197 products

2020 Bordeaux Pre-Arrival

For all the challenges faced by vignerons and winemakers from Bordeaux during 2020, it could be seen as a miracle anything was produced at all, let alone wines at the extremely high quality level seemingly waiting in barrel now. Certainly the weather presented its usual challenges of heat and drought, mid-season rain and mildew pressure, and the odd thunderstorm, but if you add in the uncertainty of lockdowns and availability of labour at harvest, there were no doubt many sweating on the result of the year. Thankfully for most they look to have navigated 2020 well, and are now able to offer what is the third vintage in a row of exceptional quality wines.

“Many of the reds of 2020 are at the same quality level as highly regarded bottles from the already coveted 2019 and 2018. It may be the first time in the history of Bordeaux that we have a trilogy of super vintages." - James Suckling

Professional reviews suggest 2020 will be a year to rival the stunning wines produced in both 2018 and 2019. Although 2020 was another warm to hot year, stylistically there is ample freshness, with many wines from the Left Bank comparable to those of 2019. In contrast, the Right Bank wines, and especially those of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, show a greater resemblance to the powerful and seductive wines of 2018. Certainly an appetizing prospect for lovers of both camps.

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Aromes de Pavie
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $215. 00
    Bottle
    $2580.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Composed of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Arômes de Pavie has an alcohol of 14.78% and a pH of 3.57. It is aging in French oak barriques, 70% new. Deep purple-black in color, it needs a little swirling to unleash its exuberant scents of stewed black plums, black cherry compote and boysenberries, plus hints of tar, sautéed herbs and chargrill. The full-bodied palate packs in the black fruit layers, framed by soft tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and earthy.
    91-93 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Arômes de Pavie represents a major step up in quality vis-à-vis previous vintages. It is a deep, statuesque wine endowed with tremendous power, richness and resonance. Plum, mocha, licorice, espresso and spice all flesh out in the glass. I can't wait to taste this in bottle. This is the first year in which the blend is equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, both increasingly from plots dedicated to the Arômes, a departure from the past, when this wine was a selection of younger-vine fruit and lots that did not make it into the Grand Vin.
    91-93 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Second wine of Pavie with wonderful blackberry, black olive and dark chocolate. Full and chewy with a powerful finish. Lots of structure and intensity.
    95-96 points
    James Suckling

    Deeply colored, the wine offers red and black plums, flowers, boysenberry, espresso and dark chocolate on the nose. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, lush and concentrated, velvet textures and loads of sweet, fleshy, flashy, dark red fruits, spice, espresso and cocoa in the finish. Aromes de Pavie is no longer the second wine of Pavie. Because all its fruit comes from a specific 11 hectare parcel, it should be looked at as its own brand. The wine blends 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc.
    93-95 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Powerful and upfront, with a thick layer of liquorice and clove, blueberry and blackberry fruit. A little more of a monolith than the main estate wine of Pavie - something that you find often this year, where the tannins seem to go to the second wines. 70% new oak, 3.57pH. A yield of 35hl/ha.
    90 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc. From designated parcels (11 ha) on the plateau. Cask sample.
    Ripe and pure-fruited but the freshness really comes through with this (first time) 50/50 blend. Chalky, mineral note behind. Fine-grained tannins. Drives on the finish with the fruit and freshness. More than adequate understudy while awaiting the grand vin.
    16.5/20 points
    James Lawther MW - jancisrobinson.com

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Barde-Haut
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $82. 99
    Bottle
    $995.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Barde-Haut unwinds in the glass with aromas of blackberries, cassis and blueberries mingled with hints of violets and spices. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a deep core of ripe but lively fruit, powdery tannins and a floral finish, it's the usual blend of more or less 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (the latter increasingly deriving from massal selections taken at Clos l'Eglise). Drink 2025-2045.
    93 points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 07, 2023)

    The 2020 Barde-Haut is just as compelling it was from barrel. Blueberry jam, crème de cassis, hard candy, spice, new leather and lavender infuse the 2020 with exotic beauty. Soft contours and silky tannins add to its immediacy. Bright acids lend vibrancy to play off all the natural opulence. The 2020 is a fine vintage of Barde-Haut, one of the best in recent memory. The intensely saline finish alone is a thing of beauty. Drink 2027-2040.
    95 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Aromas of black and blue fruit, toasted spices, walnut and dark chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied with a juicy character and firm, polished tannins which build on the palate. Well-balanced, structured and compact with velvety texture and hints of spices and bark to close. Lingering finish. Try after 2027.
    95 points
    James Suckling

    I always love this wine, and the 2020 Château Barde-Haut is a quintessential Saint-Emilion revealing a deep ruby/purple hue, awesome notes of red plum, cherries, tobacco leaf, and chalky earth, full-bodied richness, bright acidity, and fine tannins. A gorgeous wine, it will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. Drink 2027-2047.
    96 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    A good drop of damson and black cherry fruits right up front, and holds its line while the more austere tannins come in towards the finish. Expertly extracted, self-contained right now, firm fruits that don't dip through the mid palate alongside a glossy wash of liquorice, black chocolate, sage and anis. This is clearly going to age well. 60% new oak for ageing. Owned by Hélène Garcin-Leveque, this is located right next to Troplong Mondot.
    94 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $160. 00
    Bottle
    $1920.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    A terrific performance for an estate on a continuing upward trajectory, the 2020 Beau-Séjour Bécot unwinds in the glass with a deep bouquet of cherries and blackberries mingled with violets and spices. Medium to full-bodied, pure and layered, it's deep and concentrated, with a vibrant core of fruit, polished tannins and a long, sapid finish. The 2020 is a blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, some two-thirds of which was matured in new oak, with the balance in tanks, amphorae and foudres. Drink: 2027-2055.
    95+ points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (April 2023)

    The 2020 Beau-Sejour Becot is a dense, powerful wine. A rush of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and sweet oak builds as this towering, vertically explosive Saint-Émilion opens in the glass. This is an especially broad, expansive Saint-Émilion, much of that attributable to the clay in these soils. The 2020 is magnificent in its intensity and overall volume. Superb. Drink: 2028-2050.
    97 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    This has a fantastic finish with crushed blackberries and raspberries and salt undertones. It’s full-bodied, yet really racy and polished with such fine, intense tannins. Love the length to this. Very distinguished and toned. Excellent energy. 85% merlot, 13% cabernet franc and 2% cabernet sauvignon.
    96-97 points
    James Suckling

    A brilliant wine that's up with the finest to date from this incredible terroir, the 2020 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot checks in as 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. Revealing a vivid purple hue as well as a drop-dead gorgeous nose of black raspberries, cassis, violets, and a liquid rock-like sense of minerality, it’s medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with ultra-fine tannins and perfect balance. This beauty deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve gracefully over the following two decades or more. Don't miss it. Drink: 2023-2043.
    95 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    With striking floral notes on the nose, you also find licorice, Asian spice, spearmint, cigar wrapper and an array of red and black plums. The wine is lifted, elegant, refined and focused on its purity and silky tannins. The energetic palate leaves you with layers of velvet-textured, sensuous, spicy fruits that lingers and expands for over 50 seconds in the finish. This is a new level of quality at Beau-Sejour Becot and also a change in style with less volume, but more intensity, purity and precision. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.3% ABV.
    96-98 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Velvety rich deep blue fruits, this is powerful and measured, fruit-forward and yet subtle, layered blueberry and raspberry with smoked almonds and mocha on the finish. Sleek and finessed fruit flavours, a sense of forward motion from beginning to end and a burst of freshly-grated minerality on the finish. Extremely good quality. This is the second to last vintage in the new cellar, before building a new cellar for 2023 vintage. They have done a lot of work in the vineyards studying the terroir to understand how smaller sectors and zones within each plot reacts, and this work of studying the plots will help to inform the new cellar. Harvest September 8th to September 29th. 3.5ph. A yield of 42hl/ha. 16 months ageing in 65% new oak barrel, 35% in vats, amphoras and 20hl oak tanks. Thomas Duclos consultant.
    95 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $320. 00
    Bottle
    $3840.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) wafts out of the glass with a glamorous perfume of red roses, kirsch, garrigue and black raspberries, giving way to a core of ripe blackberries and juicy black plums, plus earthy hints of truffles and tar. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely laden with loads of very finely packed and fragrant red and black fruit layers, framed by multilayered grainy and satiny tannin textures and amazing freshness, finishing fantastically long and mineral laced.
    95-97 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse is one of the most harmonious young wines I have tasted here in some time, maybe ever. All the elements are so well put together. The tannins that can usually be so fierce when the wine is young are totally covered by layers of inky dark fruit. Graphite, wild herbs, lavender, chocolate and gravel add layers of aromatic nuance. In the glass, the 2020 towers with its imposing, vertical structure and pure pedigree.
    95-98 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    This is a very cool and refined young Bordeaux with crushed-berry, walnut, mushroom, chocolate and salt character. Some wet earth, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with very integrated tannins that are polished and poised. Energetic, long and precise at the finish. 81.5% merlot and 18.5% cabernet franc.
    97-98 points
    James Suckling

    A blend of 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Château Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) should end up being up with the top wines in the appellation. Showing the more straight, focused style of the vintage, it has a monster of a mid-palate, full-bodied richness, building tannins on the palate, and incredible minerality on the finish. Loaded with cassis fruit as well as lead pencil and graphite notes, this dense, powerful beauty almost requires a fork. It’s brilliant all the way and will have 30-40 years of longevity.
    95-97+ points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Inky in color with purple accents, the wine pops from the glass with notes of crushed rocks, flowers, licorice, espresso, plums, cherries, black raspberries and oceanic nuances. Fresh, full-bodied, concentrated and intense, the layers of plush, pure fruits are made even better by its salty tannins and seamless finish that doesn't know when to quit. There is an incredible sense of purity in the fruits that comes through loud and clear in the more than 50-second finish. The wine is a blend of 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc.
    97-99 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Takes time to fully show itself - perhaps more than ever this year, as there is so much noise surrounding an estate that was overseen during the growing season and vinification by the team under Nicolas Thienpont, but given its final blend by new owner Josephine Duffau-Lagarosse, who will also take care of ageing from this point. Things kick off with a raspberry and damson softness that is quickly overtaken by iris, peony, white rose aromatics, giving a push-and-pull between flowers and fruit on the attack. As the palate opens out, blueberry and raspberry fruits dominate, as do fennel and almond notes, giving a spicy kick before a saline-drenched mouthwatering finish. As ever with Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarrosse, the wine combines delicacy with laser-like focus, and a build up of tannins that you barely notice until they kick back against the fruit. Takes a good few minutes before the softness that I found on the opening returns as the mid palate widens out, and the richly textured Merlot becomes dominant after a clear Cabernet Franc hit on the attack. It's going to be fascinating watching what happens over the next decade at this estate, but the quality and potential of this terroir is unmistakable.
    97 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

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    2020 Chateau Belair-Monange
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $435. 00
    Bottle
    $5220.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Belair Monange has also turned out nicely in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of rich cherries, plums, sweet spices, rose petals and creamy new oak. Full-bodied, rich and layered, it remains fresh despite its ripe, sun-kissed profile, and its generous payload of tannin helps to integrate its rather lofty level of alcohol. This is a success in its demonstrative, modern style. Drink 2025 - 2045.
    95 points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 07, 2023)

    The 2020 Bélair-Monange is tremendous. What a wine. It is easily the best effort since the Mouiex family bought the property. Rich, ample and dramatic, Bélair-Monange saturates the palate with waves of inky dark red fruit. Sweet floral, espresso and spice notes appear later, adding shades of nuance. Clean mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly. A wine of exotic beauty and allure, Bélair-Monange is a real stunner in 2020. Drink 2028-2060.
    98 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Intense aromas of wet earth, limestone cellars and dark fruits such as currants and blackberries. Then turns to flowers. Black truffles, too. Licorice. Gravel. Full-bodied with a solid palate of tannins that melt into the wine. It’s sleek and muscular with fantastic length and presence. Reminds me of great old Belairs from the 1950s. Cool wine. 98% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. Give it six to eight years of time. Best after 2028.
    99 points
    James Suckling

    The Grand Vin 2020 Château Belair-Monange is also 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc that's a blend of the upper limestone plateau and the more clay heavy soils on the hillside. Very much in the tight, structured style of the vintage, its dense purple hue is followed by a great nose of ripe black cherries, black raspberries, dried flowers, loamy earth, and camphor, with a beautiful sense of minerality. Opening up with time in the glass, it's full-bodied, has a deep, layered mouthfeel, gorgeous overall balance, and a great finish. It offers pleasure today but will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and will be a 30+ year wine. Drink 2030 - 2050.
    98 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    The combination of incredible purity in the fruit, silky textures, a complex aromatic profile sporting truffles, flowers, licorice, plums, cherries, and cocoa, and a finish that is all about its silky, cashmere texture is what we call a hit! In every sense of the word, this is a magical wine that is rich, full-bodied, sensuous, and sexy, with a finish that lingers, expands, and inspires you to take another sip to experience it all over again. Drink from 2025-2055.
    97 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Berliquet
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $130. 00
    Bottle
    $1560.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    A brilliant success for this property in the ascendant, the 2020 Berliquet opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with hints of warm spices and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's vibrant and dynamic, with polished tannins, a bright spine and a long, elegantly chalky finish. It represents another step up for Berliquet, which will soon benefit from a new winery. Drink: 2025-2050.
    95 points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (April 2023)

    Very soft and polished with beautiful tannins that are poised and beautiful. It’s medium-to full-bodied and gorgeously proportioned. Ready for even more polishing.
    95-96 points
    James Suckling

    Another brilliant Saint-Emilion in the vintage, the 2020 Château Berliquet is mostly Merlot yet includes close to a third Cabernet Franc, which no doubt contributes to its elegant, finesse-driven, floral character. It's incredibly pure and classy, with notes of red and blue fruits, sappy spring flowers, graphite, and baking spices all emerging on the nose. These carry to a medium-bodied, ultra-fine, pure, seamless 2020 that offers pleasure today and will offer pleasure in 15+ years as well. This wine is never the biggest or richest in a vintage, but it shines for its purity, balance, and elegance. It's beautifully done. Drink: 2023-2038.
    94 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Quite floral in nature, with tinges of orange rind, cherry blossoms, licorice, red plum liqueur and minerality on the nose. The wine is elegant, fresh, polished, sweet and long. Silky and precise, with no hard edges, there is length and salty tannins with energetic, pure red fruits squeezed over crushed rocks and stones. This is the best vintage of Berliquet I have ever tasted. The wine blends 69 % Merlot with 31 % Cabernet Franc 14.5% ABV.
    94-96 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    A slightly cooler terroir than its sibling estate Château Canon, a little more clay-based which gives weight, depth and power while also being austere right now, with grippy tannins and a bite of blood orange. Great stuff, can start drinking this in five to six years to allow the structure to soften while keeping the appeal of the wild cherry and blackberry fruits. 50% new oak for 16 months. Drink: 2028-2042.
    93 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Cambon La Pelouse
    Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $39. 99
    Bottle
    $479.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2023-2029)
    ABV: 13%
    Closure: Cork

    A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Red to black currant aromas are intermeshed with scorched earth, dusty cedar and hints of spicy black olives. Generous ripe blackcurrant and mulberry fruits carry ample richness across the mid weighted palate with vanillin cedar, dusty earth, black olive and spicy tobacco characters lying underneath. Fine grained yet sturdy tannin structure. Refined medium to long conclusion.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 13%

    Other Reviews....
    Attractive cherry red, this has cedar edging, toasty oak with attractive raspberry and redcurrant through the mid palate. Enjoyable but doesn't quite maintain the momentum. Now owned by Treasury Wine Estates.
    90 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    Toasted spices, crushed walnuts, and tar with ripe dark fruits. Medium-bodied, firm and chewy with hints of bitter spices to close. Flavorful finish. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot. Try after 2024.
    90 points
    JamesSuckling.com

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Capbern
    Saint Estephe, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $59. 99
    Bottle
    $719.88 Dozen
    Cellar: 6 - 8 Years (2029-2031)
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Chateau Capbern (formerly Capbern Gasqueton) is on a roll since the new owners took over the estate, along with Calon Segur, in 2012. Already blessed with prime vineyards close to heavyweights Montrose and Phelan Segur, their winemaking facilities have recently been rejuvenated and the wines haven't looked better.
    Vineyards at the estate are planted to 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, with an average vine age of 30 years. Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats, malolactic fermentation in tank, and the wine is aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 18 months.

    Superb colour saturation featuring an inky black heart and a very deep black dark red hue. Sailing out of the glass with authority are blackcurrant and liquorice scents infused with a mix of graphite, spicy cedar, dried herb and black olive notes. Medium to full in body the palate is awash with rich cassis and liquorice flavours which are framed by a sturdy graphite like tannin structure. Lending tension is some nicely balanced fresh acidity with notions of dusty vanillin cedar, tobacco, subtle black olives and spicy leather emerging through the back half. Opulent yet robust mouthfeel concluding long and generously fruited.
    Cellar 6-8 years.
    Alc. 14%

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Capbern offers up aromas of sweet cassis, plums, pencil shavings, loamy soil and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and seamless palate that's polished, penetrating and dynamic. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot and the balance Merlot, produced by Vincent Millet and his team from Calon Ségur. Drink: 2025-2045.
    91 points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (April 2023)

    The 2020 Capbern remains quite the powerhouse, but it has come together well. Punchy red berry fruit, kirsch, gravel and white pepper all meld together in a Saint-Estèphe of class and personality. There's real depth and plenty of character. This is very nicely done. Tasted two times. Drink: 2026-2040.
    91 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    This is pretty and aromatic with ripe black cherries and blackberries as well as hints of chocolate, sweet spices and nut shell. Full-bodied with a deep character of mellow black fruit. Firm and structured with ripe, fine-grained tannins and a velvety finish. Try after 2025.
    93 points
    James Suckling

    Another terrific Saint- Estèphe is the 2020 Château Capbern, which comes from the same team as Calon Ségur. (Current director Vincent Millet was brought on board in 2021.) Coming from 33 hectares of vines on sandy, gravelly, clay soils, the final blend is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The élevage spanned 18 months in 60% new French oak, and this beauty hit just 12.8% natural alcohol. Gorgeous cassis, violets, damp earth, iron, and classy oak all emerge on the nose, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with beautiful tannins, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and the vintage's pure, focused, age-worthy style front and center. Give bottles just 4-6 years and enjoy over the following two decades. Drink: 2027-2047.
    95 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Spicy, dark red berries, blackberry, savory herbs, cedar and cigar box open the nose. On the palate the wine is fleshy, rich, chewy and packed with ripe currants with peppery, savory herbs. There is length, freshness, complexity and character here. This a vineyard to keep an eye on as it getting better and better. The wine blends 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 14.1% ABV.
    92-94 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Fine, new saddle leather aromas, vivid violet, juicy blackberry and tobacco leaf. Smooth and fresh, it has superior depth with noticeable yet refined tannins. The high percentage of new oak and Cabernet Sauvignon make for a seamless, long finish: opulent, fresh and precise. Enjoy with duck breast. Drink: 2023-2040.
    95 points
    Panos Kakaviatos - Decanter

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Clerc Milon
    Pauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $199. 00
    Bottle
    $2388.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Clerc Milon - a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot with just a splash of Carmenere - has a deep garnet-purple color, opening with notes of tar, unsmoked cigars, bouquet garni and graphite, giving way to a core of ripe black and red currants, boysenberries and tree bark, plus a touch of black olives. The medium-bodied palate delivers fantastic tension and impressively ripe, fine-grained tannins to support the crunchy, energetic black fruit flavors, finishing with a lively herbal lift.
    92-94 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    Very pure character to this wine with crushed fruit and round tannins. It’s really transparent and delicate, yet bold at the same time. Super tannins. Vivid. Very primary and berry-like. May well turn out to be even better than this in bottle.
    95-96 points
    James Suckling

    The top wine 2020 Château Clerc Milon checks in as 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot and Carmenère, and it's another beauty, offering both richness and elegance. Ripe currants, cassis, damp earth, graphite, and crushed stone-like minerality define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a more focused, pure texture, plenty of expansive richness on the mid-palate, and ripe, building tannins. This beautifully layered, pure wine shows the style of the vintage nicely.
    93-95 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    With a floral, spicy, tobacco leaf, currant and chocolate filled perfume, the wine is elegant, fresh, supple and silky. There is a beautiful sweetness to the currants, cherries and plums in the mouth. The sensation of the Merlot comes through the blend more than usual as you find a touch of dark chocolate gently coating your palate in the finish, adding length, texture and complexity. This is so good now. But it is going to be even better with 7-9 years of age. The wine blends 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 13.3% ABV.
    94-96 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Cos d'Estournel
    Saint Estephe, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $530. 00
    Bottle
    $6360.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Chateau Cos d’Estournel have made great strides in the recent past, and their new winemaking facility is one of the most impressive and purpose driven in the area. All movement of wine from the moment grapes arrive is done via gravity, a process involving a style of wine elevator to raise and lower tanks, and one that removes the use of pumps entirely.

    While the wines from this Second Growth property have been patchy throughout their history, it’s no secret that they have been on fire over the last 15 years, producing rich, concentrated, and potentially very long lived wines warranting perfect scores for numerous wine critics.

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Cos d'Estournel is composed of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot. The harvest took place September 10–24 with a yield of 39 hectoliters per hectare. The alcohol weighs in at 13.46% with a pH of 3.9 and an IPT (total phenolic index) of 80. It is being aged in French oak barrels, 55% new.
    Deep purple-black in color, it pops with explosive scents of ripe red and black currants, black cherry preserves and black raspberries, followed by sparks of violets, wild sage, pencil lead and clove oil, with emerging hints of iron ore and damp soil. The medium-bodied palate has amazing elegance and grace contrasted by jaw-dropping energy, featuring a firm frame of finely grained tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with a whole firework display of mineral nuances. I love the way this Cos d'Estournel shimmies and shines—a unique vintage signature expressed so beautifully at this estate!
    96-98 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Cos d'Estournel is a wine of extreme elegance. Silky and light on its feet, the 2020 is incredibly nuanced. In fact it is without question the most finessed of all the top wines in Saint-Estèphe, showing more in common with some of its neighbors in the north of Pauillac than the more potent wines of Saint-Estèphe. Impossibly soft, silky tannins wrap around a core of dark red fruit, spice and orange zest. The 2020 is not a huge Cos, but rather a wine for readers who appreciate elegance over power. I can't wait to see how it ages. Magnificent. Drink 2030-2060.
    97 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    A brooding and deep wine just on the nose, with blackcurrants, redcurrants, spices such as cardamom and nutmeg, as well as black truffles with earth. Complex. Full-bodied with fine yet chewy tannins, that are wonderfully interwoven. Very structured and long. Needs five to six years to come around. 62% cabernet and 38% merlot. Try after 2028.
    98 points
    James Suckling

    Another brilliant Saint-Emilion, the 2020 Château Canon actually reminds me of the 2019 with its pure, elegant, yet concentrated profile. Based on 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Franc, it reveals a deep ruby hue as well as classic upper plateau notes of perfumed red and black fruits (black raspberries, darker cherries), wildflowers, graphite, and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, perfectly integrated tannins and acidity, and flawless overall balance. As with the 2019, it's not the blockbuster style of the 2015, but it’s lively, elegant, and pure class. It needs 7-8 years of bottle age to hit maturity and will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity. Drink 2030-2060.
    97+ points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    A first-growth level wine. With aristocratic ease it conveys nimble energy and sneaky sensuality. Pencil lead, white tobacco, cassis, juicy blackberry and cherry gorgeously delineated with refined tannins providing impressive structure for long-term cellaring. The pH is the highest since 2003, but you get neither heat nor imbalance. Impressive dry extract and rather 'normal' alcohol at 13.5% evokes a positively classic feel, leading to a subtle yet super-long finish. For owner Michel Reybier, the vintage marks 20 years of 'passion at the helm'. Comes encased in a uniquely gold-coloured engraved bottle with the phrase 'C’était Cos sinon rien' - Cos or nothing else. Drink 2025 - 2065.
    99 points
    Panos Kakaviatos - Decanter

    • 94
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    • 93
    • 97
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Croix de Labrie
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $240. 00
    Bottle
    $2880.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Croix de Labrie wafts out of the glass with flamboyant notions of sandalwood, red roses, ground cloves and cedar chest, giving way to a core of stewed black plums, Morello cherries and boysenberries, plus a waft of bouquet garni. The medium to full-bodied palate has a rock-solid backbone of firm, ripe, rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, nicely framing the muscular black fruits, finishing long and spicy.

    Axelle and Pierre Courdurié's 50-year-old, 3.79-hectare vineyard consists of a mix of clay and limestone soils, a portion of which are in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes and another portion of which are located at the foot of the Pavie slope in Saint-Émilion.
    93-95 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)
    The 2020 Croix de Labrie is rich, sumptuous and a real head-turner. Jammy dark fruit, blood orange, mint, cinnamon, sweet oak and mocha are all amplified. Plush, silky tannins wrap it all together beautifully. The 2020 is opulent and flamboyant, but also remains light on its feet, showing impeccable balance and tons of class. Drink 2025-2040.
    94 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    This is a glorious 2020 with such pure fruit of currants and blackberries, as well as dark chocolate. It’s full and layered and opens in the glass to a lovely layer of fine, velvety tannins that are bright and citrusy. Crunchy. It really opens and shows so many layers. Spectacular. Drink after 2027.
    98 points
    James Suckling

    The Grand Vin 2020 Château Croix De Labrie is brilliant and the finest wine I've tasted from this estate. Dense purple-hued, with a liqueur of limestone-like minerality intermixed with ripe black cherries, boysenberry, spring flowers, and graphite, it's full-bodied, has a wealth of fruit and texture, sweet tannins, and remarkable purity. Its oak is perfectly integrated, and it brings richness as well as an incredible sense of precision and purity. This brilliant Saint-Emilion will be drinkable in just 3-4 years and will evolve for two decades. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2026 - 2046.
    97+ points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    • 93
    • 97
    • 93
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau D'Issan
    Margaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $160. 00
    Bottle
    $1920.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 D'Issan is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec, aging in French oak barriques, 50% new. It has an alcohol of 13.29%, a pH of 3.71 and an IPT (tannin index) of 73. Displaying an opaque purple-black color, it has vibrant notes of Bing cherries, boysenberries, ripe redcurrants and juicy black plums, plus hints of pencil shavings, wild thyme, lavender and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate has impressive energy with crunchy red and black fruits and compelling tension, framed by fine-grained tannins, finishing long and mineral laced.
    93-95 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 d'Issan is the first vintage that incorporates Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec to complement the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend. Pretty floral and savory accents complement a core of ripe red/purplish berry fruit. Medium in body and vibrant, with superb persistence, Issan is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. The purity of the flavors is striking. Harvest took place over three weeks between September 17 through October 2, which is only about a week earlier than normal, so not that displaced relative to what was the norm in much of Bordeaux. Tasted three times.
    93-95 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Extremely floral and fruity with currants and blackberries. It’s full-bodied and very layered with delicious, dense character. Full-bodied with dusty, layered tannins. Rich, but not heavy. Long and chewy on the finish. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot and 1% malbec.
    97-98 points
    James Suckling

    This is a sinewy, powerful and forward-moving wine with a sense of momentum. Moreish, with the elegance and plump damson fruits that Issan delivers so well, but more muscular than some years with the impact of both Petit Verdot and Malbec that are in the blend for the first time in this vintage. These add layers of spice and the overall architecture is clear. Peony and violet notes add a kick upwards on the finish, this has a delicacy even though it is intense. Less Cabernet in the blend in 2020 than in 2019, as is often the case in the Médoc due to low yields. This new blend in Issan will be seen going forward after the addition of plots from the purchase of Château Pontac-Lynch.
    96 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    • 93
    • Hot Item
    • 90
    • 92
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau de Carles
    Fronsac, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $34. 99
    Bottle
    $419.88 Dozen
    Cellar: 5 - 6 Years (2028-2029)
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Nosing draws out enticing red to black currant and red liquorice aromas followed by some toasty cedar, graphite and subtle earthy black olive notes. The refined, medium bodied palate shows good underlying freshness with bright red currant and red liquorice fruits overlaying toasty cedar, earthy graphite and spice elements. Possessing lively acidity and a fine grained tannin structure it finishes with an elegant, mid length finish.
    Cellar 5-6 years.
    Alc. 13.5%

    Other Reviews....
    Rich and perfumed nose of lavender, walnuts, neroli, plums and oranges. It’s medium-bodied with firm, chalky tannins. Pretty spice and fragrance with a chewy finish. Better after 2024.
    92 points
    James Suckling

    The 2020 Château de Carles shows quite a bit of reduction on the nose at the moment, making it difficult to read. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fleshy with sweet plummy fruit laced with marmalade and quince. Fine weight on the finish, this is an enjoyable Fronsac. Drink 2025-2042.
    90 points
    Neal Martin - Vinous

    • 93
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau de France
    Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $56. 99
    Bottle
    $683.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Attractive blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice and hints of cedar and wood. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Classy and balanced.
    93-94 points
    James Suckling

    Lots of ripe red and black fruit, espresso, and chocolate notes emerge from the 2020 Château De France. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, and balanced on the palate, it offers ripe, polished tannins and notable purity of fruit. Drink this incredibly charming, layered, outstanding wine over the coming two decades.
    91-93 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Chateau de France has been on quite a roll lately and 2020 is no exception. The wine is dark in color and in its fruit. There are additional nuances of smoke, tobacco leaf, savory herbs and currants. Lush, round, silky and sweet, there is energy, length and complexity here. Plus, the wine sells for a song.
    91-93 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    • 92
    • 90
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau de La Dauphine
    Fronsac, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $49. 99
    Bottle
    $599.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 de la Dauphine opens with expressive notes of baked blackberries, prunes and Christmas pudding, leading to hints of eucalyptus, tar and dusty soil. The full-bodied palate is rich and decadent, delivering impactful exotic spice-laced black fruit preserves with just enough freshness and a velvety texture, finishing long and opulent.
    90-92 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    A firm, solid red with blackberry, black-licorice and stone aromas and flavors. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, polished tannins. Very well structured.
    92-93 points
    James Suckling

    Dark in color, the wine kicks off with licorice, Morello cherries, bitter chocolate, blackberry and smoke. Round, rich, lush and opulent, the velvet textured, chocolate covered plums on the palate really stick with you. Drink it young or age it for a few years.
    91-93 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Austere in all the right ways, with blueberry and redcurrant juice flowing through coiled tannins. Pretty concentrated overall, this is sappy with a silky texture, pulled in on the finish and has clear limestone influence. A yield of 30hl/ha. 30% new oak. Certified organic. Julien Viaud consultant (who has now fully taken over the Michel Rolland consultancy).
    93 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample taken 14 April. Aged for 12 months in barrel (30% new). Certified organic.
    Blackish purple. Some real energy on the nose. Then succulent fruit on the palate before some well-managed tannins. This needs quite a bit of time, and is a particularly dramatic vintage, but it is clearly capable of delivering quite a bit of pleasure eventually.
    16.5/20 points
    Jancis Robinson MW

    • 92
    • 92
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau de la Huste
    Fronsac, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $32. 99
    Bottle
    $395.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 de la Huste has a deep purple-black color, bursting from the glass with flamboyant notes of crushed blackberries, blueberry pie and ripe black raspberries, plus suggestions of violets, mocha and licorice. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of juicy black and blue fruits, framed by ripe, rounded tannins and impressive freshness, finishing long and perfumed. A beautiful powerhouse!
    92-94 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    Beautiful Fronsac with structure, polish and some class, offering blackberry, blueberry and violet aromas and flavors. 95% merlot and 5% cabernet franc.
    92-93 points
    James Suckling

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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Feytit Clinet
    Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $175. 00
    Bottle
    $2100.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Feytit Clinet is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, coming in at 14.8% alcohol and a pH of 3.7. Harvest took place September 11–28 and yields were 42 hectoliters per hectare. The wine is being aged in French oak barrels, 70% new.
    Deep purple-black colored, it storms out of the glass, shouting bold notes of plum preserves, blueberry pie and stewed cherries, before giving way to quiet whispers of Indian spices, potpourri, licorice and rose oil. The full-bodied palate is packed with muscular black fruits and a firm texture of ripe, rounded tannins, contrasted by lovely freshness and loads of alluring exotic spice layers, lingering long into the layered finish. A beautifully constructed paradox, this is a very smart, stylish Feytit-Clinet!
    94-96+ points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Feytit-Clinet is a brooding, powerful wine. Blackberry jam, graphite, licorice, incense, spice and espresso saturate the palate with tremendous depth. As always, Feytit Clinet is a wine of vertical structure. There's plenty of tannins, but they are pretty much buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. This is compelling. Drink 2030-2050.
    96 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    A deep, concentrated Pomerol charged with plush blackberries, iodine, cocoa beans and dark mushrooms. The full-bodied palate delivers lots of velvety tannins that melt away with the fruit in quite a long, seamless finish. Almost plush and hedonistic, but layered and intriguingly complex, with round, medium acidity. Better from 2025.
    95 points
    James Suckling

    One of the best kept secrets in Pomerol is the quality of the wines from Jeremy Chasseuil's tiny estate located between Trotanoy and Latour à Pomerol, just across the street from the Clinet sector. Coming from a 6.32-hectare parcel and a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Château Feytit-Clinet sports a dense purple hue to go with blockbuster aromatics of ripe black cherries, cassis, chocolaty oak, leafy herbs, and damp earth. Full-bodied and concentrated, with remarkable purity and ultra-fine tannins, this utterly brilliant Pomerol will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and will evolve for 20-25 years or more if well-stored. Drink 2027 - 2052.
    98 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    • 91
    • 95
    • 93
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Fleur Cardinale
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $99. 99
    Bottle
    $1199.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Composed of 77% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, with an alcohol of 14.5% and a pH of 3.57, the deep purple-black colored 2020 Fleur Cardinale bursts from the glass with powerful notes of crushed blackberries, stewed black plums and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of star anise, pencil shavings and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of softly textured, juicy black fruits, countered by fantastic tension, finishing with great length and loads of earthy layers.
    93-95+ points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Fleur Cardinale has a well-defined and intense bouquet of black cherries, crushed strawberry, star anise and light floral scents, gaining more composure as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, graphite-tinged black fruit and a thumping, powerful finish that leaves a peppery aftertaste. This will require 3–5 years in bottle just to shave some of its edges and is likely to need several years in the cellar. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
    91-93 points
    Neal Martin - Vinous

    Vivid and lively with blackberries, earth and some flowers. It’s full and layered with tannins that spread across the palate. Broader form to this young Bordeaux. Lots of tannins at the end.
    95-96 points
    James Suckling

    I tasted the 2020 Château Fleur Cardinale from three separate bottles, all of which showed brilliantly. Offering lots of red and black fruits as well as dark chocolate and rocky, earthy minerality, it’s a full-bodied, firm yet promising wine with terrific overall balance and length as well as purity of fruit. Short-term cellaring is the name of the game here, but it’s going to shine for at least two decades. It’s well worth seeking out.
    92-94 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Dark in color, the wine is all about its dark red fruits, licorice, smoke, wet earth and tobacco leaf characteristics. On the palate. the wine is rich, lush, ripe and voluptuous, with a finish that packs in layers of espresso, black fruits, licorice and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, concentrated and long, this is the best Fleur Cardinale I have tasted in a few years.
    93-95 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    A ton of depth and body to this wine, you feel the cool blue fruit of a later-ripening terroir, plenty of tannic grip and bite, curls up with graphite, cigar box, liquorice root and a tiptoe balance of slate and baked earth. Plenty of juicy acidity on the finish, this is precise and elegant with a punch, and continues the run of successful vintages at Fleur Cardinale. A yield of 43hl/ha. 100% new oak. New cellar just finished up at the estate.
    94 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    Full bottle 1,345 g. Cask sample taken on 7 April. QR code gives a ton of background information such as that this is the first vintage vinified in their new cellars. They are experimenting with microvinifications and have bought two large 'amphorae'. Assemblage of the 2020 is 77% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. They are reforesting, in the RSE sustainability programme and collaborating with Franco-Senegalese poet Souleymane Diamanka. Ain't modern technology grand?!
    Very dark purplish crimson. Mellow, appetising, layered nose. Really very distinctive and luscious with those tannins very beautifully disguised beneath interesting, cashmere-textured fruit with some mineral notes on the end. Very successful. It certainly isn't soft but you could almost drink it tonight. Exciting and flattering. Lots of energy.
    17/20 points
    Jancis Robinson MW

    • 95
    • Hot Item
    • 92
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    • 92
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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Fombrauge
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $74. 99
    Bottle
    $899.88 Dozen
    Cellar: 6 - 8 Years (2029-2031)
    ABV: 15%
    Closure: Cork

    Impenetrable black as night core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Ripe blackcurrant and black cherry aromas fill the nostrils intermingling with liquorice, vanillin cedar, tobacco, scorched earth and black olive notes along the way. A concentrate of blackcurrant, black cherry and liquorice fruits are layered across the full bodied palate with fabulous richness and density. Lingering through the back half are spicy vanillin cedar, scorched earth and subtle graphite elements. Firm and ripe in its feel, chewy tannins lead into a long, generously fruited yet robust conclusion.
    Cellar 6-8 years.
    Alc. 15%

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Fombrauge has a deep garnet-purple color and expressive notes of chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and baked plums, plus hints of espresso, graphite and cedar chest with a waft of Sichuan pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is elegantly crafted with lovely freshness and a well-tamed, grainy texture, finishing long and earthy.
    91-93 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Fombrauge is enticing right out of the gate. Cherries in liqueur, spice, rose petal, menthol, licorice and chocolate make a strong first impression. Racy and deep, with notable textural resonance, Fombrauge is terrific in 2020. There's plenty of opulence and yet the 2020 is nicely balanced. Drink: 2025-2040.
    92 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Very linear and tight with a firmness and brightness. Blackcurrant, earth, and lemon rind character throughout. Fresh and racy. Needs time to open. Drink after 2026.
    94 points
    James Suckling

    Cassis, black raspberries, graphite, spicy oak, and floral notes all emerge from the 2020 Château Fombrauge, a wonderfully textured, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet elegant Saint-Emilion. A wine that builds beautifully with time in the glass, it complex, has ripe, silky tannins, and a great finish. Tasted on more than one occasion, it never failed to impress. Drink this richly textured, sexy, beautiful 2020 over the coming 15+ years. Drink: 2023-2038.
    94 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Dark and ripe, suave, sleek and savoury. Striking and linear from start to finish. Clearly powerful, with concentration and intensity of flavour. Excellent acidity and life in general. It's still precise and tense which does restrict the overall expression, just putting the liquorice and minty freshness ahead of the black bramble fruits, but this has been well handled. A lovely, tight, liquorice-tinged wine. 15% alcohol gives a hefty feel but is integrated thanks to the acidity and the fresh, stony nature. A lot to like and true to style. Drink: 2024-2038.
    92 points
    Georgina Hindle - Decanter

    • 96
    • Hot Item
    • 94
    • 94
    • 93
    • 95
    • 94
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Fonplegade
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $99. 99
    Bottle
    $1199.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2023-2033)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Impenetrable midnight black colour with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Engulfing the olfactory senses are aromas of ripe blackcurrant, dark to black cherry and hints of liquorice followed by vanillin cedar, dusty earth, light tobacco and spice notes. Rich, concentrated and dense, the full bodied palate is swamped with succulent blackcurrant, liquorice and dark cherry fruits which are backed by a solid yet well integrated tannin structure that imparts a slightly chewy feel. Notions of earthy graphite, vanillin cedar and subtle spicy tobacco characters lie across the back half. Long, mouthfilling conclusion. Alluring and opulent this is a beautiful Saint Emilion.
    Drink over the next 8-10 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews....
    Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Fonplegade offers up notes of chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and blackberry preserves, followed by hints of smoked meats, cinnamon toast and potpourri. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with juicy black fruits, supported by velvety tannins and well-balanced acidity, finishing long and fragrant.
    93-95 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Fonplégade is elegant, gracious and lifted, just as it was from barrel. Bright acids lend notable energy in this silky, nuanced Saint-Émilion. Crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon, mint and blood orange are all woven together in this very pretty, alluring Saint-Émilion. This is beautifully done. Drink: 2027-2040.
    94 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Attractive aromas of ripe black and blue fruit with crushed violets, walnut and dark chocolate. Some dried leaves, too. Medium- to full-bodied with a plush and supple palate that offers an array of ripe, racy tannins and a crunchy, deep berry character. Structured and focused with a juicy finish. Drink after 2025.
    94 points
    James Suckling

    Utterly classic notes of red and black cherries, chocolate, tobacco, and spicy wood emerge from the 2020 Château Fonplégade, a medium-bodied, pure, balanced, elegant Saint-Emilion that comes from a gorgeous terroir on the Côte Pavie. Based on 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that was raised in 50% new oak, it has building tannins, a layered, mouth-filling texture, and outstanding length. Give bottles 2-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following 10-15. It's a complex, satisfying, impeccably made 2020. Drink: 2025-2040.
    94 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Crushed rocks, currants, cherries, flowers, licorice, smoke, cocoa and espresso covers all the bases in the perfume. Elegant and edgy, silky, soft and mineral driven, the fruits show a beautiful purity, freshness and refinement on the palate, leaving you with salty tannins and sweet plums that continue to linger and expand in the finish. The wine is made from a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc.
    94-96 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Beautiful aromatics, vibrant, full of clarity and bright fruit delivery. Plum, blueberry, bursting with juicy life. Keeps delivering on the palate also, sprightly and vibrant, and soaked in limestone, wet stone personality. Has good depth of flavour, with a kick on the finish. Will age well, this is great stuff, a brilliant example of St-Emilion limestone. A buy! First year certified biodynamic with Biodyvin (certified organic since 2013). A yield of 35hl/ha. Drink: 2026-2044.
    95 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    • 96
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    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Giscours
    Margaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $145. 00
    Bottle
    $1740.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Chateau Giscours in Margaux has been making wine in the region as far back at the 1300’s, but it’s only recently that they’ve earned a reputation for outstanding wines. Extensive replanting of the vineyards and a change in composition to include more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend has resulted in wines truly reflective of the appellation.
    Another technology pioneer in the region, Chateau Giscours was one of the first to use gravity to move wine in the cellars. While this practice is common now, it was unique in the 1800’s. They were also one of the first to use optical sorting of the grapes, another common tool used more widely today.

    Other Reviews....
    This estate is now enjoying its finest run since its glory days in the 1970s, and the 2020 Giscours is excellent. Unwinding in the glass with deep aromas of blackberries, cassis, pencil shavings, rose petals and sweet, loamy soil, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a layered and seamless mid-palate, excellent concentration and powdery structuring tannins. Drink: 2027-2055.
    95+ points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (April 2023)

    The 2020 Giscours is every bit as compelling as it was from barrel. Succulent dark cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, menthol and mocha fill out the layers nicely. There's a good bit of Merlot in this year, which lends quite a bit of mid-palate juiciness and textural depth, but there is also plenty of supporting structure underneath. The 2020 is both flamboyant and serious, a pretty appealing combination, I have to say. Tasted two times. Drink: 2028-2050.
    96 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Fascinating aromas of blueberries, crushed stone, and blackcurrants. Very aromatic. Full-bodied with juicy tannins that are creamy and intense. Slightly bitter, burnt citrus character. This is very muscular with velvety tannins. Needs time to soften. Try after 2025 but will age a long time.
    96 points
    James Suckling

    The Grand Vin 2020 Château Giscours is based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Merlot that spent 17 months in 50% new French oak. It has a gorgeous perfume of pure cassis, graphite, and flowers that gives way to a medium to full-bodied Margaux possessing ample tannins, a layered, concentrated mid-palate, remarkable purity, and one heck of a great finish. It’s another beautiful Margaux in the vintage that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and evolve for at least two decades. Drink: 2027-2047.
    94+ points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Deeply colored, the nose kicks off with an intensive display of flowers, truffle, cigar box, cedar, red and black currants, lead pencil and savory herbs. Full-bodied, silky, sensuous, rich and vibrant, the layers of black, red and blue velvety, spicy fruits hit everything just right. There is a beautiful purity to the fruit and symmetry on the palate. The sexy finish goes on and on as it lingers and expands. The wine blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon with 44% Merlot, 13.5% ABV. Picking took place September 8, October 2. Yields were only 36 hectoliters per hectare.
    95-97 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    This is an excellent Giscours, extremely precise, well drawn and seductive. There is both concentration and spice, and a vivid sappy feel to the raspberry and bilberry fruits, all drawn out through the palate as the slate texture kicks in. Plenty of things to keep track on here, not least that this is now the only estate in Margaux owned by the Albada family, as they have sold du Tertre. The focus is now entirely on Giscours, and I would expect to see a concerted effort to raise the visibility of the property. Changes include Thomas Duclos as consultant since 2019, and vineyard choices such as intra-plot harvesting, meaning going in waves through the plots picking individual vines when they are at full ripeness. Plus, Jerome Poisson is the new technical director (a French Canadian, who worked in Napa, Italy, Chile, Cognac and Alsace), replacing Lorenzo Pasquini. 50% new oak for ageing. A yield of 35hl/ha. Drink: 2028-2044.
    95 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    • 96
    • 94
    • 93
    • 94
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Grand Mayne
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $99. 99
    Bottle
    $1199.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2023-2031)
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. Magnificent inky black heart with a deep dark red black hue. Gorgeous violet, red to black currant and liquorice aromas blossom out of the glass trailed by vanillin cedar, earth, faint tobacco and delicate spicy black olive notes. Rich yet beautifully refined and eloquent, moreish blackcurrant and liquorice fruits overlay a toasty vanillin cedar, tobacco , earth and spicy black olive back drop. Iron girder like structure yet the tannins are seamlessly integrated and velvet like. Excellent depth, power and concentration concluding long and sumptuous. A delightful Saint Emilion.
    Drink over the next 6-8 years.
    Alc. 14%

    Other Reviews....

    Opaque purple-black in color, the 2020 Grand Mayne slowly unfurls in the glass to reveal gorgeous notions of ripe black plums, dark chocolate-covered cherries and blackberry pie, plus hints of licorice, cracked black pepper and unsmoked cigars with a touch of tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of rich black fruits, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and beautifully perfumed.
    93-95+ points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    I loved the 2020 Château Grand Mayne. This medium to full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly satisfying Saint-Emilion offers up ample mulled red and black fruits, some loamy earth, iron, and dried flower nuances, ripe tannins, and plenty of mid-palate depth. I still think the 2015 is the top vintage, but this is clearly in the same league as the 2015, 2018, and 2019, and it's going to drink brilliantly over the coming 15-20 years. Drink 2023-2043.
    94 points
    JebDunnuck.com

    The 2020 Grand Mayne has a very enticing, pure bouquet that unfolds wonderfully in the glass, with ebullient raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, orange pith and subtle tobacco scents. Well-defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with an impressive backbone. There's a soupçon of creaminess in the second half with a precise, lightly spiced and persistent finish that leaves you wanting more. There's no excuse not to have a few bottles tucked away in your cellar.
    94 points
    Neal Martin – Vinous

    • 93
    2020 Chateau Grand Village Blanc
    Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $59. 99
    Bottle
    $719.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Given they are under the same ownership of the Guinaudau family, Chateau Grand Village is often referred to as Chateau Lafleur’s second vineyard. The estate has been owned by the Guinaudau’s relatives for hundreds of years, however it was not until the year 2000 that they began to produce wine themselves from the property. Situated on the edge of the Fronsac region and classified as Bordeaux Superieur, the vineyard is planted to 79% Merlot and 21% Bouchets (Cabernet Franc). The terroir is similar to Saint Emilion with its mix of calcisol going down a foot or so to a bedrock mostly made up of asteria limestone. At Grand Village, they practice many of the same techniques employed at Lafleur, including pruning and de-budding adapted to each vine plant, crop thinning in summer and de-leafing. The grapes are picked by hand, followed by very careful sorting and selection. Grand Village also produces a white wine from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (85%) and Semillon (15%), from a 5 acre plot.

