Joanin Bécot - Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux 2020

Vinous

89-89

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2025

The 2020 Joanin Bécot has a ripe and bold bouquet with blackberry, cedar and tobacco scents. It is strangely reminiscent of say, a Saint-Julien, with just a touch of morels. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, a light-styled Right Bank. It's fleshy and generous toward the finish but without the same complexity and grip as its peers. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Alexandre Ma

92

byAlexandre Mathe4/18/2023

Wine Advocate

93

byYohan Castaingthe4/13/2023

The 2020 Joanin Bécot offers up notes of cherries, dark berries, violet and flower aromas with delicate hints of peony flowers. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, precise and fresh, with bright acidity and a delicate, crystalline and fine texture; in a word: exquisite.

Wine Spectator

90

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2023

Direct and a bit high-pitched, with damson plum and bitter cherry notes carried by a savory streak. A very fresh and unadorned wine. For fans of the understated style. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

I always love this cuvée, and the 2020 Château Joanin Bécot shows the class of the vintage with its limestone-driven aromatics of black raspberries, framboise, rose petals, iris, and exotic flower-driven aromatics. With medium-bodied richness on the palate, it has silky tannins, a pure, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This is just pure, classic Right Bank goodness to enjoy over the coming decade or so.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

Flowers, truffle, sweet cherries and cocoa create the nose. Medium-bodied, silky, sensuous, fresh and packed with layers of ripe red fruits and touch of cocoa on the backend in the finish that already express a beautiful sense of purity. This is in contention for one of the top vintages of Joanin Becot ever produced. Drink from 2023-2036.

Vinous

88

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Joanin-Becot is soft, silky and supple. Crushed red berry fruit and pretty floral notes are nicely lifted. Joanin-Becot is nicely done, but it is not as complete or engaging as it can be.

Vinous

87-89

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Joanin Bécot was affected by a hailstorm in May which resulted in some Cabernet Franc being parsed out from the blend, so this year there is half the normal production. It has quite a dense and quite earthy nose, introverted black fruit mixed with potpourri and traces of orange zest, the latter becoming more prominent with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with dry, gritty tannins with a smudge of dark chocolate towards the sandy finish. It needs a little more flesh around the bones, but that should come during its barrel maturation.

Decanter.com

92

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Full of life, with a blueberry coulis burst on the attack and raspberry leaf edging. Some austerity to the tannins, but settles in to the glass, and this should be ready to go within a year or two of bottling. A yield of 20hl/ha, low mainly from the hail at the end of May rather than the drought. They lost around 40% of the vineyard (also why less Cabernet Franc is in the blend than usual). Consultant Thomas Duclos, technical director Jean de Cornuaud. The estate is located in St-Philippe d'Aiguilhe, with a cooler terroir than Beausejour Becot, meaning harvest here was September 19th to October 9th.

Jancis Robinson

16

byJancis Robinsonthe5/25/2021

90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. 20 hl/ha (Half the volume due to hail)
No SO2 (at this stage) Cask sample. Pretty floral nose with violet notes. Hint of boiled sweets/hard candy as well. Lively and fruity, the tannins well honed.
Touch of oak from the prise de bois but should settle. 
James Lawter. 

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

The combination of fresh, savory, spiced fruits, plums, mint and cherries is great from the get-go. Medium-bodied, soft, silky and pure, with a beautiful sweetness to fruits on the mid-palate, the wine ends with gentle polished kirsch and juicy plums. The wine is made from blending 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This is clearly a new level of quality for Joanin Becot. 92-94

Wine Advocate

90-92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

The 2020 Joanin Becot has a deep purple-black color and fragrant notions of Morello cherries, black raspberries, stewed plums and violets, with hints of cardamom and Sichuan pepper, plus a touch of forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is soft and juicy, delivering compelling freshness and a beautifully harmonious finish.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe5/12/2021

This is very spicy with lots of crushed sea salt and cloves. Dark fruit, chocolate and blackberries. Very round, yet chewy. A luxurious red from this appellation. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc.

Anthocyanes

92-94

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Nez éclatant, très cassis, des notes de mures et de fleurs. Bouche pleine, déliée, juteuse à souhait avec une sensation de calcaire en son milieu. Un toucher de bouche plus charnu que d'habitude. Aérien et frais, c'est une bouteille délicate et de garde moyenne. Absolument superbe.

Tastingbook.com

92

byMarkus Del Monegothe5/11/2021

Dark purple colour with violet hue and almost black core. Refined nose with aroma reminiscent of blackberries, ripe mulberries and discreet floral hints in the background. Subtle oak. On the palate well structured with ripe tannins, juicy fruit reminiscent of dark berries and hints of subltle oak in the background. Very charming with very good length. 

My Bettane + Desseauve

91-92

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Yvesbeck.wine

91-93

byYves Beckthe4/9/2021

Ce bouquet met son terroir brillamment en évidence ! quelle fougue, quelle authenticité; on la reconnait au travers des intenses notes crayeuses. Le vin ne manque néanmoins pas d'également révéler des nuances fruitées. En bouche le vin est fruité, juteux et de bonne ampleur. Il doit cette dernière à la puissance de ses tannins qui supportent l'ensemble du palais. Un vin sapide qui a du caratère et de la fraîcheur. 2024-2040.