2020 Bordeaux Vintage by Maitredecave

Bordeaux Vintage 2020

The Maitredecave  Retrospective

 

Our overall impression of the 2020 vintage during Primeurs was that the 2020 vintage was a good vintage with many exceptional wines among both the finest Châteaux and among those less-well-known Châteaux in the less well-known Bordeaux Appellations.

The Maitredecave team is particularly pleased by by the fine performance by both the red and white wines from the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur AOCs. Also exquisite are the wines of Saint-Émilion, the Pomerol and Lalande de Pomerol satellites, as well as the Médoc and Haut-Médoc. After this tasting of several hundred 2020 Bordelais, we are happy to say that we continue to view the 2020 vintage with excitement and with the promise of finding great values. There is little we love as much as finding an excellent wine at a very low price.

Tasting the Bordeaux Vintage 2020

We did this tasting seriously, somehow a warm-up for the Primeurs 2022 that we shall participate in at the end of April. After this tasting of several hundred 2020 Bordeaux wines, we are happy to confirm that we continue to consider the 2020 vintage as exciting with superb qualitative promise.

vue de loin d'une fiche de dégustation sur une table blanche

Maitredecave wine tastings

The 2020 by Oeno-lab Montagne and Beebordeaux

We would like to thank the Bee Bordeaux and Oeno-Lab Montagne teams for gathering the samples and organizing the presentation of the wines monitored by Oeno-lab , Hubert de Boüard consulting.

Beebordeaux also presented wines from châteaux using this communication agency. and we look forward to visiting you for the 2023 Primeurs in April.

Records of our 2020 vintage tastings

Our Maitredecave list begins with white, rosé and then red wines. The wines are listed in descending order of the scores obtained, as well as in alphabetical order. Only wines rated 90/100 and above are commented on.

White wines

 

2020 Château de Chantegrive Blanc, Graves     93/100

Pale straw with green reflections highlighted the wine. The nuances of wet straw lay the foundation for the grapefruit and jasmine nose and with a crisp citrus and mineral palate. The Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc blend offers some intense complexity with refreshing vivacity. The stainless-steel aging augments the freshness, and the stirred lees softens the feel.

 

 2020 Domaine de Puy Redon, Chardonnay, Vin de Pays d’Atlantique     92/100

The Puy Redon Chardonnay is a brilliant, lively, golden yellow with silver reflections. The nose is round and mature oak dominant with lemon and grapefruit and hints of pineapple and bosc pear mixed with vanilla. The palate is lively with citrus and tropical fruit driving the palate. The finish is long, and the character is definitely Chardonnay. With a fine acid to fruit balance, this wine will endure cellaring.

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Under the guidance of Hubert de Boüard they practice sustainable farming and are working toward organic certification. It is a unique terroir with a thick topsoil layer rich in limestone and a subsoil of blue clay. They hand harvest early in the morning and, then, move the grapes immediately into the winery to preserve the cool temperature of the grapes. They press the grapes within 2 hours of harvest. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks and the wine remains on the lees for 8-12 days. The wine is aged for 6-8 months in 60% new Burgundian oak. Domaine de Puy Redon is shaking things up in the hills of Monbazillac.

 

 2020 Château de Chantegrive, Cuvée Caroline Blanc, Graves     91/100

Pale straw and silver reflections color the wine. The nose is bold and rich in citrus and floral aromas. The 50% Sémillon, 45% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Sauvignon Gris assemblage offers an intense palate rich in citrus peel and white peach with hints of pale honey. The barrel aging and stirred lees program gives the wine an apparent silky texture. The exposure to oak will permit the wine to mature nicely in the cellar.

 

2020 Château Plain Point Blanc, Bordeaux     91/100 

The wine is a lively yellow with green reflections. The nose is fresh and delicate with lemon, grapefruit, hints of vanilla, and medium-toast green oak. The palate has greater intensity with similar citrus character and oak, but there is salinity and minerality here that drive the palate. The wine is round and dry with refreshing fruit that prolongs the finish. A nice quaffable wine.

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This domain is owned by Yuzu Shi, one of the 30 richest businessmen in China. It has 65 ha just north of Fronsac. The soil consists of limestone and clay. Only 35 ha of the property are planted to vineyards. They farm sustainably and have been certified Haut Valeur Environnementale. The vineyard has 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Château Plain Point Blanc is made from Gros Manseng and Sauvignon.

 

2020 Hubert de Boüard, Sémillon, Bordeaux     91/100

This Sémillon is pale and crystalline with only a stain of straw color. The nose is delicate yet round with aromas of Pippin and Golden Delicious apples and lemon zest with the slightest hints aromatic herbs. The palate is also delicate with citrus and apple flavors followed by touches of Comice pear and droplets of honey. The finish is round, long, and well balanced, but it is not intense. This wine is absolutely refreshing with delicacy, not austerity, and it is delicious to drink. It is the perfect aperitif.

