2020 Olivier
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Ripe pears and openly fruity, with a hint of oak spice. Tight, dense, lemon-and-lime purity. Full in the mouth and long, with oaky richness. Not yet complex but with potential. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Olivier has an impressive, well-defined, fresh and vibrant bouquet with blackberry, raspberry and crushed stone scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a sappy entry. It has fine weight and concentration, even feeling quite muscular toward the finish, yet it retains a sense of finesse. This has great potential. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Lots of red and black currants, loamy earth, leather, and dried herb notes emerge from the 2020 Château Olivier, a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, textured 2020 with some serious charm. I love its balance, and it's complex, with ripe, velvety tannins and a great finish. Drink this beauty over the coming 15 years.
About the producer
Ch. Olivier is one of the few actual castles in Bordeaux – coming with a moat and drawbridge. Since Alexandre de Bethmann took over here in 2012, the château has been given a new lease of life, with quality on the rise.