    Other Reviews....
    In 2020 a blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Semillon. Outperforming both price-point and appellation, Grand Village has an intense grassy character on the nose and zesty grapefruit and lime on the palate. Vibrant, pure and concentrated with lingering acidity and a stony finish. The Guinaudeau family are most famous for Château Lafleur, yet Grand Village Blanc continues to improve each vintage. Drinking Window 2022 - 2025.
    93 points
    Andy Howard MW - Decanter

    • 94
    • Hot Item
    • 95
    • 88
    • Nick's Import
    • Organic
    • Biodynamic
    2020 Chateau Haut Bergey
    Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $49. 99
    Bottle
    $599.88 Dozen
    Cellar: 5 - 6 Years (2028-2029)
    ABV: 13%
    Closure: Diam Cork

    Midnight black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Nosing draws out red to black currant aromas infused with black olives which are trailed by some liquorice, dusty vanillin cedar, tobacco and spice notes. Mid weighted the palate features blackcurrant and black olive flavours over an earthy tobacco, spicy cedar and dried herb background. Firming up the tightly wound medium to long finish and imparting a grippy feel is a stern tannin structure. A rather rustic Bordeaux that requires some patience.
    Cellar 5-6 years.
    Alc. 13%

    Other Reviews....
    Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Haut Bergey strides out of the glass with notes of stewed black and red plums, baked blackberries and Morello cherries, plus touches of tar, unsmoked cigars and charcuterie with a touch of bay leaves. The medium-bodied palate has a pleasant chewiness and just enough freshness to frame the black fruit layers, finishing long and savory.
    88-90 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    A very fine and polished 2020 with tar, blackberry, stone and wet earth aromas and flavors. Full and reserved with beautiful tannins and a long, long finish. Classy. Extremely well done. From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter certification. Try in 2027.
    95 points
    James Suckling

    Full bottle just 1,260 g. Demeter certified. Cask sample taken 2 April. 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec. Average yield was just 18 hl/ha. Aged for 16 months in 300-litre barrels and a 3,000-litre wooden tun.
    Blackish, concentrated crimson. High-toned nose suggests some subtlety. Lovely supple palate entry – very beguiling and distinctive. Lots of freshness and terroir expression here. The tannins are so ripe you hardly notice them; they creep up on you only at the end. This definitely treads its own path, and delivers what one might call new bordeaux with a fan of subtle flavours at the end. Chapeau.
    17/20 points
    Jancis Robinson MW

    • 97
    • 99
    • 96
    • 96
    • 99
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Haut-Bailly
    Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $330. 00
    Bottle
    $3960.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Based in Pessac-Leognan on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, Chateau Haut-Bailly has 30 hectares under vine planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. As it is only recently that the wines have truly excelled, with knock out wines in 2005/2009/2010/2015/2016, they are one of the best values in Bordeaux, but also one of the hardest to find.

    Other Reviews....
    A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 9th to 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.3%. Deep purple-black in color, it prances out of the glass with naturally beautiful notions of fresh black cherries, violets, mulberries and boysenberries, giving way to hints of redcurrant jelly, star anise, tilled soil and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is delicately crafted with velvety/grainy tannins and fantastic freshness framing the perfumed red and black berry layers, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note.
    96-98+ points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Haut-Bailly has developed into an elegant, richly-textured wine with all its elements in balance. Classy and polished to the core, the 2020 is a Haut-Bailly that favors finesse over power. It's a wine of extreme precision and persistence more than anything else. Red-toned fruit, dried flowers, spice and blood orange are some of the many notes that open over time. The 2020 spent 15 months in barrel, with 50% new oak. Drink: 2028-2060.
    97 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    This has incredible power and drive with blackberry, black olive and graphite. It’s full-bodied, yet dynamic and agile, with so much polished and muscular tannin. Yet, it remains in harmony and balance. So much character. The head of the chateau calls it diabolical beauty. 25% less production than the 2019. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.
    99-100 points
    James Suckling

    Another wine I underrated on release, the 2020 Château Haut-Bailly is just about pure perfection, and whereas the 2018 is closer in style to the 2009, this plays things a little closer to its vest and is reminiscent of the 2010. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it nevertheless cuts a focused, precise path across the palate and brings incredible purity in its darker fruits, smoked tobacco, cedar pencil, and Asian spice-driven aromas and flavors. The tannin quality here is off the charts, and this beauty has everything you could want from wine. It needs a solid 4-6 years (if not longer) to hit the early stages of its prime drinking window, and it's going to evolve for 50+ years. Drink 2023-2075+
    99 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Deeply colored, the wine explodes with fresh flowers, tobacco leaf, cigar box, currants, blackberry, Allspice, licorice, savory herbs and smoke aromas. On the palate, the wine is intense, balanced, silky and refined. The fruits express purity, harmony, length and complexity, finishing with layers of currants, blackberry, herbs, pepper and plums that hold your focus for at least 50 seconds. Give this at least 10-12 years of age. It will evolve and provide sensuous tasting for at least 25 or more years after that. The wine blends 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc., 14.3% ABV, pH 3.9. The harvest took place September 9 to September 25. The Grand Vin was produced from 60% of the harvest. 2020 was the first vintage produced in their new cellars.
    97-99 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Rich in texture and colour, this has clear layers and complexity, a wine that you want to take your time with, slow down and enjoy. One that will take its time to age also. This has a precision and a clarity to the aromatics, and a gentle buzz of minerality that gives a physical reaction in the mouth. Less exuberant than the 2018 or 2019, making this a vintage that suits the style of Haut-Bailly. A slight austerity to the tannins on the finish gives a blueberry redcurrant edge. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend (now around eight years old), usually co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon (sometimes with Cabernet Franc). IPT similar to 2016, 2010, 2005, but with a softness that comes from extremely ripe tannins. Strong potential for upscoring when it bottle.
    96 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    • 97
    • 100
    • 99
    • 97
    • 100
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Haut-Brion
    Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $1499. 00
    Bottle
    $17988.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Long before the 1855 classification of Bordeaux, Chateau Haut-Brion were renowned for their quality and style. When Thomas Jefferson visited the region in 1787 he noted the quality of wines in the area, creating his own hierarchy that listed Chateau Haut-Brion along with Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Lafite and the finest wines of Bordeaux. This same elite group were later given First Growth status, and Haut-Brion remains the only estate outside of the Medoc to claim this honour.
    Located near the city of Bordeaux, the 48 hectare Chateau Haut-Brion vineyard is planted to 48% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot for the reds, while the whites are a mix of 51% Semillon and 49% Sauvignon Blanc.

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Haut-Brion is more aromatically demonstrative than La Mission Haut-Brion, bursting with aromas of blackberries and raspberries mingled with licorice, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's rich and layered, with an enveloping core of fruit that's girdled by plenty of sweet, powdery tannin. Despite checking in at a similarly lofty alcoholic degree to the 2019, its more granular tannic profile tempers the vintage's sweetness of fruit and lends the wine a more classically proportioned, and more classically structured, profile. Drink: 2030-2065.
    99 points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (April 2023)

    The 2020 Haut-Brion is shaping up to be one of the wines of the year. Substance, depth and textural intensity elevate Haut-Brion into the realm of the sublime in 2020. All the elements are so wonderfully balanced. Inky dark fruit, gravel, lavender, violet and dark spice build as the 2020 gradually opens with some aeration. Wow.
    97-99 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    This is a superb Haut-Brion with incredible tannins that are wonderfully fine-grained. It’s really powerful. This is very primary with so much grape-generated tannin structure. Very, very long, going on for minutes. Seductive and friendly at the start and then takes you on at the finish with so much structure. Wine of the vintage?
    100 points
    James Suckling

    I finished my trip through Bordeaux with the 2020 Château Haut-Brion, and it was certainly a fitting cap to the trip. Revealing a deep ruby/plum hue, the 2020 exhibits extraordinary aromatics of ripe black fruits, scorched earth, cold fireplace, and acacia flowers. An absolute blockbuster on the palate, this structured, full-bodied, massively concentrated Pessac builds incrementally, with ultra-fine tannins, a deep, layered mid-palate, and a great, great finish. Richer and more concentrated than both the 2018 and 2019 (there are some similarities to 2010), this is a legend in the making. The blend is 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc, all of which will spend 15-18 months in 77% new French oak. Hide bottles for a decade, and it should evolve for 50-75 years. Drink: 2033-2093.
    100 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Dark, ruby, garnet in color, the wine exudes cedar, cigar box, tobacco leaf, smoke, roasted cherries, herbs, spice box and forest floor scents. What is amazing here is the incredible level of density, because it is also light on its feet, perfectly balanced, poised and energetic. Texturally, this is surreal. Picture velvet and polished silk on your palate coating each berry. The fruit offers intensity, purity and length, with a finish that exceeds 60 seconds. The seamless finish could put a smile on the most jaded taster. Do not be concerned with the alcohol levels as there is no heat. All of that is buried in the wealth of fruit. If you have the money, this is one of the great vintages of Haut Brion that promises to evolve for at least 4-5 decades with ease. The wine blends 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17.5% Cabernet Franc, 15% ABV. Harvesting took place September 7-September 29.
    98-100 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Concentrated and persistent. This remains quite tight overall with clear power, push and generosity of ripe blackcurrants, fragrant black cherries, blueberries, liquorice, cocoa powder, clove and wet stone. The acidity and oak keep the elements all very centred but there’s no denying this is a statuesque wine that will need time to come around. Vivid, full and well framed. Drink: 2030-2060.
    97 points
    Georgina Hindle - Decanter

    • 92
    • 90
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Joanin Becot
    Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $49. 99
    Bottle
    $599.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Joanin Becot has a deep purple-black color and fragrant notions of Morello cherries, black raspberries, stewed plums and violets, with hints of cardamom and Sichuan pepper, plus a touch of forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is soft and juicy, delivering compelling freshness and a beautifully harmonious finish.
    90-92 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    This is very spicy with lots of crushed sea salt and cloves. Dark fruit, chocolate and blackberries. Very round, yet chewy. A luxurious red from this appellation. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc.
    92-93 points
    James Suckling

    The combination of fresh, savory, spiced fruits, plums, mint and cherries is great from the get-go. Medium-bodied, soft, silky and pure, with a beautiful sweetness to fruits on the mid-palate, the wine ends with gentle polished kirsch and juicy plums. The wine is made from blending 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This is clearly a new level of quality for Joanin Becot.
    92-94 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Full of life, with a blueberry coulis burst on the attack and raspberry leaf edging. Some austerity to the tannins, but settles in to the glass, and this should be ready to go within a year or two of bottling. A yield of 20hl/ha, low mainly from the hail at the end of May rather than the drought. They lost around 40% of the vineyard (also why less Cabernet Franc is in the blend than usual). Consultant Thomas Duclos, technical director Jean de Cornuaud. The estate is located in St-Philippe d'Aiguilhe, with a cooler terroir than Beausejour Becot, meaning harvest here was September 19th to October 9th.
    92 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    • 95
    • 100
    • 96
    • 100
    2020 Chateau La Fleur-Petrus
    Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $630. 00
    Bottle
    $7560.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Unwinding in the glass with aromas of minty blackberries, loamy soil, black truffles and petroleum jelly, the 2020 La Fleur-Pétrus is full-bodied, ample and enveloping, with a rich, layered core of fruit framed by supple, polished tannins, concluding with a broad, licorice-inflected finish. As in 2019, it outshines Trotanoy as the star of the Mouiex Pomerol portfolio. Drink 2025 - 2045.
    96 points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 07, 2023)

    The 2020 La Fleur-Pétrus is a gorgeous, polished wine. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate lend tons of immediacy and primary fruit character. Suave on the palate, with exquisite length, La Fleur-Pétrus is a wine of total sensuality. In 2020, ripeness is pushed to the edge, while the new oak is a bit present. Bright acids and sweet floral notes linger on the long, beautifully delineated finish. This is a bit more extroverted than I remember en primeur, but superb just the same. Drink 2030-2060.
    95 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    One of the most powerful and significant La Fleur-Petrus I have ever tasted with incredible depth and power. It’s full and so layered with fine and intense tannins. It shows very dark fruits, dark chocolate with hazelnuts, and milk chocolate with almonds. This will age for eternity.
    100 points
    James Suckling

    The finest vintage from this address I've ever tasted, as well as a perfect wine, the 2020 Château La Fleur-Petrus reveals a dense purple hue to go with a deep, layered, full-bodied, yet flawlessly balanced style carrying a smorgasbord-like array of red and black fruits, chocolate, dried flowers, spicy oak, and damp earth. It's not a powerhouse in the style of Trotanoy, Vieux Château Certain, or say, Clinet, but is all about finesse, elegance, and complexity. This magical Pomerol will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for 20-30 years in cold cellars. Drink 2027 - 2057.
    100 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    The combination of incredible purity in the fruit, silky textures, a complex aromatic profile sporting truffles, flowers, licorice, plums, cherries, and cocoa, and a finish that is all about its silky, cashmere texture is what we call a hit! In every sense of the word, this is a magical wine that is rich, full-bodied, sensuous, and sexy, with a finish that lingers, expands, and inspires you to take another sip to experience it all over again. Drink from 2025-2055.
    97 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    • 90
    • 92
    • 89
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Lanessan
    Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $39. 99
    Bottle
    $479.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Sporting a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Lanessan has a lively nose of crushed redcurrants, black raspberries and blackcurrant preserves, plus hints of dried Provence herbs and pencil shavings. The medium-bodied palate has plenty of energetic red and black berry flavors, supported by grainy tannins, finishing deliciously refreshing.
    89-91 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (July 2021)

    The 2020 Lanessan is impressive, to say the least. Dark, layered and mysterious, the 2020 packs serious punch, the blackberry jam, incense, scorched earth and leather all melding together. I especially admire the wine's depth and textural intensity. Beautifully done.
    90-92 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Very beautiful, fine-tannined red with blackberry and blueberry character. Lovely chocolate and hazelnut undertones. Fine tannins. Fresh finish.
    92-93 points
    James Suckling

    Readers looking for a great buy in the vintage should check out the 2020 Château Lanessan, which offers ample dark (almost blue) fruits, cassis, and spring flower notes to go with a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, balanced beauty that has enough tannins and structure to warrant 2-4 years of bottle age.
    90-92 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Intense raspberry fruits, chocolate shavings, tobacco leaf and liquorice. Successful overall with rippling muscular tannins and good acidity. Owned by Domaine Bouteiller, this vintage was the last year with Paz Espejo, she has left after 10 years at the helm, her successor had not been announced at time of tasting (although she was château director as well as technical director, and in this Pierre Delage has taken over the role). September 22 to October 7 for the harvest. Eric Boissenot consultant.
    92 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    • 92
    • 94
    • 92
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Lascombes
    Margaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $175. 00
    Bottle
    $2100.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Lascombes comes skipping out of the glass with bright, cheery scents of raspberry coulis, blackberry preserves and fresh blackcurrants, plus suggestions of pencil shavings, dried roses and charcuterie with a waft of bouquet garni. The medium to full-bodied palate has great tension and energy, delivering crunchy red and black fruit layers and a firm, grainy frame, finishing long with an herbal lift.
    92-94 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Lascombes is gorgeous. Inky and deep, the 2020 is brimming with character. There is a bit less opulence than in some recent vintages, but that is not a bad thing. And plenty of inky dark fruit, leather and spice flavor. The 2020 is an attractive, mid-weight Lascombes with a good deal of richness and fine balance. Lavender, cloves, spice and new French oak linger on the suave finish.
    92-94 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Blackberries and spices, such as cloves and nutmeg, as well as licorice and hints of graphite. It’s full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins, yet they are polished and beautiful. Structured. Solid.
    94-95 points
    James Suckling

    A terrific success in the vintage, the 2020 Château Lascombes sports a dense purple color as well as gorgeous black and blue fruits interwoven with plenty of toasty oak. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has velvety tannins, good mid-palate density, and beautiful overall balance. It’s one of those wines that brings plenty of ripe fruit yet always has a solid sense of elegance and purity. Tasted twice.
    92-94 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    • 94
    • 92
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Lassegue
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $62. 99
    Bottle
    $755.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Lassegue needs a little swirling to begin, to unlock bright, cheery scents of fresh blackberries, black raspberries and redcurrants, plus hints of black cherry preserves, charcoal, woodsmoke and underbrush with a waft of tapenade. The medium to full-bodied palate has a firm structure of ripe, rounded tannins and just enough freshness to support the generous black fruits, finishing long and earthy.
    92-94 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The energy and focus of this wine is excellent with blackberry, salt, chalk and stone aromas and flavors. Some tar, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine, firm tannins and a long, flavorful finish.
    94-95 points
    James Suckling

    The 2020 Château Lassegue is another brilliant Saint-Emilion in the making. Offering a full-bodied, rich, textured, and at the same time pure and precise style on the palate, it has classic notes of ripe black cherries, charcoal, crushed stone, and truffly earth. Emerging from the home estate of Pierre Seillan, who’s the force behind the Verite wines in Sonoma, this beautiful 2020 is going to require just 2-4 years of bottle age yet keep for 15+.
    92-94 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    A measured yet powerful grip holds interest from beginning to end of the palate. This is just dripping with salinity from crushed stones, graphite and slate - a physical presence that balances beautifully with the fleshy black cherry and damson fruits, and the chocolate shavings. An excellent quality Lassegue, hard hitting and muscular but with pace and persistency. 52% new oak barrels (from 15 different forests - always a key signature of this estate's ageing policy). 3.6pH, average vine age between 50 and 60 years old.
    95 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    • 95
    • 98
    • 94
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Le Gay
    Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $270. 00
    Bottle
    $3240.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, Chateau Le Gay is on a roll over recent vintages. Since 2005 the wines have started to reach the peaks they showed with legendary vintages from the 1940’s and 1950’s culminating with the stunning pair of 2015 and 2016.

    Other Reviews....
    Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Le Gay erupts from the glass with scents of molten licorice and dark chocolate, giving way to a tantalizing core of baked black cherries, prunes and blackberry preserves, plus a hint of cardamom. The full-bodied palate is rich and decadent, featuring layers of black fruits and exotic spices with a firm yet velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. A hedonic powerhouse!
    94-96+ points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Le Gay needs a little coaxing from the glass, but responds with blackberry, bilberry, pressed iris and subtle brine scents that gain intensity with aeration; the oak is very well integrated. The medium-bodied palate features fine, grainy tannins and beautiful, very pure black fruit tinged with licorice. Superb delineation toward the finish, which fans out with style. This is a wonderful Pomerol, Le Gay fulfilling its potential as one of Pomerol’s dark horses. Superb.
    95-97 points
    Neal Martin - Vinous

    This is a young red with great intensity and vision that starts off slowly and builds with energy and verve. It’s so minerally with salty, chalky and spice undertones to the cool and vibrant, purple and subtle-fruit flavors. The tannins are wonderfully toned and polished and build on the palate to deliver something very special.
    98-99 points
    James Suckling

    • 96
    • 96
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    • 93
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Le Prieure
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $115. 00
    Bottle
    $1380.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2023-2031)
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Dense inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Sent sailing out of the glass is a mix of ripe red to blackcurrant and liquorice scents which are complimented by violet, vanillin cedar, earth, dried herb and subtle black olive notes. Rich, fleshy blackcurrant and liquorice fruits carry medium to full body weight across the palate with notions of vanillin cedar, dark chocolate, scorched earth, graphite and subtle spicy black olive elements lying underneath. Solidly structured with grainy tannins it finishes long and sturdy with loads of opulent fruit.
    Drink over the next 6-8 years.
    Alc. 14%

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Le Prieure is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, with 14.3% alcohol. It is aging for an anticipated 16 months in French oak barriques, 35% new. Deep purple-black colored, it needs a little swirling and coaxing to reveal fragrant notes of lilacs, underbrush and sandalwood over a core of Morello cherries and plum preserves, plus a waft of woodsmoke. The medium to full-bodied palate has beautiful energy and tension, featuring layers of juicy red and black fruits with a plush texture, finishing long and perfumed. What a stunner!
    93-95 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Le Prieuré is so elegant and nuanced. As always, readers will find a Saint-Émilion built on linear intensity and vibrancy more than size. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, mocha and crushed rocks are all beautifully delineated. The clean, intensely mineral finish is absolutely striking. This is such a gorgeous wine. Drink 2028-2040.
    96 points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous

    The 2020 Le Prieuré has a sophisticated and beautifully defined bouquet with perfumed red cherry, crushed strawberry scents, seamlessly integrated oak, and just a background sous-bois aroma. The palate is very well balanced with silky tannins that belie the structure underneath, quite tensile with a judicious splash of black pepper on the finish. One of the finest examples that I have tasted from this diminutive Saint-Émilion. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2027-2050.
    95 points
    Neal Martin – Vinous

    Aromas of ripe dark fruit, crushed walnuts, chocolate and overturned earth. Medium- to full-bodied, structured and meaty. It has firm tannins and a polished texture. Ripe yet fresh with a crunchy fruit character and creamy finish. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2024.
    93 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    • 98
    • 98
    • 97
    • 97
    • 98
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Leoville Las Cases
    Saint Julien, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $699. 00
    Bottle
    $8388.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Chateau Leoville Las Cases is one of the larger classified estates in Bordeaux, with the Second Growth Saint-Julien property totalling 98 hectares. Winemaking is very traditional, using old oak vats for fermentation, and up to 90% new French oak for maturation. While the wines can look rather austere in their youth, from great years they can resemble some of the finest First Growth wines as they reach maturity.
    The Chateau also produces a second wine, Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases (from 2009), which is not to be confused with Clos du Marquis, a wine that is always produced from a separate parcel and is considered a standalone brand.

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Léoville Las Cases is a classic in the making, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, cassis, loamy soil, violets and dark chocolate framed by a discreet touch of new oak. Full-bodied, broad and layered, it's rich and concentrated, with a deep core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins and lively acids. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, it's built for the cellar. Drink: 2030-2060.
    97+ points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (April 2023)

    The 2020 Léoville Las Cases has developed into a powerhouse. Then again, that is Las Cases. En primeur, I thought the 2020 was a bit shy, but its true personality has to emerge. Blackberry jam, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice, espresso and plum all saturate the palate. Vivid and explosive, the 2020 is dizzyingly rich, with plenty of Las Cases tannins that will require patience. I am not sure when the 2020 will be ready to drink, but it won't be anytime soon. Las Cases is one of the wines of the vintage in 2020, that much is pretty clear. Drink: 2032-2070.
    98+ points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    A linear and very racy wine with super fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Superb. It’s full-bodied yet really focused and polished with a length and intensity. Lots of currants and graphite. Very classy and fine. The new 1996. Give it six to seven years to come around.
    98 points
    James Suckling

    Another 2020 that's going to demand patience, the 2020 Château Léoville Las Cases is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot that was raised in 80% new French oak. It's a regal, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, flawlessly balanced 2020 with a pure core of cassis and darker currant fruits, a layered, seamless mouthfeel that carries substantial tannins, perfectly integrated oak, and subtle floral, mineral, and leafy herb nuances. Playing in the concentrated yet focused and structured style of the vintage, it's going to need a decade to hit the early phases of its prime drinking window and will have 50-75 years of longevity. Drink: 2035-2085.
    98 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Dark garnet in color, the wine pops with aromas of tobacco leaf, cigar box, cedar, herbs, black currants, coffee and spice. Refined, fresh, polished and firm, the fruit is vibrant, long and intense. The tannins are ripe almost creamy in texture. The finish is long, regal and compelling, leaving you with layer, of black currants and cassis. Give this at least 12-15 years before popping a cork and enjoy it for the next 3 decades after that. The wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, 13.68% ABV, 3.80 pH. The harvest took place from September 12 - September 27, making this the earliest vintage since 1989.
    96-98 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    Perfumed touches on the nose, quite high toned, blackcurrant but almost liqueur with rose petal and candy floss nuances. On the point of ripeness, still tense, not hugely expansive in the mouth or particularly weighty but juicy with a really confident energy to it - vibrant and compelling. Tannins are perfectly integrated, so fine, this has a silky overall texture with a hint of grip coming towards the mid palate. Driven and straight, not deviating from the core. Almost unfriendly, but you know this has been well made - it’s sleek, with sinewy muscles, just caged right now needing time to come around. I love the precision to the elements, there’s such a sharp attention to detail with a liquorice, slate and pencil lead tang. The flavours need coaxing a little; this is a sleeping beauty waiting to awaken, but when it does it will be delicious because of the precision. A wonderful wine that makes you really think about how it’s going to evolve. Drink: 2029-2057.
    97 points
    Georgina Hindle - Decanter

    • 91
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Les Trois Croix
    Fronsac, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $47. 99
    Bottle
    $575.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Blackberries and blueberries with some crushed-stone character in both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with firm tannins. Lightly chewy at the end. Pretty refinement to this.
    91-92 points
    James Suckling

    Ripe black and red pit fruits are packaged with crushed rocks, stones, salty tannins, spice and savory herbs. Round and seductive, with a fresh, savory, chewy finish. Give this 2-4 years before pulling a cork and enjoy it for 12-15 years after that.
    91-93 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    An intense and concentrated Fronsac, this is high quality and powerful with blackberry and loganberry fruits and touches of grilled coffee bean aromatics. An excellent Les Trois Croix but a little atypical in its power. Will age well but not quite as juicy as in most years, takes away a little of the joy. A yield of 37hl/ha. 32% new oak.
    92 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    • 90
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Lestage
    Listrac Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $37. 99
    Bottle
    $455.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    A chewy, tannic red, but it turns polished at the end. Medium-bodied. Dark fruit with wet-earth and mushroom undertones.
    90-91 points
    James Suckling

