Decanted for three hours. Stunning fresh blackberries, teak, fragrant mud, every dried flower imagined, black cherries and cigar box complexity. Long, long, long during the whole finish, with precision. Regardless of the fact that this is wide and juicy during the middle palate. Microfiber tannins, with tension and so much depth. Up there with ‘09 and ‘10, yet a little more transparent, YET, the body is lavishly full. More claret-like. However, there’s staying power and the bones to age. Drink 2029 -.
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Plush red and purple fruits, amalgamated with strikingly high vanilla and baking spice notes (allspice, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon) for the label. No bellringer.
More of the same on the palate. Open-knit and opulent, while not particularly juicy (acid) or gripping (tannic). In these ways, reminiscent of the 1980s Wendy's commercials: 'Where's the beef!?'
Less impressive on the second day, particularly compared to the 2019, which had reached full stride.
Overall, the two wines put my mind to the 2009 and 2010 Left Bank vintages, in reverse. Put differently, 2009 appealed to hedonists, whereas 2010 appealed to purists (who generally accept the neo-traditional style, which was birthed during the 1990s and seemingly became fashionable after 2005).
I would not expect this to age well, beyond 2035 or so. It lacks substance. The least impressive vintage of this label since 2013. 92-93.
Langtons Bordeaux 2020 Arrival Tasting (Sydney, Australia): 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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That savoury concentrated back fruit syrup note initially greets the nose (as per other vintages), behind this sweet oak spice and a little alcohol prickle. In the mouth it's juicy, thickly concentrated with plentiful black hued fruit and drying, though integrated, tannins that prove a little monolithic. Having said that this is a relatively nimble juggernaut though the fruit drops a little too quickly for me. Hmm.
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Not very expressive on the nose & takes time to really come out. Lead, pencil, red plum, vanilla. Great structure, wait 10 years min IMO. Maybe shutting down? Not really sure. Interesting stuff. NR
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Exceptional bottle for such a young wine. Has depth and complexity with a rich black fruit nose and taste. We didn’t really let this open as much as we should have, but we’re really shocked at the approachability.
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With a nose that displays truffle, tobacco leaf, cedar, licorice, and black currants, the wine is soft, fresh, refined, and focuses you on its cassis, blackberry, earth, spice, and peppery herb character. There are no hard edges in the finish, just soft, vibrant currants, herbs, and spice. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, pH 3.8. The wine is aged in 45% new, French oak barrels and amphora. The harvest took place September 14, to September 30. Drink from 2026-2055.
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Background: Group of 5 Family members tasted 5 young 2020 Bordeaux, all from different AOCs. Wines Tasted: Clos Fourtet, Château Clinet, Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Château Pontet-Canet, Château Brane-Cantenac.
The Pontet-Canet was appreciated by everyone, but not a favorite. The consensus fourth choice. Very rich, dark fruits and tobacco. One described it as being almost like drinking a stout beer. Some sweetness and chalk.
Bordeaux 2022 en Primeur and some recent vintages: After the 2016, the hot 2020 vintage produced an even more unbalanced wine here. Definitely too much heat and alcohol, not harmonious, little aroma. The 2022 was unfortunately not presented today.
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Bordeaux 2020 - 10 red & 1 sweet wine: Arrivage tasting by a merchant. Be aware, the sample size is quite small but here are a few observations: 1) Overall quality: This is another good vintage in Bordeaux but clearly not on the same level as 2016 or 2019. 2) Ripeness: What I tasted showed less ripe than 2015/18/19. Most wine show fresh dark and blue fruit, the two right banks showed well behaved too. None of the wines showed alcohol heat (a problem in many 18s and some 15s). Overall, I expected more ripeness but maybe the wineries I sampled all just got the picking date right. 3) Complexity: 2020 will not reach the heights of 2016 and for me is also a step or two behind 2015/18/19. 4) Precision: The precision was quite good, although not on the level of the 2016s. 5) Structural frame: The tannins are ripe but have more edges than in 16/18/19 and will need time to soften, the acidity is high and well-integrated, the texture is not as airy as in 2016 but a step above 15/18 and maybe even 19. Overall, the wines showed quite harmonious but without the magical balance of the 2016s (and the best 15/18/19s I had)..
TN: Wow, what happened here? This was bitter and even slightly green, without much fruit and to be honest, hardly drinkable. I went back later thinking that my palate wasn’t ready or I got a bad bottle but it showed equally weak. Later I met two wine friends who had the same negative experience. I really hope that this is not reflective of what the wine can be (but then again, somebody from the winery was there and presented the wine, if the bottles wouldn’t have been correct, she would have said something). Kelley recently wrote of an erratic performance over the past few years for this crowd favorite but I wouldn’t have expected it to be this bad.
Lovely nose shows black cherries,raspberry,pencil lead,tobacco and some floral notes.On the palate the wine comes across as smooth,supple and well balanced.The finish is fresh,long and spicy.Very enjoyable,it has personality,it lacks only that extra little bit of power and depth that in my view would have made it really great.
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2/23/2024 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 98 Points
Decanted for three hours. Stunning fresh blackberries, teak, fragrant mud, every dried flower imagined, black cherries and cigar box complexity. Long, long, long during the whole finish, with precision. Regardless of the fact that this is wide and juicy during the middle palate. Microfiber tannins, with tension and so much depth. Up there with ‘09 and ‘10, yet a little more transparent, YET, the body is lavishly full. More claret-like. However, there’s staying power and the bones to age. Drink 2029 -.
