Chateau La Grave a Pomerol 2020

Weinwisser: "Delikates Bouquet, frisch gepflückte schwarze Johannisbeeren, Milchschokonote und zartes Veilchenparfüm, dahinter erkalteter Hagebuttentee, heller Tabak und Minze. Am komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, betörender Extraktfülle, reifem Grip und engmaschigem Körper. Im gebündelten aromatischen Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, dunkles Edelholz, edle Cassiswürze. Gut wie im vergangenen Jahr!"

Decanter: "Liquorice, blue fruits, pomegranate, floral scents and almost a jammy touch to the fruit aromas. Slightly chunky on the palate, rich and dense with a kick of liquorice, tobacco, clove and bitter dark chocolate. Feels a little tense still, lots going on, but coiled, not yet ready to play. There’s a sleekness for sure, it’s well worked, precision going on, but this is also potent and a little restricted on the finish. Touches of cool blue fruit, mint and slate on the final flavour. Feels like good potential but this is a bit shy right now. Long undercurrent of length, though. Potent and pure, just hiding."

Jeb Dunnuck: "I loved the 2020 Château La Grave, which has a wonderful freshness in its ripe red, blue, and black fruits as well as notes of tobacco leaf, chocolate, and spicy oak aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, and ripe tannins, it's a classic Pomerol that will benefit from just short-term cellaring and keep for two decades."

Falstaff: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Zart kräuterwürzig unterlegte schwarze Waldbeeren wie Heidel- und Brombeeren, feine Fruchtsüße, florale Nuancen. Mittlerer Körper, reife Kirschen, feine Tannine, mineralisch, zart blättrige Würze, salziger Nachhall, bereits gut entwickelt."

Wine Spectator: "Shows the plush, forward boysenberry and blackberry fruit profile of the vintage, but has ample savory and tobacco leaf notes as well. Offers just a touch of grain through the humus-tinged finish, giving this a rustic edge at the very end. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2035. 2,150 cases made, 50 cases imported."