Bordeaux 2020: Saving the Best for Last
BY ANTONIO GALLONI |
Left Bank: Saint-Estèphe | Pauillac | Saint-Julien | Margaux | Pessac-Léognan & Graves | Left Bank Satellites | Sauternes
Right Bank: Pomerol | Saint-Émilion | Right Bank Satellites
Two thousand-twenty is an incredibly exciting vintage for Bordeaux. After having tasted more than 800 wines for this report, my conclusion is that 2020 is by far the most consistent of the three vintages in Bordeaux’s so-called trilogy spanning 2018 through 2020. It is a year brimming with phenomenal wines at all levels, from the big names down to bottles the average consumer can still afford to purchase by the case.
On many an evening during the trip for this report I was quite simply astonished when I reflected on what I had tasted throughout the day. Some of that was surprising because 2020 has always been a unique vintage that began its life during a very strange time in the history of the world. The critical summer ripening period and the harvest took place at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown. There were none of the typical on-the-ground reports from visitors watching events unfold. In speaking with many producers, I got the impression they rather enjoyed the calm of a harvest without distractions, even with the challenges of having to manage crews during the pandemic. By the time spring came around, it was clear that en primeur tastings would once again have to be remote. The Bordeaux machine turned on the gears quickly. With the experience of the previous year, samples were dutifully shipped to all corners of the world. A few reference-point châteaux did not send samples, which created several blind spots for those of us tasting the wines from home, meaning the vast majority of reviewers. For all of these reasons, I was not expecting to see such a high level of quality across the board, but in the end, 2020 has turned out to be an exceptional vintage.
The very
modest entrance at Petrus, Pomerol.
The 2020 Growing Season & Wines
Readers who want to revisit the details of the growing season will find plenty of information in my article 2020 Bordeaux En Primeur: Almost Back to Normal and Neal Martin’s articles Vingt-Vingt Vins: Bordeaux 2020 and Thrice Is Nice: Bordeaux 2020 in Bottle. In short, 2020 was another warm and very dry year for Bordeaux, but without the excesses of the previous vintages (most notably the heat of 2018), generally well-timed episodes of rain and no significant shock events, except isolated hail. There was some rain in early summer, but mildew was much more modest than in 2018. June and July turned exceptionally warm and dry, with elevated temperatures and essentially no rain for 54-55 days between mid-June and mid-August. Rain arrived around August 9, more in the northern Médoc, less to the south and over in the Right Bank. A number of estates on the Left Bank reported dehydration on the vine for Cabernet Sauvignon because of intense drying winds, which in turn led to smaller berries and lower juice yields. Most notably, cool evenings during the last phase of ripening seems to have helped the wines preserve a measure of freshness.
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Two thousand-twenty is an incredibly exciting vintage for Bordeaux. After having tasted more than 800 wines for this report, my conclusion is that 2020 is by far the most consistent of the three vintages in Bordeaux’s so-called trilogy spanning 2018 through 2020. It is a year brimming with phenomenal wines at all levels, from the big names down to bottles the average consumer can still afford to purchase by the case.
