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Infectious dark purple florals, spiced damsons and smoky minerals overlay the meaty, juicy texture and fine shapely tannins and purr contentedly towards the finish line. (DWWA 2024)

A blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Laroque is deep garnet-purple in color. A little subdued to begin, offering subtle notes of crushed rocks and damp soil, it opens out to a core of ripe black and red plums and fresh blackberries, plus a fragrant waft of lilacs. The full-bodied palate is bursting with taut, muscular black fruits and amazing tension, framed by ripe, rounded tannins, and finishing with great length and depth. (LPB)

This wine comes from one of the benchmark estates in Montepulciano, a pioneer of biodynamic farming with a reputation for producing elegant, pure, and age-worthy Sangiovese. For this bottling, we were able to secure a few barrels from the generous 2020 vintage. The nose is a stunning expression of Prugnolo Gentile: ripe red cherry, plum, and violet, with the sweet spice and vibrant energy that is a hallmark of this iconic producer. The palate is polished and seamless, with silky tannins and a long, mineral-driven finish. It’s a sophisticated and deeply authentic Vino Nobile.

Still very youthful and quite yeasty, this needs some aeration to open up, but the spectrum of fruit aromas goes right through the range of citrus and stone fruits, plus delicate notes of exotic fruit. Stunning concentration, racy acidity and wet-stone minerality on the incredibly focused palate. Literally breathtaking brilliance at the finish. This took more than two years to finish fermentation, but that long walk along a knife edge worked spectacularly well. *Top 10 Wines in the USA*

The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle is dynamic and complex in the glass, a wine that shows everything Gaiole is capable of. Dark-toned fruit, lavender, mocha, licorice and cloves soar from the glass as the 2020 showcases its pedigree and sheer allure. Hints of floral and savory overtones blossom with aeration. What a wine! (AG)

Aromas of dried lemons, grapefruit, beeswax, seaweed and pears. Excellent focus, with a compact, driven and mineral palate. Biscuity touches, evolving to hints of pie crust, too, on a long finish. Drink or hold.

Coming from a vintage compared to 2016 and 2019 by the château, the 2020 Château Tronquoy-Lalande checks in as 52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, hitting 13.5% alcohol. Beautiful cassis, plums, damp earth, and chocolate notes all emerge from this beauty, which is a layered, medium to full-bodied, gorgeously textured Saint-Estèphe. The tannins are present yet polished, and it has a great mid-palate and outstanding length. I'd wager this is one of the finest vintages of this cuvée to date. It has the purity of fruit and opulence to shine even today, yet I suspect it won't hit prime time for 7-8 years, and it should have 20 years of prime drinking at that point.

Now boasting more than five years of total aging, the 2020 Bodegas Casa Juan “Señor de Lesmos” Crianza Rioja remains impressively youthful, opening with notes of cranberry and tart cherry before revealing savory layers of mushroom, tea leaf, and dried oregano. A blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo (Carignan), the grapes are sourced entirely from organically farmed, bush vines averaging 45 years of age. The palate is unmistakably Old World in style, with firm yet well-integrated tannins and a vibrant backbone of acidity that provides structure and balance. Unlike many Reserva and Gran Reserva Riojas, where oak can take center stage, this Crianza emphasizes pure red fruit framed by the earthy, nuanced character of Rioja terroir. Versatile and food-friendly, it pairs effortlessly with everything from pizza and tomato-based pasta dishes to cheese and charcuterie. The value here is truly exceptional. Handmade, family-owned, organically farmed—this is Rioja at its most authentic and approachable.

