Chateau Meyney 2020

Restrained yet very promising, complex aromatics; compact attack, fleshy mid-palate over particularly firm, first-class tannins, great length; yet another excellent “unclassified” wine from Saint-Estèphe.

Solidly built, with lilac, red currant and mulled damson plum notes that mix well, all held by a thin but tensile iron note through the middle, which then extends a mouthwatering feel on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2035. 17,688 cases made, 570 cases imported.

Lovely aromatic expression, floral and richly scented with ripe black cherry and salty blueberry. Cool and charming, this makes an impact straight away with a push of ripe, gently chewy tannins which expand and coat the mouth. More expansive and less narrow than some from this appellation at this point. Feels a bit more approachable but still with structure and push. Lots of freshness, wide, minty and salty. Nuanced, savoury and satisfying.

Attractive aromas of ripe dark berries with dark spices, walnut, chocolate nibs and bark. Medium- to full-bodied with a dense, velvety texture and plush, fine-grained tannins. Very textural and creamy with a deep core of ripe dark fruit and a succulent finish. Try after 2025.

The 2020 Meyney turned out beautifully. Fresh, vibrant and full of character, the 2020 impresses with its energy and delineation. Dark cherry, rose petal, blood orange, sage, mint and white pepper all race out of the glass. The 2020 is bold and yet refined. There is certainly plenty to admire.

Flowers, dark cherries, blackberries, Asian spices and espresso greet you right away on the nose. Rich, ripe, supple and lush, the wine is polished, fresh, and offers layers of fruit-filled pleasure with every sip. Give this a few years of age and it promises to really hit the spot. Drink from 2025–2045.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, faint ochre brightening on the rim. Ripe plums, black cherries, slightly tobacco-backed herbal spice, a hint of nougat, smoky, some graphite. Juicy, red-fruit nuances of cherries, integrated, ripe tannins, mineral and persistent, soft salty touch on the finish, fruity aftertaste, versatile, has ageing potential, still needs some time.

Dark garnet with a purple hue. Youthful aromas offering wild berries, cassis, plum, some herbal notes, mild oak and tobacco. Fine density and freshness with ripe extract, darker fruit flavours with mild toast and oak presence, a rich tannic backbone, youthful but ripe extract adding freshness with good purity of fruit and a long lingering finish. Still youthful but well built for long ageing.

The 2020 Château Meyney is a solid step up, with more elegance and finesse, as well as structure. Giving up medium-bodied aromas and flavors of darker currants, black cherries, classy oak, tobacco leaf, and damp earth, it has terrific overall balance, building, fine-grained tannins, and a great finish. It has some accessibility today yet will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: (52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot) Deep, dense, dark, complex, finely creamy, mineral bouquet; black cassis, plum, licorice, fine woods, currants. Dense, powerful, aromatic, masculine palate with plenty of fine tannins, a tightly knit, finely muscled structure, varied, dense, dark aromatics, dense, velvety fruit, very long, powerful, fresh finish.

(52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot) Deep, dense, dark, complex bouquet with a fine creamy, mineral edge; black cassis, plums, licorice, noble woods, currants. Dense, powerful, aromatic, masculine palate with plenty of fine tannin, a tightly woven, finely muscular structure, varied, dense, dark aromatics, dense, velvety fruit, and a very long, powerful, fresh finish. 18/20 2027 - 2050

The 2020 Meyney is deep garnet-purple in color. It rolls up with ready-for-business notes of crushed blackcurrants and plum preserves, plus hints of wild sage, damp soil, and charcoal. The medium-bodied palate is uncomplicated and refreshing with soft, approachable tannins and a mineral-laced finish.

91-92

The 2020 follows in the footsteps of the very solid 2019, and the wine is firmly built yet also very refined, finding its balance. It has impressive depth and a beautiful definition of tannins that come together harmoniously on the finish.

Power and fleshiness define the nose, opening with notes of black berries and ground coffee, accented by a touch of rose petals. The same power carries through on the palate, highlighted by wild blackberry, a balsamic hint, and a structure with beautiful acidity. The finish will gain length over time.

As time goes by, Meyney increasingly stands out as an obvious benchmark of St-Estèphe—something we’ve known for a long time, but it’s worth repeating! The purity and freshness of the fruit provide a solid foundation, carried seamlessly across the palate and through the structure to the very finish. What character and clarity in this linear, powerful, harmonious, and persistent wine!

92–94. Barrel Sample. This estate has produced a densely textured wine, rich in tannins and packed with dark, concentrated black fruits. There is a muscular character, structured and with fine promise for long-term aging.