2020 Cotes de Bordeaux are just great! They offer some of the best value wines in all of Bordeaux, not just the Right Bank. These stunning wines blend not only value but style. 2020 Cotes de Bordeaux at their best are ripe, silky, concentrated, pure, opulent wines. With character and style, they can compete with several famous names from St. Emilion. And yet, they sell for quite fair prices.
2020 Cotes de Castillon, 2020 Cotes de Blaye, 2020 Cotes de Bordeaux, and 2020 Cotes de Francs as well as the other Cotes appellations all made gorgeous wines that in most cases can be enjoyed in their youth, yet the best can age for 15 more years with ease.
For details on the 2020 Bordeaux growing season and harvest, as well as producer quotes 2020 Bordeaux Growing Season and Harvest Report
2020 Cotes de Bordeaux are wines all Bordeaux lovers should seek out as you can see from my tasting notes below.
All of the following 2020 Cotes de Bordeaux wines were tasted in my home office in non-blind conditions.
2020 dAiguilhe – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Quite floral on the nose with earthy red fruits, forest floor and oceanic notes. On the palate, the wine is silky, pure, fresh, vibrant and juicy. There is length and complexity with a cool salty touch to the tannins that remain there from the mid-palate through to the finish. Blending 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. 93-95 Pts
2020 dAiguilhe Querre – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, plush and polished, with sweet, fresh, juicy plums, cherries and chocolate on the palate and in the finish. This will be just perfect to enjoy on release. 88-90 Pts
2020 dArce – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Plummy, lush, round and ripe, you find licorice, dark cocoa, flowers and wet earth on the nose and palate. Sweet, ripe and fruity, the medium-bodied wine is soft, fresh, refined and vibrant. You will be able to enjoy this with just a year or two of aging. The wine is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. 90-92 Pts
2020 Alcee – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Dark in color, this hedonistic treat is loaded with all the ripe sweet plums, licorice, crushed rocks, wet earth, spice and cherries you could ask for. Richly textured, lush, silky, velvety, medium-bodied and fresh, with a long, intense finish that just keeps on going with notes of spice, black plums, dark cocoa and herbs. If you are not familiar with this beauty, you should be, because this stunner sells for a song for a wine of its quality. This should drink well with just a year or two of aging (If you can wait that long) and offer pleasure for at least another 12 years after that. 92-94 Pts
2020 Ampelia – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, charcoal, licorice and red fruits on the nose, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, forward, easy to like and even easier to taste due to all its sweet, ripe, juicy kirsch and earthy characteristics. 88-90 Pts
2020 Beaulieu Côtes de Bourg – Côtes de Bourg – Meaty, fruity, savory and spicy, with sweet plums, olives and herbs that come together nicely on the palate and in the round, juicy, fruity, mineral-driven finish. 88-90 Pts
2020 Beausejour Cuvee Prestige – Fronsac – Here you find a blend of red fruits, herbs and olives on the nose and palate. Savory, soft and chewy, the endnote continues with their leafy, herbal characteristics. 87-89 Pts
2020 Belle Coline – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, soft, ripe, fresh, charming and already fun to taste with all its ripe, sweet, juicy red fruits. Espresso, wet earth, smoke and dark red fruits on the nose work well here. Round, soft, and deceptively tasty already, enjoy this on release and over the next decade. 90-92 Pts
2020 Brehat – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Earthy, savory, herb-tinged red fruits and oak create the nose. On the palate the wine is soft, round, sweet, fresh and fruity with a medium-bodied, forward, elegant, polished, fresh, dark cherry-filled finish. This easy-to-like charmer should drink well early. 88-90 Pts
2020 Cap de Faugeres – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Dark in color, the wine offers an array of scents, featuring black cherry liqueur, olives, licorice and coffee bean. Lush, round, rich and fruity, the finish packs in a lot of sweet, ripe, dark red pit fruits and chocolate. 91-93 Pts
2020 Carlmagnus – Fronsac – In this deep in color wine you find menthol, chocolate mint, licorice, oak and red pit fruits. Medium-bodied, soft, fresh and fruity, this is already charming to drink due to all its sweet fruit and freshness. 89-91 Pts
2020 Château Canon Pecresse – Canon-Fronsac – Medium-bodied with a showy nose of cocoa, licorice, smoke, espresso and sweet ripe cherries the wine is soft, forward, lush and creamy. You can enjoy this on release and over the next decade. 88-89 Pts