Bid on this 2-bottle tasting lot in original wood; including 1 2020 Next Of Kyn (Sine Qua Non) "Cumulus Vineyard #14" Central Coast Red Blend (1.5L) (100JD, 98VN, 97RP) and 1 2020 Next Of Kyn (Sine Qua Non) "Número Seis" Central Coast Touriga Nacional (1.5L) (100RP, 99VN, 98JD). Of the 2020 Next Of Kyn (Sine Qua Non) "Cumulus Vineyard #14" Red Blend (1.5L), Jeb Dunnuck writes: "Lastly, and a perfect wine if there ever was one, the 2020 No 14 Cumulus Vineyard comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard in Oak View... Aged 30 months in just 23% new French oak, it just about jumps out of the glass with its ripe blackberries, spice, leather, sandalwood, and peppery, savory herb-driven aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness and depth, building, velvety tannin, a stacked mid-palate, and awesome length on the finish, it's a wine I wish I could pour for every reader, it's that singular and impressive..." (08/2023)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2020 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (100IWR, 98JS, 98RP, 96DC, 96JD, 96VN). Int'l Wine Review: "The 2020 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is truly sensational... It begins with striking aromas of fresh blackberries, blueberries and dark plums that are laced with fresh spring florals, mocha, sweet exotic spices, graphite and gravel nuances all taking shape. The palate is full-bodied and displays a remarkable combination of power and elegance throughout. This is beautifully structured and extremely expressive, as it possesses outstanding depth and concentration all they way through the long, finessed finish. Year after year, the Columbia Valley Cabernet is one of the most impressive wines, and there is no exception here, as it combines all the wonderful qualities of the 2020 vintage from Quilceda Creek into one expression. ...this simply marvelous wine will continue to deliver the goods for years to come. (JD)" (12/2022)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2020 Kosta Browne "Cerise Vineyard" Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (95JD, 95WE, 94DC, 94JS, 92WS). Wine Enthusiast: "This wine is opulent and complex, with aromas of cassis, dried black cherry, cardamom spice and violet. The midpalate has flavors of red plum, red currant and strawberry-rhubarb interwoven with acacia honey, dried herbs and a dry, long finish. (TP)" (07/2024)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2020 Hors Catégorie Walla Walla Valley Syrah (OWC - 100IWR, 99WE, 98JS, 98VN, 97JD) in original wood. Int'l Wine Review: "Aged for 18 months in 100% neutral French oak, this Syrah is a masterclass of making Syrah in Washington state. The 2020 Hors Catégorie Syrah is otherworldly and is one of the few 100-point wines that I have scored. Layered complexity gives you hit after hit on the nose - starting with floral notes of lilac and orange blossom, then it gifts meaty notes of smoked brisket and bacon fat, then it presents blackberry and blue plum skin flavors, and finally, it finishes with deep umami, mushroom, iodine, and dusty earth aspects. It’s perfectly balanced on the tongue with absolutely no rough edges to speak of. I don’t think I’ve had a wine quite like it before, and it’s stunning in every way. Just 291 cases were crafted of this impeccable wine. *Highly recommended, Editor’s Choice* (JY)" (04/2023)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2020 Kosta Browne "Bootlegger's Hill" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (98WE, 95JD, 94JS, 92WS). Wine Enthusiast: "Rounded edges and velvety tannins wrap up this dusky, earthy, savory and cherry-scented wine for a complete package of indulgence that is also well balanced and refreshing. The integrated tannins, supportive acidity and medium body help showcase a beautifully complex composition. It is Russian River Pinot at the highest level. (JG)" (11/2023)

This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot from Keenan’s Spring Mountain estate opens with high-toned violet and graphite aromas that build into a full-bodied palate. Dusty tannins frame emerging notes of forest berries, dark loamy earth, leather, and tobacco spice. A powerful wine with firm structure and excellent ageing potential, its baking spice character adds dimension to the wine’s vibrancy and depth. (JC)

Restrained, fresh and sleek, showing watermelon, mints, potpourri and deep embers with vibrant strawberries and blood oranges. Incredibly elegant on the palate, with smooth, graceful tannins despite the full body, density and tense acidity. Dried-flower flavors are persistent and savory. Harmonious. October 2026 release. Drink then or hold. (AF)

The 2020 Beau-Sejour Becot is a dense, powerful wine. A rush of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and sweet oak builds as this towering, vertically explosive Saint-Émilion opens in the glass. This is an especially broad, expansive Saint-Émilion, much of that attributable to the clay in these soils. The 2020 is magnificent in its intensity and overall volume. Superb. (AG)

