Bordeaux 2020 Southwold Tasting at FarrVintners

[sisler]

The vintage has some heights but is lacking the consistency of 2019. Montrose 2020 again one of the wines of the vintage and Langoa Barton 2020 one of the Best Buys.

https://www.farrvintners.com/blog/post.php?post=2186

[jckba]

Thanks for posting the link as this tasting always provides a useful cumulative view of the wines at this early stage.

[JimHow]

Thanks sisler, I continue to be intrigued by the 2019 vintage and the heights that Langoa seems to be achieving. Il going to uncork a 2020 de Lamarque tonight to see how it compares to the 2019 I had last week.

[Comte Flaneur]

If I had to back one of these horses, it would be 2020 not 2019 - you heard it here first - just like for 2016 Bdx: the 2015 vs 2016 vintages - the latter vintage will reign supreme and eventually overtake the 2016 mantle as the best ever Bdx vintage - you heard it it here first - the 2020s will turn out better than the 2019s because they have more precision - mark my words.

[JimHow]

Wow! A bold statement. This week I felt I had the best La Lagune ever -- the 2020 -- and the best Langoa Barton ever -- the 2019 -- can't wait to flip the vintages and try each of them and see how they compare.

[Nicklasss]

Taste a 2020 Calon Segur, and you'll understand.

Like i wrote before, how the 14.5 % alcohol 2019 GPL could be better than the 13.5 % alcohol 2020 GPL?

But 2016 is better than 2019 and 2020. Mark my words.

Had a 2016 Malescot Saint Exupéry on my birthday, January 13th, with JeanFred and AlexH, and it was gorgeous, competing easily against the 2011 LLC and the 2009 Pontet Canet, that same night...

[PghMike]

Had good feelings about the 2016 Malescot last week as well. Just received some 2020s. Loved the 2020 DDC. Will have to try a 2020 Calon soon.

[Chateau Vin]

I had 2020 Cos labory (yes, we don’t talk about it much) the other day, and I liked it. Costco has it for 32 bucks and am planning to pick up some. It showed nice typicity of Pauillac and I find it well balanced.

On a different note, I got the 2020 Duhart, and the AbV is listed ad 12.5! Now that we don’t see it these days. Talk about a throwback to the 80s.

[stefan]

CV, was "Pauillac" a slip of the fingers, or is 2020 Cos Labory atypical for its appellation? That would be very unusual for CL.

[jckba]

I had 2020 Cos labory (yes, we don’t talk about it much) the other day, and I liked it. Costco has it for 32 bucks and am planning to pick up some. It showed nice typicity of Pauillac and I find it well balanced.

On a different note, I got the 2020 Duhart, and the AbV is listed ad 12.5! Now that we don’t see it these days. Talk about a throwback to the 80s.

Cos Labory was recently purchased by Michel Reybier who also owns Cos d’Estournel.

[JimHow]

If I had to back one of these horses, it would be 2020 not 2019 - you heard it here first - just like for 2016 Bdx: the 2015 vs 2016 vintages - the latter vintage will reign supreme and eventually overtake the 2016 mantle as the best ever Bdx vintage - you heard it it here first - the 2020s will turn out better than the 2019s because they have more precision - mark my words.

You may very well be right, Comte, my very anecdotal experiences with the 2019 and 2020 vintages is that they are of stellar quality but with perhaps even more verve and personality than the legendary 2016 vintage. I had a 2020 Chateau de Lamarque last night, I rated the 2019 at 93 points and I rate this 2020 at 90 points, so I like the 2019 Chateau de Lamarque "better" but I don't think that disproves anything about your view of the 2020 vintage, I think they are both excellent wines at excellent prices and they definitely seem to reflect the quality and personality of each vintage.

[Chateau Vin]

CV, was "Pauillac" a slip of the fingers, or is 2020 Cos Labory atypical for its appellation? That would be very unusual for CL.

Thanks stefan. It was my slip of my fingers as well as my mind as the sentence didn’t convey what I was intended to. When I tasted it, 2020 CL showed notes of charcoal/pencil lead, which are generally more attributable to Pauillac, but nonetheless enjoyed those in 2020 CL.

[greatbxfreak]

Imho, 2019 Bx is more consistent than 2020, sweeter, and a bit lighter.

2020 after it left barrels is great. It was not 100% convincing from the barrel.

Every time I taste 2016, I love the aristocratic touch it has.

2015 has always been flashy and lacks the complexity of 2016, 2019, and 2020.

2022 will be bottled this year, and I expect huge things.

I'm going to taste 2023 Bx in two months.

