Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2020 Mangot has turned out beautifully, bursting with aromas of cherries, wild berries, rose petals, blood orange and bay leaf. Medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it's pure and vibrant, with a layered core of fruit, velvety tannins and a long, mouthwateringly chalky finish. This is a brilliant wine that sells for a song and which surpasses many of its more well-known neighbors.

The 2020 Carlmagnus has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and vivacious scents of redcurrant jelly, ripe black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of iron ore, black truffles, lavender and cracked black pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate fills the mouth with intense red and black fruit layers, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and earthy. (LPB)

The 2020 Branaire-Ducru displays a deep garnet-purple color and pronounced blackcurrant cordial, plum preserves and boysenberries scents, plus hints of sautéed herbs, unsmoked cigars and graphite. The medium-bodied palate has a lot of verve, delivering appealing tension among the tightly wound black fruits and grainy tannins, finishing with an herbal lift. (LPB)

Very deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Olivier offers vibrant notions of wild blueberries, blackberry preserves and cassis, plus hints of clove oil, cinnamon stick and tree bark, with a waft of dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly played with soft tannins and seamless freshness supporting the restrained black and blue fruit flavors, finishing earthy.

The 2020 Clos Lunelles is composed of 80% Merlot, coming in with an alcohol of 14.79% and a pH of 3.65. It is being aged in French oak barriques, 50% new. Deep purple-black colored, it springs from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed black cherries and black raspberries, giving way to hints of wild blueberries, chocolate box and cardamom with a touch of violets. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of crunchy, energetic black and red fruits, supported by fine-grained tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and lifted. (LPB)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Marjosse comes barreling out of the glass with rambunctious scents of cassis, crushed blackberries and black plum preserves, followed by hints of dark chocolate, anise and tar, plus a fragrant waft of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is soft, juicy and wonderfully refreshing, delivering wonderful poise and expression with a fun burst of pure black fruit on the finish. Delicious! (LPB)

The 2020 Laroque is a blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, aging for around 16 to 18 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. The alcohol is 14.5%. Displaying a deep purple-black color, it slowly unfurls in the glass to reveal fantastically opulent notes of Indian spices, rose oil, dark chocolate and licorice, over a core of blueberry preserves, stewed plums and mulberries, plus a hint of dried mint.

The 2018 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes is also showing very well, revealing aromas of pear, crisp yellow orchard fruit, fresh peach, almond paste and white flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and muscular palate that's deep, concentrated and structured, with more texture and a more introverted profile than the more expressive Genevrières. This is another great bottle in the making. (WK)

A ripe bouquet of honeyed peaches, pears, beeswax, toasted almonds and white flowers introduces the 2018 Meursault Désirée, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping wine that's ripe, textural and sumptuous, with succulent acids and a long finish. While the Désirée always has huge upfront appeal, it is often also deceptively age-worthy. (WK)