Chateau Sansonnet 2020

JEB DUNNUCK: "Another head-turning vintage from this château, the 2020 Château Sansonnet is based on 95% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, from yields of 36 hectoliters per hectare, that was raised in 80% new barrels. Possessing incredible purity in its black raspberry and cassis fruit as well as notes of white flowers, camphor, and spicy oak, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, polished, ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. This estate, under the guidance of Marie and Christophe Lefévère, has had a shocking string of truly incredible vintages, and given that these continue to be undervalued in the market, it's the wine lovers and wine drinkers out there who benefit. If you get a chance, don't miss this beauty."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Notes of ripe blackberries and blueberries with black licorice, tree bark, chocolate and moist earth. Medium- to full-bodied and dense. It has layers of ultra-fine tannins wrapping up the deep core of dark fruit. Structured and velvety with a long finish. Try after 2026."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Dark in hue, the wine opens with espresso, black cherries, dark chocolate and flowers in the perfume. Full-bodied, creamy, concentrated, silky and fresh, the finish strives to coat your palate with its layers of polished, ripe, black and blue fruit, espresso, licorice chocolate and smoke. Drink from 2024-2050."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur mit schwarzer Mitte und zartem lila Rand. Konzentriertes schwarzbeeriges Bouquet, dahinter edle Cassiswürze, exotische Hölzer, Lakritze und dunkle Schokotrüffel. Am mächtigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, feinkörnige Extraktfülle, engmaschiges Tanningerüst, stützende Rasse, sehr muskulöser Körper. Im gebündelten sehr lang anhaltenden Finale Wildkirsche, Alpenheidelbeere, Brasiltabak und dunkle Mineralik. Am Maximum vinifiziert, aber die Rechnung geht auf!"

DECANTER: "Ripe, fleshy and mouthcoating, this packs a punch in terms of flavour, concentration, acidity and tannins. Everything is on show. Minty liquorice is dominant, so you get quite a lot of wood spice and bitter elements which do detract a little from the fruit, although this is a bold, brooding and characterful wine. Rich and heady. A blockbuster that just manages to stay on the right side of being too much. One to watch."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, opaker Kern, zarte Randaufhellung. Edelholz, schwarze Waldbeeren, Lakritze, feine florale Nuancen, kandierte Orangenzesten, etwas Dörrfeigen. Komplex, rote Kirschen, feine Fruchtsüße, runde, samtige Tannine, sehr gute Frische, versteckt am Gaumen seine Muskeln sehr gekonnt, mineralisch und lange anhaftend, sicheres Zukunftspotenzial, braucht noch etwas Zeit."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Sansonnet explodes with notes of baked plums, boysenberry preserves, black raspberries, and Morello cherries, giving way to wafts of crushed rocks, cedar, and baking spices. The full-bodied palate has a rock-solid structure of firm, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness supporting the generous black and red fruit flavors, finishing with compelling energy."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The wine is definitely young. Its tannins still give a smoky character alongside the ripe black fruit flavors. The well-judged 16 months in wood have boosted the fruit and given the wine a fine future. Drink from 2027."