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The 2020 vintage UGCB tasting in Amsterdam 03/06/2023
Amsterdam
Tasted March 6, 2023 by FransS with 441 views
Introduction
Very well organized with 100+ château owners or representaitives.
Flight 1 (83 notes)
Red
2020 Château de Chantegrive Graves
87 points
A bit light in colour, black currants, slightly harsh and angular; will soften with some time, but will miss, in my opninion, the body for a real development.
White
2020 Château de Chantegrive Graves Cuvée Caroline
90 points
A convincing freshness in the bouquet and in the taste with lovely bitters to keep the mouth clear; reasonable length.
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White
2020 Château Rahoul Blanc
92 points
Soft and elegant spices, friendly vanilla, white fruit, round and finishing with a lot of elegant bitters and a good balance; convincing.
Red
2020 Château Rahoul
89 points
Some dark fruit and soft spices, a bit angular in the aftertaste; needs some time.
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White
2020 Château Bouscaut Blanc
I suggest this bottle wasn't representative, missing fraicheur and balance.
Red
2020 Château Bouscaut
88 points
A modest roundness, reasonable juicy, a bit lean, but I think with a certain capacity for development.
White
2020 Château Carbonnieux Blanc
91 points
A very fresh citrus, a certain concencentration, lovely smooth bitters;
the wine is not super refined and the finish is maybe a bit short, but the wine is very tasty.
the wine is not super refined and the finish is maybe a bit short, but the wine is very tasty.
Red
2020 Château Carbonnieux
90 points
Friendly softness, not very concentrated, but with some time to develop a gentle wine.
Red
2020 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
I did not had the time/opportunity to retaste this wine, but my first impression was, I assume, not representative; a tasty and juicy wine with a certain power and firm but good tannins, but there must be more.
White
2020 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc
95 points
The bouquet is quite closed, but what comes is very elegant (pear, refined wood and vanilla), everything is elegant, lovely bitters and a superb balance, but needs time to become great.
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Comment
Red
2020 Domaine de Chevalier
93 points
A smooth bouquet, lovely midtaste, but missing (at the moment?) the concentration of a really great vintage (in red), good, but firm tannins and good balance; a point more in the nearby future.
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Comment
White
2020 Château de Fieuzal Blanc
91 points
Gently creamy, ripe citrus, juicy, sufficient concentration, a bit angular in the finish; this wime simply needs some time.
Red
2020 Château de Fieuzal
90 points
There a balance in the bouquet with a combination of smooth fruit and modest wood, but behind the bouquet the wine is still a bit shy and needs some time.
White
2020 Château de France Blanc
89 points
A hint of gentle wood, the wine is friendly, tasty, but missing some complexity.
Red
2020 Château de France
90 points
Black currants, a whiff of gentle wood, firm bitters, but absolutely acceptable and a good balance in the aftertaste.
Red
2020 Château Haut-Bailly
95 points
Quite profound, smooth soft peppers, elegant dark fruit combined with
refined flowers, a concentration midtaste, lovely bitters and ripe tannins, but, for me, not in the same league as the '16.
refined flowers, a concentration midtaste, lovely bitters and ripe tannins, but, for me, not in the same league as the '16.
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White
2020 Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion Blanc
93 points
A hint of peach and pear, super fresh, juicy and tasty, good bitters and a lovely, balanced aftertaste; a joy to drink and, at this level, a surprise for me.
Red
2020 Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion
93 points
As the version in white as gentle, with convincing concentration and a very good balance between smooth fruit, gentle wood, and a round style and that from start to finish; a real joy. I recently tasted the superb 2000, so this is not an exception.
White
2020 Château Latour-Martillac Blanc
89 points
This wine, or this bottle, didn't convince me, although the wine is friendly, it misses a certain complexity and the acidity is a bit harsh.
Red
2020 Château Latour-Martillac
91 points
A kind of a juicy bouquet with also the good bitters that return in the finish; the wine shows a good balance in the aftertaste.
White
2020 Château La Louvière Blanc
90 points
The bouquet is still closed, some wood, some vanilla; the wine is at the moment difficult to assess with a bit hefty acidity, but give it time to soften.
