Le Gay 2020 (750ML)

98 JS / 96 WCI / 94-96 WA / 95 VM / 94 JD / 94 JA / 94 DE / 94 FS / 17 JR

#44 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of France 2023
#62 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2023

So much black mushroom to the dark fruit, such as blackberries and brambleberries. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, yet refined and polished, with lovely tannins and fantastic typicity and complexity. It’s so multidimensional and structured, yet there’s a weightless character and personality to it. Thought-provoking and sophisticated. Real Pomerol. Drink after 2028, but a great experience already. - James Suckling

Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Le Gay erupts from the glass with scents of molten licorice and dark chocolate, giving way to a tantalizing core of baked black cherries, prunes and blackberry preserves, plus a hint of cardamom. The full-bodied palate is rich and decadent, featuring layers of black fruits and exotic spices with a firm yet velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. A hedonic powerhouse! - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

The 2020 Le Gay was an impressive Pomerol when tasted from barrel. Now, in bottle, it has a wonderful, exquisitelydefined bouquet with perfumed blackberry and briary, incense and light pencil lead aromas. It's quite understated for Le Gay, yet blossoms in the glass. The palate is mediumbodied with quite grainy tannins. Well-balanced, fresh, hints of licorice and brine towards a very saline finish. There is an edginess to this wine that I like, but it needs several years in bottle. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

A surprisingly up-front, soft, almost mid-weight effort from this château, the 2020 Château Le Gay offers a pretty perfume of both red and black fruits as well as loads of flowers, spice, leafy herbs, and incense. Medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has polished tannins, terrific balance, sweet oak, and outstanding length. This exceedingly elegant, seamless beauty lacks the density and concentration of the top wines in the vintage but is nevertheless a gorgeous, classic Pomerol that will evolve for two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

Coffee bean, blackberry and cocoa powder, with grip, confidence and powerful slate crushed rock. A yield of 35hl/ha, vinified in new oak barrels. Henri Parent owner (he also, by the way, bought an organic truffle orchard in the Dordogne in this vintage), Michel Rolland consultant. Expect levels of Cabernet Franc to rise over the next few years. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Coiled with tension and focus. The elements feel well worked with an appealing, grainy grip to the tannins, dark fruit and perfumed nuances. Feels really quite glamorous and heady. Structured and concentrated no doubt, but with a nice blackcurrant juiciness and well integrated wood. Long finish. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter