Sydney, Australia
Tasted Saturday, November 18, 2023 by nwebstar with 177 views
Generally not the most esteemed chateau but a good cross section. Overall I was a little disappointed. A VERY heterogenous experience across the estates. A small number of standouts but many showed quite poorly relative to vintage expectations. The standouts made you realise the averageness of other wines. Interestingly many of the wines presented surprising light in colour and the subsequent taste was often somewhat reflective. I felt many wines were missing a certain something through the tasting experience. The few Right Banks (all St Emilions) were particularly average with a certain surprising thin greenness. I didn’t make detailed formal notes and my comments are more general and relative impressions and rankings - but I definitely knew what I liked and didn’t.
Despite light colour I found the 2020’s to generally be a bit more dark fruited than the ultra fresh red fruited 2019 tasting of a year ago.
One genuine caveat is that many wines were opened and immediately poured. I think there was often quite some difference between being the first pour and that last from a bottle. Perhaps this is worth a point or two to a number of wines.
This is now two concurrent Bordeaux tastings from supposedly great vintages which has left me a bit flat. I did note this tasting only included 3 (out of 14) wines which I selected from en primeur (not including 1st growths) favouritism so I still hold my judgment in reserve about the vintage. Loved/own the Pontet. Buying some Brane (and maybe a bottle or two of Baron for early quaffing). Happy to already own Leo Barton. Reserving some hopeful judgement on the Haut Bailly. Pondering the Chevalier. The Lafon-Rochet, Beychevelle & Pedesclaux were neatly classical. Forgetting the rest.
2020 Château Pontet-Canet 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
A stand out (WOTN) and most complete. This is what I had been hoping for and expecting from this vintage. Dark fruited. Balanced and structured. Good depth and length. Potential greatness here.
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2020 Château Brane-Cantenac 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Another standout. Deeper coloured. Good depth of flavour, lovely acid frame. Very complete and enjoyable. Will get even better. Very classy. 94-95
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2020 Château Léoville Barton 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Lovely depth in taste and colour. Stood out in quality. Just a little volatile unintegrated at the edge. Felt like will get better and better and could be great in time. Probably deserved another point for potential. 93-94
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2020 Domaine de Chevalier 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Not quite great but credible and balanced. Some reflection of the vintage in depth and length. 93-94
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2020 Château Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Clearly built more for early drinking but incredibly approachable and unlike others great depth of fruit and completeness of taste. Still a good tannic frame suggests years ahead.
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2020 Château Lafon-Rochet 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
very balanced very classical. Like a very good wine from a slightly lesser vintage.
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2020 Château Beychevelle 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Very balanced and very classical. Very pleasant. Outshone other classified growths 92-93
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2020 Château Pedesclaux 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Quite neatly balanced and classical. Good value.
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2020 Château d'Issan 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Initially quite light and volatile but with just a little extra time in the glass with balanced out and was quite classical and even showed a bit of extra depth.
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2020 Château Corbin St. Émilion Grand Cru 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Interesting 95% Merlot showing. Pleasant and balanced but lacking a little depth, breadth.
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2020 Château Langoa Barton 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Pleasant but a little empty and dry.
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2020 Château Haut-Bailly 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Most interesting and perplexing. Quite a volatile showing. I felt I detected a sense of greenness but then also a burnt fruit finish. Possibly the most tannic of all wines tasted. Presented with a very fresh light colour - almost Pinot Noir esque. Hard to predict how this will play out.
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2020 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
A little empty in the mid and back palate. Not particularly appealing
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2020 Château de Ferrand 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Dry and lacking character and appeal
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2020 Château Pavie Macquin 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
A bit weak, dry and green. Lacked depth and appeal. Re-tasted 3 times because this is a long term favourite. Perhaps best taste was a 90-91. Quite disappointing.
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2020 Château Phélan Ségur 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Surprisingly evolved and rounded. Lacked structure and freshness.
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2020 Château Mauvesin Barton 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc
Quite a weak showing relative to other. Dry, green, unbalanced.
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