This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Château Croix de Labrie
St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
The 2020 Croix de Labrie is rich, sumptuous and a real head-turner. Jammy dark fruit, blood orange, mint, cinnamon, sweet oak and mocha are all amplified. Plush, silky tannins wrap it all together beautifully. The 2020 is opulent and flamboyant, but also remains light on its feet, showing impeccable balance and tons of class. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Clos René
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
The 2020 Clos René has developed into a powerful, structured wine, much moreso than it was from barrel. Dark cherry, plum, chocolate, leather and licorice are all amplified. This potent, deep Pomerol needs time to soften, that is for sure. There is a lot of wine here. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023 — 2 years ago
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
The 2020 Beau-Sejour Becot is a dense, powerful wine. A rush of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and sweet oak builds as this towering, vertically explosive Saint-Émilion opens in the glass. This is an especially broad, expansive Saint-Émilion, much of that attributable to the clay in these soils. The 2020 is magnificent in its intensity and overall volume. Superb. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Château d'Issan
Blason d'Issan Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
The 2020 d'Issan is a gorgeous, wonderfully complete wine. Blueberry, sage, dried herbs, menthol, lavender and licorice are all beautifully knit together. Medium in body, with notable depth and freshness, Issan is all class. Silky tannins round out the long, vibrant finish. The 2020 d'Issan is the first vintage that incorporates Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec to complement the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Château Coutet
Sauternes-Barsac Sémillon Blend 2020
The 2020 Coutet is much more refined and light on its feet than it was from barrel. Tangerine peel, mint, passionfruit, white flowers and a hint of marzipan all grace this airy, wonderfully refined Barsac. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Château Côte de Baleau
St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
The 2020 Côte de Baleau is a beautiful, expressive wine that marries the natural intensity of the year with the sense of classicism that is such a signature. Medium in body, the Côte de Baleau has a bit more mid-palate depth this year, not a bad thing, to match its rather dark-ish personality. Hints of gravel, lavender, spice and dried flowers linger. This is an especially fine vintage. (Antonio Galloni, vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Château Cantebau
Labastide Dauzac Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
The 2020 Dauzac is a rich, heady Margaux. Jammy dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and lavender saturate the palate. Readers should expect a flamboyant, opulent wine. There is certainly plenty to like. I must say, though, the heavy bottle is completely out of touch with today's world. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Château d'Armailhac
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
The 2020 d'Armailhac has all the fruit of the en primeur wine, and all the tannin too, almost like a barrel sample. I imagine the 2020 is going to need at least a few years to shed some of that tannic clout. Dark red cherry, red plum, pomegranate, blood orange, iron, white pepper and mint literally saturate the palate. The 2020 is a dense, plush d'Armailhac. It's a real head-turner. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Château Cos d'Estournel
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
The 2020 Cos d'Estournel is a wine of extreme elegance. Silky and light on its feet, the 2020 is incredibly nuanced. In fact it is without question the most finessed of all the top wines in Saint-Estèphe, showing more in common with some of its neighbors in the north of Pauillac than the more potent wines of Saint-Estèphe. Impossibly soft, silky tannins wrap around a core of dark red fruit, spice and orange zest. The 2020 is not a huge Cos, but rather a wine for readers who appreciate elegance over power. I can't wait to see how it ages. Magnificent. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
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The 2020 Domaine de Chevalier is brilliant. Bright, poised and wonderfully pure, the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier marries the radiance of the year with tremendous freshness. Red cherry fruit, blood orange, mint, star anise and cinnamon all meld together. The 2020 is a wine built on aromatic presence and persistence, more so than heft, with all the elements very nicely balanced. What a wine! Tasted two times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago