“Dark and brooding, you can smell the heat from the vintage in the dark ripe fruits. Concentrated and intense straight away, but also really quite lively on the palate which shows a chewy and crunchy fruit profile. Acidity matches the crushed velvet tannins that settle on the tongue and mouth. Plush and dense. I love the extra ripeness you get here that stays on the right side of being too much. Lovely weight and depth. It’s slightly more bold and confident, but also just a lot of fun, maybe loses some detail because of the plushness, but there’s a real vein of cool classic touches with the terroir markers that keep it refined. Liquorice and mint on the end. Juicy, fun and long. Needs a bit more time. I love the red fruit elements, though, and the density.”

Georgie Hindle, Decanter – Mars 2023

“Including 15% Cabernet Franc, the Merlot-dominated 2020 Château La Serre comes from a 7-hectare vineyard of clay over limestone soils. It's another powerful, concentrated 2020 that has a load of fruit (black cherries, currants) as well as complex notes of loamy earth, spice box, and tobacco, with nicely integrated background oak. It has enough fruit and texture to offer pleasure today yet is going to evolve nicely for 20 years if well-stored.”

Jeb Dunnuck – Mars 2023

“Dark and dense with a hint of spice. The fruit is pure and nuanced with blueberry notes. Palate fine and gentle, the tannins smooth and integrated. Plenty of juice and freshness. Clean, bright and balanced. Nothing forced. Continues the finer mould seen in recent years. Should be GV.”

James Lawther, JancisRobinson.com

“Petite surface viticole de 7 ha, argile sur plateau calcaire. Quel éclat de fruits dans le bouquet de La Serre ! Cette intensité fruitée est de surcroît en parfaite adéquation avec des notes crayeuses et une rafraîchissante touche de menthe. En bouche, le vin affiche une belle ampleur grâce à ses tannins compacts et bien intégrés. L'harmonie entre la vivacité de la structure et les tannins est prometteuse et souligne l'équilibre du cru. Un vin de caractère et une belle réussite de plus pour La Serre.”

Yves Beck – Juin 2020

“Dark purple colour with violet hue and black core. Expressive nose with fragrant fruit, reminiscent of blackberries, juicy plums, black cherries, complemented by hints of peony. On the palate rich yet elegant with succulent fruit and ripe tannins, complex finish, very elegant and fresh with aromatic depth and excellent length.”

Markus del Monego – Juin 2020

“Chocolate, tobacco, blueberry and wet-earth aromas and flavors. It's full-bodied with chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Loads of beautiful fruit, yet it remains reserved and polished. One of the best ever?”

James Suckling – Juin 2020

“I always love this wine, and again in 2019 it is a great choice if you are looking for an understated classy and packed full of flavour St Émilion. Tons of concentration, dripping with limestone-induced salinity and mouthwatering freshness set against creamy bilberry and blueberry fruits, great stuff. Drinking Window 2026-2040.”

Jane Anson, Decanter – Juin 2020

“Situé sur un beau terroir du plateau calcaire, La Serre cultive avec discrétion son style d'un délicieux classicisme. Le nez présente une belle pureté de fruit, de l'éclat. La bouche est fine fuselée, avec de l'allonge, de la persistance, et une finale saline, crayeuse. Si le fruit est juteux à point, ce vin s'exprime davantage sur la minéralité que sur une aromatique exubérante. Un très beau 2018, taillé pour la garde.”

Terre de Vins – Mai 2019

“The 2018 La Serre has a gorgeous, pure bouquet of vibrant wild strawberry and cranberry fruit, very well defined with neatly integrated new oak. The palate is silky-smooth on the entry. There is beautifully judged acidity and impressive depth with hints of dark chocolate toward the finish. This is a wonderful Saint-Émilion that comes highly recommended. As I said before, a hidden gem.”

Neal Martin, Vinous – Mars 2021

“One of the best in this tasting. Silky and rich, with aromatic black fruits and a complex layering of cut herbs, liquorice and sweet spices. Restrained elegance without putting a foot wrong in terms of its silky soft tannic hold and appealing saline finish. Brilliant.”

Jane Anson, Decanter – Novembre 2020

“Produced by the d'Arfeuille family, this wine is densely tannic while also perfumed from the Cabernet Franc in the blend. It has a strong presence, black fruits and a solid dry core promising aging potential. Drink this powerful wine from 2026.”

Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast – Mai 2021

“Beaucoup de fruits et de fraîcheur dans le bouquet de La Serre ! Très invitant. Feuilles de tabac et notes de cassis. En bouche le vin est juteux et marqué par une tension calcaire qui met le côté rafraîchissant du vin en avant. Belle expression fruitée, dès la mise en bouche. Les tanins ont un grain fin et sont en symbiose avec la structure. Un vin de caractère que l'on pourra déjà savourer dans sa jeunesse mais qui a de quoi passer du temps en cave. 2022-2032.”

Yves Beck – Novembre 2019

“A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from the clay and limestone soils on the plateau of Saint-Émilion, the 2017 Chateau La Serre sports a lively ruby hue as well as medium-bodied notes of black cherries, mulberries, spring flowers, and forest floor. It's an elegant, lightly textured, juicy Saint-Émilion that's already delicious and I suspect best enjoyed in its first decade or so. Tasted twice.”

Jeb Dunnuck – Février 2020

“Le parcellaire de la famille d'Arfeuille est on ne peut mieux placé, 7 hectares exposés plein sud entre Villemaurine, La Clotte et Trottevieille ; depuis la salle de dégustation, la vue sur Fongaban est magnifique. Les propriétaires ont décidé de conserver contre vents et marées un profil délicat, mesuré dans l'extraction, avec des vins qui peuvent sembler minces au milieu de leurs pairs dans certains millésimes mais possèdent toujours distinction et allure. Nous nous félicitons que le château demeure fidèle à sa vision, tout en acceptant la modernité agronomique et œnologique.”

La Revue du Vin de France – Mars 2019

“This has aromas of hung meat, spicy red and dark plums and cherries with some chalky nuances. This leads to a succulent, juicy and vibrant array of fresh, crisp tannins that deliver fresh red-berry flavors. Try from 2022.”

James Suckling – Février 2019

“This will take a little longer to come around than the 2015 vintage at La Serre, displaying grip right through the palate. The mid-palate fills out with blackberries and black cherries lifted by violet notes. It speaks clearly of its limestone soils with the freshness that runs through it, although it's a touch subdued right now. Extremely pretty and will age well. Harvested 10-21 October, with no added sulphur during vinification, and matured in 50% new oak.”

Jane Anson, Decanter – Octobre 2018

“The 2016 Château La Serre sports a medium ruby/purple color and is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new oak. Offering up a perfumed bouquet of black raspberries, black cherries, tobacco, and truffly, damp earth, this beauty is medium to full-bodied, has terrific purity of fruit, moderate tannins, and an undeniably charming, rounded style that's going to evolve nicely for 15 years or more. It's one of the finest versions of this cuvée I've tasted.”

Jeb Dunnuck – Février 2019

“Une élégance de proportions très classique se double d'un éclat fruité frais, subtil et framboise. L'acidité fine présente dès l'attaque et persistant jusqu'en finale, accompagne la dynamique calcaire de la structure. Le millésime est ici tout sauf surjoué.”

La Revue du Vin de France – Mai 2016

“This wine has a very perfumed, expressive, black-cherry nose, just lifted by a little barrel scent too. A nicely judged but welcoming texture on the palate, fresh, with spicy, supple, peppery dark black-cherry fruit. It is very lively in terms of composition, with a ripe backbone of tannins, which is very nicely composed and well buried in the wine, showing only at the finish, with a fresh acid lift. A pretty wine, with nice potential to give some classically styled drinking.”

Chris Kissack – Mai 2016

“La Serre is always for me one of the hidden gems of St-Émilion, and it does a brilliant job here with a wonderfully expressive 2015. Still extremely young, it needs another few years before approaching, but it's full of seductive, well-brushed blackberry and raspberry fruits. It's powerful, seductive and luscious; a thoroughly enjoyable wine with rich, fresh and brilliantly silky tannins. Drinking window 2023–2038.”

Jane Anson, Decanter – Mars 2020

“The 2015 Château La Serre is a ripe, sexy beauty that's packed with fruit. Black cherries, blueberries, leafy herbs and hints of tobacco all emerge from this ripe, opulent 2015 that has sweet tannin, a charming, forward style, moderate concentration, and a great finish. It should be a smoking value and delivers loads of pleasure already. Tasted twice.”

Jeb Dunnuck – Novembre 2017

“Vendangé entre le 6 et le 13 octobre, parfumé, frais, svelte, avec un caractère aromatique floral bien en avant qui s'affranchit déjà de la prise de bois. Un cru de plateau d'un beau classicisme, au fruit disponible, alerte, naturel.”

