2020 d'Escurac (Haut Medoc)

The 2020 d'Escurac has a very odd nose, quite pruney and acetic, perhaps the fruit picked too late? The palate is actually better with fleshy red berry fruit laced with cedar, but the aromatics are off-putting. Shame, as the 2018 was rather good.

Red ruby in colour, always an enjoyable Haut-Médoc, with high spice, a little less powerful than in usual years (always interesting to check back to En Primeur notes and find this was something I commented on at the time also - it's definitely unusual for the property), but there is clarity of fruit here, with savoury redcurrant and blueberry dominant.

This has aromas of dark chocolate, black berry fruit, espresso beans and charred herbs. It’s medium-bodied, with firm and fine tannins. Dark-fruited and linear. Drink from 2024.