2020 Montlabert
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Full bottle 1,236 g. The flavours and aroma remind me of windfall plums on paving stones, the scent of old mown grass mingling with the sweet decay of plum skins. Charcoal and thyme. Full tannins that feel like velvet and rough stones. An evocative wine with some heat on the finish. (TC)
Critic scores
Average Score
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Château Montlabert showed well (unlike their second wine, which I was unable to recommend) and has a plump, medium-bodied, mouth-filling style to go with notes of red plums, black cherries, Asian spices, and cedary herb notes. It's textured, has soft tannins, and offers lots of charm.
The 2020 Montlabert was a promising Saint-Émilion from barrel, and it shows well in bottle. The nose is nicely defined with rightly integrated oak, focused with commendable purity, almost understated at first. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, quite peppery with touches of graphite and cedar, displaying impressive weight on the finish. It's going to give much pleasure after 4-5 years in bottle.