Château Marquis d'Alesme 2020

Juicy and upfront, this is deep and rich with a dominant aspect of liquorice, salty stones, dark chocolate and cola, giving a slightly savoury and heady character with the fruit sitting a touch in the background. Excellent weight on the palate; I like the firm structure and the integrated tannins. Serious and confident, I love the energy and the texture: great density in the mouth, not too thick, with concentration matched by acidity, and excellent freshness. Juicy and balanced. Quite tannic overall, but with lovely life and lift on the finish. Well worked.

Tasted blind. Very dark with a black core. Dark, spicy black fruit. Deep and inviting. Firm and chewy, thickly textured but smooth, a bit flat on the finish but easy. And fresh enough overall. (JH)

The 2020 Marquis d'Alesme is matured in 50% new oak and was bottled a little later than other châteaux. It has a crisp bouquet with redcurrant, white-tipped strawberry, cedar and crushed violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine and quite saturated tannins, mainly black fruit tinged with spice, smooth in texture with a touch of piquancy toward the finish. It is persistent and it blossoms in the glass. Very fine.

Lilacs, roses, licorice, espresso, spice and wild cherries, along with a hint of tobacco leaf, shoot from the glass. On the palate, the wine is supple, creamy, polished and generous; the fruit is full-bodied, fresh and rich, leaving layers of perfectly ripe plums and cherries, with a touch of chocolate on the finish. Drink from 2024–2050.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, deep core, delicate rim brightening. Delicate herbal savouriness, ripe plums, dark wild berries, hints of nougat and liquorice in the background. Medium complexity, ripe red cherries, ripe tannins, good freshness, a lively food companion, a bit dry on the finish, still needs time. (2030-2055).

The 2020 Château Marquis D'Alesme Becker showed well, and this tiny Margaux estate continues to produce fabulous wines under the helm of Marjolaine de Coninck. Based on 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it has a juicy, medium-bodied, round, even sexy style that carries lots of cassis and assorted darker, blue fruits, notes of spicy wood, flowers, and violet, soft tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. Coming from a mix of gravelly, sandy soils and aged in 50% new French oak, this beauty hit 14% natural alcohol (no doubt helped by the large Merlot component) and is going to benefit from just a few years of bottle age. It's going to see its 20th birthday in fine form.

A don't-miss wine, with wonderfully powerful fruit delivered with class and character. The abundant tannins have a slate-edged grip, and the black cassis and bilberry fruit sit alongside waves of oyster shell, liquorice, sage, and black pepper. It delivers depth and personality, with effortless Margaux finesse. Harvest from September 23 to October 2. Marjolaine de Coninck, technical director; owner Nathalie Perrodo.

90-91

Very inviting, Marquis d’Alesme stands out for its harmony between maturation nuances and ripe fruit notes. Very precise and indulgent, the wine is elegant, dense, and supported by smooth tannins. These give it breadth and ensure good aging potential… although given its inviting character, it will surely be enjoyed sooner!

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Marquis d'Alesme opens with vibrant notes of crushed black currants, Morello cherries, and mulberries, plus wafts of violets, star anise, and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is both elegant and intense with velvety tannins and compelling tension, finishing long and perfumed.