The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino has a beautifully inviting, multi-dimensional nose, with black raspberries, tea leaf, violets, rosemary, and subtle smoky accents that give way to brighter red cherry fruit with air. Medium to full-bodied, it comes across as one of the more approachable, immediate vintages from the estate in a relative sense, offering more early charm while still staying true to Biondi-Santi’s signature tension and freshness. It has ripe tannins, a sense of quiet structure, and a savory youthful grip on the finish that keeps it honest and age-worthy. This is a wine I would love to revisit with more bottle age. Drink 2027-2047. (AF)

Susumaniello takes its name from somarello, the little donkey of Puglian dialect, because a young vine carries enormous loads of fruit before its yields collapse with age, and that temperament is precisely why the variety was abandoned for Negroamaro and Primitivo and had almost vanished from the Brindisi countryside before a handful of estates replanted it. Trullo Flaminio put in two hectares in 2016 on the same clay-and-limestone ground as its old-vine Negroamaro, near the sea along the Via Appia, so this 2020 comes from vines in their fourth leaf, the donkey at its most generous. The winemaking is simple and transparent: native-yeast fermentation in concrete, with 80% of the wine raised in concrete and 20% in used tonneaux, no new wood anywhere. 2020 was a balanced season in Salento, without 2021's drought or 2022's extreme heat, and six years in bottle have turned the grape's famous blue fruit toward something darker and more savory. In the glass, it pours an inky, nearly opaque purple with a narrow garnet rim. The nose is blueberry, black mulberry and violet, with black pepper, dried fig and a cool note of eucalyptus. On the palate it is round and juicy, with soft, velvety tannins, fresh acidity and a long, dark-fruited finish that stays clean. This is Susumaniello as a drinking wine rather than a curiosity, pure and unforced. Drink now and through 2027, with bombette from the Valle d'Itria, braciole al sugo, or burrata and a wood-fired pizza.

Pale to medium ruby-garnet hue. A very mineral nose with crushed stones, iron, some bitter oranges, wild herbs and savory berries. Huge tannins and high acidity on an austere palate with a full body and a mineral-driven finish. Lots of bones and tension here, but no heft. Drinkable now, but better in two years. A mineral and more Barolo-like Etna Rosso. (ZS)

The 2020 Clos Puy Arnaud is one of the great wines of this vintage. Rich, deep and exquisitely layered, Clos Puy Arnaud shows how compelling Côtes de Castillon can be. Inky red fruit, blood orange, spice and mocha all race across the palate. Silky tannins wrap around the plush inviting finish. The saline energy and precision here is just unreal. The 2020 was aged in a combination of barrels of different sizes and 1/3rd amphora. This is a wine of tremendous character and personality. (AG)

A brilliant wine from a great vintage in St Julien, rich, silky and utterly delicious. Espresso, cocoa, creamy blackberry and cassis, with juicy depths, spellbinding, concentrated and full of charm and character.

The wine shows both elegance and great richness. It is a poised and ripe wine, full of impressive black fruits and generous tannins. The fine structure gives considerable potential for the long term. (RV)

The wine displays a super beautiful color, with a translucent ruby hue. Aromas of very pretty wild red berries, licorice and sweet and savory spice captivate the senses. The palate is truly delightful, with the fruit shining through initially, followed by earthy notes, such as truffle. Superfine tannins contribute to its overall elegance. Enjoy from now–2040. *Editors' Choice* (JP)

Michel Arnould is based in Verzenay, a Grand Cru village in Champagne’s Montagne de Reims, an area particularly associated with Pinot Noir. The 2020 “Heuristique” combines a single-harvest Champagne with the Grand Cru designation, which refers to the classified villages where the grapes were grown rather than a ranking of individual cuvées.