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In 2016 Hubert de Boüard, co-owner of Château Angelus and Œnologue-Consultant, began producing a range of mono-cépage wines made in Bordeaux. The grapes, whether they are Bordeaux varieties or not, have been carefully managed and produced in plots or selected from plots chosen specifically for variety compatibility and the excellence of the terroir. Once a plot is selected, the pruning, seasonal management, protection of the surrounding ecosystems, and the harvest are all specially adapted for the selected variety. Each wine is produced to optimize variety character and the terroir. They are produced in a limited quantity to guarantee uniformity, integrity, and authenticity.
2 bttles of white wines

Sémillon and Chardonnay H de Bouard

 

2020 Hubert de Boüard, Sauvignon, Bordeaux     90/100 

 The wine is crystalline with a straw to a lively, pale yellow color and gold reflections. The nose is intense with grapefruit and green pineapple aromas. There is an oxidative complexity that adds depth to the nose. The palate has an intense minerality that supports the green apple and citrus notes. The wine is refreshing with excellent balance and fine length.

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In 2016 Hubert de Boüard, co-owner of Château Angelus and Œnologue-Consultant, began producing a range of mono-cépage wines made in Bordeaux. The grapes, whether they are Bordeaux varieties or not, have been carefully managed and produced in plots or selected from plots chosen specifically for variety compatibility and the excellence of the terroir. Once a plot is selected, the pruning, seasonal management, protection of the surrounding ecosystems, and the harvest are all specially adapted for the selected variety. Each wine is produced to optimize variety character and the terroir. They are produced in a limited quantity to guarantee uniformity, integrity, and authenticity.

 

2020 Château Laurence Blanc, Bordeaux     90/100

The wine is pale yellow with silver reflections. The nose is round and complex with lemon zest, Granny Smith apples, and white nectarine, bound by firm oak. The palate continues round with green apple, lemon zest, and fleshy peach with a nicely charred oak presence on the finish. The finish is long and refreshing with an elegant silkiness. This is a remarkable wine, excellent for short-term aging.

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The Domaine has 8 ha of vines with an average age older than 20 years. The terroir is limestone and gravelly clay. The château’s name comes from the creek that is near the property. They grow Merlot, 3 ha, for the red, Sauvignon Blanc for the dry white, and Chardonnay for their sparkling wine. This Still White is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, from 0.4 ha. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted in the vineyard. They are vinified at low temperature in new oak barriques. The wine is aged for 11 months in barrels with batonnage twice a week throughout the aging process.

 

The red wines

 

2020 Château Monlot, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     95/100 

The wine is a deep, deep ruby with violet reflections. The nose has hints of bramble layered on top of the intense black cherry and blackberry fruit with baking spice and dried herbs. On the palate the attack is supple and fruity, followed by a middle with intense black fruit flavors, aromatic herbs, and toasted spices. There is only the whisper of well-integrated oak on this wine. The wine is elegant and perfectly balanced with a velveteen texture throughout the finish. The tannins are soft and supple, and the finish is long and fruity. It is the finest wine among the samples for our 2020 Retrospective Tasting. This wine will age well, but it is drinkable today as I write these notes.

 

4 bouteilles de vins rouge sur ;a table. Millésime 2020

Tasting the  2020, Agence Beebordeaux

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In 2011 Zhao Wei, a celebrated Chinese actress, businesswoman, film director, producer, and pop singer, bought the château. The property consists of 8 ha of which 3 ha, for the Chateau wine, that sit on the slope consist of clay and limestone. They use a 5 ha parcel, consisting of clay and silica clay, for the second wine. The entirety of the estate is planted with 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc with an average age of 30 years. They manage the property using sustainable methods and are certified Haute Valeur Environnementale 3. They hand pick the grapes and sort them four times to guarantee only the finest quality. They ferment the wines in stainless steel and finish by aging them 15 months in one-third new, one-third one-use, and one third two-use barriques.

 

2020 Château Fonbadet, Pauillac     93/100

Black with purple reflections highlight the appearance. The nose shows black fruit with touches of plum and baking spice. The palate has a smooth attack with intense and concentrated black cherry and blackberry with touches of green peppercorn, dried herbs, and coffee. The oak hides beautifully in the background mature, well toasted, and nicely integrated. Thus, the wine has a complex character with ripe, soft tannins that add a velvet texture to the long fruit driven finish.

The 2020 blend consists of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot fermented in concrete and aged for 16 to 18 months in 40% new French oak.

 

2020 Château Trianon, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     93/100

Bouteille de Château Trianon 2020, st Emilion Grand Cru

Bouteille de Château Trianon 2020, st Emilion Grand Cru

 

The wine is an intense ruby with purple reflections and with a delicate haze. The nose is direct and focused with intense red and black cherry with a blackberry core scented with rose petals and Jamaican spice with a hint of baking spice. The palate contains flashy blackberry and cassis with licorice notes. The tannins are direct and firm and leave a trail on the way to a long, well-balanced finish. A truly complex and interesting wine to work through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The estate has 14.5 ha of vineyards with a terroir composed of clay and sand topsoil on a subsoil of iron detritus. As a result of the detritus, one finds plots of red gravel on the surface. They planted the vineyard with 78% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Carménère.

 

2020 Clos de la Vieille Église, Pomerol    93100

The wine is brilliant with a deep ruby color and crimson reflections. The nose has intense red and black cherry aromas with violets, licorice, and sweet oak nuances. The palate shows black cherry, blackberry, and cassis with hints of licorice. Notes of toasted nuts and baking spices are part of the oak complexity. The wine has a long well balanced finish with notes of sweet, high toast oak throughout. Complex and delicious.

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Domaine Trocard owns this 1.5 ha property. They have planted 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc on limestone and clay. The vines have an average age of 45 years. They hand harvest and hand sorted the grapes. They use a cold soak for one week before starting fermentation. Cuvaison takes place during 5 weeks. Malolactic takes place in 100% new barrels, and then they age the wine in the same barrels for 20 months.

 

2020 Château Auguste, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     92/100

The intense eggplant-purple promised rich, black fruit on the nose and the intense blackberry and spice on the palate. Their organically farmed vineyards in the Entre-Deux-Mers yielded intensely flavored Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Here, the Merlot is the driving force. It is an agreeable wine with positive complexity and length.

 

table blanche , crachoir noir et une se'rie de bouteilles de vin rouge ouvertes

2020 Tasting the 2020

 

2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, Pauillac – Grand Cru Classé – Cinquième Cru     92/100

The wine is an intense garnet with ruby reflections. The nose boasts an aromatic spiciness with red fruit and sweet, high-toast oak. The palate attack is delicate showing light, red fruit, developing to a deeper, red and black cherry and blackberry in the mid-palate where there is freshness coaxed by minerality. The black cherry and blackberry drive the long, fruity, finish. This is a well-structured wine with complexity and with good aging potential.

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The 40 ha of vineyards have an average age of 25 years and consist of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot. The grapes are hand-harvested, sorted, destemmed, and fermented in stainless steel tanks. There is malolactic in both stainless and new oak barriques. The wine is then placed in 30-40% new French barriques to age.

 

2020 Château de la Loubière, Bordeaux Supérieur     92/100 

This is an easy wine to enjoy. It has a lovely purple color with red reflections. The nose is expressive with intense raspberry, red currant, and red and black cherry enhanced with hints of menthol, spice, and green oak. A touch of reduction intensified the fruit’s character. The palate shows the same fruit and spice combination with a shade less assertiveness. The wine is youthful with excellent fruit, firm tannins, and a long fruit driven finish. One might leave it to mature in the cellar until 2025 before even trying it.

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The Teycheney family inherited Château de la Loubière in 2015. With a new château to manage and operate the family created Les Vignobles Jade. The estate constitutes 62 ha in Bordeaux Supérieur near Beychac et Caillau with a soil composition of clay and sand.  Their vineyard management is certified Haute Valeur Environmental 3, and they are seeking organic status and certification. The vineyard is planted with 85% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Sémillon, 1% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% Sauvignon Gris, and 1% Muscadelle. This vintage 2020 was produced from 15 ha from the property, out of which it uses 100% Merlot with the average vine age of 40 years. Cuvaison lasts 4 weeks. The wine is then aged in 78% stainless steel and 22% used barriques.

 

2020 Château La Marzelle, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru Classé     92/100 

The wine is an opaque purple with violet reflections. The nose emanates crushed blackberries and black plums with wisps of red currants and pomegranate. There is a hint of smoke from the well-toasted oak and an exotic spiciness. The palate is fruit-driven with blackberries and cassis focusing the vanilla notes, ground almonds, and aromatic spices and dried herbs. The intense oak and well-developed tannins contribute structure and direct the power of the fruit. The finish is long and rich with a velvet-texture. This wine should be cellared, however, with a lively decanting and lengthy breathing, the wine shows beautifully now.

