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Bordeaux 2020: Lussac & Montagne St Emilion

Written by JW. Posted in Bordeaux

There are many properties to search out in the St Emilion satellite appellations. For the last few years I’ve been impressed with the wines of Château Barbe Blanche, Château La Rose Perrière and Château de Lussac in Lussac St Emilion. There is real polish and style exhibited here by these properties. Over in Montagne St Emilion Coralie de Boüard is blazing a trail with Château Clos de Boüard but this year I have also been impressed with Château Faizeau, Château Messile-Aubert and Vieux Château Palon presented by the Grand Cercle. Overall in 2020 all these wines show strong colours and exhibit lots of extract but the winemaking is sophisticated and the tannins soft and pure.

The following wines were tasted in May from samples sent by the Grand Cercle and by the de Boüards. Overall they are an impressive set of wines in 2020.

Lussac St Emilion

Château Barbe Blanche, Lussac St Emilion 2020

Good deep colour; vibrant at edge; initially vibrant aromatics; bright briary notes; fresh; black cherry; nicely textured fruit; has freshness and style; savoury finish with black cherry notes and dark chocolate. Well-made wine from André Lurton. Tasted May, 2021. Drink 2023-2030. 87-89+

Château La Rose Perrière, Lussac St Emilion 2020

Deep and saturated looking; creamy aromatics; quite plush and opens up well; black fruits and a whiff of tar; nice entry; pure and savoury; this has polish and style; nice creamy plummy fruit with a savoury twist at the end. Well done! Chocolate notes on the finish. Tasted May, 2021. Drink 2024-2032. 88-90

Château de Lussac, Lussac St Emilion 2020

Deep; legs; schist minerality; blind I might be in Castillon here; has depth; layered; nice black cherry and plum notes; creamy note; nice texture on the palate; has freshness but also moreish; more structured than the other two but I like this. Complete and composed. Tasted May, 2021. Drink 2023-2030. 88-90

Montagne St Emilion

Château Clos de Boüard, Montagne St Emilion, 2020

Closer to the rim; deep and dark; vibrant at edge; legs; deep; denser; black fruits; has gravity; oak; real ball of ripe plummy fruit on the nose; has density; some minerality; lots of fruit; this has density and structure; loads going on in this fascinating Montagne St Emilion; has plenty of extract and matter; and a solid finish. Chunky but lots of structure and fruit. Tasted May, 2021. Drink 2024-2032. 90-91+

Château Faizeau, Montagne St Emilion, 2020

Deep and dark; purple ege; legs; black cherry; some undergrowth; tar and liquorice; certain freshness; sweet and ripe; fresh black cherry on the palate; kirsch; some chocolate; palate has texture and nice grip on the finish. Tasted May, 2021. Drink 2024-3034. 88-90

Château Messile-Aubert, Montagne St Emilion, 2020

Deep; purple at edge; legs; lots of ripe fruit; plums; layered; sophisticated; nice entry; fresh; extract; nicely done; has freshness; some spice; powdery tannins. Impressive and composed. Tasted May, 2021. Drink 2024-2035. 88-90

Dame de Boüard, Montagne St Emilion, 2020

Deep and dark; vibrant purple at edge; briary fruits; spices; undergrowth; some pain grillé tones; emphasis on the sweet briary fruit; enticing; some savoury notes; blackcurrants; easy and forward; spices on the palate; has some minerality; but this has lots of joyful black fruits; cherries and spices; soft finish. Some spicy undergrowth and earth notes. Works really well. Very appetizing. Could drink this now. I am. Tasted May, 2021. Drink 2023-2028. 88-89+

Reclos de la Couronne, Montagne St Emilion, 2020

Deep and meaty looking; purple edge; legs; ripe aromatics; sweet black fruits; molasses; big on the palate – a little monolithic; savoury edge; tannins ripe. Plenty of fruit here. Tasted May, 2021. Drink 2024-2032. 87-88

Vieux Château Palon, Montagne St Emilion, 2020

Deep and arterial; legs; colour tight to rim; rich and ripe; plums; sweet fruitcake notes; ripe; layered; some oak at the edge but nicely integrated; lots of plum pudding and fruitcake spice on the nose; nice pure fruit; plums; ripe black cherry; very impressive; extract and freshness. Works really well. Full but has sophistication. Tasted May, 2021. Drink 2024-2035. 90-91+

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