2020 Château La Croix Fronsac – Fronsac – Lush, opulent, ripe, fruity and focused on its cocoa-infused black cherry and licorice core. Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine is going to show well on release. 88-90 Pts
2020 Château Perenne – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Soft-textured, medium-bodied, crowd-pleasing charmer that is made for early drinking pleasure. 84-86 Pts
2020 Claud-Bellevue – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Espresso, smoke, licorice and black cherries are on the nose, mid-palate and finish of this forward, round, lush, open, silky-textured, medium-bodied wine. With all its ripe, sweet, fresh berries, this is going to be just great on release. 88-90 Pts
2020 Clos Lunelles – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Opaque in color, the wine explodes with notes of flowers, licorice, blackberry, crushed rocks, plum liqueur, and espresso. Thick, rich, lusciously textured and intense, the salinity from the deep limestone terroir shines right from the start through to the opulent, velvety finish. This is the equal of many of the best Saint-Emilion terroirs. But it needs time to come together, so please wait at least 7 or more years before pulling a cork. The wine was made from blending 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. 94-96 Pts
2020 Clos Puy Arnaud – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Fruity, forward, and fresh, with a core of soft plums, cherries and cocoa that is already accessible. You can drink this fresh, vibrant, plummy, racy wine on release. 88-90 Pts
2020 Clos du Roy – Fronsac – Opulently textured, the wine is rich, concentrated and packed with layers of dark red berries, fennel, espresso, flowers and cherries. Full-bodied, long, sweet, fresh and almost ready to go, the chocolate-covered fruits in the endnotes linger. This should deliver pleasure for at least 12-15 years. 91-93 Pts
2020 Cote Montpezat – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Smoky, earthy, round and chewy, the dark fruits and spice tone resonate on the nose and on the rich palate. There is a savory olive touch to the finish that adds complexity and character. 88-90 Pts
2020 Croix Lartigue – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, licorice, coffee bean, plums and dark cocoa aromas are easy to find. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, elegant and fresh, with sweet, red berries, spice and toasty oak in the finish. This will be quite nice to enjoy on release. 89-91 Pts
2020 Croix de Perenne – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Merlot-based, simple, easy-drinking, forward, medium-bodied charmer with a bright, red berry finish. 85-87 Pts
2020 Dalem – Fronsac – Licorice, espresso, chocolate-coated plums, smoke and earthy aromas are what you initially notice. From there you find a boatload of silky, polished black and red fruits, coffee bean and cocoa that feels as good on your palate as it tastes. Fleshy, full-bodied, long and lusciously textured, this is already showing just great. With a few years of age, it is going to get even better. 92-94 Pts
2020 de Carles – Fronsac – Medium-bodied, fresh, ripe, sweet and polished, the deep red pit fruits, paired with espresso and licorice accents are already showing well. This should be delicious to enjoy on release. 89-91 Pts
2020 de Francs Infini – Côtes de Francs – Deeply colored, the wine is juicy, with a strong essence of crushed rocks and stones, dark red plums, blackberry, savory herbs and smoke. The mineral-driven finish is fresh, fruity and best of all stony, with a cool oceanic character. 91-93 Pts
2020 de Laussac – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Herbs, spice and oak come together on the nose and on the round, fruity, medium-bodied, chocolate and plum-oriented palate. Drink this over the next decade. 88-90 Pts
2020 de la Huste – Fronsac – Deeply colored, the wine is ripe, opulent, lush and rich with layers of black and blue fruits, licorice, and chocolate-covered plums. Long and polished, this is a superb example of a value-priced Bordeaux wine in a ready-to-drink style, that sells for a song. 91-93 Pts
2020 Des Mille Anges – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, savory, earthy and chewy with an herbal accent to its early drinking plummy character. 85-87 Pts
2020 Domaine de Saint Amand – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, fresh and fruity with a core of earthy, savory, red fruits and spice on the nose and palate, the wine finishes with a strong herb and olive finish. 87-89 Pts
2020 Domaine de lA – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Another success for the wine, sporting a glossy, dark color. On the palate, dark red pit fruits, espresso, blueberry, spice box and wild cherries hit all the right notes. Velvety in texture, with a beautiful sweetness and purity to the fruits, the finish perfectly balances elegance and opulence. 93-95 Pts
