2020 Château Bourgneuf, Pomerol

Description

This property has been in the Vayron family since 1821, for 8 generations. The vineyards are superbly situated, near to some of Pomerol’s greatest properties, like Trotanoy and Latour à Pomerol. The soils are warm, and the average age of the property’s vines is now around 35 years, giving low yields of impressively concentrated grapes.

The 2020 was assembled from 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc, carefully picked over four days between 14th and 25th September, to ensure freshness from the fully mature Merlots, allied to full ripeness in the Cabernet Francs. As in past years, the wine is ageing in around 35% new barrels, the balance being in barrels which have held one or two previous vintages. Since the 2012 introduction of a 2nd wine (for the produce of young vines) Bourgneuf’s fruit intensity has been magnified. This 2020 is deep ruby-purple of impressive depth, with vibrant, dark red fruit aromas. Palate is muscular rather than fleshy, with superb fruit concentration, and exhilarating, gently tannic, long finish (for drinking 2025-2038+).