Appellations

Petit Village 2020

Pomerol

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Tasting Notes

The 2020 Petit-Village comes across as heavy and monolithic, with a lot of depth but also a very heavy oak imprint. I expected more based on the en primeur sample, but Petit-Village remains a work in progress and easily the biggest question mark in Pomerol. Can a great wine be made here? I don't know.

Score: 91 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2035 Date: 23 February 2023

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, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2028-2040 Date: 01 June 2021

Excellent quality, with grip, power and depth, slathers of bitter black chocolate, blackberry and oyster shell, intense and concentrated but without excess - giving it plenty of vintage signature in Pomerol, where 2020 has so much going for it. This was the year that the 10.5ha Petit Village was sold by AXA Millesimes, moving into the Moulin family portfolio that also owns neighbouring Beauregard, technical director Diana Berrouet-Garcia (who has since moved over to Le Pin), and Vincent Priou. 50% new oak for ageing, along with larger sized oak casks and amphora, 27hl/ha yield. An estate to follow over the next few years, as they look to focus on the oldest vines in the historic heart of the vineyard.

Score: 93 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2042 Date: 15 February 2023

Plenty of changes to keep track of here, as they look to focus the blend on the historic heart of the vineyard (around 50% of the total), and also keeping separate any young vines (meaning under eight years), and any that have viruses. Elegant, inky damson colour, a ton of density and intensity, but the tannins are supple and fragrant, they cradle rather than close in. Pulses of saltine crackers ripple through the blackberry fruit, and this has a ton of charm. Aged in 50% new oak, and using some larger sized oak casks and a few amphora as an experiment. A yield of 27hl/ha. First year in organic conversion. Harvested 8 September to 15 for the Merlot, and for the Cabernets just one day on September 23. Technical director Diana Berrouet-Garcia. Rainfall low in both July and August as everywhere in Pomerol - 2mm in July and 25mm August. New owners (the Moulin family of Galeries Lafayette, shared with neighbouring estate Beauregard). 3.8pH. You will also find a slightly lighter bottle as of this vintage, and a new label.

Score: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026 - 2038 Date: 19 May 2021

The 2020 Petit-Village was presented in a half-bottle format on both occasions, one in Bordeaux and the other via the UGC samples in the UK. I cannot understand why this is advantageous. Assessing the wine, like the Rouget also submitted in this format, there is a touch of VA on the nose that I bet is not in full-bottle. The UGC conveys a rather unnecessary smear of dark chocolate on the finish. I will wait until it is possible to evaluate this in 75cl format.

Score: - Neal Martin, Vinous.com Date: 08 February 2023

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 Date: 01 May 2021

Checking in as a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Château Petit-Village should certainly be an outstanding wine, and then some. Brought up in 60% new French oak, with the sum of the Cabernet Franc and Merlot brought up in larger barrels, it has a terrific nose of ripe black fruit, chocolate, tobacco, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a dense, concentrated mid-palate, it displays a rather focused, firm mouthfeel, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish.

Score: 91 - 93 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 25 May 2021

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 Date: 21 May 2021

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+ Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Date: 09 May 2021

Firm and linear tannins frame this young Bordeaux beautifully with blackberry, walnut and hazelnut character. Gorgeous center palate. It’s racy and refined. Creamy-textured tannins with length. Really pure and focused. Very transparent. Finesse. Best ever? 60% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 8% cabernet sauvignon.

Score: 97 - 98 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 16 April 2021