2020 Bourgneuf
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Tasting notes
This is instantly expressive. The nose explodes with intense plum, spice, bramble fruit, tobacco spice and a dark chocolate richness, as well as some almost garrigue-like herbal elements. On the palate, this offers wonderful purity with a dense weight of dark berry fruit. Firm yet velveteen tannins layer gradually, perfectly ripe and offering structure that demands time. There’s immense concentration here, yet with a floral and red-fruit lift, building to a long, iron-edged, earthy finish. Given the quality on show, it’s a particular shame yields were down about 30%. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Checking in at fully 15% alcohol, the 2020 Bourgneuf is a full-bodied, rich and extracted wine evocative of fig preserves, baked plums and fudge. Its somewhat cumbersome and overripe this year.
Coming from a mix of gravel and clay soils and based on 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Château Bourgneuf has closed down considerably since I tasted it out of barrel. It offers a firmer, more focused, structured style that needs lots of air to show at its best. Ripe black fruits, spicy oak, graphite, and smoked tobacco define the bouquet, and it's tight and backward on the palate, with good extract and length. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, at which point it will evolve nicely for 15 years. Tasted twice.
The 2020 Bourgneuf has closed up a little on the nose post-bottling: blackberry, graphite, subtle loamy aromas and just a whiff of sea spray. Fine delineation and commendable complexity. The palate is medium-bodied, quite structured and perhaps more "serious" than its showing from barrel. Generous helpings of cracked black pepper enliven the second half, firm grip with a very nicely proportioned finish. This is an excellent Bourgneuf that should give 20+ years of drinking pleasure.