2020 Bordeaux

The Wine Cellar Insider described the 2020 Bordeaux as part of an "incredible and in some ways unequaled trilogy of vintages: 2018, 2019, and 2020." They noted that for some wines, the 2020 vintage is the best of the trio, although for others it's not as strong​​.

The character and style of the 2020 Bordeaux was likened to a blend of the 2018 vintage (known for its sensual, opulent, and concentrated character) and the 2019 vintage (noted for its fresher, elegant, and lean towards a modern classic style). The 2020 vintage was praised for its own unique identity, being slightly lower in alcohol and offering vibrancy with silky tannins and length​​.

Decanter reported that despite challenging weather and pandemic lockdowns, the 2020 Bordeaux produced a number of excellent wines. Jane Anson, after tasting more than 800 en primeur samples, gave around 10% of these wines a score of 95 points or higher, including five wines at 98-100 points. The vintage received an overall rating of 4 out of 5, on par with the 2018 vintage but slightly lower than the 2019 and 2016 vintages​​​​​​.

In terms of style, Anson found "plenty of racy, supple tannins that power forward and have a sense of energy," although some tannins were a bit dry and sometimes underripe. The Left Bank wines of 2020 were most comparable to the 1996, 2000, and 2006 vintages, with big tannins that are a little unwieldy at times, but with potential. For the Right Bank, a comparison to 1989 seemed reasonable, with 2020 having more in common with 2018 than on the other side of the river​​.

These assessments indicate a high level of quality and distinctiveness for the 2020 Bordeaux vintage, with particular strengths in its balanced, vibrant character and the potential for excellent aging.