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The vineyard consists of 17 ha on the Haut Terraces of Saint-Émilion with soils consisting of gravel, ancient sand, and blue clay. The assemblage is 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Regarding the 2020 vintage, “The early harvest provided excellent sugar levels and the potential for intense, powerful wines. Respectful vinification in vat or barrique permits a powerful wine with balance and elegance that expresses the aromatics of the fruit supported with the necessary tension.” The wine is aged in new oak barriques and terracotta jars.

 

2020 Château Laurence, Bordeaux Supérieur     92/100 

The appearance is a brilliant, intense purple with ruby reflections. The nose is intense, yet fresh and fruity showing raspberry, red currant, red cherry, and blackberry with green pepper spice and with hints of smoky bacon. The palate shows raspberry and red cherry with hints of tobacco and the richness of the sweet well-charred oak. The wine is full bodied with intensity and a luxurious fatness achieved through the elegant texture and exceptional balance and long finish. This wine is perfect for long cellaring.

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The Domaine has 8 ha of vines with an average age older than 20 years. The terroir is limestone and gravelly clay. The château’s name comes from the creek that is near the property. They grow Merlot, 3 ha, for the red, Sauvignon Blanc for the dry white, and Chardonnay for their sparkling wine. Grapes for the red, 100% Merlot, are machine-picked. The reds are vinified in stainless steel vats and aged in 30% new French barriques for 14 months.

 

2020 Château Thénac, Cuvée 1621, Côtes de Bergerac     92/100 

The wine is brilliant with a dark, almost black, ruby color showing violet reflections. The nose is subtle with fresh blackberries, hints of cassis, and Itxassou black cherry jam with a touch of dried aromatic herbs. The palate is more profound showing intense Boysenberry, Santa Rosa plum, and blueberry with a subtle spiciness and gentle toasted green oak. The tannins are young and show a slightly bitter edge. The finish continues long, fruity, and well balanced. This is a well-made wine.

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The estate consists of 200 ha. The vineyards measure 35 ha, 25 ha for the reds – 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Malbec, and 10 ha for the whites – 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sémillon, 10% Muscadelle. The vineyards have a 200 meters elevation on a patchwork of different soils, limestone, flint, clay, and boulbene (a mix of red clay, sand, silt, and pebbles characteristic of Aquitaine). The Cuvée 1621 is named for the date of the first vintage produced by the Benedictines at this site. The Cuvée is produced from only 2 parcels where the Merlot has an average age of 25 years and the Cabernet Sauvignon has an average age of 20 years. The wine is a blend of Merot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is sold only in Magnums.

 

2020 Château l’Etampe, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     91/100

The wine is an intense purple with violet reflections. The nose is slightly closed with red and black cherry showing with hints of bramble and toasted spice. The palate is soft and elegant with dominant black cherry and blackberry flavors with hints of yeast and dried herbs. The tannins are supple with wonderful balance. There is a lovely, long fruit driven finish.

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The château was purchased in 2016 by Les Vignobles Jade. It has 2 ha managed using bio-dynamic methodology. The terroir consists of silica sand from alluvial deposits. The nearby Tallas Creek brings freshness to the vineyard during hot and dry periods. The wine is 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are hand-picked then sorted twice, before and after destemming. Fermentation uses indigenous yeast and takes place in stainless steel with cuvaison, including an extended post-fermentation maceration, lasting from 4-6 weeks. Aging takes place in used barriques during 18 months.

 

2020 Château La Croix des Moines, L’Ambroisie du Château La Croix des Moines,      Lalande de Pomerol     91/100

The wine is dark ruby, almost black, with purple tones throughout. The nose is rich in blackberry and plum with the smoke of high toast oak blending with violets and coffee. The palate starts with raspberry that evolves into black cherry and plum with spice and dried herbs. The wine finishes long and fruity with good balance. The young, green tannins add a firmness to the wine and a touch of dryness to the finish. An excellent example of an excellent Lalande de Pomerol. It shows with great intensity and a superb lusciousness.

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The 11 ha vineyard is in the heart of Lalande de Pomerol. It produces a Merlot with extreme elegance. This elegant Merlot is the heart of L’Ambroisie du Château La Croix des Moines, after all, it is a wine with 100% Merlot.

 

2020 Château La Fleur de Boüard, Le Lion de La Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol     91/100

The wine is garnet with purple hues and brilliant red reflections. The nose is aromatic and has an intense blackberry and black cherry core, with notes of cassis and black plums. Pencil lead, sandalwood, and baking spices round out the nose. The palate has a subtle sweetness with juicy, fresh blackberries and black cherries dominating. The tannins are discrete and supple and add positive structure and a silky elegance to the fruit driven wine. It has exceptional length and impeccable balance. Cellar this wine; it has great cellaring potential.

