SF | Saturnine in colour and unmistakeably complex of disposition, this is a fine, balanced Baron, the tannins, as expected, robust and impressive, stentorian even, but very fine-grained and refined. The fruit character shares this delineation, and is matched by the poised acidity. There is an elegant lift here, seldom encountered at the Baron's court, a result of focus on only the oldest vines which are located located just outside the Chateau. 95
AJ | Dense, opaque, saturated black-red. Wonderful aromas: fresh, fine, lifted and articulate (the inspiration of the vintage), but with much else besides, in terms of citrus, fermentative and countryside allusions that are already apparent, without waiting for the half-decade which other wines require to grow to similar articulacy. Great aromatic breadth and wealth here. Dense, taut and searching on the palate, with almost painful concentration; surely one of this Medoc's most concentrated wines in this vintage. (As such, it is a wager against time: when does drinkabiilty take over the relay from concentration?) This rather edgy vintage adds to the general sense of drama. Definitely a long-haul pick, so taut and tight is the palate; for the time being, it is the aromas that bring and give most. But a very impressive, almost daunting example of what 2020 has brought.Drink Dates: 2028 - 2045.