Jeb Dunnuck (93-95)

This wine seems to always deliver, and I loved the 2020 Clos De L'Oratoire. Lots of black cherries, subtle cassis, notes of lead pencil and violets, medium to full-bodied richness, and a balanced, elegant texture all make for a beautiful Saint-Emilion. It picks up more minerality with time in the glass, and its purity of fruit is top-notch. It will keep for at least two decades.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-95)

This wine seems to always deliver, and I loved the 2020 Clos De L'Oratoire. Lots of black cherries, subtle cassis, notes of lead pencil and violets, medium to full-bodied richness, and a balanced, elegant texture all make for a beautiful Saint-Emilion. It picks up more minerality with time in the glass, and its purity of fruit is top-notch. It will keep for at least two decades.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2020 Clos du Sarpe is an exotic beauty. Blackberry jam, graphite, menthol, licorice, crushed rocks, incense and white truffle give Clos du Sarpe its exotic profile. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing, but everything about the 2020 is so alluring. The 2020 needs time to soften, but it is compelling.

Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)

One of the biggest successes on the upper plateau is the 2020 Château Clos Fourtet, and it does everything right in the vintage. A magical, perfumed bouquet of red plums, black cherries, white truffle, and white flowers just screams Saint-Emilion, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, flawless overall balance, a dense mid-palate, and a liqueur of rocks-like minerality on the palate. Building incrementally with time in the glass, this is thrilling stuff that should offer some up-front appeal in its youth yet benefit from 7-8 years in the cellar and keep for 30 years or more. Bravo! The blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc that’s still resting in 50% new French oak.

Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)

One of the biggest successes on the upper plateau is the 2020 Château Clos Fourtet, and it does everything right in the vintage. A magical, perfumed bouquet of red plums, black cherries, white truffle, and white flowers just screams Saint-Emilion, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, flawless overall balance, a dense mid-palate, and a liqueur of rocks-like minerality on the palate. Building incrementally with time in the glass, this is thrilling stuff that should offer some up-front appeal in its youth yet benefit from 7-8 years in the cellar and keep for 30 years or more. Bravo! The blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc that’s still resting in 50% new French oak.

Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)

One of the biggest successes on the upper plateau is the 2020 Château Clos Fourtet, and it does everything right in the vintage. A magical, perfumed bouquet of red plums, black cherries, white truffle, and white flowers just screams Saint-Emilion, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, flawless overall balance, a dense mid-palate, and a liqueur of rocks-like minerality on the palate. Building incrementally with time in the glass, this is thrilling stuff that should offer some up-front appeal in its youth yet benefit from 7-8 years in the cellar and keep for 30 years or more. Bravo! The blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc that’s still resting in 50% new French oak.

Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)

One of the biggest successes on the upper plateau is the 2020 Château Clos Fourtet, and it does everything right in the vintage. A magical, perfumed bouquet of red plums, black cherries, white truffle, and white flowers just screams Saint-Emilion, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, flawless overall balance, a dense mid-palate, and a liqueur of rocks-like minerality on the palate. Building incrementally with time in the glass, this is thrilling stuff that should offer some up-front appeal in its youth yet benefit from 7-8 years in the cellar and keep for 30 years or more. Bravo! The blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc that’s still resting in 50% new French oak.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91-93)

The 2020 Clos La Gaffelière is a super attractive second wine. It is a bit darker and more overt than the Grand Vin, both of which lend quite a bit of immediacy. Black cherry, plum, spice, chocolate and leather build nicely in the glass. This supple, juicy Saint-Émilion will drink well right out of the gate.

Discover the Clos La Madeleine 2020, a masterpiece originating from Saint Emilion, perfect for the discerning wine connoisseur. Clos La Madeleine is a distinguished producer, renowned for the remarkable quality achieved from its small vineyard plots. With 2019 marking a shift towards entirely organic practices, they consistently achieve excellence in every bottle. Clos La Madeleine 2020, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, exhibits exquisite structure and enticing bouquet. Its nuanced layers unfold with tantalising hints of ripe fruit, specifically black plum and blackberry, interlaced with subtle hints of cocoa and fine tobacco undertones grounded with classic forest floor notes.

This vintage offers a remarkable level of finesse that is undeniably spellbinding. The Clos La Madeleine 2020, with its expertly crafted balance and nuanced varietal expression, is a shining testament to the exceptional terroir of Saint Emilion. An absolute must for any connoisseur in search of an illustrious Bordeaux experience.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2020 Clos Saint-Martin is quite simply a different wine from what I tasted en primeur. Racy and yet super-finessed, the 2020 is a Saint-Émilion of exquisite beauty. Crushed red berry fruit, blood orange, mint, cinnamon and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. Medium in body yet deep, with mind-blowing balance, Clos Saint-Martin is a flat-out stunner.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2020 Corbin is a very elegant, precise wine. Silky, beautifully perfumed and light on its feet, it impresses with its purity and guile. The Corbin is not an obvious Saint-Émilion; rather, it is a wine that is all finesse. Crushed berry fruit, spice, mint, blood orange and cedar are all laced together. This is such a classy, polished wine.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2020 Côte de Baleau is a beautiful, expressive wine that marries the natural intensity of the year with the sense of classicism that is such a signature. Medium in body, the Côte de Baleau has a bit more mid-palate depth this year, not a bad thing, to match its rather dark-ish personality. Hints of gravel, lavender, spice and dried flowers linger. This is an especially fine vintage.

