Ce que la presse en pense ...

Millésime 2020

Vinous.com - Neal Martin - March 2022

Color : Red

The 2020 Musigny Grand Cru includes 40% whole bunch and was matured entirely in new oak. With intensity on the nose, this is more floral than the Clos-de-Bèze, touches of violet infusing the red fruit alongside light aniseed aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very harmonious with impressive weight and an irresistible silky texture on the persistent finish. Beautiful. Just one barrel was produced this year due to millerandage and then stress.

Drinking Window : 2026 - 2060

95-97

The 2020 Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru, has a very elegant bouquet with Earl Grey tinged red fruit. Wonderful composure here and very focused. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, vibrant and fresh with a dash of black pepper towards the finish. This is superb.  

Drinking Window : 2025-2055

95

The 2020 Chapelle-Chambertin has an expressive bouquet with pure wild strawberry, red cherry and bergamot scents, quite mineral-driven, touches of Earl Grey in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, quite saline and poised with a pretty, understated finish. Very fine, but I have a nagging feeling it could have given more, especially after having tasted the same wine from Domaine Dugat.

Drinking Window: 2025-2050

92

The 2020 Bonnes Mares  was cropped at just 20-22hl/ha due to the dryness. Today this is similar on the nose to the sample I encountered in London, though perhaps there is a small reduction at play. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine depth and plenty of mineralité; the 30% whole bunch imparts a pleasant pepperiness on the finish. Quite a cerebral Bonnes-Mares this, not flamboyant, but there is real complexity here.

Drinking Window : 2026-2055

93

 

The 2020 Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru, has a very elegant bouquet with Earl Grey tinged red fruit. Wonderful composure here and very focused. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, vibrant and fresh with a dash of black pepper towards the finish. This is superb.  

Drinking Window : 2025-2055

95

The 2020 Chapelle-Chambertin has an expressive bouquet with pure wild strawberry, red cherry and bergamot scents, quite mineral-driven, touches of Earl Grey in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, quite saline and poised with a pretty, understated finish. Very fine, but I have a nagging feeling it could have given more, especially after having tasted the same wine from Domaine Dugat.

Drinking Window: 2025-2050

92

The 2020 Bonnes Mares  was cropped at just 20-22hl/ha due to the dryness. Today this is similar on the nose to the sample I encountered in London, though perhaps there is a small reduction at play. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine depth and plenty of mineralité; the 30% whole bunch imparts a pleasant pepperiness on the finish. Quite a cerebral Bonnes-Mares this, not flamboyant, but there is real complexity here.

Drinking Window : 2026-2055

93

The 2020 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru had the highest sugar levels in this vintage, so this was the first cuvée to be picked on 24 August. It has a very expressive nose, very pure and without any stems, it still imparts an attractive spiciness. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, nicely poised with a harmonious and mineral-driven finish. Excellent.

Drinking Window : 2025-2052

94

The 2020 Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru, was completely de-stemmed this year. This has a complex and delineated bouquet, more complex than the Chapelle-Chambertin and more mineral-driven. The palate is well-balanced with sappy red fruit intermixed with clove, white pepper and sage, while vibrant and spicy on the finish. Excellent - this could be the pick from Drouhin-Laroze this year.

Drinking Window : 2025- 2055

95  

The 2020 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos prieur  has a perfumed, transparent bouquet with red cherries, crushed strawberry and light mineral scents. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit and fine acidity, with a sense of energy and tension on the finish. Enjoy this over the next 15-20 years.

Drinking Window : 2024- 2040

91

The 2020 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaut Saint Jacques has a tightly-wound nose at first, plenty of undergrowth scents here, almost peaty, well-defined, hints of bay leaf emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. This is quite a strict, quite a "cool" Lavaut that clamps down on the finish. This has just been bottled, so I would afford this 4-6 years in bottle.

Drinking Window : 2026-2050

93

The 2020 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Craipillot containing 30-40% whole bunch, has palpable strictness on the nose, correct and focused, touches of pencil lead infusing the red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, very harmonious with a slightly granular texture. Balances and quite mineral-driven on the finish, this is surely the hidden gem of Drouhin-Laroze's line-up this year. Go seek.

Drinking Window: 2025-2045

93

The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny-Village, 80% from Les Baudes and 20% the Village part of Les Veroilles, has a clean and pure nose with raspberry preserve, wild strawberry and light rose petal scents. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine depth. Quite saline in the mouth, the 2020 currently pulls up a little short on the finish, so give this 3-4 years in bottle.

Drinkink Window: 2025-2040

88

The 2020 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Au Closeau Due to the vigour of this parcel, the Domaine undertook a green harvest in making their 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Au Closeau 1er Cru. It is fragrant and pure on the nose: blackberry, raspberry and light wild strawberry scents comingle, just a touch of vanilla emanating from the oak (60%). The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, the 40% whole bunch imparting pleasant white pepper and bay leaf notes that lends another dimension on the juicy finish. This is well worth looking out for.

Drinking Window : 2024-2045

91

 

The 2020 Morey-Saint-Denis Très Girard is 100% whole bunch, the stems introduced two vintages earlier. They do not appear to dominate the aromatics and remain in the backround. Attractive white pepper and clove scents complement the red berry fruit palate is medium-bodied with lithe, quite fleshy tannins for a Morey, sorbet-like freshness towards the finish with a touch of orange rind and marmalade. Very fine.

Drinking Window : 2024-2040

90

The 2020 Gevrey Chambertin Dix Climats, matured in 40% new oak, has a bold, almost Chambolle-like bouquet, quite pure with touches of blue fruit emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and is fleshy with fine acidity. This is one of Drouhin- Laroze's most plush wines this year, and probably only needs two or three years in bottle.

Drinking Window: 2025-2042

89