Smooth Tasting 2020 Bordeaux Releases – Left Bank Reds

This is one of four articles published today regarding 2020 Bordeaux wines that were released in 2022 after initial aging.

A more detailed description of how these wines evolved from 2020 to 2022 can be found in this first companion article.

Below are tasting notes for many left bank Bordeaux red wines. This article is accompanied by three others—describing right bank Bordeaux red wines, right and left bank Bordeaux white wines and describing Entre-deux-Mers Bordeaux wines.

Château La Fleur Saint-Bonnet. 2020. 90 points.

From de Boüard/ Philippe Nunes in the Médoc, includes aromas of chocolates bars and black cherries as well as some treacle, sage and spearmint. Boisterous acidity, petaled layers of flavor in this light wine with soft tannins and flavors of mandarins and chewy milk chocolate chips. Pair with cheddar cheese or beef goulash.

Château L’Eden. Apodis. Médoc. 2020. 91 points.

Aromas of blackberries, hazelnuts and mint. Flavors of dark fruit in this mildly tannic wine with raspberry flavors. Not layered, but easy drinking.

Château L’Eden. Médoc. 2020. 94 points.

Brisk, fresh, taut aromas of chalk, sage, sweet black cherries and raspberries. A deep and fulfilling mouthful of sultanas, raspberries, blackberries—a bowl of fresh picked and crushed summer fruit. Mouth-watering acidity, low key tannins in this fresh and lively wine. A creamy beauty. Pair with banana pie dessert, or cheddar cheese coated macaroni. Satisfying and generous.

Prelude a Grand-Puy Ducasse. Pauillac. 2020. 94 points.

From du Boüard /Nunes this wine is a raspberry treat of aromas, followed by black cherries, eucalyptus, and a lick of macaroons. A focused blast of light red fruit and acidity in the mouth; tantalizing flavors dance across the palate—zesty and energetic. A secondary layer swims below which includes flavors of caramel and red and black licorice. A confident wine, with tannins accentuating the fruity and mildly jammy mid palate. Pair with Thai food that includes sweet and sour notes. This is a tightrope walker—poised between light red fruit acidity and creamier crème brûlée notes. Bravo!

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse. Grand Crus Classé. Pauillac. 2020. 92 – 93 points.

From the 200^th anniversary harvest at this château comes a mildly arresting bouquet of red fruit, rum and sandstone with a hint of acidity. On the tongue and in the mouth, an attack of tartness, followed by a textured mid palate of black licorice, chestnuts, unsweetened chocolate—all backed by full though soft tannins. Slightly complex with plush acidity; pair with grilled meats or a spicy tajine. Give this time in the glass to come alive.

Château Branas Grand Poujeaux. Moulis-en-Médoc. 2020. 94 points.

A 60/35/5 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Verdot. Gorse, heather, strawberry patch and menthol on the nose. A clean attack, a light raspberry medley mid palate and a lick of acidity and Provence herbs on the finish. Delightful wine with prudent tannins to be paired with chicken and maroilles cheese or wiener schnitzel doused in lemon and coated with herbs.

Château Siran. Margaux. 2020. 93 points.

A clean stream of coherent, fruity aromas—including boysenberries, blueberries, and the perfume of violets, lavender, lilacs, roses and sage. A rainbow of florals! Flavors include blackberries, prunes, plums raspberries. Smooth and crisp; textured but with light tannins. Clean, thin acidity.

Château Tour des Termes. Saint-Estèphe. Cru Bourgeois Supérieur. 2020. 95 points.

A robust funnel of black and red fruit aromas, soft and luscious with also some gorse and sage. In the mouth this is a clear, clean, precise funnelled tunnel of deep black fruit flavors—clear and attention getting as a coastal blast of fresh air. Chewy chocolate chips, raspberries and red plums blasting their energies. Attack of chocolate chips wrapped around red cherries followed by a harmonious mid palate of taut tannins, lean acidity, velvety fruit, mocha wafers and a finish of lemon drops and menthol. Complex, attention grabbing, succulent and well layered. Pair with blackened salmon, goulash or a soy rice bowl with chunks of roasted chicken.

Cht Laffitte Carcasset. Saint Estephe. Cru Bourgeois Supérieur. 2020. 95+ points.

A fruit garden of aromas—raspberries, strawberries and red plums—in this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Also a hint of cedar. Raspberry flavors on the attack, plums and prunes mid palate and some lime/citrus acidity with cinnamon on the finish. Generous acidity enfolded into flavors, and textured tannins in the background. This is a juicy, fruity light red fruit matrix with a depth charge of lime and acidity melded with cocoa on the finish.

Château Larose Perganson. Haut-Médoc. 2020. 94 – 95 points.

Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. Full cherries and malt ball aromas. Fluffy mid palate of mocha, aniseed, black pepper and raspberries. Delightful finish.

Château Tour de Pez. Saint-Estephe. Cru Bourgeois. 2020. 90 – 91 points.

A Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend. A snappy and semi tart set of aromas that include those of dark red cherries, wet earth, menthol and gorse. Somewhat dry and tannic mid palate with soft red fruit and black pepper, and a young finish. Keep for three or more years before opening.

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse. Pauillac. 2020. 94+ points.

Sweet and soft and also perky aromas not only of red and black fruit but marshmallows and cream and also earth. Well integrated flavors. Mid palate a swirl of fruit and plucky acidity and a touch of tannins and a plush lush creamy finish. Balanced and buoyant. Pair with grilled poultry or cepe mushroom stew. Needs a few years to tame the tannins.

Château Meyney. Saint-Éstephe. 2020. 92 points.

Brisk and seductively elegant aromas of cherries, raspberries, strawberries and slight gorse. Fruity and acidic mid palate, firm composition, sweet mocha and black cherries on the finish. Acidity trumps tannins here. Delicious but young.

Prieur de Meyney. Saint-Estéphe. Grand Vin de Bordeaux. 2020. 92 – 93 points.

Brisk and fresh aromas that include florals—roses, lilacs—as well as gingerbread, mint crisp, black berries, black cherries and dark licorice. Complex. A set of dark tastes mid palate, with Dutch licorice and mocha on the finish. Pair with game meat or ham or bulgher cheese dish.

Château Lamothe-Bergeron. Haut-Medoc. 2020. 93 points.

Festive on the nose with a buoyant set of chocolate wafer and Nutella crepe aromas, as well as red plums and oranges and a slice of gooseberry acidity. Crisp, light, well balanced and mildly complex. Juicy red fruit mid palate and some mint on the finish. A layer cake. Well made, well balanced. Pair with Mexican or deep country fare—tacos or enchiladas, or a bean cassoulet with herbs and fresh comte cheese.

Château Deyrem Valentin. Margaux. 2020. 94 points.

This Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Petit Verdot blend from the left bank includes sweet and wild aromas of country lane bramble, sage, lava cake and sliced cherries. Balanced and refreshing in the mouth—subtle and elegant tannins, a buzzing fruit mid palate with juicy acidity and some tangerine on the finish. Integrated, satisfying, complete and perky. Pair with blackened salmon or truffle risotto.

Prélude À Grand-Puy-Ducasse. Pauillac. 2020. 92 points.

Fresh, light, soft aromas—both precise and intense. Raspberries, strawberries, and slight caramel. A harmonious, balanced, appealing wine—not yet complex but satisfying with a mid palate of black and red fruit and slight black licorice on the finish. Pair with a cheesy pasta with chunks of speck ham, or a cheese tumeric souffle.

Château Arnauld. Haut-Médoc. Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel. 2020. 93 points.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot with 14% alcohol. Soft and slightly nutty aromas that also include red and black fruits, red cherries and wet earth. A light, harmonious and well-integrated assembly of bright fruit, succulent acidity and firm but quiet tannins. Still young and somewhat acidic, but age will transform this to a slightly layered delight. Pair with breaded veal or similar fare to what a light Beaujolais would pair well with.

Clos Castelot Bussac. Graves de Vayres. 2020. 92 points.

Pleasing and balanced set of full aromas of red cherries, pine, anise, wet earth and cocoa. Low key tannins and buoyant, juicy acidity that accentuates mid palate fruit flavors. Wonderful strawberry finish.

Château de Chantegrive. Graves. 93+ points.

A 60/40 Merlot/Cabernet/Sauvignon blend. Slightly smoky, with red plum and menthol aromas. Crisp acidity, deft tannings. A textured mid palate with mocha and licorice on the finish. A wine for pairing with food, whether chocolate cake dessert or shish kebab.

Château Bussac. Graves de Vayres. 2020. 95 – 96 points.

Popping fresh, bright aromas of candy cane, After Eight mints, red plums and raspberries. A balanced, delectable, well-made treat. Firm but quiet tannins and fresh acidity highlight mid palate flavors of cherry tart and blackberry sundae. Pair with a juicy burger or cheese blintzes. Delightful.

Château Charmail. Haut-Médoc. Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel. 2020. 94 points.

A Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot blend. Clean and precise aromas of red fruit, slight mint and even toffee. A light, balanced, joyous beauty in the mouth with bright fresh fruit flavors mid palate, unobtrusive tannins, acidity that highlights shiny fruits and a creamy strawberry finish.

Château Pauillac. 2020. 96 points.

From Domaines Peyronie, this Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wine includes a symphony of complex, rich aromas of roasted coffee, bright red cherries, violets and blue berries. A summer garden of scents. This well-balanced and complex wine includes toned tannins, bright blue berries, red cherries and strawberries mid palate, as well as some licorice and sage on the finish.

L’Harmonie de Fonbadet. Pauillac. Grand Vin de Bordeaux. 2020. 94 points.

Sweet and succulent aromas of red cherries, violets, black cherries and black berries. A soft, deft treat in the mouth. Beautifully crafted and well structured, with well-integrated tannins and acidity, and flavors of blue and red fruit mid palate.

Château Fonbadet. Pauillac. Grand Vin de Bordeaux. 2020. 94+ points.

76/24 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. Quite a scrumptious array of rich and creamy aromas of licorice, tar and cherry parfait. Delicate, poised, elegant, balanced with well integrated tannins that are both sleek and elegant. Lithe acidity, and flavors of red cherries, red plums and sage mid palate with some mocha on the finish. A sculpted beauty.

Château De Portets. Graves. 2020. 94 points.

A blast of fresh spring air on the nose in this Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend—with aromas of menthol, strawberries, red plumbs and gorse. Delicate and uplifting flavors that include red plumbs mid palate, and chocolate and minestrone on the finish. Soft, well-balanced tannins helping provide a firm structure to this well crated wine.