2020 Durfort-Vivens (Margaux)

This has some pretty big tannins, sinewy and muscular, with the floral side of Cabernet on full display. Majors on savoury fruits, tobacco leaf and rosemary spices. A wine that shows a classically balanced Margaux, not an exuberant one. Takes its time, and as it opens up a sweeter raspberry puree appears showing texture and depth with slate minerality on the finish. This is serious and a little closed right now. 30% aged in amphoras (jarres) and 70% in new oak for 18 months ageing. 94 points

More structured and tannic than 2019 or 2018 but still with an explosion of fruit. Floral and dark-fruit notes. Ripe but fresh with crunchy fruit on the palate and fine-grained tannins. Mouth-watering, saline finish. Potential to age. 17.5 points

The 2020 Durfort-Vivens is an exotic, full-throttle wine. Heat and lack of rain between May and August yielded small berries with naturally concentrated juice. That comes through in the wine`s ripe, luscious personality. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare, lower than normal. Small berries yielded a Durfort of tremendous richness. I imagine the 2020 will need quite a bit of time in bottle to be at its best. Today, it is quite the powerhouse. The 2020 is aging 67% new oak and 33% terracotta vats. 93-95 points