Château de Camensac 2020

Perky cassis and blueberry fruits, cut through with signature Haut-Médoc menthol character. Some green tannins through the mid palate leads to a bitter point on the finish, although there is juice that keeps things moving forward and clarity to its overall expression. A yield of 35hl/ha.

Attractive aromas of black cherries and blackberries with dark chocolate, black licorice, cedar and wet earth. Some raw mushroom, too. Medium- to full-bodied with very fine and slightly chewy tannins. Lingering finish. 53% cabernet sauvignon and 47% merlot. Drink from 2025.

Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Fresh dark and dark-red fruit, very fine tannins, light and elegant, fresh finish. Perhaps just slightly leafy, but it will be approachable much earlier than many 2020s. (JH)

The 2020 de Camensac is a beautiful, Cabernet Sauvignon-driven Haut-Médoc loaded with savory intensity and energy. Dried herbs, tobacco, menthol, plum, chocolate and earthy notes all run through this classically built, mid-weight Haut-Médoc. Give the tannins a few years to soften. This is impressive.

Cedar, tobacco, spice, herbs and peppery red currants combine on the nose and a chewy palate. The palate, with its savory edge, tobacco and chewy fruit, offers plenty of lift and vibrancy on the finish. Drink from 2025–2040.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, slight brightening at the rim. Ripe black cherries, subtle hints of plums, orange zest, some leafy notes underneath. Subtle bitter notes on the palate, a slightly vegetal texture, high acidity, verging on over-extraction of the tannins, drying on the finish, still needs a lot of time.

Floral notes, violet, crushed black currant, rather dense with a grippy tannic backbone, fresh red fruit flavours, balanced in a classic age-worthy style worth waiting for.

Bing cherries, blue fruits, graphite, and some spicy oak notes all emerge from the 2020 Château De Camensac, a medium-bodied, pure, elegant 2020. This mid-weight, balanced, charming Haut-Médoc is best drunk over the coming 8-10 years.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: floral, red-berried bouquet, currants, wood. Restrained, bourgeois palate with sandy tannins, light fruit, angular structure, dry finish.

Floral, red-berry bouquet, currants, oak. Restrained, bourgeois palate with sandy tannins, light fruit, angular structure, dry finish. 16/20 2025 - 2036

Savoury bilberry, loganberry and raspberry fruit, tomato leaf, liquorice, loganberry notes, soft but present tannins that caress the fruit, adding a welcome extra layer of interest. Graphite, pencil, mint leaf, grilled sandalwood; this is enjoyable, not trying too hard to be overly serious, will age well but there’s no need to wait the full 10 years. Harvest from September 10 to 25. Valentin Perrot, technical director, along with cellar master Christian Alquie. 40% new oak.

89-90

The wine has tightened up and closed down since our last tasting. It has substance and volume, but the finish is a bit sharp, with tannins that are still seeking to integrate. A well-sized wine to keep an eye on

An aromatic, fresh bouquet, brimming with confidence, with finely shaped, elegant pink and red fruits. A full yet seamless texture on the palate, allied to the purity and intensity of black fruits. Delicious.

Harmony, with a touch of charm, makes an ideal pair. It opens up fine prospects for Camensac 2020, yet the tannins still provide structure and give solid support across the palate. Even if “

Light palate, not very structured, fruity, with medium body and length.

90–92. Barrel Sample. Dense tannins and dark chocolate flavors already highlight the wine's texture. That's at the expense of some of the fruitiness that should be in the background. This suggests it will develop with a dry core that will need to soften.

A strong effort from this improving estate, the 2020 Camensac reveals aromas of rich cherries, cassis and truffle framed by a deft touch of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and impressively concentrated, it's attractively pure, with powdery tannins and a vanillin-inflected finish. Give it a little time to digest its élevage, and it will offer excellent drinking.