Inky in color, the wine is opaque in your glass. Strong notes of licorice, wet earth, chocolate-covered black raspberries, smoke, espresso and charcoal create the nose. The wine is full-bodied, plush, opulent and sensuous. Even, with all its weight and density, the wine is silky, fresh and vibrant. The voluptuous finish builds and expands with wave after wave of dark, hedonistic fruits. This is a superb wine that should age and develop for at least 2 decades.
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (May 2021)Score: 95-97/100
Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Sansonnet needs a bit of swirling and coaxing to release its beguiling nose of black cherry preserves, bursting ripe blueberries and stewed plums, with hints of star anise, violets, dark chocolate and cardamom, plus a waft of wood smoke. The rich, decadent, full-bodied palate (15% alcohol) delivers impactful, mouth-coating black fruits, framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with lingering exotic spices notes. This 35+-year-old, 6.96-hectare vineyard is planted to 6,000 vines per hectare on thin clay and limestone soils atop the Saint-Émilion plateau, just across the road from Château Trotte Vieille. This 2020 blend is 95% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, aging for around 16 months in French oak barrels, 80% new.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (May 2021)Score: 94-96/100
Always a gem in the vintage, the 2020 Château Sansonnet is another winner offering a terrific bouquet of red, black, and blue fruits as well as tobacco, violets, and classy oak. Possessing full-bodied richness, a pure, seamless, polished texture, terrific tannins, and a great finish, this rock star of a Saint-Emilion will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more.
Jeb Dunnuck (May 2021)Score: 94-96+/100
Good stuff, plenty of character, making this enjoyable right from the start. Less subdued and subtle than some but it carries it off, with brambled hawthorn-tinged fruits, with density and depth, but a limestone kick that picks things up through the finish. One to give yourself over to. A yield of 30hl/ha. The Lefevre family are also ones to watch in St-Emilion right now, with their recent investments into Villemaurine and Valandraud.
Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)Score: 94/100Drink 2027-2040
Sansonnet is once again terrific in 2020. It offers up copious inky dark fruit, chocolate, blackberry jam, spice, mint, licorice and espresso. As always, this is a big, extroverted Saint-Émilion built on richness and texture. The oak needs time to fully integrate, but it always has in the past. Tasted two times.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (May 2021)Score: 93-95/100
The 2020 Sansonnet has a tightly wound nose that opens nicely with aeration, revealing blackberry and wild hedgerow, light rose petal and iris scents and a touch of potpourri; the oak is very well assimilated. The palate is medium-bodied with a sapid entry and lightly spiced with a dash of white pepper. A classically-styled Saint-Émilion that continues a strong run of form for the estate. Excellent.
Neal Martin, Vinous (May 2021)Score: 93-95/100
A powerful and intense red with blackberry, blueberry and ultra fine chewy tannins. It?s so long and energetic. Dense center palate.
James Suckling (April 2021)Score: 95-96/100
Bordeaux / France
En Primeur
2027-2040