Château Quinault l'Enclos 2020

The 2020 Quinault l'Enclos offers up aromas of cherries, plums and crushed mint, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, velvety and lively palate built around powdery tannins that somewhat temper this site's proclivity for an overt, even obvious, expression of fruit.

Shows an overt roasted vanilla note, along with plum sauce and melted red licorice flavors. Reveals a soft, warm feel through the tar- and tobacco leaf-tinged finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2029. 2,660 cases made.

Black fruits, lively and quite vibrant, with a distinctly salty liquorice tang to the profile. Exotic spice lingers on the finish, wrapped in a minty freshness that gives broad expression. Chalky, powdery, yet also quite bitter, with dark chocolate and clove marking the finish. Yet there is a lovely overarching freshness, with lingering seduction and charm. It feels sophisticated but sombre, with plenty of minerality and wood notes.

This is hyper fine and polished with currants, light chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. Medium body. Fresh and very long. Extremely pretty and fine. Drinkable, but better in 2026.

78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc. Juicy, round and accessible. Plummy, red-fruit notes, the leafy Cabernet Franc also distinguishable. Light but fine tannic frame. Clearly for earlier drinking. (JL)

The 2020 Quinault L'Enclos is a gorgeous, deeply pitched Saint-Émilion. Rose petal, mint, dried herbs and sweet red berry fruit all grace this wonderfully layered, nuanced Saint-Émilion. Pure and nuanced, with terrific energy, Quinault has a ton to offer. In 2020, the Cabernets (15% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) are super-expressive. There is just a bit of youthful austerity that needs time to soften.

Black cherries, flowers, chocolate and espresso with a hint of blue fruit pop on the nose. Rich, lush, plush and polished, the wine is fresh, silky and packed with all the ripe, lush, chocolate-coated cherries, with a sprig of refreshing mint that appears at the end of the finish. Drink from 2023-2045.

The 2020 Château Quinault L'Enclos, which saw two thirds of the blend brought up in foudre, is another beautiful, seamless wine from this estate that offers both richness and elegance. Black cherries, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and a touch of scorched earth all flow to a medium- to full-bodied, concentrated, finesse-driven Saint-Emilion that already offers pleasure. It will evolve for two decades.

Ripe red cherry bouquet, herbs, a hint of lavender and light fine wood. On the palate, elegant and juicy with a soft texture, plenty of ripe extract and balanced verve, medium body. In the focused, finely aromatic finish, red-berry contours and dried rosemary, ending with a delicate bitterness. Reminds Pierre-Olivier of 2003, with more precision.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: (78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc) Floral, fresh, peppery bouquet, strawberries, blackberries, mocha, vanilla. Balanced, velvety, medium-bodied palate with delicate fruit, very fine, slightly powdery tannins, creamy structure, airy, sweet aromatics, long, silky finish.

(78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc) Floral, fresh, peppery bouquet with strawberries, blackberries, mocha, vanilla. Balanced, velvety, medium-bodied palate with fine fruit, very delicate, slightly powdery tannins, creamy structure, airy, sweet aromatics, long, silky finish. 17/20 2026 - 2038

A blend of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Quinault L’Enclos has a deep garnet-purple color. It comes bounding out of the glass with eager-to-please notes of baked black cherries, boysenberry preserves, and fruitcake, followed by hints of Indian spices, vanilla pod, and chocolate box. The medium to full-bodied palate is coated with seductive black fruit preserves, framed by silky, well-managed tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy.

90-91

A rich, carefully crafted nose of red fruits that invites you to keep going. The palate shows exceptional lightness, soft and melting—the culmination of the work carried out by the Cheval Blanc team since acquiring the estate in 2008. Its delicately smoky signature is present here, more subtle than before, with a tannic, powerful finish.

A complicated year at Quinault with heavy downy mildew pressure, on top of very hot weather and drought from mid-June, followed by the late-August heatwave! As a result, yields are significantly lower than usual. The bouquet is filigreed, elegant. It reveals fruity nuances and points to a hedonistic wine. This is confirmed and embraced on the palate. The wine is charming, but it needs to refine on the finish.

Beautiful deep red. Intense nose with ripe fruit, spicy notes and a slightly sun-kissed character. Hint of citrus. Delicious, melting palate that caresses the mouth, delicately creamy, finishing long, sapid and fragrant, with very well-coated tannins. It’s very good.

Attractive dark fruit, aromatic herbs, with an already supple texture, plenty of fine tannin, finely built with balanced freshness and good length.

This vineyard in the heart of the city of Libourne is now showing great quality. Ripe black fruits dominate the tannins, giving a wine of great freshness. It is succulent, with generous fruitiness while keeping an good structure. Drink from 2026.