Château Grand Corbin-Despagne Saint-Emilion 2020 - Grand Cru Classé BIO

Château Grand Corbin-Despagne is undoubtedly the best value in Saint-Émilion, with its 29 hectares situated on a terroir dominated by sandy soils. The owner, François Despagne, has worked tirelessly to achieve this result, with a commitment to organic farming that contributes to the wine’s success. This Saint-Émilion combines vigor, silkiness, aromatic distinction, and superb aging potential. A tasting ranging from the 2016 vintage back to 1947 allowed us to fully appreciate the wine’s style, which possesses a finesse and harmony superior to many “modern-style” classified growths. As it ages, it can resemble a great Pomerol in several vintages.

Aged in barrels and partially in amphorae (5%), this complex, full-bodied, and dense wine offers a wonderful expression of the appellation. You’ll particularly appreciate its open, vibrant red fruit, its delicately spicy character, and its clean, flavorful palate, featuring silky tannins and lovely freshness. A classic of the region worth (re)discovering. 2027–2037

In 2019, this great wine displays vitality and energy, which are a reflection of the clay soils. It has great aging potential. With more focus on its tension, texture, a hint of licorice, and peppery tannins, the 2018 is not quite fully developed yet but promises a bright future. The 2015, with its deep, blood-red hue, develops a richness of bold, powerful tannins with a refined, structured character.

The 2020 Grand Corbin Despagne is fabulous. Rich, dark, and full-bodied, the 2020 boasts extraordinary depth and tremendous intensity. Blackberry jam, blackcurrant cream, clove, lavender, and chocolate come together in this sumptuous, full-bodied Saint-Émilion. This wine is magnificently crafted in every respect. Impressive. 2028–2050

The wines offer intense and complex notes of red berries and flowers, which then evolve into more spicy tones. The palate is characterized by finesse and smoothness. The tannins are velvety.

Grand-Corbin Despagne’s characteristic elegance is evident in this vintage, which features a more concentrated profile, rich, ripe dark fruit, peppery notes, and an intoxicating floral character. It is finely crafted and very indulgent. The finish is fresh.

Grand Corbin-Despagne’s bouquet is characterized by subtlety and complexity. It does not have a single defining feature, aside from its ability to reveal numerous facets—whether fruity, spicy, or mineral notes. The wine boasts full-bodied tannins, a crisp structure, and a fruity character that evolves from the attack through the finish. A wine that isn’t afraid to show its character—or rather, its tension—which is perfectly balanced by the finesse and smoothness of the Merlot. The finish is juicy, fruity, and lingering. What a wonderful success! 2026–2045

The nose is fruity, rich, and beautifully defined, offering pure fruit, a certain intensity, lovely pulpy and juicy fruit, as well as complexity, depth, and a certain power. It features notes of vibrant blueberry, violet, and, more subtly, vibrant strawberry, combined with hints of crushed blackcurrant, juicy blackberry, and lily, along with hints of zan, blueberry, and subtle notes of cuben pepper, vanilla, and ripe almond. On the palate, it is fruity, elegant, and fresh, offering power (with delicacy), concentration (with finesse), a lovely fine texture, structure, depth, a slightly multi-layered character, good volume, precision, a subtle tension, and richness (all in perfect balance). On the palate, this wine expresses notes of vibrant wild blackcurrant, pulpy blueberry, and, more subtly, juicy plum, combined with hints of black berries, blueberries, strawberries, and strawberry blossoms, along with hints of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, blond tobacco, mocha, and very subtle hints of graphite (in the background).  Good length. The tannins are precise, well-integrated, elegant, and refined, offering a certain smoothness. A delightfully indulgent wine! Congratulations