Château Le Boscq 2020

Juicy and fresh, with a direct core of cassis and damson plum laced with light tea, lilac and iron notes. Taut, focused finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032. 7,833 cases made, 125 cases imported.

Structured and balanced, authentically St-Estèphe, not overdone or over-oaked, showing gentle tannins with a broad frame on the palate. Good purity of fruit, a lovely scent of red berries with herbal elements and some creamy chalkiness. Quite medicinal, with the terroir and the grapes speaking clearly in the glass. Nice detail on show here and lovely acidity that brings interest and freshness. Grippy, intense, still youthful but appealing. Dark chocolate on the finish adding a touch of bitterness. Lots of nuance. A fine showing.

Blackcurrants, mulberries, balsamic, iodine, cloves and bark on the nose. Firm, polished and mineral, with a medium to full body and finely-knit tannins. Not the most intense but focused. Drink from 2025.

The 2020 Le Boscq does not quite deliver the fruit concentration of its peers—perhaps it's entering a dumb phase? The palate is sweet on the entry, with light tannins, a dash of white pepper and curry leaf and just a little attenuation toward the finish. That said, it does retain balance and should drink well for several years. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Dried flowers, toasty oak, currants, licorice, smoke and cocoa come on strong in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, chewy and vibrant, with nuances of mint and chocolate that come through on the back end. Drink from 2025–2040.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Fine herbal savoriness, dark wild berries with a tobacco backdrop, fresh orange zest, mineral touch. Medium complexity, blackberry fruit, vivid acidity, integrated tannins, fresh finish, salty aftertaste.

A terrific Saint-Estèphe, the 2020 Château Le Boscq reveals a deep ruby/purple hue along with classic aromas of cassis, ripe black cherries, smoked tobacco, and damp earth. This medium- to full-bodied, pure, nicely concentrated 2020 has the structure and purity to evolve for two decades in cold cellars.

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Deep purple with an opaque core and violet highlights. Intense bouquet of blackcurrant, dark cherry and liquorice, with notes of lilac, perfumed pipe tobacco and elderberry jelly. Generous palate with a soft texture, finely grained extract with delicate firm notes, supportive tension and a muscular body. Focused finish with dark-berry contours, juniper and dark minerality, ending with a crumbly astringency.

Enjoyable austere frame with smoked oak notes evident but not overpowering, this majors on blueberry and cassis fruits, vibrant with an edge of green pepper that translates into mint and eucalyptus. Serious, good quality. A well located 18ha property owned by Dourthe Vignobles since 2022, but already being produced by them since 1995. Joachim Gilbert estate director.

Le Boscq 2020 has a deep garnet-purple color. It is a little subdued to start, with broody notes of tar, sauteed herbs, and damp soil, leading to a core of blackcurrant cordial and red plums, plus a hint of cedar. The medium-bodied palate is tightly knit and muscular, with great tension and nice ripe tannins, finishing with impressive length. Needs time!

Complex and deeply expressive of its terroir, Le Boscq reveals nuances of graphite and cedar, followed by notes of Sichuan pepper and cocoa beans. Precise and generous, the wine has broad tannins and a lively structure that brings energy and length. A delicious wine of excellent quality!