2020 de Sales

The 2020 Château de Sales suggests that my barrel sample was not representative because this shows extremely well. It has a classic cigar box- and cedar-scented bouquet that comes across quite Pauillac-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with soy-infused black fruit. It's quite peppery with gentle grip. It's a nicely proportioned, complex Right Bank wine doing a very good impression of a Left Bank! Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

An attractive, elegantly fruit-driven Pomerol, the 2020 De Sales offers up aromas of sweet berries, dried herbs and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless palate. With a core of vibrant fruit and melting tannins, this is a success for this large estate, where Jean-Claude Berrouet consults.

I loved the 2020 Château De Sales from barrel, and it's showing beautifully from bottle. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as a ripe, sexy, medium to full-bodied style, it has ripe, supple tannins, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and classic aromatics of ripe black cherries, plums, licorice, spring flowers, and damp earth. It's another beautiful, layered, elegant Pomerol in the vintage that will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and drink brilliantly through 2040.