[JimHow]

I read your reports on 2019 and 2020, GBF, it seems like you favor the right bank in 2020. I’ve been so impressed with the 2019s I’ve had so far, the prices of both 2019 and 2020 seem quite reasonable.

[jckba]

https://www.farrvintners.com/blog/post.php
Farr Vintners 10 years On link.

[JimHow]

There's a lot to unpack in that article.

[robert goulet]

Drinking 2020 latour martillac

If based on a tasting of this wine alone...Ian might be right about 2020.

$35 at Trader Joe's, this is a tasty little beast... Juicy plum and some gravel notes, beautiful cedar note, nice firm tannins, but not overwhelming, some spice from the oak. Is the old school bordeaux that I long for? Nope, but it's quite delicious....Back up the truck

[stefan]

It is great that Farr trashed 2014!

[JimHow]

It is indeed great that it will help to depress prices but what I get a kick out of is that they seem to be amazed that 2014 is not some big profound 100 Parker point vintage. These folks underrated 2014 from the get go, now their opinions seem to have undergone some journey that has led them back to the same place. When did they EVER rate 2014 so high, thus warranting disappointment? 2014 has always been the understated, underrated vintage that the so called "experts" missed, providing us with classic, reserved, wines that are defined by what they are NOT -- not Parkerized, not high alcohol, not homogenized, just good old classic styled wines offering balance and modesty. Where did I miss it that these experts ever thought this was some great shakes? I'm thrilled to have many 2014s in my cellar like Duhart Milon, Sociando Mallet, d'Armailhac, Clerc Milon, Leoville Barton, Calon Segur, Chateau Margaux, Ducru, Lynch, Pichon Lalande, Pichon Baron, and on, and on, at very low prices. Thank you, Farrs, for continuing to miss the mark on this vintage!

[DavidG]

Looks like 2014 is a sleeper vintage. More to enjoy there than one would think from reading the critics. And a reasonable value because of it.

[RPCV]

I recall a similar “10-years on” sentiment with 2002. Happy to have 2014 represented in my cellar. I think the most interesting statement regarding Farr's conclusion is that tasters felt that the wines would fare better when tasted alone. Large tastings are great, but true wine appreciation begins and ends with a singular bottle....especially when paired with the right cuisine.

[JimHow]

Indeed, RC, I think that about says it all. We had the 2014 and 2019 side by side with Nicolas Thienpont when we were at Pavie Macquin in October. The 2019 was "better" in the mini vertical, but the 2014 was a reserved beauty that would undoubtedly be rewarding during the course of a nice meal. There is nothing weak or unripe or deficient about it, it is just a very different, less upfront style than the 2019.

[esl]

Large tastings are great, but true wine appreciation begins and ends with a singular bottle....especially when paired with the right cuisine.

Agreed. Outside of tastings, it is rare for us to have wine without food; a glass of champagne as part of a toast or some port, Eiswein, BA or TBA by the fireside late in the evening are the exceptions that come to mind. Even then we usually have something to nibble on alongside.

[greatbxfreak]

I've these wines in my cellar:

CONFIDENCE(S) DE CHATEAU SEGUIN
SEGUIN
L'EGLISE CLINET
MOUTON ROTHSCHILD
CALON SEGUR
LES CARMES HAUT BRION
MONTROSE
LA LAGUNE
LA MISSION HAUT BRION
CAILLOU
BEYCHEVELLE
TEYSSIER
LAFORGE
VIEUX CHATEAU MAZERAT
LE DÔME

2014 has an excellent acidity in red wines, dry whites and sweet whites. Do Farr Vintners never taste dry whites?

[PghMike]

2014 Cos was one of the best wines I've had in the last couple years.

[Comte Flaneur]

I think the Farr’s guy has quite a sweet tooth because he always has Poyferre as his pick of St-J’s.

Has he seriously tasted the 2014 Ducru and Leoville Barton?

My faith in 2014 is not all shaken.

[DavidG]

I recall a similar “10-years on” sentiment with 2002. Happy to have 2014 represented in my cellar. I think the most interesting statement regarding Farr's conclusion is that tasters felt that the wines would fare better when tasted alone. Large tastings are great, but true wine appreciation begins and ends with a singular bottle....especially when paired with the right cuisine.

Spot on!

[greatbxfreak]

They promote the sale of Tronquoy Lalande 2014 by adding Tns and scores from various critics.

The funny thing is that this quote below leaves one to think that all tricks apply!

A rich, chocolaty wine with structure right up front. Under the same ownership as Château Montrose, this wine reveals all its attractions early, with sweet blackberry fruit and powerful tannins. There is some freshness as well, giving fruitiness and acidity at the end.

93
Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, May 2013

2014 vintage WASN'T MADE BY THEN!!

[DavidG]