Château Haut Brisson, 2020

"Coming from dismal yields of 12.5 hectoliters per hectare, the 2020 Château Haut-Brisson is shockingly good and another brilliant Right Bank that's going to represent a tremendous value. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in just 35% new French oak, it has a sensational perfume of red and black cherries, leafy tobacco, chocolate, lead pencil shavings, and liquid violet-like nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced, it has ultra-fine tannins, remarkable purity, and a great finish. This wine comes from an 18-hectare vineyard that was purchased by Peter Kwok in 1997, only to be sold in 2020 to Bordeaux native Stéphane Schinazi. The soils here are a mix of fine gravel and granular, quartz-rich silt atop a deep clay subsoil. The farming has been certified organic since 2010, vinification spans just over three weeks in stainless steel, and the wine sees malolactic fermentation in tank and four months on lees before being moved into 35% new French oak, 35% second-fill, and the balance in third-fill barrels."

"A linear and fine red with blueberries, lavender and hazelnut. Some black olives. Medium-bodied. Lovely tension and focus. Lots of harmony to this. Drink after 2025."