2020 Le Bon Pasteur
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Vinification intégrale. Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Dark fruit and dark chocolate on the nose. Open. On the palate, compact, chewy but very fresh and those tannins starting to resolve. Really dark-fruited, savoury finish. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
The Wine Advocate
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
I was blown away by the 2020 Château Le Bon Pasteur, which is owned by renowned consultants Dani and Michel Rolland. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a stunning array of ripe currants, cassis, chocolate, leafy tobacco, and scorched earth. This carries to a full-bodied Pomerol with a layered, seamless mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and the balance and purity to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and keep for over two decades. If forced to pick, it's probably my favorite of the 2018, 2019, and 2020 trio, but comparing these three magical vintages over the coming 15-20 years is going to be a serious treat.
The 2020 Le Bon Pasteur has a ripe blackberry and bilberry nose, quite flamboyant yet just about maintaining delineation and focus. Time in bottle will temper it. The palate is medium-bodied with plush tannins, fleshy and ripe, dark chocolate infusing the black fruit with black pepper lending spice towards the finish. It will require three or four years in bottle. A second bottle showed a little more Cabernet expression, more graphite on the aftertaste.
About the producer
Famed winemaking consultant Michel Rolland is synonymous with this estate. The vines here were purchased by his grandparents and he ran the property from 1979. Although Rolland still makes the wine today, he sold the estate in 2013.