Château Meyney - Saint-Estèphe 2020

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Acquired by CA Grands Crus in 2004, Meyney is a little gem of Médoc architecture, prized as much for its location as for the quality of its wines. The approximately 50 hectares surrounding the château, situated on a ridge of siliceous gravel and deep blue clay along the banks of the Gironde, provide an ideal environment for Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines have regained the luster of their heyday. They possess excellent aging potential. A must-try.

Decanter

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

True to form, this vintage delivers a beautifully crafted 2020, elegant in its deep, glossy black color and in its complex bouquet of dark fruit, smoke, and licorice. On the palate, it is full-bodied, smooth, and creamy, supported by tannins of real finesse. It has a bright future ahead. 2027–2033

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the wine:

The 2020 vintage follows in the footsteps of the very robust 2019, and the wine is well-structured, yet also very refined and well-balanced. It has great depth and beautifully defined tannins that harmonize on the finish.

About the estate:

This wine is undoubtedly one of the best “unclassified” wines in the Médoc. It benefits from a remarkable terroir on the banks of the Gironde and is expertly managed by the teams at CA Grands Crus (Crédit Agricole), now led by Anne le Naour. A vineyard restructuring plan has been implemented, and the most recent vintages are comparable to the estate’s legendary 1961, 1986, and 1989 vintages. Meyney develops rather slowly and is a true long-distance runner; it reaches its peak after a good ten years.

Wine Enthusiast

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2020 Meyney has turned out to be magnificent. Fresh, vibrant, and full of character, it impresses with its energy and finesse. Black cherry, rose petal, blood orange, sage, mint, and white pepper come through beautifully. This 2020 vintage is both bold and refined. It offers plenty to admire. 2027–2040

James Suckling

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A pure and lively nose, refined and precise, with notes of perfectly ripe summer red fruits and aromatic herbs, balanced by a hint of salinity that counteracts the fruit’s sweetness. Stunningly harmonious on the palate, soothing like a lullaby. A beautiful balance of fruit and flowers, delicacy and power. This wine is gaining in quality and finesse. 2023–2048

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What serenity and confidence in the 2020 Meyney! It must be said that it has been in top form for some time now… this wine will transport you to unexpected realms of pleasure! The harmony between fruity nuances, spices, minerality, and oak notes is delightful and highlights the wine’s complexity. Dense and well-defined, Meyney boasts velvety, precise tannins that offer a discreet yet oh-so-effective power! They’ve managed to do just the right thing with it: let it shine without overdoing it. Subtlety and finesse—that’s exactly what 2020 needs. Bravo to the whole team! 2026–2045

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The wine has a deep ruby color with subtle purple hues. The nose is fragrant, delicately oaky (especially on the initial nose), and spicy. It expresses notes of toasted wood, toasted almond, coffee, a hint of caramel, as well as a refined spiciness (clove, vanilla, licorice, ground gray pepper, crushed coriander seeds), combined with a subtle sweetness of dark chocolate. The fruit aromas are distinct and slightly tart: notes of fresh blackcurrant, blueberry, crushed raspberry, morello cherry, and wild strawberry, along with hints of dried mint, rosemary, bay leaf, violet, and lily in the background. On the palate, the wine offers a rich, concentrated, and ripe fruitiness, harmoniously balanced with powerful tannins. It expresses flavors of fresh and jam-like wild strawberries, ripe morello cherries, wild blackberries, blackcurrant (with a hint of crème de cassis), and prune cream, combined with rich, savory notes of cocoa, dark chocolate, cloves, licorice, cinnamon (in the background), toasted vanilla, as well as floral notes of dried rose, fresh violet, and wildflowers, complemented by the freshness of mint and rosemary. The finish is long and fragrant, with the wine’s spicy, rich, and warm bouquet. Beautiful tannic structure and acidity. A powerful, deep, and refined wine with aging potential.