CHÂTEAU CAPBERN

The 2020 Capbern has a delineated, earthy nose with predominantly black fruit and light estuarine scents, although it needs a little more intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with a tannic, slightly austere opening, saline and lightly spiced with a pleasant bitter edge towards the finish. Maybe a little short? It should fill out during its élevage so let’s see if it just gains persistence then. Drinking range: 2025 - 2033 Rating: 88-90 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)

Readers looking for an off-the-charts value should snatch up the 2020 Château Capbern, which emerges from the same team as Calon Ségur. Offering a vivid bouquet of cassis, leafy tobacco, violets, damp earth, and chocolate, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, perfectly ripe fruit (not overripe, not underripe), ultra-fine, integrated tannins, and the mix of freshness and richness that’s part of all great wines. It’s a hidden gem in Saint-Estèphe. Rating: 94-96 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2021)

The 2020 Capbern is composed of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, weighing in with 14.1% alcohol. It is due to be aged for around 18 months in French oak barrels, 60% new. Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Capbern sings of black cherries, mulberries and redcurrant jelly, with hints of candied violets, wild sage and fertile loam. The medium-bodied palate has impressive verve and freshness, featuring soft, well-managed tannins, red and black berry layers and a mineral-tinged finish. Drinking range: 2023 - 2035 Rating: 89 - 91+ Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (May 2021)

Fragrant with fresh lilac and peonies on the aromatics, fairly high acidities overall with sculpted blackcurrant fruits. A higher level of Cabernet Sauvignon than in recent years after the replanting in the vineyard. 1% Cabernet Franc completes the blend, 3.85pH, 60% new oak. A yield of 33hl/ha. Drinking range: 2026 - 2042 Rating: 91 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)

This is really solid and powerful with lots of tannins and blue fruit. Spicy. Full and chewy. A little coarse now, but will improve with barrel aging. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2021)

This is a fantastic Capbern with singular purity and precision. The message is not a complex one but it is focussed, clean as a whistle and penetrative with ripe, but cool cassis tones and perfectly balanced oak. This is one of the great value wines of Bordeaux and in 2020 it embraces the vintage characteristics, the Saint-Estèphe terroir and also its Calon Ségur parentage perfectly. Rating: 17+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2021)

69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Dense but vibrant and aromatic. Plenty of crunchy fruit and freshness. Bigger structure than 2019, closer to 2018, the tannins firm and textured. Dry, persistent finish. One for the cellar. Should be GV. Drinking range: 2027 - 2040 Rating: 17 James Lawther MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)