2020, Château La Pointe, AOC POMEROL

Bordeaux Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Franc.

The 2020 La Pointe has a well-defined, quite mineral-driven bouquet that opens nicely in the glass. Black cherries, raspberry and subtle violet scents, gaining intensity with aeration. The bottle opened at the château with Eric Monneret shows more graphite/pencil lead elements. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, linear in style, fresh with a vibrant saline finish. I appreciate the manner in which it fans out. Subtle but satisfying, this is a sophisticated Pomerol that adroitly expresses its sense of place. 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.

The 2020 La Pointe is a rich, boisterous Pomerol to drink now and over the next handful of years. A blast of dark red fruit, cedar, tobacco, menthol, liquorice and chocolate makes a strong opening impression. La Pointe is not terribly complex, but it more than makes up for that with its open-knit, exuberant personality. 90 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

Deep purple-black in colour, the 2020 La Pointe offers up notes of baked black and red plums, cherry preserves and fresh blackberries, plus wafts of crushed rocks, underbrush and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of ripe black fruit flavours, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and earthy. 91-93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate.

Clarity and depth to the blueberry and raspberry fruit, they have done an excellent job of working with a hot dry vintage to still deliver this estate's trademark charm. Located on soils with plenty of gravel that needed careful attention, and yet this delivers a juicy, fresh core with finely shaped tannins and a moreish salinity on the finish. An excellent success. A higher percentage of Cabernet Franc than in the past, as was true also for the 2019 vintage and will be going forward. La Pointe makes wines that are often not sufficiently recognised within the starry appellation of Pomerol, and yet are consistently enjoyable and full of enticing charm. 3.63pH. A yield of 38hl/ha. 93 Jane Anson, Decanter.

Blackcurrant, milk chocolate and floral scents - lovely expression, alive and forward. Stylish and compelling, this hits the mark straight away, bold and tangy, with a sharpness to the fruit profile from high acidity. Tannins give a layered effect with detail and precision and you can feel the sculpting. Juicy and alive, there's great energy and charm, upfront and forward, shining out of the glass. Generous and almost sweet but then straightens and tightens on the finish, giving a tongue scraping clean element with salty, minerality, liquorice and oak spice. The 2019 is more cool and classic, but this will appeal to all. Showcases the talent and hard work done at the estate for the past 15 years. 94 Georgina Hindle, Decanter.

Drinking Window: 2027 - 2049