Chateau Bourgneuf 2020

JAMES SUCKLING: "Blue fruits with intense violets and some black olives on the nose. Full-bodied with polished tannins that melt into the wine. Super finish. So fine. Gorgeous. Best after 2027."

WEINWISSER: "Verhaltener Beginn, zarte schwarzbeerige Konturen, Baumnuss und dominikanischer Tabak, dahinter dunkles Malz und Zedern. Am burschikosen Gaumen mehlige Extraktfülle, feinspröde, stützende Rasse und mächtiger Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale verschlankt sich der Pomerol und endet mit kleinen schwarzen Beeren, dunkler Terroirwürze und sandiger Adstringenz. Hier heißt es Geduld bewahren. Trinkfenster wurde nach hinten angepasst. Gehört schon seit Jahren zu unseren «Hot Buys»."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Coming from a mix of gravel and clay soils and based on 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Château Bourgneuf has closed down considerably since I tasted it out of barrel. It offers a firmer, more focused, structured style that needs lots of air to show at its best. Ripe black fruits, spicy oak, graphite, and smoked tobacco define the bouquet, and it's tight and backward on the palate, with good extract and length. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, at which point it will evolve nicely for 15 years. Tasted twice."

DECANTER: "Gorgeous nose, so expressive with tobacco, dark chocolate, blackcurrants and roses. Ripe and juicy, this has a lovely energy to it, but also quite a mouthcoating tannic frame, fine but firm, well integrated but definitely present and giving the focus right now while the plum, fig, pomegranate and black cherry flavours slowly expand outwards. This has a glamour to it, a shiny side, while still being relatively knitted down. I love the juicy core, it’s so bright and vibrant, but it is being overshadowed by the tannins and the almost dry, cedar edges that linger on the tongue, giving a sharpness and bitterness. Lovely complexity though with nuance and the detail. Well delivered with polish but needs more time."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Feine Nuancen von Nougat und Kardamom, ein Hauch von Edelholz, schwarze Kirschen, zart nach Lakritze und frischer Orangenzeste. Komplex, saftig, süße Brombeerfrucht, kräftige Tannine, mineralisch im Abgang, schokoladig im Nachhall, ein feinwürziger Speisenbegleiter."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With a dark hue the wine is silky, rich, lush and supple. Medium-bodied with an earthy, cocoa-infused, ripe, deep plum character, the long finish is already displaying its chocolate tinged, black cherries, plum, spice, espresso and licorice character. Give it some time to develop additional complexities in the cellar before pulling the cork."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Friendly and open up front, with kirsch, plum gelée and blackberry mixed with wood spice, dark tobacco and savory notes, which add a chunky feel to the finish. Shows good energy, though, and is an admirable effort in the vintage. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2034. 1,800 cases made, 200 cases imported."