    • 93
    • 94
    • 92
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere
    Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $110. 00
    Bottle
    $1320.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The deep purple-black 2020 Malartic Lagraviere leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of Bing cherries, black raspberries, ripe plums and boysenberries, plus suggestions of pencil lead, wild sage and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, the palate has lovely energy and freshness, offering a solid backbone of grainy tannins to support the lively red and black fruit layers, finishing savory.
    The tentative blend is 50.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47.8% Merlot, and 1.8% Cabernet Franc, with only 38% of production going into the grand vin. The alcohol is 14% this year.
    Commencing with the 2020 vintage, the estate has chosen a new bottle for the grand cru and second vin, highlighted by an engraved ship, the symbol of the estate.
    92-94 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Malartic Lagravière, whose picking was completed on September 24, before the rains, has a bright, vivid nose of mineral-infused red fruit mixed with hints of blueberry and cassis. Very focused and precise, this is an aromatically sophisticated Pessac-Léognan. The palate is medium-bodied with graphite-tinged black fruit, hints of wild mint coming through, and lively and tensile toward the finish. This is one of the best vintages of Malartic Lagravière that I have encountered out of bottle. Ignore at your peril.
    94-96 points
    Neal Martin - Vinous

    Lots of blackberry, cherry and walnut aromas and flavors. Some tar, too. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins that are polished and energetic. It turns linear and long at the end. Juicy too.
    94-95 points
    James Suckling

    The 2020 Malartic Lagravière is a powerful, tightly wound wine. There is perhaps a bit less opulence than in years past, but that just gives the wine an extra kick of energy and vibrancy that is quite attractive. Inky red cherry fruit, rose petal, spice, cedar and cinnamon all grace this beautifully taut wine from the Bonnie family. Tasted three times.
    93-95 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    • 93
    • Hot Item
    • 90
    • 91
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Marjosse
    Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $24. 99
    Bottle
    $299.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2023-2029)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Diam Cork

    A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Totally opaque black dark red colour. Red to dark currant and mulberry aromas infused with fresh herbs drift from the glass followed by some pencilly cedar and black olive like notes. Medium bodied the palate is generously endowed with rich red to black currant and red liquorice fruits which overlay a mulberry, cedary tobacco, earth and spicy black olive back drop. Sturdy fine grained tannin structure finishing with ample length and refinement.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews....
    Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Marjosse comes barreling out of the glass with rambunctious scents of cassis, crushed blackberries and black plum preserves, followed by hints of dark chocolate, anise and tar, plus a fragrant waft of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is soft, juicy and wonderfully refreshing, delivering wonderful poise and expression with a fun burst of pure black fruit on the finish. Delicious!
    91-93 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    This shows notes of ripe berries, vanilla, licorice, crushed walnut and cocoa. Medium-bodied with ripe, supple tannins and a creamy texture. Fruit-forward and flavorful. Drink now, but better give a year or two.
    90 points
    James Suckling

    A touch of reduction on the nose which clears as it relaxes in the glass. This is well put together, has definition and finesse, and is punching above its weight in the appellation. Ambitious, well managed tannins and juicy red fruits; 2% Malbec completes the plantings. I don't have the 2020 blend.
    91 points
    Jane Anson - Decanter

    Medium garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Marjosse Rouge needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of cast-iron pan, crushed rocks, and dusty soil over a core of red plums, blackberry preserves, and mulberries, plus a hint of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly knit with fine-grained tannins and bold freshness supporting the nuanced black and red fruits, finishing long and minerally.
    94 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

    • 94
    • 93
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Marsau
    Francs Cotes-de-Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $44. 99
    Bottle
    $539.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Marsau tastes like the very essence of Francs Côtes de Bordeaux, with aromas of violet, cassis, flowers, blueberry, graphite and a touch of menthol. It’s medium to full-bodied, broad, vibrant and vinous, with terrific freshness and a long, sapid, saline finish. I admit to having a weakness for the wines from this small estate owned by Anne-Laurence and Mathieu Chadronnier. One of the best vintages ever produced here. Drink 2025 - 2030.
    93 points
    Yohan Castaing - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)

    There is a raciness to the blue fruit. Some blackberries, mineral and a whiff of bark, cream and black mushrooms here. Pure, medium- to full-bodied on the palate with dense tannins that give a fine grip. Drink or hold.
    94 points
    James Suckling

    • 91
    • 92
    • 92
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Montlandrie
    Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $57. 99
    Bottle
    $695.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot was picked between the 18th and the 22nd of September, and the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon were picked from the 23rd to the 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.5% and is aging in French oak barrels, 40% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackberries, fresh, juicy black plums and mulberries, plus hints of bay leaves, cardamom, ground black pepper and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate possesses impressive freshness with a solid backbone of soft, rounded tannins and bags of ripe black fruits, finishing long with a peppery kick. 53,000 bottles are expected to be made.
    92-94 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Montlandrie is powerful, densely constituted and full of character. Inky red/purplish fruit, cedar, spice, mocha and dried flowers are all laced together. Far from an easygoing wine, it packs a serious punch, and I expect it will age wonderfully. In 2020, the Montlandrie may very well be the hidden gem in the Durantou range. (This is the second year in the new winery.)
    91-93 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Very salty and tangy with some white pepper, too, as well as lots of blackberries and blueberries. Medium body with delicate yet firm tannins that show intensity. Firm finish.
    92-93 points
    James Suckling

    Plum liqueur, flowers, truffles and crushed stone all make an appearance on the nose. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine is soft, fresh, lively, sweet and round, finishing with lifted, ripe, juicy red plums, licorice, spice and black cherry.
    92-94 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    • 95
    • Hot Item
    • 94
    • 95
    • 93
    • 92
    • Nick's Import
    2020 La Dame de Montrose
    Saint Estephe, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $110. 00
    Bottle
    $1320.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 8 - 10 Years (2031-2033)
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Diam Cork

    Impenetrable inky black heart with a very deep black dark red hue. Elevated red and black currant aromas mingle with hints of liquorice, graphite, hints of tobacco, scorched earth, black olives and spice. Mid weighted, focused and refined the palate features an array of rich red and black currant fruits over a chiselled back drop of graphite, liquorice, cigar box, earth, black olive and spice. Muscular tannin structure with good energy and a tense yet long and elegant finish.
    Cellar 8-10 years.
    Alc. 13.5%

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 La Dame de Montrose is fabulous. Rich, dense and expansive, the 2020 offers notable vibrancy and a good bit of energy too. Bright acids cut through a core of red/purplish fruit in what is an intense, wonderfully saline Dame. The 2020 finishes with remarkable elegance and sophistication. Drink 2025-2035.
    94 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Blackcurrants with crushed stone and slate. Lead pencil. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and precision. Fantastic length and focus. One of the best Dames I have had. Organically grown grapes. 48% merlot, 46% cabernet sauvignon and 3% petit verdot and cabernet franc.
    95 points
    James Suckling

    The second wine of Château Montrose, the 2020 La Dame De Montrose is terrific, with a sunny, forward, medium-bodied style as well as lots of ripe red and black fruits, notes of sweet tobacco, sandalwood, and spice, supple tannins, and outstanding length. Open and complex, it’s going to shine for 15 years if well-stored. The blend is 49% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, checking in at the same alcohol as the Grand Vin, 13.4%. Drink; 2023-2038.
    92 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Soft purple flowers on the nose, quite perfumed and seductive tones with ripe black fruit, peonies, blueberries and plums. Rich and supple, round with mouthwatering acidity - clean and crisp, steely and mineral with a core of crushed stones, pencil lead, slate and liquorice-edged black fruits. Power and concentration - it's plush and potent, but also quite tight with the flavours expanding vertically. Not as generous and openly friendly at this point but so svelte and well worked with a sense of style to it. Drink 2024 - 2036.
    93 points
    Georgina Hindle - Decanter

    • 92
    • 94
    • 92
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Moulin Du Cadet
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $67. 99
    Bottle
    $815.88 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Moulin du Cadet springs from the glass with lively scents of plum preserves, wild blueberries and black raspberries, plus suggestions of menthol, chargrill, Indian spices and tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of ripe, juicy black and blue fruits, framed by velvety tannins and a racy backbone, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. A property clearly on the upward swing, this is one to watch!
    This 2.85-hectare vineyard was acquired by the Lefévère family in 2015, owners of the nearby Sansonnet and Soutard Cadet. The 100% Merlot vines have an average age of 35+ years and are planted at a density of 6,000 vines per hectare. The soil is a mix of fine clay and limestone.
    92-94+ points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Moulin du Cadet possesses tons of energy and vibrancy to complement its racy red/purplish berry fruit. Rose petal, mint, cedar, spice and sweet floral notes develop with a bit of coaxing in the glass, all framed by clean mineral notes that extend the finish. It’s nice to see a less pushed style here, as the purity of the fruit is impressive. The 2020 might be the most refined Moulin du Cadet of recent times, or ever. It's a jewel of a wine, that much is certain. Tasted two times.
    92-94 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Impressive sample. This is really fine with long, refined and linear tannins that are so polished and beautiful. Full-bodied, tight and refined. Goes on for minutes.
    94-95 points
    James Suckling

    Another gem, the 2020 Château Moulin Du Cadet boasts a deep purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe currants, black cherries, crushed stone, and classy oak. A total blockbuster on the palate, it brings gorgeous richness and depth while still showing the pure, fresh, precise style of the vintage nicely. With ripe, polished tannins, impeccable balance, and a great finish, it should be snatched up by readers.
    94-96+ points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    • 92
    • 97
    • 94
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Nenin
    Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $175. 00
    Bottle
    $2100.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    A blend of 68% Merlot (harvested 8th to 16th September) and 32% Cabernet Franc (harvested 21st to 23rd September), the 2020 Nenin is aging in French oak barriques, 40% new. It has an alcohol of 14%, a pH of 3.65 and an IPT (tannin index) of 76. Deep purple-black in color, it glides effortlessly out of the glass with wonderfully pure notes of crushed blueberries, fresh blackberries and ripe red and black plums, plus suggestions of lavender, star anise and Ceylon tea with a waft of cast-iron pan. The medium-bodied palate is fantastically elegant and beautifully poised, featuring exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the perfumed red and black fruit layers, finishing long and mineral laced. A real head-turner!
    94-96+ points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Nénin now comes exclusively from the Pomerol plateau. It was picked September 8–16 for the Merlot and September 21–23 for the Cabernet Franc, and raised in 40% new oak. Whereas the Fugue de Nénin is open and expressive, clearly the Grand Vin cares little for showing its wares at this early stage, remaining tight-lipped for an hour before almost reluctantly opening with blackberry, thyme and gravelly scents, all well defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and a fine bead of acidity. The Cabernet Franc imparts welcome pepperiness toward the latter half – not a million miles away from Trotanoy. This trait turns more toward a pencil lead note with continued aeration. A serious Pomerol that deserves 5–7 years in the cellar, but has the substance to give 30 years of drinking pleasure.
    92-94 points
    Neal Martin - Vinous

    This is from only the old vines in the clay and gravel soils on the plateau. Really fantastic. It’s medium-to full-bodied and the tannins just roll off the palate at the end. Dark fruit and spices. So long. One of the best modern wines from here? 68% merlot and 32% cabernet franc.
    97-98 points
    James Suckling

    A blend of 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Franc raised in 40% new oak, the 2020 Château Nenin brings the intensity up a notch, offering a rock star nose of cassis and darker berries as well as crushed stone, graphite, chocolate, and violets. The purity is spot on and it has a precise, focused texture that's very much in the vintage, flawless balance, and a great finish. It's another gem of a Pomerol in the vintage readers will love to have in the cellar. For the tech geeks out there, the alcohol reached 14% and the pH was 3.65 with an IPT of 76.
    94-97 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    • 98
    • Hot Item
    • 98
    • 98
    • 97
    • 98
    • 97
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Palmer
    Margaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $799. 00
    Bottle
    $9588.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 10 - 30 Years (2033-2053)
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Chateau Palmer has been one of the most consistent and highly regarded wines in Bordeaux for many years, and also one with fantastic ageing potential. Situated in Margaux and covering 66 hectares, the vineyard is planted to 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot. Soils here are a mix of gravel, clay, and sand. Interestingly their greatest parcel of land that is situated just behind the Chateau was not part of the property at the time of the 1855 classification, and explains in part why Palmer was only granted Third Growth status.

