2020 Marquis de Terme (Margaux)

Cassis, bilberry, chocolate, mocha and pepper. Good, austere, tight, mint leaf on the close of play. This has depth of expression, the fruit has been carefully extracted to minimise what are still pretty ferocious tannins. A yield of 30hl/ha. Tasted three times and was impressed each time. Important to note that Marquis de Terme is one of the few Left Bank estates that does a final adjustment to the blend before bottling, although typically changes are only made to the second wine so this is likely to be at least extremely close to what will go into the final bottle. 93 points

The 2020 Marquis de Terme has a focused, delineated nose, vibrant blackberry and raspberry fruit mingling with tobacco and light incense aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity, gentle grip and a touch of dark chocolate and mint toward the finish. This deserves 4–5 years in bottle, and it should end up at the top of my banded score. Fine. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 90-92 points

The 2020 Marquis de Terme sports a deep garnet-purple color and pronounced notes of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry preserves and kirsch, plus suggestions of bay leaves, forest floor, black truffles and hoisin. The medium-bodied palate is soft and juicy, delivering a good amount of ripe black fruits without heaviness, finishing with a spicy kick. This blend is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It is aging for 18 months in French oak barriques, 50% new. 90-92 points