Château Fayat 2020

Deep plum colour, this is all smooth edges and a steel-like delivery of black fruit, could do with a little more lift and energy. Bitter chocolate shavings and smoked rosemary on the finish. From the winemaking team at La Dominique, but not as successful as the excellent classified Saint-Émilion in this vintage.

The 2020 Fayat was the most promising vintage I had encountered from barrel. Now in bottle, it certainly has an appealing nose: black cherries, boysenberry, black truffle all vying for attention. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and fine structure. It eases off toward the finish to retain refinement and freshness, making this, yes, the best Fayat in many years.

Flowers, truffles and ripe, dark red pit fruit aromatics are all over the place here. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, silky, polished and fresh, with a vibrancy, purity and elegance that makes this by far the best vintage of Fayat ever produced! This is a simply gorgeous Pomerol. Drink from 2023-2040.

Another outstanding wine in the vintage, the 2020 Château Fayat is medium to full-bodied with velvety tannins and loads of charm in its ripe cherry, baking spice, cassis, and loamy earth-like aromas and flavors. It has some background, chocolaty oak, which should integrate with 2-4 years of bottle age, and it's going to evolve gracefully over the following 10-15 years. It's a beautiful wine.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: (90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 42 hl/ha) Velvety, powerful, fruity, sweet bouquet, blackberry jelly, strawberries, pralines, fine caramel, flint. Densely woven, finely creamy, powerful, multi-layered palate with powerful, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a creamy, finely muscular structure, intense aromatics, and a very long, fresh finish with many lingering aromas.

(90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 42 hl/ha) Velvety, powerful, fruity, sweet bouquet, blackberry jelly, strawberries, pralines, fine caramel, flint. Densely woven, finely creamy, powerful, multi-layered palate with intense sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a creamy, finely muscular structure, powerful aromatics, a very long, fresh finish with many lingering aromas. 18/20 2027 - 2048

The 2020 Fayat is deep garnet-purple in color. Stewed plums, kirsch, and baked blueberries spill from the glass, leading to touches of dark chocolate and anise. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich, juicy, and plush, with well-balanced freshness and a spicy kick to the finish.

91-92

Fayat 2020 reveals different facets through chalky and chocolatey nuances along with a touch of ageing. Juicy and slender, the wine is harmonious, inviting and refreshing. A pleasant, sapid wine.