Show all the wines (sorted by score)
Producers in this Article
- Adaugusta
- Alcée
- Ampélia
- Angludet
- Arnaud
- A Tous
- Ausone
- Badette
- Balestard La Tonnelle
- Barde-Haut
- Barrabaque
- Barrail Saint-André
- Bastor-Lamontagne
- Beaulieu
- Beaumont
- Beauregard
- Beau-Séjour Bécot
- Bel-Air (Lussac Saint-Émilion)
- Bélair-Monange
- Bel-Air (Pomerol)
- Belgrave
- Belle Coline
- Belle Endormie
- Bellefont-Belcier
- Bellegarde
- Bellegrave
- Bellerive
- Belles Graves
- Belle-Vue
- Bellevue Malartic
- Bellevue (Saint-Émilion)
- Berliquet
- Bertineau Saint-Vincent
- Beychevelle
- Bibian
- Bolaire
- Bonnat
- Bourgneuf
- Bournac
- Bouscaut
- Boutisse
- Branaire-Ducru
- Branas Grand Poujeaux
- Brandille
- Brane-Cantenac
- Brondelle
- by Clinet
- Cadet-Bon
- Calicem
- Calon Ségur
- Canon
- Canon-Chaigneau
- Canon La Gaffelière
- Canon Pécresse
- Cantegril
- Cantemerle
- Cantenac Brown
- Cantin
- Capbern
- Cap de Mourlin
- Capet-Guillier
- Cap Léon Veyrin
- Carbonnieux
- Cardinal-Villemaurine
- Carteau Côtes Daugay
- Certan de May
- Chante Alouette
- Chantegrive
- Charmail
- Chasse-Spleen
- Château Beauséjour JDL
- Château Margaux
- Cheval Blanc
- Cheval Noir
- Chollet
- Cilorn
- Citran
- Clarisse
- Clarke
- Claud-Bellevue
- Clément-Pichon
- Clerc-Milon
- Clinet
- Clos 126
- Clos 1873
- Clos 56
- Clos Badon
- Clos Beauregard
- Clos Bertineau
- Clos de Boüard
- Clos de la Molénie
- Clos de la Vieille Église
- Clos de l'Oratoire
- Clos de Sarpe
- Clos des Jacobins
- Clos des Lunes
- Clos des Prince
- Clos Dubreuil
- Clos du Marquis
- Clos du Roy
- Clos Floridène
- Clos Fourtet
- Clos Haut-Peyraguey
- Clos Hedone
- Clos Junet
- Clos La Cure
- Clos L'Eglise
- Clos Manou
- Clos Margalaine
- Clos Marsalette
- Clos Puy Arnaud
- Clos René
- Clos Romanile
- Clos Saint-Julien
- Clos Saint-Martin
- Clos Saint-Vincent
- Clos Vieux Taillefer
- Cos d'Estournel
- Cos Labory
- Côte de Baleau
- Côte Montpezat
- Coufran
- Couhins
- Couhins-Lurton
- Coutet
- Couvent des Jacobins
- Crabitey
- Croix Cardinale
- Croix de Labrie
- Croix de Rambeau
- Croizet-Bages
- Croque Michotte
- Curton La Perrière
- d'Agassac
- d'Aiguilhe
- Dalem
- d'Arce
- d'Arcins
- d'Arcole
- d'Armailhac
- Dassault
- Daugay (Famille Grenie-de Boüard)
- Dauzac
- de Birazel
- de Camensac
- de Candale
- de Carles
- de Cérons
- de Chambrun
- de Fargues Lur Saluces
- de Fieuzal
- de Fonbel
- de France
- de Francs
- de Gachet
- de La Cour d'Argent
- de La Croix
- de la Huste
- de Lamarque
- de La Rivière
- de Laussac
- de Lussac
- de Malleret
- de Millery
- de Pez
- de Pressac
- de Saint-Pey
- des Fougères
- des Laurets
- Desmirail
- de Sours
- Des Rêves
- de Tabuteau
- de Taste
- de Valois
- de Viaud
- de Villegeorge
- Deyrem Valentin
- d'Issan
- Doisy-Daëne
- Domaine de Cambes
- Domaine de Chevalier
- Domaine de Compostelle
- Domaine de L'A
- Domaine de Saint-Amand
- Domaine du Bouscat
- Domaines des Sabines
- Domaine Simon Blanchard
- Dubois-Grimon
- du Cartillon
- Dufourg
- du Gazin
- Duhart-Milon
- du Mont
- du Paradis
- Durand-Laplagne
- Durfort-Vivens
- Dutruch Grand Poujeaux
- Edmus
- Emmanuelle de Boüard
- Enclos Tourmaline
- Escot
- Faizeau
- Fan Carnet
