2020, Château Mauvesin-Barton, AOC MOULIS-EN-MÉDOC

Bordeaux Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot.

The 2020 Mauvesin Barton is silky, gracious and full of charm. Sweet floral aromatics and bright red berry fruit give this mid-weight, understated Moulis tons of immediacy and appeal. Such a pretty wine. 89-91 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

Melanie Barton has now been in charge at Mauvesin-Barton for 10 years, and there is a real feeling of the wine having found its voice - a gentle, fruit-forward Moulis with finesse if not a huge amount of power. Delicate with vibrancy, plenty of blackberry fruits with well-defined but soft tannins, they have really done a great job in the vintage, a value pick and I can't remember tasting a better example of this wine during en primeur. They suffered badly from frost in 2021. 92 Jane Anson, Decanter. 

Dried herbs, fragrant floral touches and sweet, chocolate-edged red fruits. Round and generous from the start, crisp and forward though delicate and graceful, not the most plush or exuberant take, this is softly nuanced with juicy and lively, sweet and sour strawberry and raspberry fruit with a gently creaminess and soft salty core. I like the combination with some bitter toasted, coffee touches on the finish. 92 Georgina Hindle, Decanter.

Drinking Window: 2025 - 2035