Château Grand-Pontet 2020

Deeply fruited with blackberry and toasted cumin spice, with a velvety texture that slows things down and delivers enjoyable character and personality. The addition of a touch of Malbec makes an oversized contribution, and this is good. A yield of 45 hl/ha. 70% new oak.

Full bottle 1,340 g. Cask sample taken 7 April. Very deep purplish crimson. Rich nose with interesting layers. Serious wine with great juiciness at first but with the build to last quite a while. Really bright fruit. Exciting wine. Long. (JR)

Medium-bodied, with notes of wet earth, espresso, licorice, dark red berries and cocoa on the nose. Soft, round, lush and polished, the wine is forward, fruity and a bit oaky at the moment. Give it a few years to come together and it will be an even better wine. 89-91 Pts

Some new oak, dry spices, fresh red fruit, with a medium-bodied structure; an age-worthy style that remains young and restrained yet finely built, with fine length and tannic power.

Dark, purplish, intense and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose, with ripe, subtle fruit. Delicate on the attack, very fruity and notably smoother than others because the fruit here has greater depth; the wine finishes flavorful, very pleasant, with no angular tannins. Blend: 60% merlot, 30% cabernet franc, 10% malbec. Alcohol: 14.5% - pH: 3.63. Yield: 40 hl/ha.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening at the rim. Dark berry fruit and ripe plums are underpinned with notes of noble wood. Powerful, chocolaty, ripe cherry fruit, good freshness, integrated, vivid tannins, nougat finish, good length. Certain ageing potential.