2020 Bordeaux: left bank momentum

GPL, Malartic, Meyney, de Pez, Siran, Cantenac Brown, Alter Ego

'We're back!' enthuses Emeline Borie at Grand-Puy-Lacoste. 2020 Grand-Puy-Lacoste reminds the Bories of the great vintages of yesteryear, and it's not just them; Neal Martin calls it 'glorious', Galloni says it's a 'total stunner'. It has been a good few days for left bank Bordeaux. Under the stewardship of the Bonnie family since 2003, Malartic-Lagraviere has moved from being an under-performing estate to one of the most admired in Pessac-Leognan. From St-Estephe, we have had the under-appreciated Meyney, which has a knack for tricking blind tasters into confusing it with its neighbour Montrose. We've also had de Pez, which Neal Martin singles out in his vintage introduction as a Hidden Gem: 'Look out for this Saint-Estèphe, under the watchful eye of Nicolas Glumineau of Pichon-Lalande'.

Not to be outdone, Margaux has given us a raft of releases. Siran has a long history in the hands of the Miailhe family, but Neal Martin thinks the 2020 may be 'the best Siran to date'. Cantenac Brown has been vastly improved in recent vintages; Neal calls the 2020 'sophisticated and quite cerebral', while Galloni says it is 'outrageously beautiful', 'shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage.' Alter Ego de Palmer is given the same meticulous attention to detail that Palmer itself enjoys, and is elegant and precise.

Other notable left bank releases are Clos du Marquis (St-Julien), Grand-Puy Ducasse and Haut-Bages Liberal (both Pauillac) and Ferriere (Margaux). But not all the action has been on the left bank. St-Emilion has been quiet, but Pomerol has been busy, with Clos L'Eglise, Le Gay and Rouget all making their arrivals on the scene. /NT

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Offered subject to remaining unsold; for shipment Spring 2023