Red
2020 Château La Louvière
93 points
A convincing wine, with a good concentration from start to finish, from the smooth fruit in the bouquet and the midtaste, to the very ripe tannins in the aftertaste; a real joy.
White
2020 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc
94 points
A lot of vanilla, but still decent, concentration, lovely ripe citrus, refined and convincing; the aftertaste is very balanced.; withe some more years in the bottle this wine will absolutely please every taster.
Red
2020 Château Malartic-Lagravière
91 points
Lets'say decent, friendly, but I expected a bit more of everything; maybe time will add more (complexity) to this wine.
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White
2020 Château Pape Clément Blanc
94 points
Too young at the moment to be completely balanced, firm fruit, also a firm acidity, a bit angular, but not hefty, and with with the concentration to explode in future. I will wait!
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Red
2020 Château Pape Clément
95 points
I didn't expect the subdued style of this wine, of this château; a refined bouquet with smooth fruit, creamy, vanilla and gentle wood, perfectly concentrated and with very good tannins in the long aftertaste; really good!
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White
2020 Château Picque Caillou Blanc
91 points
Surprisingly friendly with well dosed wood and gentle vanilla, elegant, smooth bitters and a refreshing aftertaste.
Red
2020 Château Picque Caillou
91 points
Also in red the '20 is a good wine with a good combination of freshness (good citrus) and ripeness (ripe fruit), but not too much, balanced and with good tannins in the aftertaste.
White
2020 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc
94 points
Still partly closed, although the bouquet shows a lot of flowers and gentle wood, some puppy fat, concentration and very elegant bitters; I sugggest the potential for a point more in future.
Red
2020 Château Smith Haut Lafitte
96 points
So creamy, nearly decadent, a hint of yeast (I like that in young wines)
exotic flowers, juicy, concentrated, a lot of edible super tannins, lovely bitters; a very tasty bonbon.
exotic flowers, juicy, concentrated, a lot of edible super tannins, lovely bitters; a very tasty bonbon.
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Red
2020 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
92 points
A kind of sweet bouquet and I noticed some alcohol; ripe tannins but missing some conviction in the midtaste and in the length of the aftertaste.
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Red
2020 Château Canon
96 points
Super refined, smooth and creamy, gentle spices, violets, nearly soapy, round, perfect tannins and tasty bitters, a very long aftertaste; can only become better.
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Red
2020 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
92 points
Friendly spiced, nice concentration in the midtaste, but I miss a kind of expressive style; I will, however, give this wine the benefit of the doubt; more time is necessary.
Red
2020 Château Dassault
91 points
Sweet, ripe fruit. decent, neat, well balanced, needs a bit time to blossom.
Red
2020 Château La Dominique
92 points
A black fruit (CS) impression, pure and tasty, with sufficient concentration in the midtaste; there is a good balance, although the tannins need some further ripening.
Red
2020 Clos Fourtet
95 points
Very flowery in the bouquet with a gentle dose of mint, expressive, but at the moment lacking some depth; however a beautiful wine with recognizable tannins (at the moment).
Red
2020 Château Franc-Mayne
91 points
A bit sweet in the start, gentle spices, quite round, nicely concentrated and tasty.
Red
2020 Château La Gaffelière
92 points
A fresh start with dark fruit, bit severe, noticeable acidity and tannins and a nice body, and I think that this classic styled wine will soften with some ageing.
Red
2020 Château Larcis Ducasse
93 points
Friendly, juicy, smooth fruit and spices, at the moment a bit less convincing in the midtaste; there are good tannins in the aftertaste.
Red
2020 Château Larmande
90 points
Smooth spices, quite pronounced in the middle with a nice balance but a bit short finish.
Red
2020 Château Pavie Macquin
93 points
A remarkable deep colour, a whiff of mint, smooth fruit, a bit punchy (positive) in the midtaste, really tasty, but maybe missing some complexity; give this wine some time.
Red
2020 Château Soutard
90 points
I noticed a bit light colour, soft, somewhat sweet fruit, friendly, not complex, an easy wine.