The distinguished Coutet 2020 is a world-class dessert wine from the revered Château Coutet vineyard in the prestigious Barsac appellation in Bordeaux, France. As a renowned producer of exquisite Sauternes, Coutet excels in crafting wines of impeccable balance. This 2020 vintage is no exception. Delicate yet mature, the Coutet 2020 displays an intriguing blend of complexity and freshness.

Produced from a judicious blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes left to noble rot, this labour of love yields a wine of seductive sweetness. The meticulous hand-harvesting ensures only the finest botrytised grapes are selected. This painstaking process imparts complex flavours of honey, candied fruits, and exotic spices to the Coutet 2020.

Aged in French oak barrels, the Coutet 2020 embodies timeless elegance with a lingering finish. This wine promises to captivate palates and will age gracefully for decades to come. Make room in your cellar for this dazzling addition. Be captivated by the allure of Coutet 2020.

James Suckling (98-99)

The focus and texture of this wine is really something. It’s totally transparent with blackberries, blueberries, earth, stone and mushrooms. Flowers too. Full-bodied with firm tannins that give super form and length to this. Freshness. Almost all merlot with a tiny dash of cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Perhaps the best ever? Certainly at the same level as the 2019. About 14,000 bottles made.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-92)

The 2020 Pierre 1er is nicely done. In fact, this is one of the better recent vintages I can remember tasting. Inky and voluptuous, the 2020 offers quite a bit of richness, but with better balance than has been the case in the last few years. Dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves add to the wine's somber yet beguiling personality. This extroverted Saint-Émilion has quite a bit to offer.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-92)

The 2020 Pierre 1er is nicely done. In fact, this is one of the better recent vintages I can remember tasting. Inky and voluptuous, the 2020 offers quite a bit of richness, but with better balance than has been the case in the last few years. Dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves add to the wine's somber yet beguiling personality. This extroverted Saint-Émilion has quite a bit to offer.

James Suckling (92-93)

A soft, round red with blackberry, chocolate and hints of spice and cedar. It’s medium-bodied with silky tannins and a juicy finish.

James Suckling (94-95)

A ripe, rich red that delivers loads of crushed-berry, chocolate and walnut character, as well as fine tannins through the center palate. Layered texture.

James Suckling (94-95)

A ripe, rich red that delivers loads of crushed-berry, chocolate and walnut character, as well as fine tannins through the center palate. Layered texture.

Vinous - Neal Martin (87)

The 2020 Château de Ferrand has retained its "breezy" bouquet with upfront, red cherries, raspberry coulis and floral scents; orange zest is hiding in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. As I found previously, it feels a bit rigid and needs more flair on its briny finish. Not bad at all, but I feel this could have been better.

James Suckling (100)

A mesmerizing nose here with flowers such as violets and red roses, then shows cherries and currants with some mineral and black truffles. Full-bodied yet so refined and harmonized with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Flavors of perfectly ripened fruit (al dente) with a hazelnut character that comes from the seeds. Incredibly transparent young red. Breathtaking. 37% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. Drink after 2028 and onwards. Magnificent.

James Suckling (100)

A mesmerizing nose here with flowers such as violets and red roses, then shows cherries and currants with some mineral and black truffles. Full-bodied yet so refined and harmonized with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Flavors of perfectly ripened fruit (al dente) with a hazelnut character that comes from the seeds. Incredibly transparent young red. Breathtaking. 37% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. Drink after 2028 and onwards. Magnificent.

James Suckling (100)

A mesmerizing nose here with flowers such as violets and red roses, then shows cherries and currants with some mineral and black truffles. Full-bodied yet so refined and harmonized with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Flavors of perfectly ripened fruit (al dente) with a hazelnut character that comes from the seeds. Incredibly transparent young red. Breathtaking. 37% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. Drink after 2028 and onwards. Magnificent.

James Suckling (95-96)

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.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-95)

The inky-hued 2020 Château Fombrauge is another wonderful Saint-Emilion that shines on all accounts. Possessing terrific purity in its cassis-styled fruits as well as notes of violets, chocolate, and chalky minerality, this puppy is medium to full-bodied, has a great mid-palate, background oak, and outstanding length. Tasted twice.

Jancis Robinson (16)

65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Carmenère. 26 hl/ha (half the normal production). Cask sample. Juicy and fruit-driven with considerable freshness. Red- and dark-fruit notes. Touch more concentration due to yield. Light but finely etched tannins. Simple but pleasing. (JL) 14%

Jancis Robinson (16)

65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Carmenère. 26 hl/ha (half the normal production). Cask sample. Juicy and fruit-driven with considerable freshness. Red- and dark-fruit notes. Touch more concentration due to yield. Light but finely etched tannins. Simple but pleasing. (JL) 14%

The Wine Cellar Insider (94-96)

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.

James Suckling (92-93)

This is very tannic with a solid core of phenolics that frame the wine nicely and take you down to the center palate. Full and fruity, too, if a little austere. Should come around nicely with barrel aging.

Wine Advocate (93-95+)

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.