JS94-95: Chewy and very tannic with a solid depth of dark fruit, showing blackberry and currant character. Full and powerful. Real structure here.

JD93-95: Another gem of an estate in Margaux that should be on everyone’s radar is Château Marquis D'Alesme. Their 2020 offers wonderful purity as well as notes of cassis, darker berries, violets, and toasted spice, with a touch of chocolaty oak in the background. More medium-bodied, beautifully textured, and fruit-loaded, it has terrific tannins (especially for this vintage), notable mid-palate density, and loads of charm. It’s well worth seeking out in the vintage.

VM91-93: The 2020 Marquis d’Alesme was picked from 23 September to 2 October, a comparatively late start to the picking, 65% undergoing malo in barrel, matured in 50% new oak. The bouquet is very ripe with copious black cherries, raspberry preserve and cassis scents, not quite as delineated and poised as I found the 2019 last year. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, decent acidity, mainly black fruit laced with cedar and white pepper.