Château Rauzan-Gassies 2020

Perfumed and fragrant. Soft and gently refreshing, this has a creamy core – milk chocolate–covered strawberries and raspberries and red cherries – with a florality and coolness that give interest and appeal. Quite a tannic hold at this point, fine but firm. Acidity is balanced, but this loses a little propulsion and depth with a rich, woody, toasty, cinnamon element coming into play, curbing some of the fruit enjoyment and making this a bit austere, rustic and somber. Depth and structure, though.

Aromas of tobacco, spice, earth and dark berries follow through to a full body with polished and velvety tannins, savory fruit, and an orange-peel and dried-citrus undertone to the fruit. Give this three or four years to come together. Try after 2025.

73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot. Deepest crimson. Open, scented and gently floral (peony) – I would have thought this had some Petit Verdot in the blend but apparently not. Lovely stone-dust quality adding a mineral dryness. Such fine tannins give a dry, light but long and elegant finish. Almost salty in its mouth-watering freshness. (JH)

Plums, cherries, chocolate, and flowers emerge with no effort. Silky, fresh, soft, and polished, this is what Margaux elegance is all about. There is length, vibrance, and purity in the fruits that linger in the long, refined, polished finish. As I wrote in my barrel tasting notes, clearly, this is a big step up from previous vintages. You must go back to 1928 to taste a wine from Rauzan Gassies this good. Drink from 2024-2050.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, deep core, soft brightening on the rim. Fresh red cherries, some cassis, nuances of fresh orange zest, a hint of nougat. With a fresh structure, dark berries, vivid, integrated tannins, a chocolate touch on the finish, lingering, with ageing potential. (2028-2045).

Pure and classic nose with a rather generous toast and oak presence; dense and tannic palate with sour cherry, plum and herbal flavours, grippy with good length, a tannic bite, and a classic style for long ageing.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: restrained, light, herbaceous bouquet, red cherries, wood. Light, firm palate with finely sandy tannins, good fruit, a slender structure, light aromatics, and a dry finish. Has room to improve.

Restrained, light, herbal bouquet, red cherries, wood. Light, firm palate with fine, sandy tannins, good fruit, slender structure, subtle aromatics, dry finish. Can still improve. 16/20 2025 - 2036

Dark cassis and bilberry, creamy fruit running through the mid palate, alongside freshly cut herbs, cumin and sage spices. We really are seeing a good run of vintages here with 2018, 2019 and 2020 all successful. 50% new oak for ageing, Eric Boissenot consultant, 7% press wine, 33hl/ha yield. Quié family owners.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Rauzan-Gassies wafts out of the glass with subtle scents of raspberry preserves, redcurrants, roses, and blackberries, followed by hints of powdered cinnamon, dusty soil, and pencil shavings. The medium-bodied palate is delicately played and understated, with soft tannins and just enough freshness to support the elegant flavors, finishing savory.

92-93

A nose full of charm and subtlety, with crunchy fruit aromas, followed by a vibrant palate bursting with energy, marked by lovely acidity, sumptuous freshness, and tannins that still deserve a little time to blossom.

Deeply colored on the nose, intense, with pure fruit aromas. Smooth on the attack and aromatic on the mid-palate, the wine finishes with a woody presence that lacks subtlety. What a shame!

A certain maturity immediately reveals on the first nose the sun-kissed character of the vintage, even a more earthy register. The palate is dense and structured, richly clad in firm yet elegant tannins. A good tension energizes the whole, the élevage is finely tuned, and the finish unfolds with delicate bitters of dark chocolate.

93–95. Barrel Sample. Continuing the renaissance of this estate, this wine shows a fine balance between its dry core of tannins and the bright black currant fruits. The wine's structure is impeccable, and this will be worth aging.