Château Croizet-Bages 2020

It matches its style of compact, classic retro Pauillac.

Dark and brooding on the nose, but so sleek and driving on the palate. Supple and plump, the ripe fruit cushions the palate with a crushed velvet texture, while the liquorice and medicinal herbs give the spiced frame and slight edges to the overall expression. Still feels quite tight on the mid-palate, a little constricted, pent-up power, not really showing its full range right now, but well worked and sleek. Feels quite potent with clove on the finish.

Blackcurrants, blackberries, and wet earth. Some walnut. Medium to full body. Chewy. Flavorful. Fine-textured tannins. Best after 2025.

Wow, they have really upped their game at Croizet Bages. This is a beauty packed with layers of supple-textured, ripe, dark red fruits, freshness, silky tannins, and a chewy, red-berry finish that nicely shows off its purity, leafy herbs, cedar, tobacco, and spicy edges. Drink from 2025–2045.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, soft brightening on the rim. Subtle notes of nougat and caramel, ripe blackberries, some plums, chocolatey nuances, an inviting bouquet. Juicy, complex, black cherries, tight, integrated tannins, mineral on the finish, fresh, nice length, good ageing potential.

Classically built with a dense core of red berries, cassis, leather and subtle oak, good tannic grip, generous fruit and a long finish, well done in a classic age-worthy style.

A little bit of an under-the-radar Pauillac, the 2020 Château Croizet-Bages exbibits attractive aromatics of sweet currants, cherries, new saddle leather, and cedar pencil. These carry to a medium-bodied, nicely balanced, elegant 2020 with ripe, polished tannins, terrific balance, and outstanding length. A beautiful wine, it already has some up-front appeal yet should benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and have a good two decades of overall longevity.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: spicy, herbal bouquet, cherries, smoke, red licorice. Medium-bodied, fruity palate with sweet fruit, medium aromatics, loose structure, light finish.

Spicy, herbal bouquet, cherries, smoke, red licorice. Medium‑bodied, fruity palate with sweet fruit, moderate aromatics, loose structure, light finish. 16/20 2024 - 2036

Austere, chunky tannins, dark chocolate with an appealing bitter edge that defines the blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit. Yield of 41 hl/ha, 50% new oak. Eric Boissenot consultant. Jean-Philippe Quié is technical director and co-owner at this family-run estate, harvest from September 11–29.

The 2020 Croizet-Bages is deep garnet-purple in color. It delivers a core of red and black plums, dried herbs, and underbrush, followed by suggestions of charcoal and wild fungi. The medium-bodied palate features muscular black fruits with savory accents and a chewy texture, finishing with a lively lift.

Notes of forest floor and spices on the nose. Generous on the palate, with chocolaty flavors, ripe fruit, and a fine tannin grain that gives chew on the finish.

Beautiful dark color. Intense nose with ripe, subtle fruit, much more precise than in the past. The palate is all about delicate sap, but the body remains medium and the finish is simple, with a touch of acidity.

Expressive, rather fruity nose, with cherry, stone and leather. The attack reveals a lovely stone-kernel flavor, then a well-balanced weave of tannins, with flavors of white cherries in brandy, star anise, and a satisfying chew. The whole is juicy and lively.

91–93. Barrel Sample. Showing plenty of black currant fruits, this wine continues the improvements at this estate over recent years. Juicy, crunchy fruit flavor and plenty of acidity supplement tannins that come from the heart of the fruit. The wine has good medium-term potential.