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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Château Grand Corbin-Despagne is undoubtedly the best value for money in Saint-Émilion, with its 29 hectares located 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 success of the wine. This Saint-Émilion combines vigor, silkiness, aromatic distinction, and superb evolution over time. A tasting from 2016 back to 1947 allowed us to perfectly identify the style of the vintage, which has a finesse and harmony superior to many "modern" classified growths. As it evolves, it can resemble a great Pomerol in several vintages.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Aged in barrels and partially in amphorae (5%), this complex, long and dense wine offers a beautiful interpretation of the appellation. We particularly appreciate its open red fruit, its delicately spicy character, its frank and flavorful palate, endowed with silky tannins and a beautiful freshness. A classic from the region to (re)discover. 2027-2037

About the estate:

In 2019, this great wine has breath and energy, which respond to the clay soils. It has great aging potential. With more tension, texture, a hint of licorice, and peppery tannins, the 2018 is not quite ready yet but promises a bright future. The 2015 vintage, with its blood-red color, develops a richness of frank and powerful tannins with a stylish straightforwardness.

Vinous

About wine:

Grand Corbin Despagne 2020 is fabulous. Rich, dark, and full-bodied, the 2020 has extraordinary richness and tons of intensity. Blackberry jam, crème de cassis, cloves, lavender, and chocolate are all present in this sumptuous, full-bodied Saint-Émilion. This wine is beautifully crafted in every way. Impressive. 2028-2050

Le Figaro vins

About the estate:

The wines evoke red fruits and flowers, intense and complex, then evolving towards more spices. Finesse and smoothness characterize the palate. The tannins are velvety.

Terre de Vins

About wine:

The usual elegance of Grand-Corbin Despagne is evident in this vintage, with a more concentrated profile, ripe, full black fruit, peppery notes, and heady floral aromas. It is finely crafted and very indulgent. The finish is fresh.

Yves Beck

About wine:

The bouquet of Grand Corbin-Despagne is subtle and complex. It has no particular focus, other than its ability to reveal many facets, both in terms of fruity, spicy, and mineral notes. The wine has fleshy tannins, an incisive structure, and a fruity expression that evolves from the attack to the finish. A wine that is not afraid to show its temperament and tension, ideally wrapped up in the finesse and softness of Merlot. Juicy, fruity and persistent finish. What a great success! 2026-2045

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is fruity, rich, nicely defined, and offers pure fruit, a certain intensity, lovely pulpy/juicy fruit, as well as complexity, depth, and a certain power. There are notes of bright blueberry, violet and, more subtly, bright strawberry, combined with hints of crushed blackcurrant, juicy blackberry, lily, hints of zan, blueberry and subtle hints of cubeb pepper, vanilla and ripe almond. The palate is fruity, elegant, fresh and offers power (in delicacy), concentration (in finesse), a lovely fine grain, structure, depth, a slightly multi-layered aspect, good volume, precision, fine tension and richness (all under control). On the palate, this wine expresses notes of bright wild blackcurrant, pulpy blueberry and, more subtly, juicy plum, combined with hints of small black fruits, blueberry, strawberry, strawberry flowers, hints of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, blond tobacco, mocha and very subtle hints of graphite (in the background).  Good length. The tannins are precise, well-balanced, elegant, racy, and offer a certain mellowness. A beautifully indulgent wine! Congratulations.