Château Grand Corbin 2020

Friendly, with tasty plum and blackberry compote flavors, judicious toast and a brushstroke of tobacco on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 12,500 cases made.

Chewy and full in the mouth with blue fruits, wet stone touches and lots of liquorice. Structured and alive in the glass with a brooding core (layered vertically giving depth but not weight) that gives it a serious tone without being too weighty or overwhelming. Retains a sense of direction and sleekness, all the elements in one line working together. I like the cola-edged blue fruit elements and the lifted fresh finish. Well done and you don't get the 15% ABV in terms of overt alcohol.

Attractive aromas of ripe dark fruit, vanilla, cardamom and chocolate. Some nutmeg, too. Medium- to full-bodied with polished tannins and a creamy texture. Refined and silky with a velvety core of ripe blackberries and hints of walnut to close. Drink from 2025.

Full bottle 1,290 g. Cask sample taken 7 April. Dark purplish crimson. Light, stony nose. Quite emphatic on the palate though the fruit could be just a tad fresher and zestier. Muscular finish with some inkiness rather than length and suppleness. (JR)

The 2020 Grand Corbin has a light, menthol-tinged bouquet that doesn't quite deliver the complexity of its peers. The palate is a little chewy on the entry and firm in the mouth, with sour cherry and orange rind notes towards the finish.

Medium-bodied, silky, fresh and energetic, the supple-textured wine is packed with flowers and sweet, ripe, elegant red fruits, with notes of licorice, dark cocoa and espresso on the finish. Give it a year or two for the oak to become better integrated. Drink from 2024–2038.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, faint ochre brightening on the rim. Fresh cherries, wild red berries, fine floral aspects, orange zest and herbs in the background. Medium complexity, elegant and fresh, round tannins, fine nougat, already well developed and accessible, a multi-faceted wine at the table, very good value for money.

Black raspberries, ripe cherries, spicy oak, and chocolaty nuances all emerge from the 2020 Château Grand Corbin, a plump, round, sexy 2020 offering plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This incredibly charming, pure, yet still concentrated Saint-Emilion is ideal for drinking over the coming 15 years or more.

Refined and sculpted, softly spoken at first, with finesse and a dark cassis and bilberry fruit character. Cooler in spirit than many of its neighbouring estate, a serious take on the 2020 vintage in St Emilion. Laure Canu director. 42hl/ha yield.

90-91

A deep, dark nose. On the palate, woody notes and dark-fruited character over juicy, indulgent tannins. Simply sumptuous.

Grand Corbin reveals itself with finesse both on the nose and on the palate. It stands out for its ability to bridge tannins and acidity. It naturally needs time to blossom, but the outlook signaled by the en primeur tastings is fully confirmed. A harmonious, well-structured wine.

Dark, intense color. Moderately aromatic nose, fruity and spicy. Fruity, discreet palate. Medium body and length.