Grand Corbin Despagne (BIO-ORGANIC) - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2020

Vinous

90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Grand Corbin Despagne has a clean blackberry, bilberry and undergrowth-scented bouquet that might benefit from more vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and fresh acidity. It's lively with a pleasant, lightly spiced finish that fans out gently. No showstopper, but a finely crafted Saint-Émilion.

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/16/2023

A St.-Emilion with a solid core of fruit, fresh herbs, walnuts and hazelnuts. Medium to full body with layers of tannins and a juicy finish. Chewy at the end. 75% merlot, 24% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. From organically grown grapes. Give this three to four years to soften and come together.

La Revue du Vin de France

94-96 / 100

the6/7/2021

Les argiles ont parlé dans ce millésime et racontent le style parfait du terroir de François Despagne. Le nez brillant de fruits noirs et d’épices est festif et expressif. La profondeur juteuse de la bouche se distingue sur les fleurs et un tanin alerte et insolent.

Le Figaro

93-95 / 100

the6/2/2021

La robe noire à reflets violines coule, étoffée, épaisse et dense dans le verre. Des arômes épicés, de vanille, de pivoine se font sentir au nez appétent, kirsché. En bouche, la puissance s’installe progressivement aux côtés d’une matière juteuse et généreuse, épicée, voluptueuse. Avec, en sus, de beaux tannins mûrs et nobles.

Vinous

92-94 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Grand Corbin-Despagne is one of the most elegant, polished vintages I can remember tasting. Silky and beautifully perfumed, the 2020 is all class. Freshly cut flowers, mint, sweet red berries and licorice grace this wonderfully classy Saint-Émilion.

Vertdevin

96 / 100

byJonathan Chicheportichethe5/31/2021

Le nez est fruité, gourmand, joliment défini et offre de la pureté du fruit, une certaine petite intensité, un joli fruit pulpeux/juteux ainsi que de la complexité, de la profondeur et une certaine puissance. On y retrouve des notes de myrtille éclatante, de violette et plus légèrement de fraise éclatante associées à des touches de cassis.

Terres de Vins

95 / 100

the5/31/2021

L'élégance habituelle de Grand Corbin Despagne se retrouve dans ce millésime, avec un profit plus concentré, un gruit noir mûr et plein, des notes poivrées, un registre floral capiteux. C'est finement ciselé et très gourmand. Finale sur la fraîcheur.

Decanter.com

93 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/31/2021

This has depth and intensity that holds the line from beginning to end. Majors on blue and black fruits, fairly angular and austere in its tannic structure - this has less easy approachability than some, with clear acidity on the finish, but also waves of juicy minerality when you give it time. Good stuff from owner François Despagne. A yield of 36hl/ha.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe5/31/2021

Couleur sombre, intense, pourpre, aux reflets noirs. Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr. Bouche délicatement pulpeuse, très fruitée, au corps fondant qui évolue savoureux et parfumé, sans aucun angle tannique en finale. Très agréable. Assemblage: 75% Merlot, 24% cabernet Franc, 1% cabernet sauvignon. Degré d'alcool: 14,8°. PH: 3,69. Rendement: 36hl/ha. Agriculture et vin biologique.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

A terrific showing on multiple occasions, the 2020 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne boasts a deep purple hue as well as a rich, fresh, yet powerful style in its earthy red and black fruits as well as notes of graphite, chocolate, and background oak. It starts out rich and decadent, yet like a lot of 2020s, it shows more and more freshness and vibrancy as it sets in the glass. Along with the 2019, I suspect it’s one of the top wines from this estate

Vinous

89-91 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Grand Corbin Despagne was tasted from two samples, the first showing a bit of oxidation, the second better, featuring blackberry and light meaty aromas, a little more feral than its peers. The palate is balanced with pliant tannins, a grainy texture and white pepper and Provençal herbs interlacing the black fruit on the finish. This is a fine Saint-Émilion, though I suspect it will show best in the next 8–10 years.

Decanter.com

93 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

This has depth and intensity that holds the line from beginning to end. Majors on blue and black fruits, fairly angular and austere in its tannic structure - this has less easy approachability than some, with clear acidity on the finish, but also waves of juicy minerality when you give it time. Good stuff from owner François Despagne. A yield of 36hl/ha.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Very deep in color, the wine pops with its aromatic profile of flowers, wild cherries, blue fruit, licorice, smoke and cocoa. Lush, silky and polished, with velvety tannins and a finish that keeps on going due to all its layers of sweet, vibrant, red pit fruits and seductive textures. This is a nice step up in quality and concentration here. 92-94

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

The 2020 Grand Corbin-Despagne has a deep purple-black color and pronounced plum preserves, blackberry pie and cedar chest notes, with underlying hints of sandalwood, pencil lead and garrigue, with a waft of tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate is wearing a lot of oak at this stage, lending a chewiness to the tannins and somewhat swamping the pretty black fruit flavors, finishing long and spicy. It may take a little longer to come around than some other 2020s, but it should be worth the wait.

Anthocyanes

92-94 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Le bois prend le dessus, même à l'aération ce qui empêche le nez de s'épanouir. Il n'en est pas moins élégant. Magnifique toucher de bouche suave et charnu, le boisé prend le dessus également et apporte des notes fumées. Belle allonge. Un vrai potentiel. Bel avenir.

Bernard Burtschy

95-96 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

Falstaff

91-93 / 100

the5/10/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarter Ockerrand. Reife Pflau- men, ein Hauch von Nougat, kandierte Orangenzesten, feine Kräuterwürze unterlegt. Saftig, reife Herzkirschen, dezente Süße, runde Tannine, bleibt gut haften, bereits entwickelt.

My Bettane + Desseauve

94-95 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe5/4/2021

Attractive black-olive and spice aromas and flavors. Medium body. Medium chewy tannins. Fine-grained texture at the end with lots of black pepper, white pepper and iron.