Chateau Clos de L´Oratoire 2020

JEB DUNNUCK: "Another head-turningly good Right Bank is the 2020 Clos De L'Oratoire, which comes from the team of Stephan von Neipperg. This medium to full-bodied, focused, elegant 2020 has good concentration, the vintage's pure, layered profile, classic aromas of black raspberry, cassis, graphite, and flowers, and plenty of chalky minerality on the finish. A quintessential 2020, give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following decade or so."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Very dark with purplish rim. Intense, lively black fruit. Dark and a little bit charry on the nose, lots of oak and tannins making a powerful, dry, savoury wine that needs a lot of time."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral unterlegter feiner Kirschduft, rotbeerige Nuancen, ein Hauch von Orangenblüten. Saftig, elegant, reife Pflaumen und Herzkirschen, integrierte Tannine, mineralisch und ausgewogen, bereits gut entwickelt, ein facettenreicher Speisenbegleiter."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2020 Clos de l'Oratoire is seamless and charming, offering up aromas of sweet cherries, blackberries, violets and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and harmonious palate. This gourmand, Merlot-dominant bottling will offer a wide drinking window."

DECANTER: "Confident and grippy with liquorice, cherry, rosemary, dried herbs and chocolate. It lifts and tightens through the plate, good tension, broad-shouldered, powerful and intense. 40% new oak. A yield of 32.5hl/ha."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Savory red fruits, citrus, dried flowers, and tobacco leaf nuances form the core of this elegant, fresh, medium-bodied wine. There is vibrancy, cut, and freshness to the fruits with a blend of orange peel, kirsch, and savory herbs in the finish. This will be delicious on release and should age for close to 2 decades. Drink from 2023-2038."

WEINWISSER: "90 % Merlot, 10 % Cabernet Franc, Alkohol 13.6 vol%. Tiefes Purpur mit opaker Mitte und zartem lila Rand. Betörendes Bouquet mit einem dichten Veilchenstrauß und frischem Schattenmorellensaft, dahinter Lakritze, edle Cassiswürze und heller Tabak. Am dichten Gaumen mit weicher Textur, fein körniges Extrakt, zarte kernige Noten im Untergrund und engmaschiges Tanningerüst. Im gebündelten Finale blaubeerige Konturen, Pflaumenhaut und Tabakblatt, man spürt den Trockenstress, durch die fein mürbe Adstringenz. Fällt zum Vorjahr leicht ab."

WINE SPECTATOR: " Reveals ripe plum and blackberry fruit that meld nicely with hints of anise, black tea and singed alder. The focused and fine-grained finish has a late savory sparkle for range. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2034. 3,500 cases made, 400 cases imported."