    Midnight black dark red heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. The wonderfully perfumed nose offers up intoxicating scents of violets, red currant, red cherry and earth which are complimented by graphite, subtle tobacco, dried herb and spicy cedar notes. Rich red to black currant and liquorice fruits flood the palate with great force yet the overwhelming feeling is one of grace and refinement. Earth, tobacco, dried herb, subtle black olive and spicy cedar elements are ingrained through the back half. A beautiful framework of muscular tannins lend firmness to a long, deeply layered finish that shows remarkable freshness and eloquence.
    Cellar 10-30 years.
    Alc. 14%

    Other Reviews....
    Aromas of raspberries, cassis and cherries mingle with hints of violets, raw cocoa and hints of truffle in a perfumed bouquet. The 2020 Palmer is a full-bodied, layered and seamless wine that's deep and concentrated, with a vibrant core of beautifully pure and perfumed fruit, lively acids and ultra-refined tannins. This suave but authoritative Palmer is one of the high points of the vintage. Drink 2027 - 2060.
    97 points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)

    The 2020 Palmer is exceptional. Soft, seamless and ample, the Grand Vin caresses the palate with stunning depth and intensity. Super-ripe black cherry, licorice, cloves, menthol and chocolate meld together in the glass. As always, Palmer is made from blocks on gravelly/clay soils (as opposed to the more gravelly/sandy soils for Alter Ego) which gives the wines the breadth and creaminess to match its exotic personality. There is a restrained exuberance here that is so appealing. Drink 2030-2060.
    98 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Great aromas of blackcurrants, black truffles, blueberries, lead pencil and hints of cedar. Full-bodied and powerful with fantastic tannin backbone giving it great length and power. Muscular. Toned. Flexing. This needs time. Best after 2028.
    98 points
    James Suckling

    The flagship 2020 Château Palmer checks in as 48% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot that's aged one year in 50-60% new barrels before moving to foudre. It's another ripe, sexy, yet incredibly pure wine from this team offering loads of black and blue fruits, some iris flower, spice, iron, and obvious mineral nuances, full-bodied richness, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It's easily one of the most opulent, sexiest wines from the Médoc, and while it's already just about impossible to resist, it deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will evolve for 40+ years.
    97 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    An irresistible wine from Palmer in 2020, sumptuous and voluptuous, open and appealing yet with all the elements so very carefully set in their place. Rich and evocative on the nose, dark and brooding with softly perfumed violet and rose aromas but it’s the texture that captivates on the palate with soft and seductive velvety tannins that immediately expand in the mouth giving power but also refinement. Mouthwatering and juicy but rich at the same time, so approachable you could drink this right now and just marvel in its nuance, structure and ease - and the oak integration is seamless. I love the liquorice bite and chalky sensation alongside vibrant black fruit though a sense of heat and menthol, liquorice freshness at the finish reminds you this is a serious wine that is built to last. This really carries the Margaux beauty and charm. A long life ahead but once opened this will disappear out of the bottle instantaneously. Drink 2028 - 2059.
    98 points
    Georgina Hindle - Decanter

    • 95
    • 97
    • 96
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Pape Clement
    Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $220. 00
    Bottle
    $2640.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Named after its most famous owner, Pope Clement V, Chateau Pape Clement in Pessac Leognan makes both red and white wine from their 32.5 hectare vineyard. Vineyards for the red wine is planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, while the soils here are a complex mix of gravel and clay over a base of clay, limestone and sandstone. Maturation takes place in 100% new French oak, and while Bernard Magrez has refined the style since taking over winemaking duties the wines are still rich and lush in style with a concentration of ripe fruit.

    Other Reviews....
    Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Pape Clement comes barreling out of the glass with bold notes of cassis, plum preserves and licorice, giving way to scents of cedar chest, crushed rocks, charcoal and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly coiled with beautiful tension and a firm, finely grained texture locking in the layers of black fruits and minerals, finishing with great length and energy. The blend this year is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, aging mainly in French oak barriques, 66% new, with about 10% aging in large oak foudres. The wine will spend approximately 18 months in barrels.
    96-98 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Pape Clément, which I afforded an hour’s aeration, has a very precise bouquet of pure blackberry, cedar, mint and violet aromas, quite discreet but paradoxically intense; these aromas are very seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, lithe tannins framing wonderfully pure black fruit laced with crushed stone and a judicious touch of white pepper. Seamless in texture, this is a sophisticated Pape Clément in the making, an outstanding wine that should age brilliantly in bottle.
    95-97 points
    Neal Martin - Vinous

    Superb aromas of blackberries, crushed stones, iodine and graphite. Full-bodied with ultra fine tannins and a balanced finish. Such length and beauty. Very close to the 2019 in quality.
    97-98 points
    James Suckling

    Ranking with the top wines of the vintage, the dense purple-hued 2020 Château Pape Clement offers a sensational bouquet of pure crème de cassis interwoven with notes of liquid violets and classy oak. Possessing flawless balance, full-bodied richness, and ultra-fine tannins, it excels in this vintage and has a pretty, elegant, yet also layered and concentrated profile. It will drink well with just short-term cellaring yet evolve gracefully for 20-30 years. I was able to taste this on multiple occasions, and it always checked in near the upper end of the scale. This is a gorgeous wine in the making.
    97-99 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    • 97
    • 94
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Pape Clement Blanc
    Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $315. 00
    Bottle
    $3780.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Pape Clement's 2020 Blanc leaps from the glass with gregarious notions of fresh pink grapefruit, Bosc pears and lime blossoms with hints of coriander seed, yuzu zest and white pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers fantastically intense citrus and pear flavors with a racy backbone and silky texture, finishing long and fragrant. The blend this year is 67% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon and 3% Sauvignon Gris, with anticipated bottling projected to be taking place on December 14 and 15, 2021. The alcohol is 13.5%.
    94-96 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    Lots of white peach and red apple with crushed-stone and pine-needle undertones. Full-bodied, yet compact and linear with beautiful toffee, light caramel, praline and nougat character to the fruit. Hints of wood. It shows phenolic tension and form, yet remains agile and energetic. Impressive for the vintage.
    97-98 points
    James Suckling

    Honeysuckle, orange rind, spice, pomelo, green apple and a shot of mango create the nose. On the palate the wine is full, rich, creamy, oily and fresh, with layers of ripe, sweet, spicy, yellow citrus and tart green apples in the finish.
    96 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    • 97
    • 99
    • 97
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Pavie
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $850. 00
    Bottle
    $10200.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Chateau Pavie is the largest and most technically advanced of the Grand Cru Classe A properties in Saint-Emilion, but also the most polarising. From the flashy new Chateau and guest reception area, to the opulent, rich and saturated wines, Chateau Pavie continues to divide opinion. What is clear though is since Gerard Perse bought the property in 1998 his efforts to replant the vineyard and renew the winemaking facilities (twice!) have resulted in some of the best wines in their history.

    Today the 42 hectare vineyard is one contiguous block, a rarity in Bordeaux, and is planted to 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Soil profiles vary across this large area, but the best plots are behind the Chateau on deep, rich limestone and clay.

    Other Reviews....
    Composed of 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Pavie weighs in with an alcohol of 14.82% and a pH of 3.61. It is aging in French oak barriques, 75% new. Opaque purple-black colored, notes of plum pudding, blueberry pie and dark chocolate-covered cherries charge out of the gate, followed closely by hints of eucalyptus, star anise, unsmoked cigars and fertile loam with a hint of cedar chest. The full-bodied palate is built like a brick house, offering very firm yet wonderfully ripe, velvety tannins and seamless freshness to support the densely laden, muscular black and blue fruits, finishing very long and with loads of mineral-laced layers. As hedonic as it is cerebral this year, it is a beautiful paradox.
    97-99 points
    Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

    The 2020 Pavie is very clearly one of the wines of the year. Rich, inky and wonderfully vibrant, it pulses with energy from start to finish. All the elements are well balanced. Soaring Cabernet Franc aromatics lead into a core of finely knit yet deep fruit in a wine that feels endless. Harvest for the reds started on September 17, paused briefly during some rain on the 25th and 26th, and then wrapped up by the end of the month. The blend is 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, so more Cabernets than in the past, the result of a large replanting program that began in the early 2000s. A real head-turner. Magnificent!
    97-99 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    The aromas are already exceptional, showing crushed-stone, limestone and salt character to the dark fruit and bark. It’s full-bodied, yet agile. Floats on the palate, then kicks in with loads of ultra fine tannins. The intensity and verve of this wine promises true greatness.
    99-100 points
    James Suckling

    A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection, the 2020 Château Pavie is another magical wine from the genius of Gerard Perse and is 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in 75% new French oak. The style here has unquestionably shifted from the blockbuster style of the 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2010 to a more elegant, refined style today that still brings plenty of fruit yet certainly stays more focused and precise. Is the new style better? I’m not sure, and there are certainly times I miss the opulence and decadence of the old style. Nevertheless, the wines today are magical Saint-Emilion that still show a rare mix of power and elegance. The 2020 is full-bodied and beautifully concentrated on the palate, offering a mouthful of cassis, black cherry, and mulberry fruits as well as a liqueur of rocks-like minerality, leafy herbs, and truffly earth. It doesn’t lack structure and has silky, polished tannins and flawless balance. Give bottles at least 7-8 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following 3+ decades.
    96-98 points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Aphotic ink with purple accents in color, the intense sensation of crushed rocks and stones, flowers, licorice, truffle, wet forest, smoke, plums, black and blue fruits with oceanic smells captivate your interest. Full-bodied, concentrated, lush and palate-staining, with all its depth of flavor, the wine remains light on its feet. The fruit coats your palate with layers of opulent, sensuous, salty fruits that hold on to you for at least 60 seconds. Leave this in the cellar for 12-15 years and enjoy the thrills for the next 3 decades. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.82% ABV pH 3.61. Harvesting took place September 21 - September 30. Yields were low at 31 hectoliters per hectare.
    98-100 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

    • 97
    • Hot Item
    • 100
    • 98
    • 95
    • 96
    • Nick's Import
    2020 Chateau Pavie Macquin
    Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $199. 00
    Bottle
    $2388.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 15 Years (2023-2038)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    A blend of 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Superb colour featuring an impenetrable inky black heart along with a very deep black dark red hue. Potent aromas of ripe blackcurrant, black cherry and liquorice inundate the olfactory senses followed by some vanillin cedar, subtle scorched earth, dried herb and spice notes. Extravagantly rich, fleshy textured and full bodied yet energetic the palate is saturated in a tidal wave of opulent blackcurrant, liquorice and black cherry fruit which largely obscures the ripe chewy tannin structure. Vanillin cedar, traces of dark chocolate, scorched earth, dried herbs and spicy tobacco elements lie underneath. Magnificent concentration and power concluding exceptionally long, deep and remarkably fresh.
    Drink over the next 10-15 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 Pavie Macquin is performing well in bottle, unwinding in the glass with aromas of sweet raspberries and cherries mingled with notions of orange zest, violets, spices, bay leaf and vine smoke. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's deep and fleshy, its ample core of fruit framed by youthfully firm, chalky tannins. As usual, it's more structured than Larcis Ducasse, and it remains a bottling that will demand some patience, even if the Thienpont team have subtly eased off on extraction over the last few vintages, a welcome trend that I hope will be pushed further. Drink 2030-2050.
    95+ points
    William Kelley – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

    The 2020 Pavie Macquin is sensational. Rich, dark and explosive, the 2020 balances the natural richness that is such a signature of the estate with a level of energy and vibrancy I have not seen here in the recent past. The result is a towering, imposing Pavie Macquin that hugely delivers. In this vintage, regisseur Nicolas Thienpont did not use the Cabernet Sauvignon, so the blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with the Franc lending aromatic presence, energy and depth. What a total knock out! Drink 2028-2045.
    100 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    I have never had a Pavie Macquin like this. It’s so fresh and vivid with black cherry, currant and raspberry character, as well as citrus. Some mineral and spice. Salt, too. The palate is full and linear with a verticality that takes you so deep and long. Endless. Transparent. Drink after 2028.
    98 points
    James Suckling

    The dense purple-hued 2020 Château Pavie Macquin checks in as a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from yields of 31 hectoliters per hectare and a selection of 85% of the production. Incredibly pure cassis and blueberry fruits as well as complex spring flowers, liquid violets, white truffle, and a liqueur of limestone-like minerality define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins, the vintage's pure, focused, structured profile, and a great finish. As in most vintages, this beauty is not for instant gratification and needs 7-8 years, if not a decade of cellaring to show its potential. It's another true vin de garde from the team of Nicolas Thienpont (Stéphane Derenoncourt also consults) that readers will love to have in their cellar. Drink 2030-2065.
    96+ points
    Jeb Dunnuck

    Inky in color, with dark purple accents, the wine explodes with flowers, incense, licorice, black fruit and touches of blueberries. Rich, intense, flamboyant, sensuous and silky, this hits all your pleasure buttons simultaneously. The wine paints your palate with layers of decadently ripe fruit that is simultaneously sweet, fresh and dense. The seamless finish does not quit. Instead it builds and expands, growing in intensity and complexity. This is going to be stunning with a decade or so of aging.
    96-98 points
    Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

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