CHÂTEAU LABÉGORCE
2020 Cru Bourgeois Supérieur Margaux
Really good nose. Leads to the palate which is just so well balanced. Poised and a good, satisfying feel. Well loaded with a smoothly-framed concentration of dark berries and luscious black fruited broth. Aromatics are more high-toned - adding a nice lifted feel. There is a sense of grandeur somehow from the length and breadth here. Classy Margaux that will give great pleasure for 10-15 years. Thankfully this is once again very fairly priced with no rise from last year. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. L&S (May 2021)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
Clear depth to the cassis fruits, studded with fennel, anis, cut herbs, raspberry leaf and smoked earth, delivering complexity and pleasure. A brilliant wine, and a great value pick. 33% new oak. Harvest September 16 to October 1, technical director Marjolaine de Coninck. Drinking range: 2026 - 2042 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (Mar 2023)
The 2020 Labégorce is a dark, sumptuous beauty. The 2020 has softened a bit with élevage, but it remains a distinctly potent, brooding Margaux. Drinking range: 2025 - 2040 Rating: 93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)
The 2020 Labegorce, matured in 40% new oak, has a fragrant, floral bouquet with wilted rose petals infusing the lively red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit. There is something "airy" about the aromatics here. The palate is slightly honeyed in texture, saturated tannins, a mixture of red and black fruit commingling with white pepper and iodine. Great persistence and salinity on the finish - an excellent, quite substantial Margaux for long-term ageing. Drinking range: 2023 - 2045 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)
This wine has achieved more ripeness than many in Margaux in 2020 and it is smooth, fruit-packed, long and well balanced. While this is not the most complex of vintages it is a very nicely made wine and it is clear that the work paid off in the vineyard and then sensitive winemaking was employed. Rating: 16.5 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Jun 2021)
The 2020 Labégorce is a dark, brooding Margaux. Black cherry, gravel, licorice, spice and bittersweet chocolate play off the wine's considerable density and pure power. Labégorce is not exactly subtle, but it sure packs plenty of punch. This is an especially plush style, and it works well. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 91-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2021)
The 2020 Labégorce was picked 16 September to 1 October and raised in 40% new oak, the remainder one year old. It has a perfumed bouquet with brambly red fruit, wild strawberry mixed with raspberry preserve and rose petal, hints of orange rind emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, classic in style with a fine bead of acidity that imparts plenty of freshness. More black fruit on the palate compared to the nose with a saline finish, this is a fine Margaux that has a suppleness suggesting it will drink early after bottling. Drinking range: 2025 - 2042 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)
I continue to love the wines from this estate in Margaux, and the 2020 Château Labegorce is no exception. Rock star crème de cassis, graphite, roasted herbs, iron, and loamy earth nuances all define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a relatively soft, plush, forward style, good mid-palate density, and wonderful purity of fruit. It’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and drink nicely for 15-20 years. It should be a terrific value as well. Rating: 93-95 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2021)
I continue to love the wines from this estate in Margaux, and the 2020 Château Labegorce is no exception. Rock star crème de cassis, graphite, roasted herbs, iron, and loamy earth nuances all define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a relatively soft, plush, forward style, good mid-palate density, and wonderful purity of fruit. It’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and drink nicely for 15-20 years. It should be a terrific value as well. Rating: 93-95 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2021)
A tight, compact Labégorce with blackcurrant, walnut and some graphite. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a solid core of tannins and fruit. Some lead pencil. Very structured for this estate. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2021)
Smoked cedar oak on the nose, a welcome touch in a vintage where tannins have frequently been turned up to 11. Grilled almonds; really a campfire edge. I like this, works well with the vintage. The fruit softens through the mid palate but the team has done a great job of finding extra layers flavour and complexity. Good stuff. 40% new oak. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Yields around 32hl/ha. Just 20mm of rain in August here, which meant veraison was more difficult. Tasted this also at the estate, and both times I was impressed. Less opulent than 2019, more classic and serious but this is great. Harvest September 16 to October 1. Drinking range: 2026 - 2038 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)
45% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot. Deepest cherry red. Inviting and open nose of sweet and scented black and dark-red fruit and just a hint of oak's sweetness. On the palate, juicy with those same fruit flavours and lovely freshness to balance. The oak is carried lightly and is well integrated. The tannins fine and dry on the finish. Drinking range: 2027 - 2034 Rating: 16.5 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)
Château Labégorce
Nathalie Perrodo brought her father's dream to reality with the 2010, the 'first' vintage from the newly reunited Labégorce vineyards, after they had spent a couple of centuries split into three. The Labégorce vineyard seems to have been named after an Abbé Gorsse, but the truth is somewhat shrouded in mystery. Feret, in his edition of 1865, mentions the existence of the noble La Bégorce house in Margaux from 1332. The estate was split into three after the revolution. The part that was named Labégorce Zédé in 1840 was reintegrated for the first time since then in 2010. Hubert Perrodo bought Labégorce in 1989, and the buildings of l'Abbé Gorsse de Gorsse in 2002 (the vineyard of this one escaped him, bought by Château Margaux). But his dream of re-uniting the historic Labégorce estate after he bought Labégorce Zédé in 2005 was cut short by his death in a ski-ing accident at Courchevel in 2006. After a couple of years of reflection, his twenty-five year-old daughter Nathalie has taken up the challenge of continuing his work, directing this really quite large domaine which also includes the fifteen hectares of the Cru Classé Château Marquis d'Alesme.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2024 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.