Several 2020 Bordeaux tasted recently in Copenhagen

[greatbxfreak]

Happy New Year with wishes of Ukrainian War ending soon!

Some weeks ago I tasted several wines from 2020 vintage, bottled app. six months ago, sent to me to Copenhagen.

2020 is for sure a great vintage, marking the third one in row after 2018 and 2019. Wines have the elegance and finesse of 2019 and opulence of 2018, a perfect mix.

Due to app. 1% lower alcohol level compared with 2018 and 2019 I believe many members of BWW will love 2020 vintage!!

Here are my TNs:

Jonathan Maltus

2020 Teyssier 92p

Tasted in December 2022. 80% Merlot + 20% Cabernet Franc. 13.9% alcohol. A very distinctive nose of raspberries and wild cherries. Intense and concentrated on the palate, spicy with subtle complexity, depth, and length. Bright acidity to support fruit and tannin. Equally superb as the 2019 version, and both are the best vintages yet for the property.

2020 Laforge 93p

Tasted in December 2022. 92% Merlot + 8% Cabernet Franc. 13.8% alcohol. Because mildew strongly reduced the number of grapes, Jonathan Maltus didn’t produce wine from his other properties, Le Carre and Les Asteries, in vintage 2020. The remaining grapes from both estates were added to his other properties, including Laforge. Pure, intellectual, aromatic with delicious dark berries, luscious and silky on the palate, vibrant, complex, grained tannin, finesse, and subtle finish. Gorgeous wine.

2020 Vieux Chateau Mazerat 95p

Tasted in December 2022. 90% Merlot + 10% Cabernet Franc. 13.2% alcohol. It was a powerful, dense, well-equipped wine with a distinct and sophisticated nose of wild cherries, vivid with great depth, silky tannin, bright acidity, excellent midpalate, great complexity, structure, and intense finish. Impressive effort.

2020 Le Dôme 97p
Tasted in December 2022. 80% Cabernet Franc + 20% Merlot. 13.9% alcohol. A jewel in the collection of properties owned by Jonathan Maltus, Big concentration, and intensity. Fabulous nose of dark cherries covered with grated dark chocolate, a palate with a large structure. Luscious with fat tannin, great mid palate with complexity, sophisticated, multilayered with a long-lasting finish. Awesome effort!

2020 Le Nardian (white wine) 93p

Tasted in December 2022. aromatic on the nose with pineapple, acacia flower, and pear. Full of freshness with well-pronounced acidity, crisp fruit on the palate, savory and well-structured and a with a persistently fruity finish. Splendid for the vintage.

From Leoville Poyferre:

2020 Moulin Riche 94p

Tasted in December 2022. it’s not the second wine of Leoville Poyferre but an independent wine produced from a separate vineyard, located several kilometers vest for Leoville Poyferre, 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 15% Petit Verdot. 13.11% alcohol. Plenty of delicious blackberries, dark chocolate, and an unmistakable aroma of dark winter truffles. Sparky, lively and vibrant, fat and creamy palate, splendid complexity, and a long meaty finish. Great quality for the bucks here!

2020 Leoville Poyferre 97p

Tasted in December 2022. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. 13.5% alcohol. Very dense nose of intense blackcurrants and tobacco leaves. Dense and multilayered, with plenty of black fruit and fat tannin, great depth, complexity, and length, firm structure, and long, long finish. Modern style but not too trendy. This wine is just so, so badass sublime.

2020 Le Crock 92p

Tasted in December 2022. Same owner as Leoville Poyferre and Moulin Riche. 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. 13.5% alcohol. Typical wine for the commune with a dense and tight approach, strong backbone, splendid depth and length, juicy palate, and persistent finish. Terrific effort.

From Cos d'Estournel

2020 Goulee 92p

Tasted in December 2022. 90% Merlot + 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This vineyard is situated further north of Cos d'Estournel and close to Gironde banks. Same owner as Cos'd'Estournel (Reybier). Fresh, crushed blueberries and tobacco leaf on the nose, some perfume of roses, and spicy cherries on the palate with delicate complexity and refined minerality. Fine length and persistent aftertaste. Lovely effort. In my opinion, this is the best vintage for this wine yet!

2020 Pagodes de Cos 93p

Tasted in December 2022. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Second wine of Cos d’Estournel. Tobacco leaf and black tea on the nose, sappy and mineral on the palate, sappy, powerful yet elegant. Strong backbone, a magnificent structure, very complex and lengthy aftertaste. Superb performance.

2020 Cos d'Estournel 98-99p

Tasted in December 2022. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon + 38% Merlot. 15% more Merlot in 2020 compared with the 2018 vintage. 13.46% alcohol. This wine is a true St. Estephe wine with Cabernet Sauvignon dominating, yet the wine takes advantage of more Merlot in the blend, contributing to the fruit’s softness. Grilled bacon, cigar box, tobacco, excellent mid-palate, strong backbone, yet vibrant and juicy. Fantastic complexity and a long-lasting finish. Spectacular effort.

2020 Pagodes de Cos white 91p

Tasted in December 2022. 90% Sauvignon Blanc + 10% Semillon. Pineapple and lemongrass on the nose, lively with tension, fine acidity and complexity, crisp palate. Refreshing finish. Well-made. It definitely needs some more years to develop more flavors and nuances.

2020 Cos d’Estournel white 93p

Tasted in December 2022. 66% Sauvignon Blanc + 34% Semillon. A fatter version of Pagodes de Cos with more intensity and concentration, more acidity, and length on the palate. Very pineapple and lemongrass, fresh, crispy, and lively. As Pagodes, it needs several years to get more nuances. Splendid effort.

[Comte Flaneur]

Thanks for the notes Izak, and happy new year…good to see the ABVs come down a bit. Would you say this is a more classical vintage than either 18 or 19?

[greatbxfreak]

Yes.

[Nicklasss]

Thank you for the notes. Quite interesting to read the difference with the 2 previous vintages.

I bought a few 2020, maybe i should look for more.

[ericp]

Nice notes as always Isak. Good to see the abv closer to historical norms. I agree Nic, might have to add a few more to the list.