- Fayat
- Ferrande
- Ferrière
- Feytit-Clinet
- Figeac
- Flaunys
- Fleur Cardinale
- Fleur Haut Gaussens
- Fombrauge
- Fonbadet
- Fonplégade
- Fonréaud
- Fonroque
- Fontaine de Genin
- Fontenil
- Fougas
- Fourcas Dupré
- Fourcas Hosten
- France 6
- Franc La Rose
- Franc Lartigue
- Franc Le Maine
- Franc Mayne
- Franc Pipeau
- Freynelle
- Garraud
- Gazin
- Gigault
- Giscours
- Gloria
- Godeau
- Gourdins
- Grace Dieu
- Gracia
- Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Figeac
- Grand Corbin Despagne
- Grand Destieu
- Grand Ormeau
- Grand-Puy Ducasse
- Grand-Puy-Lacoste
- Grand Village
- Grangey
- Graze Fonrazade
- Greysac
- Grivière
- Gruaud Larose
- Guadet
- Guillot Clauzel
- Guinot
- Guiraud
- Guiteronde
- Haura
- Haut-Bacalan
- Haut-Bages Libéral
- Haut-Bailly
- Haut-Batailley
- Haut-Bergeron
- Haut-Bergey
- Haut-Bernat
- Haut Bertinerie
- Haut-Breton Larigaudière
- Haut-Brisson
- Haut-Chaigneau
- Haut-Condissas
- Haut Coulon
- Haut L’Abeille
- Haut-Lagrange
- Haut-Maillet
- Haut-Meyreau
- Haut Nouchet
- Haut Roc Blanquant
- Haut-Rocher
- Haut Selve
- Haut-Simard
- Haut-Surget
- Haut Venenac
- Haut-Veyrac
- Héritage de Négrit
- Hoclet
- Hosanna
- Hospitalet de Gazin
- Hostens-Picant
- Hubert de Boüard
- JCP Maltus
- JCP Maltus - Laforge
- JCP Maltus - Le Dôme
- JCP Maltus - Teyssier
- JCP Maltus - Vieux Château Mazerat
- Jean de Gué
- Jean Faure
- Jean Faux
- Joanin Bécot
- Kirwan
- La Bastienne
- Labégorce
- La Brande
- La Cabanne
- La Cardonne
- La Chandellière
- La Chénade
- La Clare
- La Claymore
- La Clotte
- La Commanderie (Saint-Émilion)
- La Conseillante
- La Couronne
- La Couspaude
- La Croix Bellevue
- La Croix de Gay
- La Croix des Moines
- La Croix Lartigue
- La Croix Younan
- La Croizille
- La Dauphine
- La Diligente
- La Dominique
- Lafaurie
- Lafite-Rothschild
- Lafitte-Carcasset
- Lafleur
- La Fleur
- La Fleur d'Arthus
- La Fleur de Boüard
- La Fleur de Gay
- La Fleur de Viaud
- Lafleur-Gazin
- La Fleur Perey
- La Fleur-Pétrus
- Lafon-Rochet
- Lafont-Fourcat
- La Fortune
- La France Delhomme
- La Gaffelière
- La Garde
- Lagrange (Pomerol)
- Lagrange (Saint-Julien)
- La Grave
- La Grave Figeac
- La Gurgue
- La Haye
- Lajarre
- La Lagune
- La Louvière
- La Marzelle
- La Mondotte
- Lamothe-Bergeron
- Lanessan
- Langoa-Barton
- Laniote Saint-Émilion
- La Papeterie
- La Patache
- La Perle du Brégnet
- Laplagnotte-Bellevue
- La Pointe
- L'Archange
- Larcis Ducasse
- La Ribaud
- Larmande
- Laroque
- La Rose Brisson
- Larose Perganson
- La Rose Perrière
- La Rose Pourret
- La Rousselle
- Larrivet Haut-Brion
- Lascombes
- La Sergue
- La Serre
- Latour à Pomerol
- La Tour Carnet
- La Tour de Bessan
- La Tour de By
- La Tour de Mons
- La Tour du Pin Figeac
- La Tour Figeac
- Latour-Martillac
- La Tour Perey
- L'Aubroisie
- Laurence
- Lauzat
- La Vaisinerie
- La Vieille Croix
- La Vieille Cure
- La Violette
- La Voûte
- Le Bon Pasteur
- Le Boscq
- Le Caillou
- Le Chatelet
- Le Chemin
- L'Eclat de Valentin
- Le Clos du Beau-Père
- Le Clos du Breuil
- Le Conte
- Le Coteau
- Le Crock
- Le Doyenné
- Le Gay
- L'Eglise-Clinet
- Le Moulin
- L'Enclos
- Léoville Barton
- Léoville Las Cases
