Here are some of our thoughts on the 2020 Vintage in Bordeaux. Please note that this serves as a guideline only and for any further detailed information, please don't hesitate to contact Phil Stanton on 0732521117 or phil@thewineemporium.com.au
- Left bank is pretty awesome all around with Margaux, St-Julien and Pauillac being the standouts… Plenty of fruit and structure, fantastic freshness, lower alcohol (more on the 13.5 to 14ish than 14.5+). These are looking great now and should be approachable on release and reward 5-15 years cellaring depending on the estate. For the 1er Crus, it’s business as usual and they’ll probably outlive us.
- Fantastic value on the entry level side of things for the normally overlooked generic appellations like Médoc and Haut-Médoc. I will personally be stockpiling that $25 to $60 kind of range as those AOCs should provide early drinking, delicious claret that’s perfect for a Tuesday night.
- Whites are good all around if you like the more tropical side of Sauvignon Blanc. That being said there is still plenty of that Bordeaux white grassiness showing. The usual suspects such as Pape-Clément, Malartic, Chevalier etc are pretty damn delicious and built to last.
- Sauternes were not botrytised at all so that’s a personal choice - I don’t find that particularly interesting, but some people love it. I prefer the spiciness of the botrytis rather than just the jammy fruit.
- I found the Right bank quite austere and tough, but the alcohols were under control this year and the ripeness was there… That means we’ll have an age-worthy release from St-Émilion and Pomerol. The satellites were interesting too, Montagne St-Émilion was quite tasty, with silkier texture and softer acids. The Fronsac I tasted were outrageously closed.
- Price wise it looks quite reasonable with Cheval Blanc being cheaper than last year and Angélus just about the same.
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