(2020) [96] The 2020 Château Monbousquet is lights-out good, offering a full-bodied, concentrated, opulent profile as well as notes of ripe black cherries, cassis, chocolate, and leafy herbs. With terrific purity, velvety tannins, and incredible richness as well as a remarkable sense of freshness, it's going to evolve for 15+ years in cold cellars.
(2020) [95] A lush wave of boysenberry, blackberry and black cherry reduction notes unfurls slowly over a refined spine of chalk, while sweet tobacco, violet, iris, licorice and apple wood notes fill in liberally. Everything stays in lockstep through the very long finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2027 through 2042.
(2010) [95] A lush, modern, style, with hyperdrive on the blueberry, loganberry and boysenberry fruit flavors. Nothing gets too heady though, as there's charcoal-studded grip, smoldering coffee grinds and roasted bay leaf notes all in the background for definition and further development with cellaring. Modern, yes, but firmly grounded in its terroir. Best from 2016 through 2035.
(2000) [89] Big and juicy, with a slightly barnyard character. This shows loads of fruit, with dark chocolate and berry. Meaty, rustic finish. Slightly too rustic to be outstanding. Best after 2006. 6,665 cases made.
(2020) [95] Very tight and linear with blackberries, chocolate and cedar. Medium- to full-bodied. Linear. Racy and pretty. Drinkable but better in three or four years.
(2010) [95] Great nose of spices, dried herbs, chocolate and coffee. Very intense nose. Full-bodied, with fabulous tannins and finesse. This is layered and rich yet very harmonious. Best Monbusquet ever. Try after 2018.
(2020) [91-93] The 2020 Monbousquet is a blend of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, coming in with an alcohol of 14.69% and a pH of 3.75. It is aging in French oak barriques, 50% new. With a deep purple-black color, it prances out of the glass with showy scents of crushed black plums, mulberries and Morello cherries, plus touches of dried Provence herbs, charcoal and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers expressive black and red berry layers, framed by plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a fragrant earth note.
(2010) [93] Deep garnet colored, the Monbousquet slides effortlessly out of the glass with seductive notes of baked plums, blackberry compote and dried mulberries plus hints of espresso, black olives and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firmly structured with chewy tannins and lively acidity framing the Rubenesque fruit, finishing long and savory.
(2000) [93] Although still youthful, I do not think the Monbousquet will develop much more complexity. It is a seductive, rich, generously endowed effort revealing plenty of spice box, herb, black currant, kirsch, espresso, and toasty oak characteristics in a decidedly modern, but opulent, fleshy style. Enjoy this endearing, long, velvety-textured St.-Emilion over the next decade.
(2010) [92] The Monbousquet has plenty of blackberry, boysenberry jam and fig aromas on the intense nose, well defined with hints of dried honey in the background. It improves with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, plenty of body and depth with multi-layered black fruit, tobacco and white pepper notes, leading to a slightly tarry, grippy finish. This could be a long-term proposition. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.
(2000) [92] Bright ruby-red. Roasted currant and black cherry scents complicated by sexy oak. At once chewy and silky in the mouth, with complex, fresh flavors of plum, redcurrant, vanilla, coffee, smoky oak and woodsy underbrush. Finishes sweet and long, with thoroughly ripe tannins. This was bottled in February of this year after 28 months in barrel; it wasn't too long ago that this wine received barely 18 months of elevage
(2020) [92] Perfumed and heady with blue fruits and bramble. Lean and straight, there’s a real austerity to this, serious liquorice on the palate, a touch dry, you get the feeling of heat and fruit. A little reserved right now; tense and serious, but has backbone and weight. It’s dark, savoury, coiled and tense, with drive and texture, displaying tobacco, graphite and an iron, mineral tang.
TWI
92pts
The Wine Independent
(2020) [92] The 2020 Monbousquet is deep garnet-purple in color. It trots out with flamboyant notes of plum preserves, blueberry compote, and licorice, leading to hints of dark chocolate, tar, and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate offers lovely freshness with firm, rounded tannins and plenty of juicy black fruits, finishing with a mineral lift.
Winery Notes
We are pleased to introduce you to our new exclusive release: 3 decades of Château Monbousquet.
A limited production of only 200 mixed 6 bottle-case, containing 2 bottles of 3 mythical vintages (2000-2010-2020) have been specially produced.
This limited release will allow Monbousquet lovers to enjoy one of Saint-Emilion’s most flamboyant clarets.
