2020 Château Bouscaut
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Waxy, complex aroma – creamy and spiced, as well as rich in grapefruit and pear. Oak and acidity clashing a little at the moment but might improve with a little longer in bottle. (JH)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Bouscaut feels a little overripe on the nose, displaying mainly red fruit, musk and potpourri. It doesn't quite deliver the delineation of its peers in this flight. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft entry. It's quite plush and fruit-driven, with dark berries, white pepper and a touch of graphite toward the finish. Fine, but it just misses a little panache. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
This estate continues to produce brilliant wines, and their 2020 Château Bouscaut is no exception. Exhibiting a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a great nose of red and black currants, leafy herbs, scorched earth, and lead pencil shavings, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a round, layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. Count me impressed. It will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for upwards of two decades.
The 2020 Bouscaut is still missing some complexity on the nose, blackberry and light bilberry scents, quite saline yet it needs more precision. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and well judged acidity. Fresh and balanced, this conveys sufficient tension with a dash of cracked black pepper and graphite on the finish. Maybe it lacks a bit of charm, but it should age nicely in bottle.
About the producer
Under the Lurton family, this property has seen extensive work in the vineyard and winery, and an associated uptick in quality. The vines stretch across 42 hectares, with Merlot dominating plantings for the reds.