Red
2020 Château Trotte Vieille
93 points
Has personality, from everything just a bit more than most of its colleagues with its black currants and smooth red fruit, a nice midtaste, good bitters and noticeable but edible tannins.
Red
2020 Château Valandraud
97 points
Maybe the most discussed wine, or the most controversial wine at the UGCB tasting; mocca, vanilla, a hint of cocoa, noticeable wood, concentrated with underneath ripe bitters, but nothing 'too'. This wine is not exuberant and has, for me, a classic profile; less inviting than e.g. Canon; with a tire thickness difference, the winner of the tasting. I've bought some.
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Red
2020 Château Villemaurine
93 points
Nothing is hefty in this wine, juicy, tasty, smooth fruit with a whiff of sweetness in the first impression, relaxed into the balanced aftertaste with ripe tannins, approachable.
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Red
2020 Château Beauregard
91 points
A bit severe bouquet, dark fruit, but more gentle in the midtaste, quite firm tannins, smooth bitters; friendly, but not impressive
Red
2020 Château La Cabanne
92 points
A smooth and spicy impression in the bouquet with also some puppy fat in the quite concentrated midtaste. The wine is very charming and round with a tasty and balanced finish.
Red
2020 Château Clinet
93 points
This good wine with a certain severity in the first impression, than followed by some creaminess in the midtaste, has a medium concentration and refined bitters and tannins in the good aftertaste.
It could have been the bottle, but there was no real exitement for me.
It could have been the bottle, but there was no real exitement for me.
Red
2020 Château Le Gay Pomerol
92 points
A bit fading bouquet with a good and creamy midtaste and a nice and balanced finish, however, overall impression: a bit lean.
Red
2020 Château La Croix de Gay
94 points
A surprise for me, soft spices, juicy, tasty, round, concentrated and creamy combined with ripe fruit; very Pomerol-like in the balanced aftertaste; really good!
Red
2020 Château Gazin Pomerol
91 points
A bit severe bouquet, good structure in the midtaste, not very inviting at the moment, but, for me, the potential for further development.
Red
2020 Château Petit Village
92 points
Some cherries, some cream, a friendly midtaste with a nice concentration, and firm tannins (at the moment) in a balanced aftertaste.
Red
2020 Château La Pointe
91 points
Nothing wrong with this wine, tasty and with a nice balance, but it didn't convince me really.
Red
2020 Château Rouget
95 points
A wow wine for me; a mini sweetness in the first impression, combined with well dosed wood, vanilla and delicate little flowers, even more refined than the excellent La Croix de Gay, a creamy concentration, lovely and elegant bitters and tannins in a long and balanced finish.
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Red
2020 Château Belgrave
91 points
Not at the level of La Lagune or Cantemerle, but a good wine, from the friendly start with good fruit, to the tasty midtaste with a medium concentration and the balanced aftertaste with good bitters and tannins.
Red
2020 Château de Camensac
89 points
A slightly green impression (a hint of paprika) and that explains, for me, the bit severe character. There is, however, sufficient body to suggest a positive development. Give this wine some time.
Red
2020 Château Cantemerle
93 points
Not as super as La Lagune, but don't miss this wine! A nearly exotic bouquet, perfumed and combined with good fruit, concentration, juicy, very good bitters and give the tannins some time de soften; a really good and balanced wine.
4 people found this helpful
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Red
2020 Château La Lagune
95 points
Very refined from start to finish, from the gently perfumed, somewhat exotic bouquet with well dosed elegant wood and vanilla, to the very subtle and superbly balanced aftertaste and inbetween the concentrated mix of smooth fruit and super gentle bitters; at the wow-wine level!
3 people found this helpful
Comments (2)
Red
2020 Château La Tour Carnet
91 points
Good fruit, nice concentration, good balance, but a bit one-dimensional in the midtaste
Red
2020 Château Lascombes
92 points
A bit severe CS styled, but it also give character to the wine, sufficient concentration and a bit angular in the finish; not so Margaux-like for me.
Red
2020 Château Monbrison
91 points
A bit shy bouquet at the moment, a kind of cheerful wine, juicy and all the components make a good balance.
Red
2020 Château Rauzan-Ségla
95 points
Not so satiny as the Canon, also a tad less concentrated; a superb balance is the main impression of this wine, very pure, elegant, and with a terrific good aftertaste.