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2020 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Ducs" ((94-97BH), (95-97VN), 96DC, (93-95JM), 95RP). Vinous: "The 2020 Volnay Clos des Ducs 1er Cru was picked around 23 August. It has a highly perfumed bouquet with rose petals, red cherries, raspberry and incenses, beautifully defined and wonderfully controlled. The palate also conveys a sense of effortlessness that is utterly beguiling. Very harmonious, balletically-poised thanks to its fine bead of acidity, this Clos des Ducs unfurls in the glass with a lilting, very pure and almost balletic finish. Quite saline on the aftertaste such that it urges you back for another sip. Sophisticated (as usual) yet delicious. (NM)" (12/2021)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2020 Sine Qua Non “Distenta II” Central Coast White Blend (98RP, 98TWP, 95VN), a rare cult white from Manfred and Elaine Krankl’s legendary Ventura estate, blended from 32% Roussanne, 26% Viognier, 25% Chardonnay, 12% Gelber Muskateller and 5% Petit Manseng. Wine Advocate writes: “Drinking the White Distenta II is an omakase-like experience, an unexpected journey that begins with naturally bitter phenolics, blossoms into soaring perfume and finishes with dessert-like honeyed tones... In the mouth, it’s expansive and luxuriously satiny... If you’re a fan of aromatic, textural whites, purchase as many bottles as you can so that you can follow what’s sure to be unique savory development in bottle over the next 10 to 15+ years. (EB)” (06/2023)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2020 Sine Qua Non "Distenta II" California Grenache (99JD, 99TWI, 97RP, 96VN). Jeb Dunnuck: "Tasted out of bottle, the 2020 Grenache Distenta II is total blockbuster stuff that's darker and richer than the 2021. Red and black fruits, white pepper, classy leather, and spicy baking chocolate-like nuances all define the aromatics, and it’s deep, full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, with gorgeous tannins and a great finish. The blend is 78% Grenache, 9% Mourvèdre, 8% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah (with a splash of Viognier), and it's going to knock your socks off any time over the coming 15+ years." (08/2023)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2020 Cayuse "Flying Pig" Walla Walla Valley Bordeaux Blend (96WE, 94JS, 94VN, 92RP, 92WS). Wine Enthusiast: "This blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon explodes out of the glass with blackberry and mint aromas, followed by thyme and a comforting meatiness similar to ham and cheese on a croissant. Concentrated sweet cherry, dark chocolate and lemon flavors hydroplane on a smooth, slippery texture. *Editors' Choice* (MA)" (09/2023)

Bid on this bottle of 2020 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanée, a village-level red Burgundy from one of the Côte de Nuits’ most coveted small family estates, established by Sylvain Cathiard’s grandfather and run since 2011 by his son Sébastien, whose wines Neal Martin has said he adores. Blended from five parcels across four climats within the famed commune that is home to Romanée-Conti and La Tâche, it is raised with a generous share of new oak and is a true snapshot of the village. The ripe, concentrated 2020 vintage shows dark cherry, black raspberry and plum layered with sandalwood, Asian tea, violet, sweet spice and savory earth, with a supple, velvety palate, fine-grained tannins, lively acidity and a long, perfumed finish. A rare, highly allocated village Vosne-Romanée from a cult producer, built to reward cellaring.

Bid on this bottle of 2020 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux (97JS, (95-97RP), 95TWI, 95VN, 94JD). Wine Advocate: "Sporting a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Malescot St. Exupery prances out of the glass with showy scents of ripe black and red currants, black cherries, raspberry leaves and ground cloves, plus wafts of lilacs and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit layers with a firm, grainy texture and well-balanced acidity, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. (LPB)" (05/2021)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2020 Antinori "Tignanello" Toscana (97JS, 96KO, 96VN, 96WE, 95RP). James Suckling: "Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision. 68% sangiovese with the rest in cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. " (07/2023)

Bid on this magnum of 2020 Saxum "Rocket Block - James Berry Vineyard" Paso Robles Willow Creek District Rhône Blend (1.5L) (95DC, 95WS, 94VN, 93JD, 92RP). Wine Spectator: "The dark hue signals a powerfully structured version, but this red gets a lift from its polish and rich flavors of raspberry, licorice, crushed rock and savory pepper, which take on flesh toward medium-grained tannins. (TF)" (10/2024)

Bid on this 4-bottle lot of 2020 Peter Michael "Mon Plaisir" Knights Valley Chardonnay (96JD, 96RP, 95JS, 94WS). Wine Advocate: "Matured in around 40% new French oak for 12 months, the 2020 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir has arresting aromas of yellow peach, honeycomb, allspice and flint with exotic touches of guava and jasmine. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and expansive with highly concentrated, spicy fruit, seamless acidity and a long finish loaded with mouth-coating flavors. (EB)" (02/2023)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2020 Ridge Vineyards "Monte Bello" Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon. Jancis Robinson: "Organically grown estate fruit from one of California's most famous vineyards in a vintage made notorious by the wildfires further north: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Just 76.4 tons from 66 acres because of rain during flowering – after a mild spring – and summer fog. 36 of 58 lots were selected and blended before ageing in barrel for another 12 months. Bottled June 2022.Deep lustrous crimson. Very complex balsam, sage and ripe Cabernet, including blackcurrant leaf, on the nose. Extremely subtle and layered. Quite marked acidity on palate entry and then supple tannins enclose the fruit. Definitely worth stashing away for many a long year but nowhere near ready. If it has a fault, it's that it lacks a very long finish. 17++/20 points (JR)" (03/2024)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2020 Rochioli "Sweetwater Vineyard" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (93RP, 90VN). Wine Advocate: "The 2020 Pinot Noir Sweetwater Vineyard has a medium ruby-purple color and broody scents of red cherries, cranberries, underbrush, aniseed and pipe tobacco. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and seamless with concentrated fruits and a long, spicy finish. (EB)" (07/2022)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2020 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc (99JD, 98DC, (96-98RP), 95WS). Jeb Dunnuck: "Another heavenly white from this estate is the 2020 Hermitage Blanc, which is the usual 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne from a mix lieux-dits. Incredibly perfumed with notes of acacia flowers, buttered stone fruits, toasted brioche, honeysuckle, and crushed stone, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered texture, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. The purity, balance, and intensity here are just about off the charts, and this beauty deserves a solid decade of bottle age, although you'll be excused if you drink one in its youth as well." (12/2022)

The 2020 Rioja “Reserva” bottling from Cuné is composed this year from a blend of eighty-five percent tempranillo, with the other fifteen percent being a mix of graciano, garnacha and mazuelo. The wine was aged for a year and a half in American oak barrels and comes in at an even fourteen percent alcohol in this vintage. The wine’s aromatic constellation is bright, deep and youthfully complex, offering up scents of cassis, dark berries, coffee bean, a lovely base of soil, incipient notes of Rioja spice, American oak and a topnote of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and still youthful, with a lovely core of black fruit, fine soil signature and grip, ripe tannins and fine balance on the long, focused and still fairly young finish. This is just starting to get velvety on the palate, but it still has enough tannins that tucking it away in the cellar for a handful of years will pay dividends.

Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a bold and luxurious expression of the traditional Amarone style, crafted by one of the leading producers in the Valpolicella region. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and innovative approach, Tommaso Bussola creates Amarone wines that are both powerful and refined. The wine is made from carefully selected Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and other native grapes, dried using the traditional "appassimento" method to concentrate the flavors and intensity before fermentation. The result is a deeply concentrated wine with an intense bouquet of dried cherries, plums, figs, and dark chocolate, accented by notes of spice, tobacco, and licorice. On the palate, it is full-bodied and rich, with velvety tannins, balanced acidity, and layers of ripe dark fruit, dried herbs, and hints of earthiness. The long, warming finish reveals the wine’s complexity and aging potential, making it both opulent and elegant. This Amarone pairs beautifully with rich, hearty dishes such as braised meats, game, or aged cheeses, and can also be enjoyed on its own as a meditative wine. Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is an exceptional example of the Amarone tradition, offering both immediate pleasure and the ability to age gracefully for many years.

