2020 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne
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Tasting notes
Full bottle 1,360 g. Family owned since 1812. In this vintage, 75% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet-Sauvignon. Aged in oak, 50% new barrels. Very dark crimson with black core and narrow rim. Saturated colour. Aromas of pure black fruit and a touch of oak char and dark chocolate. Chocolate-smooth tannins – more dark than milk chocolate in its savoury, dry finesse. The tannins are still firm but starting to melt. Long, dry, tapering finish. The alcohol is felt a little by the heat on the finish so you need to drink it on the cool side. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
A strong effort, the 2020 Grand Corbin-Despagne wafts from the glass with aromas of sweet blackberries, plums, bay leaf and spices. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, it's seamless and enveloping, its vibrant core of fruit underpinned by melting tannins. This improving estate is situated on sandy soils over blue clay just across the border from Pomerol.
Deep ruby/purple-hued, the 2020 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne offers up a perfumed, exotic bouquet of red, blue, and black fruits as well as spicy oak, flowery incense, and sandalwood. Beautifully complex, medium to full-bodied, layered, and elegant on the palate, it has the vintage's concentration and power while staying light on its feet and graceful. It's another brilliant 2020 that will benefit from just short-term bottle age and keep for over two decades.