Smooth Tasting 2020 Bordeaux Releases – Right & Left Bank Whites

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

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

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

Hubert de Boüard. Sauvignon. Bordeaux Blanc. 2020. 93 points.

Honeyed citrus, green apples and grapefruit. Some mint and eucalyptus. Flavors include fresh grapefruit segments, some mandarin mid palate and slight caramel in the finish. Brisk, crisp and flexible for food pairings—consider sushi or even caprese salad with succulent tomatoes.

Château Plain-Point. 2020. 93 points.

Crisp set of grapefruit aromas, as well as mandarins and gooseberries. Racy and vibrant attack, creamy mid palate with tamed acidity and busting with fruit flavors—clementines and green apples.

Hubert de Boüard. Chardonnay. 2020. 94 points.

Brisk set of layered aromas—pineapples and gooseberries. Crisp attack, semi complex mid palate with green apples and tropicals and a creamy finish that adds attraction to this well-made wine. Pair with a range of foods, including fish such as dover sole, or creamy desserts.

Croix de Labrie. Stella Solare. 2020. 92 – 93 points.

A 70/20/10 blend of Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc/Sauvignon Gris aged in 50% new acacia barrels for eight months. Mineral and flinty aromas, as well as green apples, grapefruit and white plums. Attractive oily mouth feel—dry, elegant and rounded. A beautiful and different wine for Bordeaux, with full roundness but an attractive tart touch and richness. Tension between fruit and acidity. A delicious wine for excellent food—think white fish such as Dover sole. 2,600 bottles produced.

Château de Chantegrive. Caroline. Graves. 2020. 94 points.

A 60/40 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend. A perky set of initial aromas—acidic, flinty and with grapefruit. A full and juicy mouthful blending an acidic edge with rounded and honeyed Semillon influence. Delicious finish with bread crumbs, caramel and green apples. Complex and satisfying. Pair with a generous and flavorful main course.

Château de Portets. Graves 2020. 94 points.

A Sémillon/Sauvignon Blanc/Muscadelle blend. A bulbous and beautiful set of white flower, marzipan and fruity aromas that include grapefruit in this wine with the openness of a Pinot Gris. Succulent, rounded, refreshing and jubilant. Open on a Friday afternoon!