This is one of the most fascinating rescue stories in Italian viticulture. In the 1920s, a man named Antonio Longanesi discovered a single, unknown vine climbing the branches of an old oak tree in the swamplands of Emilia-Romagna. He propagated it, saving the grape from total extinction. Today, that grape is known as Uva Longanesi, and the wine made from it is trademarked as Bursôn—the historical nickname of the Longanesi family. Tenuta Randi is one of the key pillars of the Consorzio Il Bagnacavallo, a small, fiercely dedicated group of Romagnolo producers protecting this ultra-rare variety. Grown in the alluvial plains of Ravenna, where the Adriatic Sea influences the climate, the Longanesi grape is notoriously thick-skinned and rustic, demanding immense patience both in the vineyard and the cellar. To tame its massive structure, the "Selezione" tier often borrows techniques from Amarone, utilizing a partial drying of the grapes (appassimento) and extended aging in oak. It is dark, brooding, and powerfully structured.

The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino bursts from the glass with aromas of mint-infused black cherries, sweet smoke and autumnal spices. It's silky-smooth yet lifted and spry with tart red and blue fruit notes swirling throughout. Fine-grained tannins flex upon the senses as the 2020 finishes with a crunchy minerality, admirable length and solid structure while leaving a staining of primary concentration that promises years of positive development. (EG)

The 2020 Brut Franciacorta Milledì is distinctly savory, with a burst of exotic spices and white smoke giving way to a whiff of crushed apricots. It floods the palate with silken bubbles contrasted by a core of zesty acidity and a salty flourish that resonates toward the close. This comes across as rich yet energetic, with a spine of saline tension and hints of sour citrus that pucker the cheeks throughout the finish. (EG)

A fresh and bright red with sliced cherries and currants with orange blossom aromas that follow through to a medium body with citrus and fruit. Energetic finish. Needs three or four years to open. Try after 2025.

The 2020 Barbaresco Morassino is laced with hints of dried cherry, cedar, pipe tobacco, mint, orange peel and spice. Already quite open and expressive, the 2020 is a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. All the elements are so well balanced in this gracious, mid-weight Barbaresco from Cascina Morassino. Pretty floral overtones and bright acids lift the elegant finish. (AG)

Fragrant and fruity nose of violets, purple plums, cassis, honey and cloves. It’s creamy, balanced and nicely filled out with a medium to full body and well-integrated tannins. Joyful. Drink or hold. (CN)

Fruit off the Leongatha vineyard, destemmed, wild-yeast fermented, left 2 weeks on skins and aged in French oak, 25% new, for 14 months. A selection of the best barrels was then put aside for the Estate. Striking aromatics set the scene: a heady mix of florals, forest floor, blood orange and spiced cherries. The palate unfurls with a core of sweet-savoury flavours from fruit and oak, fine tannins and everything superbly integrated and aligned. There’s complexity, detail and definition all in one. (JF)

Coming from dismal yields of 12.5 hectoliters per hectare, the 2020 Château Haut-Brisson is shockingly good and another brilliant Right Bank that's going to represent a tremendous value. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in just 35% new French oak, it has a sensational perfume of red and black cherries, leafy tobacco, chocolate, lead pencil shavings, and liquid violet-like nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced, it has ultra-fine tannins, remarkable purity, and a great finish.

Lots of crushed stone with blueberry and blackberry character. Some cedar. Full and juicy with a citrus undertone to it all that gives an attractive tangy undertone. Try after 2026.

I finished my trip through Bordeaux with the 2020 Château Haut-Brion, and it was certainly a fitting cap to the trip. Revealing a deep ruby/plum hue, the 2020 exhibits extraordinary aromatics of ripe black fruits, scorched earth, cold fireplace, and acacia flowers. An absolute blockbuster on the palate, this structured, full-bodied, massively concentrated Pessac builds incrementally, with ultra-fine tannins, a deep, layered mid-palate, and a great, great finish. Richer and more concentrated than both the 2018 and 2019 (there are some similarities to 2010), this is a legend in the making. The blend is 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc, all of which will spend 15-18 months in 77% new French oak.