2020 Clos de Sarpe
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Tasting notes
This is lifted and exotic, really ripe and intense. There’s a headiness to it, voluptuous and rich with more delicate aromas of delicate black tea, cinnamon spice, a sweet lick of oak, liquorice, a herbal note that is almost menthol, and a dried-redcurrant richness. But this isn’t over-ripe, on the palate there’s plenty of acidity with a crunch of vibrant fruit, firm yet ripe tannins and a sweet cocoa note.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
A decade ago, a vintage like this would have produced a monster at this address, which is naturally blessed with old vines and low yields, but vinification at low temperature, without any saignée, has delivered a remarkably elegant, suave 2020 Clos de Sarpe. Offering up aromas of dark berries, cherries, plums and sweet spices, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, its deep core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins. Sadly, there are only 8,000 bottles of this lovely Saint-Émilion.
I always love the wines from this tiny estate, which is located on the upper plateau of Saint-Emilion, and their 2020 Château Clos De Sarpe is another brilliant wine. Deep purple-hued, with a powerful bouquet of ripe cassis and black cherry fruits as well as camphor, graphite, and liquid violets, it's flawlessly balanced, has remarkable purity of fruit, building tannins, and well-integrated oak. This wine can age beautifully, and this 2020 will still be drinking brilliantly in 20, 30, if not 40 years. Bravo. Tasted multiple times, and I rated it as high as 98 on one occasion.
About the producer
This small Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé estate is a FINE+RARE favourite. Run by Maylis Marcenat, the fourth generation of her family to do so, the 3.7-hectare vineyard has old vines and limestone soils, producing wines of incredible freshness and great ageability.