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Bordeaux 2019: Médoc and Haut-Médoc

Written by JW. Posted in Bordeaux

Final post for now on the red wines of Bordeaux in 2019. Half a dozen wines tasted from the Médoc again showed a very strong vintage here. There is plenty of colour, vibrancy and extract in the wines for sure. I’ve already written on Goulée, which is very silky in 2019, but I was also impressed by Château Les Grands Chênes, Château Loudenne [a great effort], Château La Cardonne and Château Ramafort. In the Haut-Médoc appellation Château Lanessan, Château Malescasse and Château La Tour Carnet have all produced excellent wine. Amongst the other applications, in Moulis I was excited by both Château Poujeaux and Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux [super refined]. I hope to augment these notes below with additional reviews of the wines of other properties over the coming months, most notably wines from the Margaux appellation.

The following wines were tasted in June 2020. Next up a post on the dry whites of Bordeaux.

Madame de Beaucaillou, Haut-Médoc, 2019

Gorgeously deep; purple edge; ripe and satisfying; full; some plums and plum pudding; lovely ripe cherry notes; black cherry; supple fruit; extract is soft and supple; plenty of middle here; some life at the end and freshness; plenty of chew but tannin is ripe. Gutsy. Good fruit on the finish. Lots of extract and matter, but this works! [68% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 13.92% alc, pH 3.62, IPT90, will get 12 months in 20% new oak]. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2023-2032. 90-91+

Château Lanessan, Haut-Médoc, 2019

Deeply coloured; tight to the rim; legs; blackcurrant fruit; creamy; layered; impressive; ripe Cabernet fruit; lots of extract and matter; concentrated; plenty of depth; evident structure; quite serious Lanessan; needs a bit of time this; inky finish. Opened up. Nice texture to the fruit. Grip on the finish. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2025-2035. 89-91+

Château Malescasse, Haut-Médoc, 2019

Mid depth; dark at centre; sweet ripe fruit; attractive pain grillé notes; sturdy; attractive and ripe; like this; cool sweet entry to the fruit; sweet and joyful; menthol; extract; sweetness from the oak and from the fruit; nice grip and texture on the palate on the end; later some attractive savoury tones emerged in the glass alongside red fruits and spices; reminds me a little of Poujeaux – Malescasse is not at all far away, it being a Haut-Médoc that borders Moulis. Nice stuff; elegant and caressing. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2025-2035. 90-91+

Château La Tour Carnet, Haut-Médoc, 2019

Deep and dark; more savoury; spices and tobacco; blackcurrants too; quite forward; salty notes too; attractive; blackcurrant tones emerge really nicely; this is really good; real blackcurrant cassis; lush quality again in this vintage; plump on the palate; pure and round; soft mouthfeel; you feel this will drink well early; super soft; plummy and chocolate; tannin is there but quite plush and velvety. Again, lots of joy here at this property not far from the border with St Julien. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2025-2035. 91-93+

Médoc

Château La Cardonne, Médoc, 2019

Deep; earthy purple at edge; legs; lots of fruit here; more emphasis on the Merlot; black cherry notes; some savoury notes; laden with black fruits; sweet entry; cream; blackcurrant fruit; texture and plenty of oomph; like this. Softer finish than Loudenne tasted alongside. Will work well. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2024-2032. 88-90.

Goulée, Médoc, 2019

Mid depth; dark at the core; earthy purple red at edge; earthy, sweet aromatics; lovely polished Medoc feel; some stalky blackcurrant notes; fresh and brambly; some chocolate but this feels lively and fresh; savoury aspects on aeration; sweet entry to the palate; integrated palate; soft and surprisingly silky; freshness and energy; mid weight. Some zap on the end suggests nice bite and acidity. Polished with lovely texture to the fruit. [86% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 13.53% alc, TA 3, PH 3.74, 20% new oak]. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2023-3035. 91-93+

Château Grivère, Médoc, 2019

Mid depth; red purple at edge; creamy; blackcurrant jam; sweet; some earth and dust notes; attractive soft palate; easy; creamy black fruits; lots of Merlot; black cherry; earth; some spice. Like the texture here. Good, solid Médoc with plenty of fruit. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2023-2030. 86-88+

Château Les Grands Chênes, Médoc, 2019.

Super dark and saturated colour; ripe satin fruits; almost sweet; with good Bordeaux qualities; has an earthy note too; some leafy tones; evidently laden with fruit; super full; lashings of creamy black fruits with really soft tannins; lacks a bit of amplitude on the palate but this will give real joy to many; it puts a smile on your face – really is joyful. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2024-2032. 90-91+

Château Loudenne, Médoc, 2019

Super colour; deep and tight to rim; earthy purple at edge; glorious Médoc aromatics; super smart and polished; seam of concentrated fruit; inky blackcurrant notes; feels concentrated; creamy inky fruit with lots of extract and depth; good polish; some oak influence; impressive extract and ambition. Plenty of length and gusty and chewy extract on display. One of the best Loudenne’s I’ve had. Potensac has a rival! Evidently a Médoc property to watch now. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2024-2035. 90-91+

Château Ramafort, Médoc, 2019

Mid depth; slightly deeper than Grivière; red; purple edge; similar to La Cardonne; earthy blackcurrant fruit; very Médoc; inky; stalky blackcurrant notes; extract and matter here; lots in the middle for a Médoc; nice sap and chew. Good finish. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2023-2030. 87-88+

Moulis/Listrac

Château Cap Léon Veyrin, Listrac, 2019

Deep and arterial; colour tight to the rim; full and ripe; deep; bold; tarry; liquorice; creamy entry; works well; lots of extract and matter; but creamy tannins; lacks finesse but bold sweet fruit; sweet ripe tannins. Works well. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2025-2032. 87-88+

Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux, Moulis, 2019

Dark; legs; attractive creamy black fruits; violet lift; lovely purity; like this; finesse; some mineral notes; lovely palate; nice texture and balance; freshness but also fruit; has plenty of layers and amplitude; nice refreshing finish. Works well. This is moreish Moulis that is very fine. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2024-2032. 90-92

Château Poujeaux, Moulis, 2019

Deep colour but fresh looking; briary fruit, very Bordeaux, some mineral and salty tones alongside blackcurrant fruit; his style and finesse; nice restraint; like this; very cool; this is super refined Bordeaux; very correctly attired and well-mannered; 2019 is a good vintage here which shows classicism and typicity. Really sweet entry to the fruit and the wine is super well balanced on the palate; has fruit but real precision here; nice extract and tannin is super fine. This should prove a good buy. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2025-2040. 91-93

Margaux

Château Breton Haut Larigaudière, Margaux, 2019

Deep; attractive; purple red at edge; elegant violet and rose petal lift; layered and perfumed; Morello cherry notes; soft entry; really creamy fruit nicely done; black cherry; elegant palate. Tasted June 2020. Drink 2024-2032. 87-88+

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