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The grapes for Le Lion come from two specific vineyards, one of 18 ha of clay resting on a gravel subsoil situated on the Néac Plateau, and the second with 11 ha of clay mixed with large pebbles. The wine is a blend of fruit from young vines with an assemblage of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Hubert de Boüard applies a sustainable approach to vineyard management and winemaking methodology to protect the estate’s terroir. The winery structure is made of timber and glass and blends harmoniously into the landscape. It contains 32 inverted cone-shaped vats that exploit only gravity in the vinification process. There are no pumps. This process consists of pre-fermentation cold maceration, a gentle fermentation in the stainless steel, inverted-cone vats. Then, the wine is aged for 16 months in 15% new barriques.

 

2020 Château Tour de Termes, Saint-Estèphe     91/100 

This 2020 Tour de Termes has a vivid purple color with violet reflections. The nose is clean and youthful with intense black cherry and blackberry with rose petal aromas, with hints of spice and licorice and mature sweet oak. The palate is filled with ripe blackberries and cassis with overtones of the nicely toasted sweet oak. The tannins are supple and soft, and they add a velvety texture to the long well-balanced finish. It is a huge wine with a wonderfully approachable fruit structure.

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The 15 ha estate, certified Tera Vitis, is located in the Saint-Estèphe Cru Bourgeois. It is situated on soil composed of 67% gravel and 33% clay and limestone. The vineyard, between 20 and 40 years old, contains 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. The vineyard practices include a green harvest and leaf thinning in July. 80% of the cuvaison is traditional, and it takes place in temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats with 2 pumpovers each day. The other 20% is through vinification intégrale in 400 liter demi-muid mounted in a OXOline system. The cuvaison lasts from 3-4 weeks. The wine is then aged 15 months in 50% new Allier barriques.

 

2020 Château de Pressac, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru Classé     91/100

The intense purple color prefaces the intense blackberry and cassis nose. It is laced with cacao and licorice. The palate is silky with a nice minerality and with a clean acidity surrounded by intense black fruit. It is refreshing yet bold, long, and structured. It is an excellent quality wine, and it is a great value.

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On 41 hectares of vineyard, arranged in a single block surrounding the Château, there exists the 3 main terroirs of Saint-Émilion – limestone – on the plateau, clay and limestone – surrounding the plateau on both the terraced scarp and sloping hillside, and clay and limestone silt – around the base of the hill. They have planted roughly 72% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 5% dedicated to Carménère, Malbec (Noir de Pressac), and Petit Verdot. They ensure organic processes and sustainable practices, earning them the High Environmental Value Level 3 certification. Here, the diversity of grape variety offers the wine a wonderful complexity.

 

2020 Château de Portets, Graves     91/100

This red Graves has a profound ruby red color with violet reflections. The intense nose is ripe with red fruit, baking spice, and espresso. The palate is generous and has an equally intense fruit structure. Overall, the wine has character with a full body and mature tannins giving the palate direction and the wine durability.

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The vineyards contain 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and are planted in heavy soil covered with gravel and round river stones. They maintain the estate applying responsible and durable methods certified as “Haute Valeur Environnementale” Level 3, providing the highest potential care of their soil.

 

2020 Château Arnauld, Haut-Médoc – Cru Bourgeois     90/100 

 

 

The wine is a delicate boysenberry-purple with spice and red cherry on both the nose and palate. This 2020 Château Arnauld lacked intensity. The 51% Merlot drives the delicacy here, even though there is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot. Here, the intensity one expects is missing. However, the subtlety is attractive and refreshing, and the wine finishes with abundant fruit and excellent balance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 Château Bourdieu, Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux     90/100

Intense magenta distinguished the appearance. This Merlot-driven wine shows vanilla notes and red cherry that teased both the nose and palate. This subtlety permitted a touch of alcohol to mark the senses. The round, red fruit offered a long well-balanced finish.

 

2020 Château Bourdieu, Absolu, Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux     90/100

The intense, almost black, plum color reflects the intense black, cherry jam, slightly reductive character, on both the nose and palate. Spice and oak with a sturdy tannin structure supported the fruit to a long finish. This Merlot focused wine nicely exhibits the maturity of this superior parcel selection. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec contribute intensity and complexity.

 

2020 Hubert de Boüard, Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux     90/100

The wine is an intense, deep purple with violet reflections. The nose is earthy with aromas raspberry and pomegranate spiced with dashes of grey pepper. The palate has intense red and black cherry with nuances of green peppercorn and great salinity. The wine is savory and complex with a firm tannic structure. The wine has the potential for cellaring.