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2/8/2024 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 93 Points
From 375. 1 Hour splash decant in advance.
I thought this was excellent and has great upside. Drinking very well for such a young left bank BDX. Firm fine tannins deliver some nice dark fruits.
93+
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1/25/2024 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
Tasted over two days, alongside the 2019.
Plush red and purple fruits, amalgamated with strikingly high vanilla and baking spice notes (allspice, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon) for the label. No bellringer.
More of the same on the palate. Open-knit and opulent, while not particularly juicy (acid) or gripping (tannic). In these ways, reminiscent of the 1980s Wendy's commercials: 'Where's the beef!?'
Less impressive on the second day, particularly compared to the 2019, which had reached full stride.
Overall, the two wines put my mind to the 2009 and 2010 Left Bank vintages, in reverse. Put differently, 2009 appealed to hedonists, whereas 2010 appealed to purists (who generally accept the neo-traditional style, which was birthed during the 1990s and seemingly became fashionable after 2005).
I would not expect this to age well, beyond 2035 or so. It lacks substance. The least impressive vintage of this label since 2013. 92-93.
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11/18/2023 - nwebstar Likes this wine: 95 Points
Langtons Bordeaux 2020 Arrival Tasting (Sydney, Australia): 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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11/17/2023 - chatters wrote:
That savoury concentrated back fruit syrup note initially greets the nose (as per other vintages), behind this sweet oak spice and a little alcohol prickle. In the mouth it's juicy, thickly concentrated with plentiful black hued fruit and drying, though integrated, tannins that prove a little monolithic. Having said that this is a relatively nimble juggernaut though the fruit drops a little too quickly for me. Hmm.
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11/16/2023 - Isaac D wrote:
Not very expressive on the nose & takes time to really come out. Lead, pencil, red plum, vanilla. Great structure, wait 10 years min IMO. Maybe shutting down? Not really sure. Interesting stuff. NR
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11/10/2023 - LeSow wrote: 98 Points
JS
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8/21/2023 - bigdogsteve Likes this wine: 97 Points
Exceptional bottle for such a young wine. Has depth and complexity with a rich black fruit nose and taste. We didn’t really let this open as much as we should have, but we’re really shocked at the approachability.
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8/21/2023 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
With a nose that displays truffle, tobacco leaf, cedar, licorice, and black currants, the wine is soft, fresh, refined, and focuses you on its cassis, blackberry, earth, spice, and peppery herb character. There are no hard edges in the finish, just soft, vibrant currants, herbs, and spice. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, pH 3.8. The wine is aged in 45% new, French oak barrels and amphora. The harvest took place September 14, to September 30. Drink from 2026-2055.
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8/12/2023 - MaineMark Likes this wine:
Background: Group of 5 Family members tasted 5 young 2020 Bordeaux, all from different AOCs. Wines Tasted: Clos Fourtet, Château Clinet, Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Château Pontet-Canet, Château Brane-Cantenac.
The Pontet-Canet was appreciated by everyone, but not a favorite. The consensus fourth choice. Very rich, dark fruits and tobacco. One described it as being almost like drinking a stout beer. Some sweetness and chalk.
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5/14/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 87 Points
Bordeaux 2022 en Primeur and some recent vintages: After the 2016, the hot 2020 vintage produced an even more unbalanced wine here. Definitely too much heat and alcohol, not harmonious, little aroma. The 2022 was unfortunately not presented today.
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4/23/2023 - Cailles wrote: 84 Points
Bordeaux 2020 - 10 red & 1 sweet wine: Arrivage tasting by a merchant. Be aware, the sample size is quite small but here are a few observations: 1) Overall quality: This is another good vintage in Bordeaux but clearly not on the same level as 2016 or 2019. 2) Ripeness: What I tasted showed less ripe than 2015/18/19. Most wine show fresh dark and blue fruit, the two right banks showed well behaved too. None of the wines showed alcohol heat (a problem in many 18s and some 15s). Overall, I expected more ripeness but maybe the wineries I sampled all just got the picking date right. 3) Complexity: 2020 will not reach the heights of 2016 and for me is also a step or two behind 2015/18/19. 4) Precision: The precision was quite good, although not on the level of the 2016s. 5) Structural frame: The tannins are ripe but have more edges than in 16/18/19 and will need time to soften, the acidity is high and well-integrated, the texture is not as airy as in 2016 but a step above 15/18 and maybe even 19. Overall, the wines showed quite harmonious but without the magical balance of the 2016s (and the best 15/18/19s I had)..
TN: Wow, what happened here? This was bitter and even slightly green, without much fruit and to be honest, hardly drinkable. I went back later thinking that my palate wasn’t ready or I got a bad bottle but it showed equally weak. Later I met two wine friends who had the same negative experience. I really hope that this is not reflective of what the wine can be (but then again, somebody from the winery was there and presented the wine, if the bottles wouldn’t have been correct, she would have said something). Kelley recently wrote of an erratic performance over the past few years for this crowd favorite but I wouldn’t have expected it to be this bad.
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11/1/2022 - valedeniro wrote: 94 Points
Lovely nose shows black cherries,raspberry,pencil lead,tobacco and some floral notes.On the palate the wine comes across as smooth,supple and well balanced.The finish is fresh,long and spicy.Very enjoyable,it has personality,it lacks only that extra little bit of power and depth that in my view would have made it really great.
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