2020 Dubois-Grimon – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Dark in color, the nose instantly displays black and blue fruit, incense, flowers and smoked cherries. Fleshy, polished, soft and silky, the crushed rock accent and fresh finish add a lot to this medium-bodied wine. 90-92 Pts
2020 du-Gazin – Canon-Fronsac – Forward, medium-bodied, soft, creamy and fruit-filled, the wine is packed with ripe, fresh, opulently textured, black plums with a savory, spicy touch in the endnote. 91-92 Pts
2020 Fougas Maldoror – Côtes de Bourg – Fresh, spicy, meaty and round, the wine serves up its blend of savory, earthy, juicy fruit with ease, leaving you with a finish of dark, red fruits, peppery herbs, tobacco and forest leaf. 89-91 Pts
2020 Fontenil – Fronsac – Dark in color, the wine pops with notes of crushed stone, smoke, flowers, licorice, plums and black cherries. Silky in texture, with layers of fresh, sweet, ripe, polished cherries and dark cocoa. The wine is incredibly seductive. You can enjoy this on release, but it will be even better with a few years of age. 93-95 Pts
2020 Le Blanc de Fontenil – The perfume is loaded with grapefruit, flowers, white peach, vanilla and lemon oil, on the palate, the wine is sweet, fresh, creamy and vibrant, finishing with spice, pears, green apple and citrus. Produced from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Semillon, Muscadelle and Chardonnay, this is only the second vintage for their white wine, but it is my first time tasting it. I am looking forward to tasting it again! 91 Pts
2020 Puy Guilhem – Fronsac – Black cherry, olives, licorice and spice make up the core of this forward, easy to like and easy to drink, round, fruit-filled wine that will be ready to drink on release. 89-91 Pts
2020 Guionne Cuvee Renaissance – Côtes de Bourg – Medium-bodied, soft, and already expressive, the wine is forward with ample ripe, black, red and blue fruits with licorice and oak accents on the nose and palate. 89-91 Pts
2020 Haut Bertinerie – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, plum and cocoa aromatics open to the soft, polished, medium-bodied, early-drinking charmer. The finish offers soft plums and cocoa notes. Drink this on the young side. 86-88 Pts
2020 Haut Bertinerie Blanc – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Light in color and in fruit, this yellow citrus-filled wine should be consumed over the next year or two. 84 Pts
2020 Haut Carles – Fronsac – Deeply colored, the wine opens with licorice, flowers, black cherries, smoke, espresso and cocoa. Lush, round, ripe and opulent, the wine is concentrated, velvety, fresh and rich. This is a solid Right Bank value wine that you can enjoy young or age for 5 years or so for more earthy complexity. 92-94 Pts
2020 Haut Coulon – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, round, ripe, soft, juicy and fresh with a solid core of sweet, polished plums, chocolate and earth. You can drink this on release. 87-89 Pts
2020 Joanin Becot – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – The combination of fresh, savory, spiced fruits, plums, mint and cherries is great from the get-go. Medium-bodied, soft, silky and pure, with a beautiful sweetness to fruits on the mid-palate, the wine ends with gently polished kirsch and juicy plums. The wine is made from blending 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This is clearly a new level of quality for Joanin Becot. 92-94 Pts
2020 lAurage – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Dark in color, the wine is all about its dark cocoa, black cherry, oak and licorice perfume. From there you find a soft, fresh, elegant, silky display of ripe, blackberry and plum that lingers in the soft textured finish. You can drink it now or age it for a few years. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc with no touch of heat in the 14.5% ABV finish. 91-93 Pts
2020 La Brande – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Sporting a deep color, the wine loads you up with dark red fruits, licorice and espresso. Soft, supple and fresh, the wine leaves you with sweet black cherries and bitter cocoa notes in the lively, spicy polished finish. 90-92 Pts
2020 La Dauphine – Fronsac – Dark in color, the wine kicks off with licorice, Morello cherries, bitter chocolate, blackberry and smoke. Round, rich, lush and opulent, the velvet-textured, chocolatey plums on the palate really stick with you. Drink it young or age it for a few years. 91-93 Pts
2020 La Riviere – Fronsac – Chocolate-covered plums, cherries, licorice and wet earth on the nose and palate are found here. Round, lush, polished, fresh and fruity, the finish delivers ripe dark red fruits, spice, and cocoa with good acidity and length. You can enjoy this in its youth and for at least a decade or slightly longer. 91-93 Pts
2020 La Rose Garnier Fronsac – Medium-bodied, early-drinking, crowd-pleasing, easy-to-taste plummy wine that will be best in its youth. Drink this over its first few years of life. 83-85 Pts
