2020
2020 Chateau Pontet-Canet 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
The 2020 is yet another superb wine from an estate that has hardly put a foot wrong since the mid-1990s. A Château that delivers quality to equal and often surpass that of the super seconds, yet is... available at a much more palatable price tag.
60% cabernet, 32% merlot and 4% cab franc and petit verdot apiece, here is essential Pauillac: lifted, lilac-floral, chocolate and cherry nose; fresh, full-bodied cassis, plum and licorice palate, with layer upon layer of finely grained tannins with a terrific minerality and finish. It’s set for a glorious ageing.
£278 / Case£46.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Talbot 4eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
As Chateau Talbot’s third vintage under the direction of Jean-Michel Laporte (ex-La Conseillante) overlapped a trio of consecutive great years in Bordeaux, there was every indication that his 2020... would create as much anticipation as his 18’s and 19’s. That expectation was fully justified with the refinement and elegance this St Julien gem continues show.
A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, the vintage shows a floral and fruit spectrum on the nose, with blackcurrant, berry and cassis; lifted, concentrated and fresh, its palate is expansive with a delicious lick of minerality, one whose elegance is matched only by a terrific length.
£235 / Case£39.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Malescot St. Exupery 3eme Cru Classe, Margaux 6x75cl
"Sporting a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Malescot St. Exupery prances out of the glass with showy scents of ripe black and red currants, black cherries, raspberry leaves and ground cloves, plus... wafts of lilacs and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit layers with a firm, grainy texture and well-balanced acidity, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note." 95-97 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£231 / Case£38.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Carillon d’Angelus, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 6x75cl
The 2020 Le Carillon d'Angélus is another very pretty, expressive wine from the de Boüard family. Bright floral notes open first, showing off the wine's aromatic presence. Surprisingly elegant for... the year, the Carillon impresses with its refined personality. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit and cedar linger on the vibrant, persistent finish. Aging is 60% in new oak and 40% in stainless steel. Carillon continues to improve, some of that is likely attributable to a new cellar that was recently completed for this wine and the No. 3. Le Carillon is a blend taken from vineyards in three locations; Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, the Cheval Blanc/Figeac sector and around the château. The 2020 is aging in 60% new oak and 40% steel.
£396 / Case£66 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Conti Costanti, Brunello di Montalcino 6x75cl
"When I tried Costanti’s 2020 Rosso in 2022, Andrea described the vintage as better suited for Brunello given the high dry extract and sturdy structure. Indeed, his 2020 Brunello is one of the... vintage’s anomalies. It possesses rare profundity and decisiveness of tannins. The nose invites with plum blossom, dark currants, mint and an earthy undertow. Upfront tannins are substantial, grainy and crisp, and the sour cherry and cranberry core soars from the depths bringing bitter cocoa, coffee and alpine herbs along for the ride. Juicy acidity rings out and a distinct saltiness permeates the finish. Nevertheless, it is that unwavering backbone that currently commands, promising a long life ahead."
97 points, Michaela Morris, decanter.com
£240 / Case£40 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Domaine Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Blanc 6x75cl
"A much broader, riper aromatic profile than its Clos la Roquète. White flowers, citrus oils, rich and ripe pear. Full-bodied, broad and unctuous, it's precise both aromatically and in texture; a... perfectly balanced Vieux Télégraphe blanc for early drinking - longevity is hard to predict at this stage. All from La Crau. Mostly aged in foudres and demi-muids, plus a few barriques, two of which were new this year." 94 pts., Matt Walls, www.decanter.com
£300 / Case£50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Crystallum, Agnes Chardonnay, Western Cape 6x75cl
"The 2020 The Agnes has a clean, precise, crushed stone nose with dewy green apple and fresh pear and grassy meadow aromas. The palate is balanced, taut and fresh, featuring a fine bead of acidity and spicy undertow that defines the finish. Reserved but cerebral, I would like to see where this goes with bottle age." 93 pts., Neal Martin, vinous.com
£180 / Case£30 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Domaine Joseph Voillot, Volnay Premier Cru, Les Caillerets 6x75cl
Domaine Joseph Voillot holds 10 hectares of vineyards spanning the communes of Volnay and Pommard. Jean Pierre Charlot’s wines offer understatement and elegance, and in 2020 they have also... delivered fruit richness and an intensity rarely captured in Volnay and Pommard. These wines are impossible to ignore, showing modern classicism whilst perfectly expressing the wine’s unique terroirs. These are wines which speak so eloquently of their individual sites and are the essence of pinot noir. For buyers keen to experience the purity and poise of Volnay and Pommard in a great vintage, look no further than Domaine Joseph Voillot.
£355 / Case£59.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Maison Bleue 6x75cl
“Mostly sourced from les Murets, the 2020 Hermitage La Maison Bleue is a solid effort, with appealing notes of blackberries, raspberries and espresso on the nose. It's full-bodied and rich, yet... streamlined and focused, with savory tones of black olives appearing on the softly dusty finish. It should drink well young, yet age well for more than a decade.” 92-94 pts, Joe Czerwinski, www.robertparker.com, (Drink 2023-2035)
£215 / Case£35.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate