2020 Vieux Château Mazerat

Dark-fruited and spiced character with plum skins, toasted cloves, crushed walnut and dark chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied with a meaty texture and fine, velvety tannins. Deep and dense palate with an array of black and blue fruit and a crunchy, polished finish. Drink from 2025. (11/2022)

I'd put the 2020 Vieux Château Mazerat up with the top vintages of this cuvée, and it's another utterly brilliant Right Bank in 2020. Coming from vines near Angélus and Canon, it has a salty, almost bloody character as well as a wealth of ripe red, blue, and black berry fruits, notes of flowers, orange blossom, and iron, full-bodied richness, ripe, fine tannins, and a great finish. This concentrated, powerful Saint-Emilion will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. (03/2023)

The 2020 Vieux Chateau Mazerat is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, less Cabernet Franc than usual, as this grape variety went into Le Dome this year. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out with notes of fruitcake, kirsch, and boysenberry preserves with hints of prunes, Indian spices, and sandalwood. The medium-bodied palate is spicy and chock full of dried berry flavors with a racy backbone and plush texture, finishing with great length. (03/2022)