wine.
Jeb Dunnuck (95)
Lots of pure cassis, tobacco leaf, lead pencil shavings, chocolate, and spring flowers emerge from the 2019 Château Ripeau, a ripe, seamless, incredibly sexy 2019 that has great tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a seriously impressive finish. This estate has been on a roll over the past 6-7 years, and the 2019 is no exception, and if anything, it might be the finest vintage to date. It has the purity, balance, and texture to shine even today and is going to continue drinking brilliantly for another two decades.
Falstaff (91)
Dark ruby, firm core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Dark berry fruit, herbal savouriness, a hint of liquorice, tobacco and vegetal nuances. Medium body, subtle fruit sweetness, ripe tannins, sweet plum on the finish, mineral aftertaste, some nougat on the finish, will benefit from further maturation in the bottle, only slowly gains momentum.
