CHÂTEAU BEAUREGARD

The 2020 Beauregard has a well-defined bouquet with raspberry and cranberry fruit, cedar and light pencil box aromas. This fulfills its promise from barrel, while the palate is well balanced with pliant tannins, fresh and saline with a slightly ferrous finish. This is an excellent Beauregard that will give up to 20 years of drinking pleasure. Drinking range: 2027 - 2045 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)

The 2020 Beauregard was picked from September 8 at 37hl/ha (winemaker Vincent Priou told me that having been organic for almost a decade, the vineyard is very stable in terms of yield). Matured in 45% new oak, it has a very pure and refined bouquet, one of the best that I have found on a Beauregard at this stage. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, a slightly grainy texture and a spicy undercurrent. Very cohesive and silky-smooth on the finish. This just might be the best Beauregard made to date. Bravo! Drinking range: 2027 - 2045 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)

From another estate that’s been on the uptick lately, the 2020 Château Beauregard offers a beautiful perfume of jammy black and blue fruits as well as classic Pomerol floral and earthy mineral aromas and flavors. Fleshy, soft, up-front, yet concentrated, with a solid spine of tannins, this is another one of those Pomerols that delivers wonderful purity of fruit along with a rare mix of richness and elegance. It will drink well for 20-25 years. Rating: 93-95 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2021)

Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Beauregard gives up pronounced notes of baked black plums, blackberry pie and black cherry preserves, plus hints of tar, aniseed, tilled loam and chargrill, with a touch of fried herbs. The medium to full-bodied palate offers chewy tannins and soft acidity to support the black berry and savory layers, finishing on a stewed tea note. The tannins should become a lot more polished after barrel aging, but based on this tasting, I've been conservative with my score. Drinking range: 2025 - 2040 Rating: 90 - 92+ Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (May 2021)

Spice, coffee, black and blue fruits and touches of redcurrant leaf. Sappy and powerful, not as generous as many in Pomerol, but there is always a good level of Cabernet Franc that gives this a slightly austere structure when young - will widen and soften over the next few years, and it stands out for its kick of minerality. Tasted twice, and there is some notable oak, but excellent quality. Ageing for 16 months in barrel. Finished everything by 22 September, their final yields were 37hl/ha (they have 1/3 of the vineyard at 9,000v/ha). Certified organic for 10 years. Drinking range: 2028 - 2044 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)

65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, Deepest purple-crimson with purple rim. Surprisingly subtle but deep aroma of pure black fruit with only a gentle hint of the leafiness I expect from the Cab Franc. On the palate, concentrated black fruit, slightly savoury/rocky in that darkness, chewy but not astringent tannins. Lovely freshness on the finish to balance the whole, and a gentle fruit sweetness on the finish. Drinking range: 2027 - 2035 Rating: 16.5 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)