- Léoville-Poyferré
- Le Pape
- L’Éperon
- Le Pin
- Le Pin Beausoleil
- Le Prieuré
- Le Rey
- Leroy-Beauval
- Les Carmes Haut-Brion
- Les Champs Libres
- Les Charmes-Godard
- Les Clauzots
- Les Combes
- Les Cruzelles
- Les Grandes Murailles
- Les Grandes Versannes
- Les Grands Chênes
- Les Grands Maréchaux
- Les Gravières
- Lesparre
- Lespault-Martillac
- Les Perrières
- Lestage Simon
- Les Trois Croix
- Lestruelle
- Le Thil
- L'Évangile
- Leydet Valentin
- L'Hêtre
- L'If
- Lilian Ladouys
- L'Isle Fort
- Liversan
- Loudenne Le Château
- Louis
- Lubat
- Lucia
- Lynch-Bages
- Lynch-Moussas
- Lynsolence
- Madran
- Magrez-Fombrauge
- Maillet
- Maison Blanche
- Malartic-Lagravière
- Malengin
- Malescasse
- Malescot St. Exupéry
- Mangot
- Marojallia
- Marquis d'Alesme
- Marquis de Terme
- Maucaillou
- Mauvais Garçon (aka Bad Boy)
- Mauvinon
- Mazeyres
- Méaume
- Messile-Aubert
- Meyney
- Milens
- Milon
- Moine Vieux
- Moncets
- Montaiguillon
- Montlabert
- Montlandrie
- Montrose
- Montviel
- Moulin du Cadet
- Moulinet
- Moulin-Galhard
- Moulin Haut-Laroque
- Moulin Riche
- Moulin Saint-Georges
- Mouton-Rothschild
- Nénin
- Olivier
- Ormes de Pez
- Pabus
- Palais Cardinal
- Palatin
- Palmer
- Pape Clément
- Pas de L'Ane
- Patache d'Aux
- Pauillac par Pascale Peyronie
- Paveil de Luze
- Pavie-Macquin
- Pédesclaux
- Penin
- Penin-les Cailloux
- Petit Bocq
- Petit Faurie de Soutard
- Petit Gravet Aîné
- Petit Val
- Petit-Village
- Petrus
- Pey La Tour
- Peymouton
- Peyredon Lagravette
- Phélan Ségur
- Pibran
- Pichon Baron
- Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
- Picque Caillou
- Pierre 1er
- Pierre de Lune
- Pilet
- Plain-Point
- Plince
- Plincette
- Poesia
- Pontet-Canet
- Porte Chic
- Potensac
- Poujeaux
- Preuillac
- Prieuré-Lichine
- Prieuré Sainte-Anne
- Puygueraud
- Puy Guilhem
- Puy-Redon
- Quinault L'Enclos
- Rahoul
- Ramafort
- Rauzan Gassies
- Rauzan-Ségla
- Rayne-Vigneau
- Réaut
- Reclos de La Couronne
- Reignac
- Reynon
- Reysson
- Richelieu
- Ripeau
- Roc de Calon
- Roc de Cambes
- Rollan de By
- Rolland-Maillet
- Rol Valentin
- Ronan by Clinet
- Roquetaillade La Grange
- Roquevieille
- Rouget
- Roullet
- Roylland
- Rubis
- Saintayme
- Sainte-Barbe
- Sainte-Marie
- Saint-Georges (Côte Pavie)
- Saint-Nicolas
- Saint-Pierre (Pomerol)
- Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien)
- Saint-Robert
- Sanctus
- Sansonnet
- Sergant
- Sérilhan
- Siaurac
- Simard
- Siran
- Smith Haut Lafitte
- Soutard
- Soutard-Cadet
- St. Georges
- St. Jean de Lavaud
- Suduiraut
- Taillefer
- Talbot
- Tauzinat L'Hermitage
- Tauzinat Prieure
- Tayac
- Tertre-Rôteboeuf
- Tessendey
- Teyssier
- Toulouse-Lautrec
- Tour Baladoz
- Tour Bayard
- Tour de Capet
- Tour de Pez
- Tour des Termes
- Tour Maillet (Lagardère)
- Tournefeuille
- Tour Perruchon
- Tour Saint Christophe
- Tour Saint-Fort
- Tour Séran
- Trapaud
- Treytins
- Trianon
- Trocard
- Tronquoy-Lalande
- Troplong Mondot
- Trotanoy
- Trotte Vieille
- Valandraud
- Veyry
- Vieille Dynastie
- Vieux Château Certan
- Vieux Château des Rochers
- Vieux Doumayne
- Vieux Maillet
- Villars
- Villemaurine
- Virginie Thunevin
- Vray Croix de Gay
- Yon-Figeac