Chateau Le Crock 2020

Solid, with a plump core of dark plum and boysenberry notes lined with singed vanilla and violet. The finish is underscored by a subtle chalky mineral note. Approachable now. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2033.

Beautiful texture, smooth yet grippy with tannins that have a grainy element as well as supporting the ripe black fruit. Feels restrained in that they haven't pushed too far, it has a sense of grace while still being powerful and concentrated. I love the acidity and energy to this, it's stylish and charming while still being reserved. Tannins do have the final say, coating the mouth with a pleasant chalkiness, suggesting this needs a few years before it settles and fully opens, but lovely promise here.

Pretty nose of chocolate, nutmeg, dark berries, orange zest and praline. It’s full-bodied, firm and textured, with firm and broad tannins. Lots packed in, with seductive sweet-spice character to the dark fruit. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 7% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2025.

The 2020 Le Crock is dense, rich and super-concentrated. It’s a style that works so well for this wine. Ripe red plum, tobacco, cedar, mint, dried herbs, blood orange and white pepper all run through this gorgeous, wonderfully inviting Saint-Estèphe. Savory and earthy notes frame the finish very nicely. The 2020 is an absolute delight.

Medium-bodied, soft, creamy and fresh, with layers of ripe, polished red currants, blackberries, spice, chocolate and a sprig of fresh mint at every turn, this will be delicious on release and will also offer additional layers of complexity with a few years of age. Drink from 2023–2038.

Deep dark ruby, purple reflections, broad rim. Delicate herbal savouriness, mineral-scented dark wild berry fruit, subtle cassis, blueberry, candied orange zest. Medium body, a hint of leafy savouriness, freshly structured, a vegetal touch on the finish, dries out a bit.

Brought up in 30% new barrels and a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2020 Château Le Crock is one of the finest vintages I've tasted, offering brilliant purity in its darker red and black fruits as well as notes of leather, tobacco, and earth. With medium to full body, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish, it's a classy, elegant, layered Saint-Estèphe that's going to evolve for two decades. I love it.

Restrained opening, delicate black-berry contours paired with clove and tobacco leaf, with sloe juice and tarragon in the background. On the dense palate, soft texture, slightly powdery extract, a generous load of tannins and a tightly woven body. In the focused finish, the St.-Estèphe closes down and reveals little. Everything is in its right place here, and patience is required. Drinking window pushed back.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: deep, dense, dark bouquet, cassis, black berries, fine woods, currants, smoke. Powerful, aromatic palate with dark fruit, pronounced aromatics, muscular, dense structure, plenty of fine tannin, long, powerful, aromatic finish. Has room to improve.

Deep, dense, dark bouquet: cassis, black berries, fine woods, currants, smoke. Powerful, aromatic palate with dark fruit, bold aromatics, a muscular, dense structure, plenty of fine tannins, and a long, powerful, aromatic finish. Can still improve. 17/20 2027 - 2048

Same family as Léoville Poyferré, the Cuveliers, in their hands since 1903. A seriously enjoyable wine, with dark brambled, damson and blackberry fruits, fresh mint leaf, plenty of graphite, crayon, serious and structured but with juice. Great value, one to track down. Winemaker Isabelle Davin, consultant Michel Rolland, 30% new oak, pH 3.76, yield 34 hl/ha.

Le Crock 2020 is deep garnet-purple in color. It jumps from the glass with gregarious notions of baked black plums, boysenberry preserves, and cassis, plus suggestions of spice cake, clove oil, and dark chocolate, with a touch of menthol. The medium-bodied palate bursts with bright, expressive black fruit flavors, supported by soft tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy.

89-90

The 2020 is all about charm and fruit, with a silky palate and a lovely, enveloping richness. A solid wine with fine potential that seems capable of competing with certain classified growths. One to forget in the cellar for a few years.

Wild blackberry, highlighted by floral notes, creates a refined and elegant nose, full of delicacy. The palate opens on the power of the fruit—vibrant—with a silky texture. The tannins are already perfectly integrated, underscoring the density of a wine balanced by the crunch of the fruit and a very gentle finish.

Le Crock 2020 stands out for its diversity and finesse. The bouquet first reveals nuances of blackcurrant and blueberry, followed by delicate notes from ageing and, finally, classic hints of graphite and cedar. Dense and precise, the wine has powerful tannins that are in tune with the freshness of its acidic structure. A wine with vigor, tension and persistence. A fine achievement.