2020 Boutisse

Always solid, the 2020 Château Boutisse is no exception and has a terrific, medium to full-bodied, balanced profile as well as textbook red and black fruits, some spicy oak and chocolate nuances, ripe tannins, and that classic Saint-Emilion chalky limestone quality on the finish. Based on 92% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Carmenère, aged in 30% new oak (with a small portion in amphora), it has the structured, age-worthy style of the vintage and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age, and drink brilliantly over the following decade. It's in the same ballpark as the 2016 and 2019 and is worth seeking out.

The 2020 Boutisse is a gorgeous, wonderfully pure, elegant Saint-Émilion. Dark cherry/plum fruit, mocha, crushed rocks and blood orange are all beautifully delineated. The 2020 is silky and vibrant, with lively acids and tons of energy. Readers looking for a polished, mid-weight Saint-Émilion will adore this.

The 2020 Boutisse is stellar. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the 2020 bristles with energy from start to finish. Inky red fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and rose petal are all driven by the wine's vibrancy. The 2020 balances richness and tension so well. It is one of the more compelling recent vintages I can remember tasting.