Red
2020 Château Siran
93 points
Simply good, (I wrote at the UGCB tasting), juicy fruit, a tasty and quite concentrated midtaste and the aftertaste deserves a medal; better than du Tertre.
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Red
2020 Château du Tertre
91 points
Maybe not its right moment, but now a bit green, good wood, pure, juicy, nicely balanced, but a bit lean now; du Tertre very often needs time to mellow and to blossom.
Red
2020 Château Beychevelle
92 points
A hint if sweetness in the nose, a hint of paprika, but tasty and balanced, however not a top wine for me.
Red
2020 Château Lagrange (St. Julien)
90 points
The wine, or this bottle, didn't convince me, a bit green impression in the bouquet and a bit lean, a decent aftertaste.
2 people found this helpful
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Red
2020 Château Langoa Barton
93 points
Smooth, spicy, good wood, a medium+ body, stylish, but at the moment a bit short finish. Give this wine some time to fill in its body; L-B always needs time.
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2020 Château Léoville Barton
94 points
A bit closed bouquet at the moment (at least the bottle I've tasted); a convincing aftertaste met good bitters and tannins that need time to soften, but don't worry. Inbetween the bouquet and the aftertaste the midtaste connects in a classic style start and finish; overall it is, for me, not one of the top wines.
Red
2020 Château Léoville Poyferré
96 points
Compared to the Barton in this year the Poyferré has, for me, the lead; lovely flowers in the bouquet, more concentration and more juice, and a refined body with lots of fruit ending in a very balanced aftertaste.
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2020 Château Saint-Pierre
95 points
For me not comparable to most of the other '20's. There lays a hint of very friendly exotism over this wine from start to finish. It makes this wine very stylish and balanced. The concentration guarantees a good future.
4 people found this helpful
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Red
2020 Château Talbot
93 points
Good, classic, juicy, ripe tannins, balanced, but just not that extra.
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2020 Château Lynch-Bages
95 points
It was difficult to pull out the bouquet, but I catched the nearly smooth spices, juicy, impressive powerful, more than persistent, black fruit in the second part of the taste, very good tannins, not super refined, but très Pauillac.
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2020 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
97 points
The bouquet is very subtle with lots of little flowers upon very refined new wood and vanilla, also smooth spices. The high level of refinement, combined with a silky concentration continues in the superbly balanced aftertaste.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2020 Château Bastor-Lamontagne
90 points
Sweet (quite a lot) and sour are still separated; a bit short finish.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2020 Château Doisy-Védrines
93 points
Maybe a bit provocative? Fresh ctitrus, modest sweetness, a hint of botrytis, very tasty and well made considering the modest vintage.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2020 Château de Fargues
92 points
For my taste a bit massive with low acidity, although the combination of modest citrus and a bit too nuch sugar is still nicely integrated. For me de Fargues excels in big and bold vintages, but minor vintage are not its pointe forte.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2020 Château Guiraud
92 points
The sauvignon gives a bit grassy impression (positive), tasty, nicely balanced, maybe a tad short.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2020 Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey
93 points
Fortunately not a bluckbuster; the notable citrus combines with the sweetness into the balanced finsh.
White - Sweet/Dessert
White - Sweet/Dessert
2020 Château de Rayne-Vigneau
92 points
Refined in the nose, made me think of a lighter year Coutet; friendly and fresh.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2015 Château Sigalas Rabaud
94 points
No Sigalas Rabaud made in 2020, so at the UGCB we could taste the 2015. Of course this wine, at the age of seven shoewed more integrated with still some butter, moderate botrytis already in the bouquet, lovely bitters and a balanced aftertaste. Still needs som years.
Closing
I find 2020 a useful vintage, but certainly not top notch, with some excellent wines. More than 'some' wine are a bit lean in the midtaste, a few are even a bit green. Sauternes/Barsac had a kind of problematic vintage, but in the modern cuisine the lighter styled wines can match perfectly with it.
Valandraud was very special and just a tad more special than the others in the premier league. The quality of the Grand crus in the Haut-Médoc surprised me.