La Revue du Vin de France – Mai 2015

“Rouge grenat. Bouquet élégant et fin. Agréables notes de cassis avec une séduisante touche de chocolat. Attaque friande. Le vin a du corps, un peu de gras et est doté de tannins parfaitement intégrés élégants et légèrement granuleux. La structure octroie de la fraicheur et est de pair avec les tannins. Un vin que l'on pourra savourer dans sa jeunesse mais qui peut également être gardé.”

Yves Beck – Novembre 2016

“A small step back from the 2015, the 2014 Château La Serre is a classic, charming, medium to full-bodied 2014 that offers lots of red currant, caramelized cherry, tobacco leaf and dried flower aromas and flavors. It has an old-school vibe, solid elegance, and notable balance. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.”

Jeb Dunnuck – Mars 2018

“Belle densité sur un fruit charnu et généreux avec un léger toasté. La matière garde une belle tension en milieu de bouche en gardant fraîcheur et petits fruits rouges en finale.”

Gault & Millau – Mai 2014

“Bright red. Complex, wild aromas of redcurrant, iron and aromatic herbs. Then rich, tactile and savory in the mouth, with suggestions of candied raspberry and spun sugar complementing the leafy, pungently floral red berry flavors. Finishes with fine-grained tannins and a leafy, minty quality that may not appeal to everyone. A much more politely styled La Serre than usual: I like its freshness and balance. This often-underrated wine ages better than most people think; the 2003 was especially successful, should you find a bottle lingering on a restaurant wine list.”

Ian D'Agata, Vinous – Mai 2014

“Quelle finesse, quelle élégance, comme une eau matinale infusée de quelques fruits légers ! Nous aimons ces vins peu démonstratifs, vibrants, fins et élégants.”

Gault & Millau – Avril 2013

“Une petite récolte en volume (33hl/ha), bien triée, qui s'exprime dans un fruité délicat. Son jus est supérieurement crémeux et crayeux, fin et ferme dans son allonge sur la cerise et les épices douces. Il montera en puissance sur dix ans.”

La Revue du Vin de France – Mai 2013

“Rouge rubis légèrement violacé. Bouquet filigrane révélant des notes de cerise et de prune. Attaque élégante, séduisante. Corps d'intensité moyenne doté d'une structure rafraîchissante et de tannins granuleux. Un vin construit sur la finesse et l'élégance et qui relègue la puissance au second plan. Finale de bonne longueur. Bravo.”

Yves Beck – Mai 2015

“The 2012 La Serre offers lovely depth in a classic, understated style. Sweet spice, tobacco, dark berry, cherry pit leather and cedar flesh out in the glass. Ample, layered and expressive, the 2012 should continue to drink well for another 7-10 years. The 2012 is not especially complex, but it is a pretty Saint-Émilion to enjoy for its forward, inviting personality.”

Antonio Galloni, Vinous – Janvier 2016

“Une matière soyeuse qui exprime la force d'un terroir qui a la capacité de conserver une rare fraîcheur après l'élevage.”

La Revue du Vin de France – Septembre 2013

“Fruits rouges au nez assez éclatant, tendre, vif, bien fait, pas trop extrait, la qualité du fruit est préservée, un vin chatoyant, aérien.”

Le Point – Mai 2012

“(…) Insiders know that La Serre does very well in dry years thanks to the high clay content of its soil. So just like in 2003, when this wine was a major success, it performed well in 2011 too.”

Ian D'Agata, Vinous – Mai 2012

“Ses tanins serrés montent crescendo et construisent une ligne de crête crayeuse, soutenue par une haute acidité. Grande bouteille pour 2033, dans un style peu aromatisé par le bois.”

Revue du Vin de France – Septembre 2013

“What fruit. You see the ripe Cabernet Franc. Very perfumed, with red oranges and blackberries. Full, with super well integrated tannins and a long, long finish.”

JamesSuckling.com

“This has a nice sappy edge, offering kirsch and boysenberry preserves flavors that course along, with lots of mouthcoating fruitcake and melted licorice on the finish. There's a tarry thread too, for added texture and length. Solid. Best from 2015 through 2025.”

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator – Mars 2013

“Grandes réussites. Nez expressif, bouche suave et de belle tenue en finale sur les fruits mûrs. Il prendra les allures d'un classique dans le temps.”

La Revue du Vin de France – Juin 2010

“I always love this wine. Good plump fruit, deep black cherries and a good freshness.”

Jane Anson – Avril 2010

“Enticing aromas of dark berries, with sandalwood. Full body, with round and velvety tannins and a ripe fruit aftertaste. Juicy and delicious. Best La Serre in years. Best in 2017.”

James Suckling – Mars 2012