Best Sauternes and Barsac 2020 wines tasted en primeur
Jane Anson presents an overview of the 2020 vintage in Sauternes and Barsac revealing her highest-scoring wines and top-value picks.
Sauternes 2020 and Barsac 2020
Average yield: 12hl/ha (last year 14hl/ha)
- 8hl/ha at ChâteauBastor Lamontagne for example,
- 6.5hl/ha at ChâteauBroustet,
- 6hl/ha at Clos Haut Peyraguey,
- 3hl/ha at Châteaude Fargues.
What to expect
Another tough year, with very low yields after the dry summer, and a difficult harvest where patience was required. 10mm of rain in July,; 50mm in August.
The beginning of September was so dry that no botrytis was able to form, and concentration happened through drying of the grapes (passerillage).
Things got better with the 70mm falling in late September – but then storm Alex in early October threatened too much rain and dilution. It meant a very short window for harvest, and some difficult decisions.
Some producers, such as Sigalas-Rabaud decided not to make a first wine at all in the vintage, others have produced tiny yields. meaning you can expect a range of styles, with the best showing a knife-edge balance and aromatic intensity.
And as if things weren’t tough enough, these appellations have been badly affected by frost for the 2021 vintage (Climens at 100%, Doisy Vedrines at 80%). So once again I would say support these wines if you possibly can.
Top Sauternes 2020 and Barsac 2020 picks:
- Châteaude Fargues,
- Château Coutet,
- Château Doisy-Daene,
Value picks:
See the top-scoring Sauternes 2020and Barsac 2020 en primeur wines
Search all Bordeaux 2020 en primeur ratings published so far
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Château de Fargues, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Aniseed, liquorice, focus, flesh and precision and once again this is hard to fault. It has a silky, seductive, fleshy texture that widens out at...
2020
Château de FarguesSauternes
Château Suduiraut, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Full of pleasure, silky and richly textured, easy to sink into but carefully measured at the same time, addings its layers of orange peel, bloody...
2020
Château SuduirautSauternes
Château Doisy-Daëne, Sauternes, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Rich and powerful, this is a seductive Barsac that has a great balance of acidity and sweetness, nothing too over the top, full of lime...
2020
Château Doisy-DaëneSauternes
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Burnt amber colour. There is a lot of intensity to this wine, a ton of orange zest, powerful truffle and apricot purée flavours and spliced...
2020
Château Lafaurie-PeyragueySauternes
Château Doisy-Védrines, Sauternes, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Powerful fleshy exotic fruits - the juice comes in from the first moment and doesn't let up, ensuring the apricot and mango fruits are...
2020
Château Doisy-VédrinesSauternes
Château Coutet, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Bright, yellow gold colour, with citrus, apricot, pineapple and a ton of mango fruits on the palate. Silky texture with spikes of lime juice bringing...
2020
Château CoutetSauternes
Château Guiraud, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
This is hugely appealing. Fleshy and exotic, with saffron and cinnamon, luscious and rich in a way that is a little atypical for the signature...
2020
Château GuiraudSauternes
Château Broustet, Sauternes, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
This has bitter almond on the edges and an attractive blood orange feel overall. They have done a great job of finding focus and precision...
2020
Château BroustetSauternes
Château d'Arche, Sauternes, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Tarte tatin and baked nectarine flavours, this is concentrated and powerful, with plenty of truffle, saffron and cinnamon, and a zest-filled mouthwatering finish. The concentration...
2020
Château d'ArcheSauternes
Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Attractive, extremely silky and fleshy with deep apricot and nectarine. Has plenty of bright fresh fruits, intense and powerful. A yield of 6hl/ha, 30% new...
2020
Clos Haut-PeyragueySauternes
Château La Tour Blanche, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
This was still on the lees when tasted, but full of super attractive orange zest and saffron flavours, plenty of depth and concentration, as you...
2020
Château La Tour BlancheSauternes
Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Deep, burnished gold in colour. Bright and clean on the attack, this is good quality, with lemon zest flavours and silky in texture overall. ...
2020
Château de Rayne-VigneauSauternes
Château Raymond-Lafon, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Dark gold in colour, with excellent bitter orange peel, clementines and grapefruit dominating the palate. Residual sugar 137 g/l. TA 3.85 g/l. 3.78pH.
2020
Château Raymond-LafonSauternes