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n 2016 Hubert de Boüard, co-owner of Château Angelus and Œnologue-Consultant, began producing a range of mono-cépage wines made in Bordeaux. The grapes, whether they are Bordeaux varieties or not, have been carefully managed and produced in plots or selected from plots chosen specifically for variety compatibility and the excellence of the terroir. Once a plot is selected the pruning, seasonal management, protection of the surrounding ecosystems, and the harvest are all specially adapted for the selected variety. Each wine is produced to optimize variety character and the terroir. They are produced in a limited quantity to guarantee uniformity, integrity, and authenticity.

 

2020 Château La Commanderie, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru Classé     90/100 

The wine is an intense deep purple with ruby reflections. The nose is fruit driven with lighter notes of strawberry and rich blackberry and cassis. The palate is similarly intense with black cherry and pepper. The finish is long and well balanced with a soft, ripe tannic structure. The wine is rich and fruit and truly a delicious experience.

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The wine is the product of a 3.7 ha south-facing parcel with an average vine age of 40 years. The wine is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are harvested manually and are fermented using délestages for a period of 30 days in concrete vats. Malo takes place in 50% new barriques and in cuves. The wine is aged 16 months in 50% new oak barriques.

 

2020 Château Franc Le Maine, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     90/100

The almost black wine permits delicate purple reflections. The nose has fresh red fruit and hints of violets that give way to intense blackberry and notes of cassis. There is exotic spice here with aromatic black pepper and licorice that dry the palate to a leanness. However, the finish remains fruit driven and long with a nice touch of oak and youthful tannins.

They hand-harvest 11.7 ha planted to 65% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon fermented in barriques and stainless steel; aged in 50% new French oak

 

2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, Prélude à Grand-Puy Ducasse, Pauillac     90/100 

The Prélude is ruby red in the glass with a medium body and a lovely brilliance. The nose is fresh, with red cherry and with some subtle notes of licorice and aromatic herbs. The palate is crisp, red cherry with some blackberry lurking in the background. There is spice here without a lot of complexity. The wine has a long fresh berry finish with a wonderful freshness and fine balance.

The 40 ha of vineyards have an average age of 25 years and consist of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot. The grapes are hand-harvested, sorted, destemmed, and fermented in stainless steel tanks.

 

2020 Château Haut-Surget, Lalande de Pomerol     90/100 

The wine appears developed in the glass, and it has an intense garnet color with a touch of rust on the edge. The nose, however, is replete with fresh blackberry and red cherry with baking spice and hints of dried herbs. The palate is robust and well balanced with mouthfuls of red and black fruit directed by soft, ripe tannins and sweet oak. The finish is long and rich. An excellent wine at a wonderful price.

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They employ a rigorous green harvest during the month of July and even in September during the harvest to guarantee they are using only the highest quality grapes. Then, when the grapes arrive during harvest they use two vibrating tables that employ wind to sort out the smaller, lighter, undesirable berries. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled, concrete vats. After fermentation they macerate the wine together with the solids for 4-5 weeks to extract the best tannins and color. They age the wine for one year in a combination of new and one-wine barriques.

 

2020 Château Laroze, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru Classé     90/100

The wine is a youthful purple with red reflections. The nose starts light and fresh with hints of red currants and raspberry and builds to a complex intensity filled with blackberry and black cherry subdued by powdery bramble. It has hints of spice and dried herbs. The palate is firmly structured with freshness and good acidity. Surrounding the fine, elegant tannins are intense flavors of blackberry and cassis with exotic spice and hints of vanilla. The finish is long and well balanced.

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The 27 ha vineyard rests 1.5k from the Saint-Émilion city center at the foot of the slope. The soil is composed of silica on clay. The vineyard grows 60% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, and the remaining 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The harvest is by hand; fermentation in stainless steel and concrete vats; aged in 65% new French barriques for 16 months.

 

2020 Château L’Éperon, L’Éclat du L’Éperon, Bordeaux Supérieur     90/100

The wine is a dark ruby with violet reflections. The nose has moderately intense aromas of well-oaked red and black cherry with hints of cassis and dried herbs and licorice. The palate is direct and complex with red and black cherry, sweet oak, and dried herbs. There is a lean greenness on the finish promoted by the dried herbs. The tannins are youthful. The finish is long and fruity with excellent balance.

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Château L’Éperon has 20 ha of Bordeaux Supérieur vineyard situated on a terroir composed of limestone and clay. Their vineyard management uses sustainable methods and are rated Haute Valeur Environmental Level 3. L’Éclat is composed of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Malbec. They harvest the grapes both by hand and machine. The grapes are destemmed, and they use the pump over method during fermentation. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks. The wines are aged in 100% new oak barrels.

 

2020 Château Montlabert, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     90/100

The wine has an intense ruby with an opaque center. The nose is rich in red cherry with hints of black cherry and blackberry. It is aromatic with hints of green peppercorn and rosemary. The palate is filled with fresh red and black cherry with nuances of dried herbs and spice. The wine is direct with firm, structured tannins and a fresh acidity. The body is full, and the wine is well balanced with a long fruit finish. The wine should be cellared or well decanted for the best experience.

