En Primeur Bordeaux 2020

The 2020 Guillot-Clauzel is impressive. Inky and voluptuous, it’s a seriously intense, concentrated Pomerol. Blackberry jam, dried herbs, chocolate, licorice and dark spice are all kicked up a few notches. The 2020 has quite a bit of textural opulence that is the signature of a warm, dry summer. A strong oak imprint needs to fully meld into the wine. It will be interesting to see how things turn out in another 18 months or so. Guillaume Thienpont continues to do compelling work at this small estate.

Score: 92 - 94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028 - 2040

Composed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Guillot Clauzel has an alcohol of 14.5% and a pH of 3.72. It is aging in French oak barriques, 50% new. Opaque purple-black colored, it bursts from the glass with bold, opulent scents of crushed black cherries, warm black plums and violets, giving way to hints of raspberry leaves, Sichuan pepper and anise. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of ripe, rich, decadent black fruits with loads of red fruit and floral sparks and a backbone of velvety tannins, with great tension to boot, finishing long and spicy. The consultant winemaker here is Guillaume Thienpont (of Vieux Chateau Certan), and he is doing an amazing job of breathing fresh life into this promising Pomerol site!

Score: 93 - 95 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025 - 2045

The 2020 Guillot-Clauzet is overseen by Guillaume Thienpont of Vieux-Château-Certan. Picked September 15–28 and matured in 50% new oak, it has quite a lush black cherry, raspberry coulis and black truffle bouquet that unfurls in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and very well-integrated oak. This Pomerol has lovely balance; it’s not powerful and ostentatious, but refined. There’s a judicious sprinkling of black pepper toward the finish. This is well worth seeking out.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025 - 2040

85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. Property managed by Guillaume Thienpont of Vieux Château Certan. Cask sample. Deep colour. Floral aromatics. Sweet attack then fine fruit and tannins. Smooth texture. Very precise. Slight glow on the finish but lots of charm. (JL)

Score: 16.5 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com

The 2020 La Violette is bold and luscious in the glass. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and lavender gain resonance and depth with a bit of coaxing. There is quite a bit of richness, in keeping with the style here. Sadly, this sample was not particularly fresh when it arrived, and that only begs the question: Why even bother sending a sample that was old before it left Bordeaux?

Score: 91 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025 - 2040

The 2020 La Violette has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and fragrant notes of chocolate-covered cherries, plum preserves and wild blueberries, followed by nuances of rose oil, sandalwood and ground cloves. The medium to full-bodied palate gives layer upon layer of black and blue fruit preserves, framed by silky tannins and lovely freshness, finishing with fantastic length and incredibly perfumed.

Score: 94 - 96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2026 - 2048

The 2020 La Violette has a sumptuous rather than decadent bouquet of billowing black cherries, crushed blueberry, kirsch and touches of orange pith, well defined and gaining even more intensity with aeration. The palate is full-bodied with very ripe, plush black fruit laced with marmalade, white pepper and light prune and date notes. I do find this a little too heady and alcoholic toward the finish, unlike some recent vintages that have displayed more precision and restraint. This is a modern Pomerol that oozes hedonism, but this year, I find Le Gay more to my taste.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2027 - 2050

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.

Score: 98 - 99 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com

Careful and seductive oaking, this develops and builds in power and finesse over the palate, and is a seriously enjoyable Pomerol, just packed full of appellation typicity. A yield of 35hl/ha, vinified in new oak barrels, and will stay in barrel for 18 months.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2028 - 2042

One of my favorite estates in Pomerol is Château Le Gay, and their 2020 looks to be a gem, offering a ripe, forward, medium to full-bodied style as well as classic cassis and assorted darker fruits intermixed with white flowers, tobacco, and violets. It has plenty of background oak, sweet tannins, beautiful overall balance, and outstanding length on the finish. I don’t think it has the density of the 2016, but it still shows plenty of concentration as well as the fresh, elegant, incredibly pure style of the vintage.

Score: 94 - 96 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

The 2020 Petit-Village is a gorgeous wine. In fact, it is one of the best wines I have tasted here. Inky, aromatically expressive and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2020 is compelling right out of the gate. The 2020 boasts superb energy, tension and class. Could this be a turning point for the estate? We will see. For now, the 2020 is certainly compelling. The 2020 represents about 50% of the estate's production as opposed to two-thirds, which was more the norm when Petit-Village was part of AXA.

Score: 92 - 94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028 - 2040

Composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the opaque purple-black colored 2020 Petit Village storms out of the glass with powerful scents of blackberry preserves, plum pudding and blueberry pie, plus hints of mocha, molten licorice, dried mint, sassafras and violets with a hint of vanilla pod. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruit preserves with loads of spicy and floral accents, supported by plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a lingering minty note. Impressive!

Score: 93 - 95 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2026 - 2043

Having been acquired by the Moulin family, the 2020 Petit Village has undergone a makeover with a spanking new label and wax seal. As for the wine itself, the nose is fragrant and pure, featuring dark cherries, boysenberry, hints of marmalade and light estuarine scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a structured opening. This feels quite firm and contains that charcoal trait that I remarked upon apropos of the 2018. Fresh and full of tension, the Cabernet component drives the finish, traces of dark chocolate lingering on the aftertaste. I think the tannins here just need a little more refinement, and maybe that will come during élevage. This shows an improvement over underperforming recent vintages, but give it another 3–4 years to see what this Pomerol is really capable of.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2027 - 2045

Full bottle 1,374 g. Cask sample taken 6 April. I think this is the first time I have seen a cask sample with a wax seal. This is the first vintage under the ownership of the Moulin family (who already own neighbouring Ch Beauregard). Now in conversion to organic farming. 60% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. 50% aged in new oak. A small percentage aged in amphora. Black core right out to the purplish rim. Very ripe black fruit – damson and black cherry – sweet-smelling, and more so with the sweetness of the oak. Firm, dry, smooth texture, like many layers of paper. Big but with such refined tannin texture – and not what I expected when it smelt so ripe. Just enough freshness and lots of dark chocolate on the finish. For those who love balanced and elegant richness. Long and promising in that style. (JH)

Score: 16.5 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com

La Petite Eglise is once again fabulous in 2020. Elegant, silky and wonderfully nuanced, the 2020 hits all the right notes. This is the first vintage that includes fruit from a recently replanted plot near the winery. All the elements are impeccably balanced from start to finish. Quite frankly, La Petite Eglise is better than many top wines in Pomerol. Pretty floral and spice notes add delicacy to the perfumed finish.

Score: 92 - 94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028 - 2040

The 2020 La Petite Eglise is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The Merlot was picked on the 9th and the 16th of September, and the Cabernet Franc was picked on the 16th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.5% and is aging in French oak barrels, 50% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with bold notions of black raspberries, Black Forest cake and baked plums, plus hints of red roses, cardamom and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate possesses incredible poise at this youthful stage, delivering plush tannins and integrated freshness to support the generous black fruits, finishing long and full of energy. An anticipated 4,500 bottles will be made

Score: 92 - 94 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 92-94

The 2020 La Petite Eglise is noticeably deep in color. It has a tightly wound bouquet, broody at first, unfurling to reveal blackberry, briar, touches of seaweed and light oyster shell aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a fine line of acidity and a silky-smooth, utterly harmonious finish. This is a sensual La Petite Eglise, pure and refined, almost pixelated. Outstanding.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024 - 2040

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Ripe and zesty with berry-fruit notes and a hint of chocolate and spice from the oak. Gourmand on the palate, again with vivid fruit. Finely etched tannins provide a neat rather than powerful structure. A real temptation in the short to medium term. (JL)

Score: 16.5 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com