Château Balestard La Tonnelle 2020

Round and full, a chewy sensation to the plush tannins with a cool blue and black fruit combination. Supple and generous, this has a lively feel to it, but is a little weighed down right now by the liquorice element. Punchy and confident, high-toned with tannic heft and a large frame. It will settle but it needs time.

Red berries with dark currants and chocolate with some hazelnut. Shows sophistication that follows through to the palate. Full-bodied and tight with plenty of very fine, integrated tannins that run the length of the wine. Very classy. Best after 2027.

75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Rich, ripe and opulent, confit fruit and a Dundee-cake nose. Round and generous on the palate but backed by firm but fine tannins. Chalky terroir notes in the background. Glow of alcohol on the finish. (JL)

The 2020 Balestard La Tonnelle delivers on the promise it showed from barrel, with finely delineated, crisp, poised and ample wild strawberry and blackcurrant scents, plus cedar and a touch of smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fleshy and pure, with an almost caressing finish. This is a lovely Saint-Émilion that augurs a new era for the estate.

Much better in the bottle than I expected, the wine pops with its display of sweet, ripe plums, savory herbs, crushed stone, licorice, and smoke. It is even better on the palate with its lush textures, and multiple layers of sweet, ripe fruits, along with its accents of chocolate, spice, salt, and espresso. The luscious finish seals the deal! Drink from 2023-2045.

Deepest ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Inviting black cherry fruit, nuances of fresh plums, candied orange zest, tobacco notes. Juicy, good complexity, subtle blackberries and cassis, freshly structured, mineral and lasting, certain ageing potential.

New oak, vanilla, floral violet notes, smoked meat and freshly crushed berry aromas. Rather dense with high extraction, grippy young tannins, generous fruit and length, a slight firm grip needing long ageing to soften.

I’d wager the finest wine I’ve tasted from this château, the 2020 Château Balestard La Tonnelle offers a medium- to full-bodied, richly textured, opulent style as well as lots of ripe cherry and currant fruits, building, polished tannins, great mid-palate depth, and classic Saint-Emilion notes of chalky minerality, white truffles, tobacco, and a hint of iron. It already offers pleasure yet should evolve for 15+ years in cold cellars.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: Opulent, sweet, jammy, broad bouquet; cherry jam, mocha-chocolate cream, caramel, pepper, nougat. Dense, powerful, massive, heavily extracted palate with dense, dark fruit, plenty of tannin, a muscular, broad structure, bold, sweet aromatics, and a long, drying finish.

Opulent, sweet, jammy, broad bouquet: cherry jam, mocha-chocolate cream, caramel, pepper, nougat. Dense, powerful, massive, strongly extracted palate with concentrated dark fruit, plenty of tannins, a muscular, broad structure, robust, sweet aromatics, and a long, drying finish. 17/20 2026 - 2040

Tar and smoke on the opening notes suggest oak remains dominant and a little intrusive even after ageing. This is well structured, with a wall of firm tannins, cassis and blueberry fruit with streaks of grilled dark chocolate. 36 hl/ha yield, from 8.5ha on the clay-limestone plateau. Malolactic fermentation in new oak barrels.

92-93

Everything about this wine is harmonious: its delicate nose of red fruits and vanilla, its round and delicate palate, its supple tannins, and its easy-drinking juice. A delight.

Balestard La Tonnelle has always clearly reflected its élevage, but for some time now it has been enhanced by fruity nuances, which is a promising sign. Tasty and well supported on the palate by fine-grained tannins, the wine shows breadth and an inviting character. It deserves a little cellaring, yet it can already be approached in its youth.

Dark, deep color. Very aromatic nose, delicate, fruity, fresh, and subtle. It turns creamy and deep when the glass is swirled. Delicate on the attack, with fresh fruit presence at mid-palate and a fine texture, the wine develops refined, even fragrant tannins on the finish. This aromatic signature points to a great terroir.