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Castel Frères owns this 21 ha estate. They planted the vineyards with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc in deep sand and gravel soils with a clay and blue clay subsoil. The vineyards are located on the Figeac Plateau near Châteaux Figeac and Cheval Blanc. The vineyard management is certified Terra Vitis. They use 16 stainless steel temperature controlled tronconic tanks and concrete vats for fermentation. They age the wine for 18 months in barrique.

 

2020 Château Moya, Castillon – Côtes de Bordeaux     90/100

The Moya is a brilliant, ruby, purple with scarlet reflections. The nose has intense red and black cherry fruit with a touch of blackberry jam. There is garrigue and a touch of dried herbs with intense spice with just a touch of oak. The palate is agreeable, with black fruit, aromatic herbs, and spices. The wine is well balanced with a long, elegant finish. The wine is delicious and easy to drink.

Château Moya has 8 ha vineyard located on a clay-limestone hill 70 meters above the valley floor. The domain is certified organic by ECOCERT since 2013. The vineyard is planted with 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. The cellar contains 50% stainless steel and 50% wooden vats.

 

2020 Château du Paradis, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     90/100 

This wine has a moderately intense nose showing red cherry, and black currant with hints of violets, aromatic spice, and tobacco. The palate has greater concentration, with excellent acidity highlighting the touches of raspberry and the generous roundness filled with fresh blackberry and Santa Rosa plum. Vanilla is a persistent note on the palate. The tannins are ripe, soft, and textured offering structure to the long, well-balanced finish.

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This slice of paradise consists of 5 ha on the eastern bank of the Dordogne. It sits on a stony mound consisting of gravel, clay, and sand deposited by the Dordogne long ago. The soil composition reinforces the concentration, complexity, and aromatic elegance of the wine. They planted Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon with a 6,000 vine per hectare density. Today the vines have an average age of 40 years. They permit a yield of only 23 hl/ha. The Bardet family, owners of the estate, focus their efforts and financial resources on preserving the quality of the soil by applying rational agricultural methods that will produce wines with their specific terroir. They hand harvest by variety and parcel; sort the grapes by size; place 50% of the grapes into temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks and 50% into new oak barrels; they allow a cold soak before they allow the native yeast to ferment; they work with a submerged cap without any pumping; a post-fermentation soak continues at 26˚; half of the wine remains in stainless steel where malolactic commences, and the 50% in oak remains in oak for malolactic fermentation. Aging commences in the same vessels for 16 months.

 

2020 Château Sénailhac, Excellence de Sénailhac, Bordeaux Supérieur     90/100 

The wine is limpid, with an intense ruby, purple color. The nose has intense red and black cherry fruit with both fresh and dried herbs and with hints of oxidation and well-used oak. The palate is complex and spicy with an exciting attack of intense, fresh, red fruit that permeates the mouth. The finish is long with excellent balance, elegant mouth feel, and young sticky tannins that give the wine breadth. It is an interesting and agreeable wine.

This 50 ha estate is situated on a hill composed of limestone and clay. They planted the vineyard with 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec.

 

2020 Vieux Château Palon, Montagne-Saint-Émilion     90/100 

The wine is an intense purple with brilliant ruby reflections. The nose shows aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and Santa Rosa plum with hints of allspice, licorice, and dried herbs. The palate is intense with concentrated black cherry, blackberries, green herbs, and well-toasted oak. The finish is long, slightly tannic, fruity, and well-textured with a touch of oaky bitterness.

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Vieux Château Palon produced its first wine in 2000. The estate has 5.5 ha planted with 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc on a limestone and clay terroir. They maintain the vineyard manually, including vineyard ground cover, leaf dropping, harvest, and quality sorting. The cellar is equipped with small, temperature controlled stainless steel tanks to precisely control fermentation. The practice a pre-fermentation cold soak and a gentle extraction with manual punch downs and pumpovers. They do malolactic in both stainless steel tanks and in 75% new and 25% one-wine barriques. After vinification they age the wine in 70% new oak for 15 months.

 

2 bouteilles de vin rouges prêtes à être dégustées : E. de Bouard et Vieux Château Pralon

Tasting Bordeaux 2020 at Oeno-lab, Montagne

 

2020 Clos Dubreuil, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     90/100 

The wine is a brilliant and intense purple with a black center. The nose has red and black cherry, wild blackberry, and dried black currants with dried herbs, and sweet, medium-toast oak. The palate has a lovely, red fruit-driven attack. The middle palate is filled with blackberry, spice, and a lively minerality that endures through the finish. The tannins are youthful with a drying nature that offers a touch of bitterness to the long, well-balanced finish.