2020 La Rousselle – Fronsac – Dark garnet in color, the wine is loaded with licorice, coffee bean, smoke, anise, earth, flowers and black plums. Richly textured and fleshy, the wine is silky, polished, sweet and long, with an opulent finish. This should be just great on release and even better with a few years of age. 90-92 Pts
2020 Lafond – Canon-Fronsac – Deeply colored, the wine is packed with chocolate-covered cherries, savory herbs, licorice and wet earth. Medium-bodied, round, lush, polished and already just great to taste, due to all its layers of dark, sweet, ripe, fresh fruits, cocoa and sprig of spicy mint in the finish. You can enjoy this supple textured wine on release and for the next 12 years or so with ease. 90-92 Pts
2020 Lamarche Canon – Canon Fronsac – Forward, medium-bodied, soft, fruity, early-drinking, wine of pleasure that will be at its best during its first few years of life. 84-86 Pts
2020 Laussac Cuvee Sacha – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers and savory herbs with licorice, espresso and plums form the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, medium-bodied, open and easygoing with a lifted, red berry, oaky and round textured finish. 89-91 Pts
2020 Le Doyenné – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, savory, soft, forward, round and fruity, you can drink this with pleasure on release and over the next 5-7 years. 85-87 Pts
2020 Le Rey Argileuses – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Ripe, fresh, forward, fruity and loaded with juice, the wine offers great earthy character in a round, open, accessible style and the best part is – it sells for a song. This is a wine to purchase by the case. 89-91 Pts
2020 Le Rey Les Rocheuses – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Sporting a rich, deep color, the wine pops with black cherries, stones, spice and licorice. Round, lush, ripe and packed with layers of black cherries that express their essence with little effort. And all that sweet ripe fruit really lingers in the finish. This will be fabulous on release! 91-93 Pts
2020 Les Charmes-Godard Blanc – Côtes de Francs – Vivacious, crisp and fresh with loads of sweet, juicy, clean, pure grapefruits, lemon and white peach on the nose. Lush, creamy and zesty, with yellow citrus and green apples on the palate that taste and feel great as they linger. 92 Pts
2020 Les-Trois-Croix – Fronsac – Ripe black and red pit fruits are packaged with crushed rocks, stones, salty tannins, spice and savory herbs. Round and seductive, with a fresh, savory, chewy finish. Give this 2-4 years before pulling a cork and enjoy it for 12-15 years after that. 91-93 Pts
2020 Mazeris – Canon-Fronsac – Forward, medium-bodied, soft, polished, early-drinking, red berry and kirsch-filled charmer that will be perfect to enjoy on release. 86-88 Pts
2020 Montlandrie – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Plum liqueur, flowers, truffles and crushed stone all make an appearance on the nose. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine is soft, fresh, lively, sweet and round, finishing with lifted, ripe, juicy red plums, licorice, spice and black cherry. 92-91 Pts
2020 Moulin Neuf Révélations d’Hubert de Boüard – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, fresh, soft-textured, forward, fruity, earthy, bright and savory, the wine ends with sweet, savory accented and spicy red fruits. 86-88 Pts
2020 Moulin-Haut-Laroque – Fronsac – The first thing you notice is the strong floral bouquet followed by incense, espresso bean, spice and an array of plums on the nose. Medium-bodied, soft, round, elegant and fresh, the wine finishes with silky-textured black plums. This should deliver pleasure for at least 12-15 years. 91-93 Pts
2020 Paloma – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, soft, forward, fruity, ripe, and ready to go, with a lot of sweet plummy fruit, licorice, espresso and dark cocoa on the palate and in the finish. 88-90 Pts
2020 Paloma 360° – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Bright, fresh, forward and on the red berry side of the style range, the wine is medium-bodied, with a red plum and cherry finish. You can drink this on release. 84-86 Pts
2020 Payre – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, fruity and chewy with a touch of savory herbs in the vibrant endnote. 85-87 Pts
2020 Peyredoullle – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, chewy and focused on its earthy, savory, red berry character, there is a nice spicy touch in the finish. 89-91 Pts
2020 Pierre Levée Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux Révélations d’Hubert de Boüard – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Floral, fresh, fruity with sweet, ripe dark cherries and cocoa, lush, round texture and a forward, early drinking character. 86-88 Pts
2020 Pitray – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, soft, fruity, round, sweet and fresh with a plummy character on the palate and in the finish. 86-88 Pts
