Cote de Baleau - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2020

TASTED

92 / 100

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Chalky notes with wild berry fruit, discreet wood, plenty of freshness with crushed red fruit, a mild spiciness, youthful but well balanced with fine proportions and length, a wine still in time of more élévage and bottle ageing but fine potential.

Le Figaro

92-94 / 100

the6/2/2021

Nez intense, appétentappétissant, qui donne envie d’aller découvrir ce que peut bien cacher cette robe noire et, mystérieuse , et on n’est pas déçu ! Des tannins présents mais mûrs, une bouche très agréable, fruitée, ronde. Joli vin sur le fruit et le charme.

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Côte de Baleau is shaping up to be a very serious wine. Today it offers up a compelling mélange of blackberry, gravel, spice, licorice and espresso. From barrel, the 2000 presents an intriguing combination of fruit richness and structure that is utterly beguiling. This is such an exciting and compelling wine. I can't wait to taste it from bottle.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-93 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

I loved the 2020 Château Cote De Baleau. This beauty has a rocking nose of red and black fruits supported by notes of tobacco, spice, and chalky minerality. Textured and medium to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and outstanding length, it’s a big, rich wine that stays nicely balanced.

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Côte de Baleau was picked September 15–30 at 50hl/ha and matured in 20% new oak. It has a very pretty nose of brambly red fruit tinged with blueberry, well defined and quite vivacious. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins, a fine bead of acidity and quite a pixelated finish. A classy Côte de Baleau that shows you can pick at higher yields in 2020 and still make a fine wine. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

Decanter.com

91 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Rich and deep, careful with cleanly-focused extraction. Blueberry fruits with an attractive smoky undertone that curls up through the glass. Owned by Mathieu Cuvelier since 2013. 20% new oak. Drinking Window 2025 - 2040

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-90 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Black cherries, earth, thyme, spice and stone notes open the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, elegant, forward and fresh, with a nice fruity, soft textured palate and finish. This has a little more volume than usual, so I am sure fans of Cote de Baleau are going to love it. One of the best values from Saint Emilion, give this just a few years in the cellar and it should offer delicious drinking for at least 10 year after that. 92-90

Wine Advocate

87-89 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

The 2020 Cote de Baleau is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 15th to 30th September and weighing in with an alcohol of 14.2%. It is being aged for 16-18 months in 20% new oak barrels, 60% second-fill barrels and 20% in vats. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little swirling to coax out youthful notions of crushed blackberries, mulberries and kirsch, plus hints of tar and dried Mediterranean herbs. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with crunchy red and black fruits with a chewy texture and lively backbone lifting the finish.

Anthocyanes

90-92 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Nez boisé, légèrement épicé, des notes de fruits noirs et de clou de girofle. Bouche tannique et boisée avec de l'allonge toutefois.

Falstaff

90-92 / 100

the5/10/2021

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Frische Brombeeren, zart nach Lakritze, etwas Vanille und Mandarinenzesten. Dun- kle Beerenfrucht, mittlerer Körper, frischer Säurebogen, präsente Tannine, salziger, zart blättriger Touch im Abgang.