This Grand Cru Saint-Émilion was recently promoted to a Grand Cru Classé status. The 8.55 ha is spread out into seven locations. They use 7.3 ha for the reds – 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1.25 ha for the whites – 10% Chardonnay. All are certified Tera Vitis. They cold soak the grapes for 1 week before allowing fermentation to start. The alcoholic fermentation lasts 2 weeks.

 

vue d un verre de vin rouge de prés. le vin forme une tache rouge dans le verre.

Tasting the Bordeaux 2020

Vintage 2020 according to Maitredecave

 

The wines of 2020, already appreciable, promise good surprises both as wines to be consumed without delay, but also as wines for laying down.

Thanks again to the H. De Boüard Consulting and Beebordeaux agency.

Wines under 90/100, not commented

White wines

Château Thénac Blanc, Côtes de Bergerac     89/100

2020 Hubert de Boüard, Chardonnay, Vin de Pays Atlantique     88/100

2020 Château L’Éperon Blanc, Bordeaux     87/100

Red wines

2020 Château de Bellevue, Lussac-Saint-Emilion     89/100

2020 Château de la Chapelle, Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux     89/100

2020 Château Pressac, Tour de Pressac, Saint-Émilion-Grand Cru     89/100

Château du Parc, Saint-Émilion-Grand Cru     89/100

2020 Château Gaby, Cuvée, Canon-Fronsac     89/100

2020 Château La Croix Bellevue, Lalande de Pomerol     89/100

2020 Château La Fleur de Boüard, Le Plus de La Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol     89/100

2020 Château Lafaurie, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion     89/100

2020 Château Laffitte Carcasset, Saint-Estèphe     89/100

2020 Château Laurence, Vin de Pays d’Atlantique No-Sultites     89/100

2020 Château Meyney, Saint-Estèphe     89/100

2020 Château Montlabert, La Croix du Montlabert, Saint Émilion – Grand Cru     89/100

2020 Château Petit Val, Muse du Val, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     89/100

2020 Château Porte Chic, Pomerol     89/100

2020 Château Tour de Pez, Saint-Estèphe     89/100

2020 Château Tour Perruchon, Lussac-Saint-Emilion     89/100

2020 Clos des Jacobins, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru Classé   89/100

2020 Château Branas Grand Poujeaux, Moulis-en-Médoc    88/100

2020 Château de Carles, Haut de Carles, Fronsac     88/100

2020 Château de Francs, Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux     88/100

2020 Château Deyrem Valentin, Margaux     88/100

Château Emmanuelle de Boüard, Mon Jardin de Vignes, Lussac-Saint-Émilion   88/100

2020 Château Fleur de Lisse, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     88/100

2020 Château Fonbadet, L’Harmonie de Fonbadet, Pauillac     88/100

2020 Château Franc La Rose, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     88/100

2020 Château La Vue, Saint-Émilion     88/100

2020 Château Laurence, Petite Laurence, Bordeaux     88/100

2020 Château L’Eden, Médoc     88/100

2020 Château Petit Val, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     88/100

2020 Château Thénac, Côtes de Bergerac     88/100

2020 Château Tour Perruchon, l’Exception 1600, Lussac-Saint-Emilion   88/100

2020 Clos Saint-Vincent, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     88/100

2020 Château Beaulieu, Côtes de Bourg     87/100

2020 Château Bourdieu, N°1, Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux     87/100

2020 Château Croix de Rambeau, Lussac-Saint-Émilion     87/100

2020 Château de Francs, L’Infini, Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux     87/100

2020 Château Fontfleurie, Saint-Émilion – Grand Cru     87/100

2020 Château Lamothe-Bergeron, Haut-Médoc     87/100

2020 Château Leroy Beauval, Bordeaux Supérieur     87/100

2020 Hubert de Boüard, Le Merlot, Bordeaux     87/100

2020 Château Sénailhac, Bordeaux Supérieur     87/100

2020 Château de Francs, Les Cerisiers, Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux     86/100

2020 Château Fleur de Lisse, Bien-Aimée de Fleur de Lisse, Saint-Émilion-Grand Cru     86/100

2020 Château Meyney, Prieur de Meyney, Saint-Estèphe     86/100

2020 Château Tour de Bellegarde, Bordeaux Supérieur     86/100

2020 Clos Bertineau, Montagne-Saint-Émilion     86/100

2020 Château de Carles, Fronsac     85/100

2020 Château de Chantegrive, Graves     85/100

2020 Château Maillet, Pomerol     85/100

2020 Château Plain Point, Rouge Fronsac    85/100

 

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