2020 Bordeaux: the vanguard of the new classicism

15 Jun 2021

Duhart, Evangile, Durfort, Giscours, Issan, Chapelle d'Ausone

The Lafite stable capped last week's releases in Bordeaux. Duhart-Milon lies on the same terroir as its neighbour and mother ship Lafite (fine gravel and black sand over a bedrock of limestone) and has turned in a monumental 2020. And creeping ever closer to the very pinnacle of Pomerol, under the guiding hand of Saskia de Rothschild, we have L`Evangile. The quality of the terroir shows through; the vineyards of L'Evangile cluster with those of Petrus and La Conseillante, and the 2020 displays a stylistic convergence with Lafite.

The commune of the moment is Margaux, with Durfort-Vivens and Giscours yesterday, and Brane-Cantenac and d`Issan today. In his authoritative survey of the 2020 Bordeaux scene, Professor Colin Hay describes Margaux as 'the vanguard of the new classicism', singling out the raft of impressive and exciting properties fast on the rise. Durfort-Vivens is 'a phoenix from the ashes', Giscours is 'graceful and classical'. There is a sea-change at d'Issan in 2020, with the acquisition of a plot between d'Issan and Chateau Margaux bringing two new grape varieties into the blend for the first time in the property's history (Petit Verdot and some old vine Malbec). We'll be getting in touch with previous purchasers of Brane-Cantenac. It's also worth noting at this point that we have residual stock of both 2018 and 2019 Brane-Cantenac, the earlier instalments of the excellent trilogy capped by 2020.

Other notable releases today are Ausone and Carmes Haut-Brion (both allocated to previous purchasers). For a rare window into the style of Ausone, we have availability on the excellent second wine Chapelle d`Ausone. /NT

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Offered subject to remaining unsold; for shipment Spring 2023

Vintage Description Cs Sz Bt Sz Cs Bts Cs ib Cs inc Bt inc
2020 drink or keep Duhart-Milon (Pauillac)
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6x 75cl 4 5 £330.00 £415.24 £79.95 Buy