Clos Lunelles - Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux 2020

Alexandre Ma

93

byAlexandre Mathe4/18/2023

Jeb DUNNUCK

94

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

A terrific Castillon, the 2020 Clos Lunelles has an incredible limestone-like character as well as perfumed notes of cassis, acacia flowers, violets, and chalky earth. Full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe tannins and a salty, salivating character that keeps you coming back to the glass, it's a no-brainer purchase that will evolve for 10-15 years.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe3/27/2023

Wonderful aromas of crushed blackberries and raspberries with orange peel and some chalk. Medium-bodied with fantastic tannins that are polished and chewy. Savory and salty with a powdery texture. One of the best I have had. 80% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Drink in three or four years.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

Full-bodied, racy, and sensual, the wine is lush, opulent, and rich, coating your palate with multiple layers of black plums, black cherries, licorice, chalky tannins, and crushed rocks. There is intensity, length, complexity, and opulence that is already just great. But wait for a bit, and it promises to be even better. This is the equal of many of the best Saint-Emilion wines as it comes from similar, limestone terroirs. Drink from 2024-2045.

Alexandre Ma

93

byAlexandre Mathe3/15/2023

Decanter.com

93

byGeorgina Hindlethe2/1/2023

Fragranced and open, forward and alive in the glass. Nicely fruited, warm and bright blackcurrants and blackberries; a good level of focus and detail here. Super-tense on the tongue, puts you squarely on limestone, nothing is hiding here; it’s terroir in the glass.

TASTED

94

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Chalky and toasted perfume, wild blackberry, cherry, tobacco and mild oak notes. Very bright freshness on the palate, dense and concentrated fruit, yet with a nice fresh lift, darker fruit notes with good polish and refined tannin, long and vigorous.

Vinous

91-93

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Clos Lunelles is plush, sensual and wonderfully inviting. Inky dark fruit, licorice, lavender and spice envelop the palate. Forward and juicy right out of the bottle. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. The 2020 has an extra kick of vibrancy that works balances the natural intensity of the year.

Vinous

89-91

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Clos Lunelles comes from the highest point within Castillon, cropped at 35hl/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It is more understated on the nose compared to those I tasted a decade ago, offering black cherries, raspberry coulis and subtle touches of powdered chalk. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Dense, burly and grippy in the mouth, this possesses enormous structure on the finish, and here the tannins feel just a little aggressive. Not bad, but I prefer the elegance shown on some of Gérard Perse’s other 2020s.

Decanter.com

91

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Located on limestone plateau of St-Colombe, this is a classically big Clos Lunelles. Unquestionably has concentration, big black berry fruits and a ton of spice. This is not over-extracted, and there is more integrated oak than you find in the past, but this is still a wine that is hard to ignore. It layers on the dense fruits and the punch at the beginning. Once you sit with it, and allow the limestone to make it through, things lift on the finish. 3.65pH. A yield of 35hl/ha.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Opaque in color, the wine explodes with notes of flowers, licorice, blackberry, crushed rocks, plum liqueur and espresso. Thick, rich, lusciously textured and intense, the salinity from the deep limestone terroir shines through right from the start through to the opulent, velvety finish. This is the equal of many of the best Saint-Emilion terroirs. But it needs time to come together, so please wait at least 7 or more years before pulling a cork. The wine was made from blending 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. 94-96

Wine Advocate

92-94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

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.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe5/18/2021

Lots of chalk, dark-fruit, bark and mushroom character. Violets, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, juicy tannins and a fresh finish.

My Bettane + Desseauve

93-94

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Nouvelle réussite majeure pour cette propriété qui enchaîne les prix d’excellence. On a la densité de l’argile exprimée dans toute sa profondeur avec un fruit frais parfaitement ciselé grâce à la touche saline finale apportée par le calcaire. La stature d’un grand vin.