Chateau Le Gay, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 2020

Overview of the Wine
Chateau le Gay can trace its origins to a property dating from the eighteenth century called Manoir de Gay. Catherine Pere-Verge, the owner of Chateau Montviel in Pomerol since 1985, acquired the Le Gay in 2002 and employed the services of the famous oenologist-consultant Michel Rolland from Libourne. Adjacent to Petrus and Lafleur, the vineyard stretches over gravel, clay and limestone soils. The vineyard is planted with 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. 

Winemaker
Michel Rolland

Grape / Blend
100% Merlot

Origin
Pomerol, Bordeaux, France

Tasting Notes
A mild and rainy winter led to an early budbreak. At the end of March, three wind turbines were activated along with candles to protect against a frost episode. The mild weather at the beginning of April gave a significant boost to the vine’s development. May saw abundant sunshine and a considerable rise in temperatures, resulting in rapid vine growth and uniform flowering. The alternation of these weather conditions led to strong mildew pressure, fortunately limited by fair weather and drying winds during May.

The beginning of June brought a drop in temperatures along with stormy showers. From July 13 onward, hot and dry weather accelerated veraison, reduced the risk of mildew, but caused water stress in young plantings due to lack of rain. The heatwaves and drought of August resulted in severe water stress for plots less than ten years old. Harvesting yielded grapes with optimal ripeness, resulting in a promising vintage despite the extreme weather conditions.

Chateau le Gay wines are structured and balanced with aromas of red fruits and hints of undergrowth.

98 Points - James Suckling
So much black mushroom to the dark fruit, such as blackberries and brambleberries. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, yet refined and polished, with lovely tannins and fantastic typicity and complexity. It’s so multidimensional and structured, yet there’s a weightless character and personality to it. Thought-provoking and sophisticated. Real Pomerol. Drink after 2028, but a great experience already.

96 Points - Wine Advocate
Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Le Gay erupts from the glass with scents of molten licorice and dark chocolate, giving way to a tantalizing core of baked black cherries, prunes and blackberry preserves, plus a hint of cardamom. The full-bodied palate is rich and decadent, featuring layers of black fruits and exotic spices with a firm yet velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. A hedonic powerhouse! 

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
A surprisingly up-front, soft, almost mid-weight effort from this château, the 2020 Château Le Gay offers a pretty perfume of both red and black fruits as well as loads of flowers, spice, leafy herbs, and incense. Medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has polished tannins, terrific balance, sweet oak, and outstanding length. This exceedingly elegant, seamless beauty lacks the density and concentration of the top wines in the vintage but is nevertheless a gorgeous, classic Pomerol that will evolve for two decades.

94 Points - Decanter
Coiled with tension and focus. The elements feel well worked with an appealing, grainy grip to the tannins, dark fruit and perfumed nuances. Feels really quite glamorous and heady. Structured and concentrated no doubt, but with a nice blackcurrant juiciness and well integrated wood. Long finish.

94 Points - Vinous
The 2020 Le Gay is rich and expansive on the palate. Gorgeous, savory notes add complexity to a core of black cherry fruit. This lush, extravagantly ripe Pomerol is not at all subtle, and yet all the elements are very well put together. Hints of chocolate, new leather and licorice linger on the potent finish.

Product size: 750ml