Appellations

Le Gay 2020

Pomerol

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Tasting Notes

The 2020 Le Gay is rich and expansive on the palate. Gorgeous, savory notes add complexity to a core of black cherry fruit. This lush, extravagantly ripe Pomerol is not at all subtle, and yet all the elements are very well put together. Hints of chocolate, new leather and licorice linger on the potent finish.

Score: 94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028-2040 Date: 23 February 2023

The 2020 Le Gay offers up a heady concoction of blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, licorice and new oak. Inky and deep, with tremendous sheer textural opulence, this is one of the most explosive, intense Pomerols readers will come across. A delicious wine, but not subtle in any way.

Score: 92 - 94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028-2040 Date: 01 June 2021

Coffee bean, blackberry and cocoa powder, with grip, confidence and powerful slate crushed rock. A yield of 35hl/ha, vinified in new oak barrels. Henri Parent owner (he also, by the way, bought an organic truffle orchard in the Dordogne in this vintage), Michel Rolland consultant. Expect levels of Cabernet Franc to rise over the next few years.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2040 Date: 15 February 2023

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 Date: 18 May 2021

The 2020 Le Gay was an impressive Pomerol when tasted from barrel. Now, in bottle, it has a wonderful, exquisitely-defined bouquet with perfumed blackberry and briary, incense and light pencil lead aromas. It's quite understated for Le Gay, yet blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with quite grainy tannins. Well-balanced, fresh, hints of licorice and brine towards a very saline finish. There is an edginess to this wine that I like, but it needs several years in bottle.

Score: 95 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026-2050 Date: 08 February 2023

The 2020 Le Gay needs a little coaxing from the glass, but responds with blackberry, bilberry, pressed iris and subtle brine scents that gain intensity with aeration; the oak is very well integrated. The medium-bodied palate features fine, grainy tannins and beautiful, very pure black fruit tinged with licorice. Superb delineation toward the finish, which fans out with style. This is a wonderful Pomerol, Le Gay fulfilling its potential as one of Pomerol’s dark horses. Superb.

Score: 95 - 97 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2050 Date: 01 May 2021

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 Date: 25 May 2021

Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Le Gay erupts from the glass with scents of molten licorice and dark chocolate, giving way to a tantalizing core of baked black cherries, prunes and blackberry preserves, plus a hint of cardamom. The full-bodied palate is rich and decadent, featuring layers of black fruits and exotic spices with a firm yet velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. A hedonic powerhouse!

Score: 94 - 96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025 - 2048 Date: 21 May 2021

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 Date: 16 April 2021