Château Penin - Bordeaux Supérieur Grande Sélection 2020

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Patrick Carteyron is one of the leading figures in the vast Bordeaux appellation. He has made his Château Penin a benchmark across various appellations, wine styles, and vintages. The family estate has grown from 13 hectares in 1854 to 40 hectares today. The production of reds—and particularly the fine cuvées, Les Cailloux and Grande Sélection—takes place on a stony Quaternary terroir, the estate’s most noble. The more common sandy and clay soils are reserved for the production of delicious rosés and clairets. Year after year, the clairet remains “the” benchmark of this appellation. Here you’ll find a wide range of wines at every price point, all focused on fruit, quality tannins, and freshness, including charming, generous whites and rosés, and the famous clairet—as mentioned—with its ever-vibrant fruit, which has built the estate’s reputation. The reds are richly fruity and appealing, notably the ever-vibrant Grande-Sélection cuvée.

Decanter

About the wine:

A rich, fruity nose; smoky toast, black pepper, and black cherries—very lively and nuanced aromatically. Delicate and crisp, with a lively bite, but also featuring beautiful, chalky yet refined tannins that lend body and structure to the fresh red and black fruits. Plenty of licorice spice on the palate that settles on the edges, but this wine seems well-crafted and offers plenty to enjoy. Let it decant for at least an hour. Easy to drink, it is balanced and refined. Produced by Patrick Carteyron, representing the fifth generation of winemakers. Made from a selection of 15 hectares of his finest old-vine Merlot terroirs, aged for one year in oak barrels. Enjoy with a Sunday roast beef. 2023–2030

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Very harmonious and elegant, this wine offers all the qualities of a fine Bordeaux: light oak notes paired with ripe fruit, good body, supple tannins, and a fresh, minty finish. Best enjoyed while the fruit is still prominent. 2022–2026

About the estate:

One of the most reliable names in regional appellations, with several Favorites its credit. A 50-hectare estate situated on gravelly soil on the left bank of the Dordogne, across from Saint-Émilion. Founded by the Carteyron family in 1855, it has been managed since 1982 by Patrick, an oenologist.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Rated HVE3, this wine is one of the finest examples of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur. Penin is refining its range by focusing on limestone and gravel soils, while retaining the finesse of a fruit profile that appeals to a wide audience. Under the "Natur'" label, the estate produces a rosé, a clairet, and a red, pushing the boundaries of classic Bordeaux style.

Wine Enthusiast