Tronquoy 2020

The 2020 Tronquoy-Lalande puts in the surprise performance of the tasting with a quite stellar showing. It has superb mineralité on the nose, very well defined and full of vigor—perhaps the most sophisticated within the flight of Saint-Estèphe wines. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. It's a "solid" and structured wine, but it also conveys delineation and tension toward the hoisin-tinged finish. Very persistent on the finish, this is a class act. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2030-2060)

Tasted several times over the last 12 months, this is the best Tronquoy to date. Deep purple in the glass, the nose here has an immediate x-factor to draw you in, layering cool blackcurrant and dark cherry fruit with clever graphite, smoke and savoury tones. The palate is direct with the purity of fruit bursting through with breadth and depth. Layers of blackcurrant are matched with softer blueberry tones, together with a brambly fullness that brings notes of fruit and hedgerow together. The tannins are tight and fine-grained, driving the structure without dominating the fruit. Sparks of acidity keep everything fresh and chiselled, working with cleverly-judged oak to give an almost saline, moreish quality to the fruit. A brilliant wine regardless of price, but when the value is taken into account this is a simply fantastic deal. A serious wine that you can just about approach with a decant, but which will really hit its stride from a decade old.

Seriously impressive, close to 2016 in feel, richly texured, combining the power of St Estèphe with reserve and pared-back elegance, a ton of black fruits. It remains tight on the finish for now, but the tannins are confident rather than restrictive, suggesting long ageing potential. Higher Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, partly because of the mildew that impacted the Merlot, and partly because the Cabernet Sauvignon reacted so well to the vintage conditions. 3.74ph, harvest September 11 to 28.

Tasted blind. Black core, crimson rim. Dark, intense and savoury aroma of pure black fruits. Thick tannins are a bit too dominant on the palate, obscuring the fruit for now. Firm and long but could do with a tad more freshness on the finish. (JH)

Coming from a vintage compared to 2016 and 2019 by the château, the 2020 Château Tronquoy-Lalande checks in as 52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, hitting 13.5% alcohol. Beautiful cassis, plums, damp earth, and chocolate notes all emerge from this beauty, which is a layered, medium to full-bodied, gorgeously textured Saint-Estèphe. The tannins are present yet polished, and it has a great mid-palate and outstanding length. I'd wager this is one of the finest vintages of this cuvée to date. It has the purity of fruit and opulence to shine even today, yet I suspect it won't hit prime time for 7-8 years, and it should have 20 years of prime drinking at that point. 2030 - 2050

Gorgeous milk chocolate aroma on the nose, alongside brambly, ripe blackcurrant and black cherry. Plump fruit alongside marked acidity in the mouth, with a crushed stone aspect to the finish. Svelte, easy, pristine yet deep, with serious dark fruit and a grippy end.