2020 Plain-Point Fronsac – Fronsac – Flowers, plums, licorice and cocoa on the nose are also all over the opulently textured, lush, dark red berry, fruit-filled rich palate. This is going to be delicious on release and should age for 12-15 years as well. 90-92 Pts
2020 Prieure Saint-Anne – Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, soft, fresh, sweet and supple, with a focus on its silky red fruits and spice, the wine is forward and already accessible. This should be fun to taste on release. 92-93 Pts
2020 Puygueraud – Côtes de Francs – Dark red berries with hints of blue fruit, crushed rocks and cocoa define the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, earthy, savory and plummy with spicy undertones in the mineral-driven finish. Things keep getting better and better every year. 91-93 Pts
2020 Reaut – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Bright, crisp, with green olives, bright red fruits and herbs in the crunchy finish. 82-84 Pts
2020 Renon – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, sweet and tart red fruits compete for space against the backdrop of savory herbs and oak. Drink this on the young side. 84-86 Pts
2020 Renon – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Lemon peel, green apple, tangerine and honeysuckle are fresh, bright and just a bit sweet on the nose and palate. You find a nice shot of fresh yellow citrus in the crisp finish as well. Drink this refreshing wine over the next few years. 88 Pts
2020 Reynon – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, juicy, fruity and crisp, with a core of chewy blackberries, spice and earth in the refreshing, fruit-filled spicy, dusty textured finish. 86-88 Pts
2020 Reynon Blanc – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, green apples, lemons, spice and crushed stones come through on the nose and on the fresh, juicy, crisp and creamy palate. Drink this on the young side. 89 Pts
2020 Richelieu – Fronsac – Dark in color, the wine is rich, intense, opulent and lush. Layers of perfectly ripe dark plums with velvet textured tannins, lift and sweetness are easily apparent on the mid-palate and in the long finish. This is my first time tasting this wine, and I am already looking forward to tasting it again. This should offer pleasure for at least 15 years or so. 91-93 Pts
2020 Roc de Cambes – Côtes de Bourg – Dark garnet in color, the wine sports a complex nose of espresso, spice box, forest leaf, tobacco leaf and dark red pit fruits. Sweet and savory, spicy and fresh, with dusty tannins and plenty of ripe, earthy, salty fruits on the palate and in the finish, this character-filled wine has length and complexity. 91-93 Pts
2020 Roquevielle – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, charming, forward, savory, bright and chewy, the spicy character to the red berries with their herbal savory accents really works here. This should be ready to drink on release. 88-90 Pts
2020 Roquevielle Excellence – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied with a fruit-filled nose that comes along with spice, smoke, oak, licorice and red fruits. The wine is soft, polished, fresh and sweet, ending with gentle red fruits and spice in the finish. This is quite nice and should drink well on release. 88-90 Pts
2020 Roullet Canon Fronsac – Canon-Fronsac – Forward, early-drinking, soft, uncomplicated, but fresh, sweet, kirsch-filled wine, suitable for consumption over the next 3-5 years. 85-87 Pts
2020 Réaut de Carat de Reaut – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Round, polished, fruity, savory and chewy with herbal red berries, cocoa and pepper on the palate and in the finish. 85-87 Pts
2020 Suau – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Savory fruit, herbs, tobacco, spice and bright red fruits are found on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, soft and forward, this early drinking charmer will show well on release and over the next 7-9 years or so. 86-88 Pts
2020 Tessendey – Fronsac – Oaky, chewy, concentrated, rich and packed with espresso-infused plums, cherries and spice, the wine is lush, ripe and long, with a fruit-packed finish that sticks. 90-92 Pts
2020 Veyry – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Forward, fresh, medium-bodied, fruity with a focus on its soft, easygoing, plummy character. Drink this over the next 3-4 years or so. 86-88 Pts
2020 La Vieille Cure – Fronsac – With a bit too much oak on the nose, the wine moves to its ripe, plush, lush, forward mid-palate and a finish packed with layers of blackberry, plum, chocolate-covered cherry and espresso. Give this wine a few years in the cellar for the oak to better integrate, and this should be good to go. 91-93 Pts
2020 Villars – Fronsac – Chocolate-covered cherries with a round, polished, luscious, seductive core of fruits, espresso bean, licorice, freshness and spice that hit the spot. This offers a lot of bang for the buck for savvy Bordeaux value wine seekers. 91-93 Pts
Up next, we will return to the Left Bank with reviews of all the best 2020 Medoc wines.
